Digital printing machine and method

• US 9,327,493 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2015
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company LLC (Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company LLC (Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Vella, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tankersley, Blake A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Samreth, Marissa Ferguson
• Application Number:
  US14/880,467
• Time in Patent Office: 204 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/002 Supports of workpieces in machines for printing on hollow articles
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/006 for printing on curved surfaces not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/18 on curved surfaces of articles of varying cross-section, e.g. bottles, lamp glasses
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/22 by rolling contact
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/28 for printing on curved surfaces of conical or frusto-conical articles
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/30 for printing on curved surfaces of essentially spherical, or part-spherical, articles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4073 Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects B41J3/283, B41J3/286 take precedence; building up a 3D object using individual droplets from jetting heads B29C64/112
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/40733 Printing on cylindrical or rotationally symmetrical objects, e. g. on bottles

Abstract

A decorator assembly is provided. The decorator assembly includes a mandrel turret assembly. The mandrel turret assembly includes a rotatable turret, a number of mandrels, and a number of independent ink stations. Each mandrel is rotatably coupled to the turret. Each mandrel extends generally radially from the turret and are disposed generally in a plane about an axis of rotation. The turret is structured to rotate about an axis of rotation thereby moving each mandrel over a generally circular path of travel. Each independent ink station is disposed adjacent to the path of travel of the mandrels.

Claims

1. A decorator assembly comprising:

a mandrel turret assembly including a rotatable turret, a number of mandrels, and a number of independent ink stations;

each said mandrel rotatably coupled to said turret, each said mandrel extending generally radially from said turret, said mandrels disposed generally in a plane about an axis of rotation;

said turret structured to rotate about an axis of rotation thereby moving each said mandrel over a generally circular path of travel;

each said independent ink station disposed adjacent to the path of travel of said mandrels;

each independent ink station includes a number of digital print head assemblies and a number of print head drive assemblies;

each said digital print head assembly structured to apply an ink in a programmable pattern;

each said print head drive assembly operatively coupled to an associated digital print head assembly and structured to move said associated digital print head assembly between a longitudinal first position and a longitudinal second position; and

wherein each said digital print head assembly path of travel extends generally parallel to the axis of rotation of an adjacent mandrel.

2. The decorator assembly of claim 1 wherein:

each independent ink station includes a number of print head radial positioning assemblies; and

each said print head radial positioning assembly operatively coupled to an associated digital print head assembly and structured to move said associated print head assembly between a radial first position and a radial second position.

3. The decorator assembly of claim 1 wherein:

each said independent ink station includes a plurality of digital print head assemblies and a number of print head drive assemblies;

each said digital print head assembly structured to apply an ink in a programmable pattern;

each said print head drive assembly operatively coupled to an associated digital print head assembly and structured to move an associated digital print head assembly between a longitudinal first position and a longitudinal second position; and

wherein each said digital print head assembly path of travel extends generally parallel to the axis of rotation of an adjacent mandrel.

4. The decorator assembly of claim 3 wherein:

each digital print head assembly of each independent ink station is structured to apply an ink in a radial direction relative to an adjacent mandrel; and

wherein each digital print head assembly of each independent ink station is radially offset from an adjacent digital print head assembly by between about 30 to 180 degrees.

5. The decorator assembly of claim 4 wherein:

each said print head drive assembly is structured to move an associated digital print head assembly over a different longitudinal portion of an adjacent mandrel; and

wherein said different longitudinal portions of the adjacent mandrel do not substantially overlap.

6. A decorator assembly comprising:

a mandrel turret assembly including a rotatable turret, a number of mandrels, and a number of independent ink stations;

each said mandrel rotatably coupled to said turret, each said mandrel extending generally radially from said turret, said mandrels disposed generally in a plane about an axis of rotation;

said turret structured to rotate about an axis of rotation thereby moving each said mandrel over a generally circular path of travel;

each said independent ink station disposed adjacent to the path of travel of said mandrels;

said mandrel turret assembly includes a turret drive assembly and a mandrel drive assembly;

said turret drive assembly structured to index said turret about said turret axis of rotation; and

said mandrel drive assembly structured to rotate each said mandrel about a longitudinal axis;

each independent ink station includes a number of digital print head assemblies and a number of print head drive assemblies;

wherein said turret drive assembly and each said print head drive assembly are not operatively coupled.

7. The decorator assembly of claim 6 wherein:

said mandrel turret assembly includes a drive control assembly; and

said drive control assembly structured to individually actuate said turret drive assembly, said mandrel drive assembly and each said print head drive assembly.

8. The decorator assembly of claim 6 wherein:

said turret axis of rotation is generally vertical; and

said mandrels are disposed in a generally horizontal plane.

9. A decorator assembly comprising:

a mandrel turret assembly including a rotatable turret, a number of mandrels, and a number of independent ink stations;

each said mandrel rotatably coupled to said turret, each said mandrel extending generally radially from said turret, said mandrels disposed generally in a plane about an axis of rotation;

said turret structured to rotate about an axis of rotation thereby moving each said mandrel over a generally circular path of travel;

each said independent ink station disposed adjacent to the path of travel of said mandrels;

said mandrel turret assembly includes a housing assembly;

each said independent ink station is removably coupled to said mandrel turret assembly housing assembly;

each said independent ink station includes an elongated support assembly and a number of digital print head assemblies;

each said independent ink station support assembly extending generally vertically;

each said digital print head assembly extending generally horizontally; and

each said digital print head assembly coupled to an associated independent ink station support assembly in a cantilever configuration.

10. The decorator assembly of claim 9 wherein each said digital print head assembly is disposed above the axis of rotation of an adjacent mandrel.