Apparatuses for printing on generally cylindrical objects and related methods
First Claim
1. An ink jet printer for printing on an at least partially cylindrical object, said object having a cylindrical portion including a surface defined by points at a fixed radius from an axis, said printer comprising:
- a plurality of printheads in communication with a fluid supply and positioned with respect to a line of travel aligned with said axis along which an at least partially cylindrical object is to be conveyed, each of said plurality of printheads being controlled to selectively deposit fluid upon a surface of said object in accordance with a pre-determined image, and wherein a first printhead is axially displaced with respect to a second printhead;
a curing device located along said line of travel and configured to emit energy suitable to cure fluid deposited upon the surface of said object; and
a carriage assembly configured to hold said object such that said axis is aligned axially along said line of travel and to axially convey said object bi-directionally along said line of travel, position said object relative to said plurality of printheads, and to rotate said object relative to said plurality of printheads, and to position said object relative to said curing device; and
wherein said plurality of printheads is controlled to selectively deposit fluid upon said surface of said object when said object is conveyed in either direction.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ink jet printer for printing on an at least partially cylindrical objects comprises one or more printheads positioned above a line of travel and a carriage assembly configured to hold an at least partially cylindrical object axially aligned along the line of travel and to position said object relative to the printheads, and then rotate the object relative to said one or more printheads. The printer also includes a curing device located along the line of travel and configured to emit energy suitable to cure the deposited fluid.
19 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An ink jet printer for printing on an at least partially cylindrical object, said object having a cylindrical portion including a surface defined by points at a fixed radius from an axis, said printer comprising:
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a plurality of printheads in communication with a fluid supply and positioned with respect to a line of travel aligned with said axis along which an at least partially cylindrical object is to be conveyed, each of said plurality of printheads being controlled to selectively deposit fluid upon a surface of said object in accordance with a pre-determined image, and wherein a first printhead is axially displaced with respect to a second printhead; a curing device located along said line of travel and configured to emit energy suitable to cure fluid deposited upon the surface of said object; and a carriage assembly configured to hold said object such that said axis is aligned axially along said line of travel and to axially convey said object bi-directionally along said line of travel, position said object relative to said plurality of printheads, and to rotate said object relative to said plurality of printheads, and to position said object relative to said curing device; and wherein said plurality of printheads is controlled to selectively deposit fluid upon said surface of said object when said object is conveyed in either direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-controlled apparatus for printing an image on an at least partially cylindrical object, said image being represented in computer-readable media, said apparatus comprising:
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a carriage assembly for supporting an at least partially cylindrical object, moving said object bi-directionally along a line of travel, said line of travel being aligned with an axis defining a cylindrical portion of said at least partially cylindrical object, and rotating said object about said axis; a plurality of printheads positioned with respect to said axis, each of said plurality of printheads configured to selectively deposit fluid upon a surface of said object when said object is moved in either direction, and wherein a first printhead is axially displaced with respect to a second printhead; a curing device located along said axis and configured to emit energy suitable to cure fluid deposited upon the surface of said object; and a computer-based system in communication with said carriage assembly, said plurality of printheads and said curing device, said computer-based system being configured with control logic control position of the carriage assembly bi-directionally along said axis, rotation of said object, deposition of said fluid through said printheads, and emission of energy, in accordance with said image. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification