Digital printing machine and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10696064-B2
Application number	US-201615372459-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2016
Priority date	Mar 4, 2015
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

A decorator assembly is provided. The decorator assembly includes a number of independent ink stations. Each independent ink station is disposed adjacent to the path of travel of the mandrels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A decorator assembly comprising:
a number of mandrels and a number of independent ink stations;
each mandrel structured to rotate about a longitudinal axis;
said mandrels' longitudinal axes disposed generally in a plane;
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
wherein each independent ink station includes a collar assembly.

2. The decorator assembly of claim 1 wherein a number of said ink cure stations include an ultraviolet cure assembly.

3. The decorator assembly of claim 1 wherein:
each independent ink station includes a number of print head drive assemblies;
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.

4. The decorator assembly of claim 3 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.

5. The decorator assembly of claim 1 wherein each digital print head assembly is disposed in a cantilever configuration.

6. The decorator assembly of claim 1 wherein:
each said independent ink station includes a track, a carriage and a print head;
each said carriage traveling over an associated track; and
each said carriage supporting an associated print head.

7. The decorator assembly of claim 6 wherein said decorator assembly is structured to apply ink to a can body, and wherein:
each digital print head assembly includes a number of modules;
said number of modules includes a number of design modules;
each design module having an associated pattern; and
wherein the digital print head assembly reads a design module and applies an ink according to the pattern associated with that design module.

8. A decorator assembly comprising:
a number of mandrels and a number of independent ink stations;
each mandrel structured to rotate about a longitudinal axis;
said mandrels' longitudinal axes disposed generally in a plane;
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;
wherein each independent ink station includes a collar assembly;
said mandrels have a path of travel;
each collar assembly includes a collar element and a print head drive assembly;
each collar element includes a hollow, generally cylindrical body including a center axis;
wherein each collar element body inner radius is larger than the outer radius of a mandrel; and
said print head drive assembly structured to move said collar element from a first position, wherein said collar element is positioned outward from said mandrel path of travel and a second position, wherein said collar element is positioned about said mandrel that is stopped adjacent to an independent ink station.

9. The decorator assembly of claim 8 wherein each collar assembly includes said number of said digital print head assemblies.

10. The decorator assembly of claim 9 wherein each print head assembly has a spray direction that is generally radial to a mandrel longitudinal axis when a mandrel is stopped adjacent to an independent ink station.

Assignees

• Stolle Machinery Co Llc

Inventors

• Vella Anthony J

Classifications

• B41J11/00214

  using UV radiation · CPC title

• B41J3/40733

  Printing on cylindrical or rotationally symmetrical objects, e. g. on bottles · CPC title

• B41F17/18

  on curved surfaces of articles of varying cross-section, e.g. bottles, lamp glasses · CPC title

• B41J3/4073 Primary

  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 title

• B41F17/002

  Supports of workpieces in machines for printing on hollow articles · CPC title