Device for applying decorations to containers

• US 9,415,607 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2012
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KHS GmbH (Salzgitter AG)
• Original Assignee: KHS GmbH (Salzgitter AG)
• Inventors: Preckel, Katrin, Reiniger, Markus, Schach, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Banh, David
• Application Number:
  US14/358,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20140313247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 15/30 for articles with curved surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0015 for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing selective coating B41J2/2114
• 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

An apparatus for use in connection with application of decoration to a container by printing thereon includes a container transport system comprising a processing position configured to receive a container, a coating installation disposed at the processing position, and a transfer element. The transfer element applies a base coat to the container by rolling on or off the container.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in connection with application of decoration to a container by printing thereon, said apparatus comprising a container transport system comprising a first processing position, a first coating installation, and a first transfer element comprising a permeable transfer coat, said transfer coat being permeable to a flowable coating material, wherein said first processing position is configured to receive a first container, wherein said first coating installation is disposed at said first processing position, wherein said first coating installation comprises said first transfer element, wherein said first transfer element is configured to apply a base coat to said first container, and wherein said first transfer element applies said base coat by at least one of rolling on said container and rolling off said first container, said apparatus further comprising a porous wall, wherein said first transfer element comprises said porous wall in said transfer coat, wherein said porous wall comprises a carrier-and-distribution coat, wherein said porous wall comprises a plurality of openings, wherein said openings are selected from the group consisting of micro-openings and micro-pores, wherein said openings enable said base coat material to be transported under pressure and evenly distributed onto said transfer coat, wherein said base coat material is transported in an axial direction that is radial to at least one of a circulation of said first transfer element, an axis of rotation of said first transfer element, and an axis of rotation of a carrier of said first transfer element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first transfer element is a rotating transfer element, wherein said rotating transfer element comprises a transfer coat, and wherein said first container rolls in a slip-free manner on an outer surface of said first transfer element to receive said base coat.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first transfer element is configured such that, in operation, said first transfer element avoids contact with said first container.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein, in an area of greatest proximity between said first container and said first transfer element, said first container and said first transfer element are separated by a perpendicular surface distance, and wherein said perpendicular surface distance is adjustable.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transfer coat comprises a sponge-like buffer coat.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first transfer element comprises a rotating transfer element, wherein said first coating installation comprises a station, wherein said rotating transfer element is moved past said station to apply base coat material onto said transfer coat before said rotating transfer element, in its further circulation, reaches a transfer position at which said first container is rolled on said transfer coat.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a sensor disposed at said transfer position, wherein said sensor is configured to measure a distance between said first container and a structure selected from the group consisting of said first transfer element and said transfer coat.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a supply-or-buffer chamber, wherein said porous wall separates an inside of said supply-or-buffer chamber from at least one of said transfer coat and a damping-and-buffer coat, wherein said inside of said supply-or-buffer chamber is connected by a pipe to a source that supplies said base coat material under pressure to said supply-or-buffer chamber, wherein said supply-or-buffer chamber is connected to a further pipe, and wherein said further pipe is disposed to return base coat material from said supply-or-buffer chamber to said source.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a carrier that can be driven for rotation around a carrier axis, wherein said first transfer element is disposed on said carrier, said apparatus further comprising a second transfer element that has the same structure as said first transfer element, wherein said second transfer element is disposed on said carrier.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a draining installation to collect excess base coat material from a location, wherein said location is selected from the group consisting of a transfer area between said first container and said first transfer element, a damping-and-buffer coat that forms a transfer coat, and a porous wall that acts as a carrier-and-distribution coat.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a heating installation for tempering said base coat material, wherein said heating installation is arranged in the supply-or-buffer chamber.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor disposed at said transfer position, wherein said sensor is configured to monitor application of said base coat on said first container.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first rotor that can be driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis, wherein said first processing position is disposed on said first rotor, said apparatus further comprising a second processing position disposed on said first rotor, said second processing position being configured to receive a second container, wherein said second processing position comprises a second coating installation wherein said second coating installation comprises a second transfer element, wherein said second transfer element is configured to apply a base coat to said second container, and wherein said second transfer element applies said base coat by at least one of rolling on said container and rolling off said second container.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a second rotor disposed to receive containers from said first rotor, wherein said second rotor comprises processing positions for printing onto said base coat provided at said first rotor, wherein said first and second rotors define at least part of a transport stretch.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a closing element provided on said first transfer element, wherein said closing element is selected from the group consisting of a one-part closing element and a multi-part closing element, wherein said closing element is at least one of a pivoting closure element and a movable closure element, and wherein said closing element is selected from the group consisting of a closure cap and a cover.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first transfer element comprises a transfer coat, wherein said closure element, when brought to a position at which said closure element is to be used, cooperates with said transfer coat to form one of an outlet space and a gap, wherein a fluid selected from the group consisting of a cleaning agent and a solvent flows in a circuit that passes through said one of an outlet space and a gap.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an inkjet print head disposed to direct ink toward said base coat on said first container.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base coat comprises a print-carrier coat.