Image forming device and method for manufacturing can body on which image is formed
First Claim
1. An image forming device, comprising:
- a conveying unit configured to sequentially convey can bodies; and
a plurality of image forming units provided to correspond to the respective can bodies conveyed by the conveying unit, the plurality of image forming units moving together with the can bodies conveyed by the conveying unit and forming images on the can bodies, whereineach of the image forming units is provided with a plurality of ink jet devices that are configured to simultaneously form images of mutually different colors onto the can body,the conveying unit is configured to move the image forming units in a clockwise rotational direction or a counterclockwise rotational direction about a conveying axis of the conveying unit,the respective ink jet devices of the image forming units are radially disposed around the can body about an axis of the can body, andthe image forming units are configured to maintain a constant attitude of their respective ink jet devices by (i) rotating the image forming unit in a clockwise rotational direction or counterclockwise rotational direction that is opposite to the rotational direction of the conveying unit or by (ii) decentering a center of gravity of the image forming unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A printing device (1) is provided with: a can body conveying mechanism (100) for sequentially conveying can bodies (10); and a can body moving mechanism (200) for moving the can body (10) while forming an image onto the outer circumferential surface of the can body (10) conveyed by the can body conveying mechanism (100). The can body moving mechanism (200) is provided with a rotating member (210) formed in a disc shape and rotating in a clockwise direction in the drawing. The can body moving mechanism (200) is also provided with plural image forming units (220) provided on the rotating member (210) and forming an image onto the outer circumferential surface of the can body (10) while moving the can body (10). The image forming units (220) are each provided with plural ink ejection devices for ejecting ink onto the outer circumferential surface of the can body (10). This provides an image forming device capable of increasing the number of can bodies on each of which an image can be formed per unit time.
15 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An image forming device, comprising:
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a conveying unit configured to sequentially convey can bodies; and a plurality of image forming units provided to correspond to the respective can bodies conveyed by the conveying unit, the plurality of image forming units moving together with the can bodies conveyed by the conveying unit and forming images on the can bodies, wherein each of the image forming units is provided with a plurality of ink jet devices that are configured to simultaneously form images of mutually different colors onto the can body, the conveying unit is configured to move the image forming units in a clockwise rotational direction or a counterclockwise rotational direction about a conveying axis of the conveying unit, the respective ink jet devices of the image forming units are radially disposed around the can body about an axis of the can body, and the image forming units are configured to maintain a constant attitude of their respective ink jet devices by (i) rotating the image forming unit in a clockwise rotational direction or counterclockwise rotational direction that is opposite to the rotational direction of the conveying unit or by (ii) decentering a center of gravity of the image forming unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An image forming device, comprising:
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a conveying unit configured to sequentially convey can bodies; and a plurality of image forming units provided to correspond to the respective can bodies conveyed by the conveying unit, the plurality of image forming units moving together with the can bodies conveyed by the conveying unit and forming images on the can bodies, wherein each of the image forming units is provided with a plurality of ink jet devices that are arranged radially around a location where the can body is provided as a center, the conveying unit is configured to move the image forming units in a clockwise rotational direction or a counterclockwise rotational direction about a conveying axis of the conveying unit, and the image forming units are configured to maintain a constant attitude of their respective ink jet devices by (i) rotating the image forming unit in a clockwise rotational direction or counterclockwise rotational direction that is opposite to the rotational direction of the conveying unit or by (ii) decentering a center of gravity of the image forming unit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method for forming an image on a can body, the method comprising:
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sequentially conveying a can body and an image forming unit that includes a plurality of ink jet devices to form an image on the can body; and simultaneously operating the plurality of ink jet devices provided in the image forming unit in the middle of conveying the can body to form the image on the can body, wherein the image forming units are conveyed in a clockwise rotational direction or a counterclockwise rotational direction, the respective ink jet devices of the image forming units are radially disposed around the can body about an axis of the can body, and the image forming units maintain a constant attitude of their respective ink jet devices by (i) rotating the image forming unit in a clockwise rotational direction or counterclockwise rotational direction that is opposite to the rotational direction of the conveying unit or by (ii) decentering a center of gravity of the image forming unit.
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Specification