Ink replenishing system and method for can decorator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11820147-B2
Application number	US-202117538377-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2021
Priority date	Nov 30, 2021
Publication date	Nov 21, 2023
Grant date	Nov 21, 2023

Abstract

An ink replenishment system for a can decorator having a plurality of ink fountains corresponding to a plurality of ink station assemblies includes a robotic arm structured to pick up ink from a selected one of a plurality of ink container and to place the picked up ink into a selected one of the plurality of ink fountains, and a controller structured to control operations of the robotic arm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ink replenishment system for a can decorator having a plurality of ink fountains corresponding to a plurality of ink station assemblies, the ink replenishment system comprising:
a robotic arm structured to move between the plurality of ink fountains and a plurality of ink containers, to pick up ink from one of the plurality of ink fountains or ink containers and to place the picked up ink in another one of the plurality of ink fountains or ink containers; and
a controller structured to control operations of the robotic arm.

2. The ink replenishment system of claim 1 , wherein the robotic arm comprises:
a nozzle assembly including a nozzle and a reservoir, wherein the robotic arm is structured to pick up ink from one of the plurality of ink fountains or ink containers via the nozzle and store the picked up ink in the reservoir, and wherein the robotic arm is structured to place the picked up ink stored in the reservoir in another one of the plurality of ink fountains or ink containers via the nozzle.

3. The ink replenishment system of claim 2 , wherein the robotic arm comprises:
a base structured to rotate;
a first arm having a first end pivotally attached to the base;
a second arm having a first end pivotally attached to a second end of the first arm, and
wherein the nozzle assembly is pivotally attached to a second end of the second arm.

4. The ink replenishment system of claim 3 , wherein the robotic arm is structured to rotate and pivot to move from one of the plurality of ink fountains or ink containers to another one of the plurality of ink fountains or ink containers.

5. The ink replenishment system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a track disposed between the plurality of ink fountains and the plurality of ink containers,
wherein the robotic arm is attached to the track and structured to move along the track, and wherein the nozzle assembly is structured rotate and/or pivot.

6. The ink replenishment system of claim 5 , wherein the robotic arm is structured to move along the track from a first position proximate one of the plurality of ink fountains or ink containers to a second position proximate another one of the plurality of ink fountains or ink containers, and wherein the nozzle assembly is structured to rotate and/or pivot in the first position to pick up ink from the one of the plurality of ink fountains or ink containers and to rotate and/or pivot in the second position to place the picked up ink in the another one of the plurality of ink fountains or ink containers.

7. The ink replenishment system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of ink fountains are arranged in a arced shape, wherein the track has an arced shape corresponding to the arrangement of the plurality of ink fountains, and wherein the ink containers are arranged in an arced shape.

8. The ink replenishment system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor structured to sense an amount of ink picked up and placed by the robotic arm, and wherein the controller is structured to control the robotic arm to pick up and place a predetermined amount of ink.

9. The ink replenishment system of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined amount of ink is based on an amount of ink required to decorate a run of cans.

10. The ink replenishment system of claim 1 , wherein the can decorator includes a plurality of ink fountain sensors corresponding to the plurality of ink fountains and being structured to sense amounts of ink in the ink fountains, and wherein the controller is structured to control the robotic arm to pick up ink from one of the plurality of ink containers and place the picked up ink in one of the plurality of ink fountains based on sensed amounts of ink in the ink fountains.

11. The ink replenishment system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is structured to control the robotic arm to pick up ink from one of the plurality of ink containers and to place the picked up ink in one of the plurality of ink fountains.

12. The ink replenishment system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is structured to control the robotic arm to pick up ink from one of the plurality of ink fountains and to place the picked up ink in one of the plurality of ink containers.

13. A method for replenishing ink in a can decorator having a plurality of ink fountains corresponding to a plurality of ink station assemblies, the method comprising:
controlling a robotic arm to pick up ink from one of the plurality of ink fountains or one of a plurality of ink containers, wherein the robotic arm structured to move between the plurality of ink fountains ink containers;
controlling the robotic arm to move to another one of the plurality of ink fountains or ink containers; and
controlling the robotic arm to place the picked up ink in the another one of the plurality of ink fountains or ink containers.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
sensing an amount of ink picked up and placed by the robotic arm; and
controlling the robotic arm to pick up and place a predetermined amount of ink.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined amount of ink is based on an amount of ink required to decorate a run of cans.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
sensing an amount of ink in the ink fountains; and
controlling the robotic arm to pick up ink from one of the plurality of ink containers and place the picked up ink in one of the plurality of ink fountains based on sensed amounts of ink in the ink fountains.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
controlling the robotic arm to pick up ink from one of the plurality of ink containers;
controlling the robotic arm to move to one of the plurality of ink fountains; and
controlling the robotic arm to place the picked up ink in the one of the plurality of ink fountains.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
controlling the robotic arm to pick up ink from one of the plurality of ink fountains;
controlling the robotic arm to move to one of the plurality of ink containers; and
controlling the robotic arm to place the picked up ink in the one of the plurality of ink containers.

19. A can decorator system comprising:
a plurality of ink fountains corresponding to a plurality of ink station assemblies;
a plurality of ink containers;
a robotic arm structured to move between the plurality of ink fountains and the plurality of ink containers, to pick up ink from one of the plurality of ink fountains or ink containers and to place the picked up ink in another one of the plurality of ink fountains or ink containers; and
a controller structured to control operations of the robotic arm.

20. The can decorator of claim 19 , further comprising:
a sensor structured to sense an amount of ink picked up and placed by the robotic arm, wherein the controller is structured to control the robotic arm to pick up and place a predetermined amount of ink, and wherein the predetermined amount of ink is based on an amount of ink required to decorate a run of cans.

Assignees

• Stolle Machinery Co Llc

Inventors

• Scholey Ian Kenneth
• Maurer Joseph John Allen
• Christensen Stephen Dane

Classifications

• B41F31/20

  Ink-removing or collecting devices · CPC title

• B41F31/08

  with ink ejecting means, e.g. pumps, nozzles · CPC title

• B41F33/0018

  Protection means against injury to the operator · CPC title

• B25J9/1679 Primary

  characterised by the tasks executed · CPC title

• B41J2/17509 Primary

  Whilst mounted in the printer · CPC title