The invention relates to a device having a two-component drip edge. One side of the drip edge is formed by a material having an attractive behavior with respect to a liquid and the opposite side of the drip edge is formed from a material having a repulsive behavior with respect to the liquid. This design yields an improved drip effect.

A method controls the color in a printing press, which includes at least one printing station printing a respective color design. The method includes the procedures of determining a control factor to color model, printing a design on a web and acquiring color characteristics corresponding to the printed design on the web. The method further includes the procedures of determining the color quality of the printed color design and determining a required change to at least one control factor when a correction to the color characteristics of the printed design is required. The change to at least one control factor is determined by determining the at least one control factor with respective color related information, which results in a reference color characteristic, according to the control factor to color model. The method returns to the procedure of printing when a correction is not required.

An over-varnish unit and mandrel pre-spin system for a can decorator, especially for beverage can bodies, can have a mandrel pre-spin belt that is outside of the over-varnish unit housing. The position of the can infeed on the mandrel wheel and the print point is controlled.

Based on evaporation of fountain solution from a rotating blanket cylinder to create an image that may be inked and printed, a digitally addressable heater array at or just below the blanket surface evaporates deposited fountain solution and forms a fountain solution latent image on the surface. The heater array has controllable heating elements (e.g., field effect transistors, thin film transistors) that provide a transient heat pattern on the surface to evaporate the fountain solution. Heat is generated by current flow in the heating elements, and power developed by the heating circuit is the product of source-drain voltage and current in the channel. Current may be supplied along data lines by an external voltage controlled by digital electronics to provide the desired heat at heating elements addressed by a specific gate line. The heater array may include a current return line that may be a 2-dimensional mesh.

Fountain solution latent images are provided on an inking blanket without using laser-induced evaporation systems. Approaches include a rotatable charge retentive surface configured to receive an unfused toned electrostatic pattern of toner particles adhered thereto via electrophotography. The toner includes small diameter polymeric or inorganic particles that may have no color pigment to appear transparent or translucent. Fountain solution is disposed on at least one of the toner, the charge retentive surface and a transfer substrate. The transfer substrate is adjacent the charge retentive surface and forms a nip therebetween, with the transfer substrate sandwiching the unfused toned electrostatic pattern of toner particles and fountain solution against the charge retentive surface at the nip. Fountain solution sandwiched between the surfaces splits as the surfaces separate downstream the nip, leaving a fountain solution latent image remaining on the transfer member surface based on the electrostatic charged pattern on the charge retentive surface.

A thermostatic color ink cup pad printer includes an ink cup mechanism, a printing mechanism and a printing plate mechanism. The ink cup mechanism includes an ink cup assembly and a first driving source; the printing mechanism includes a printing pad and a second driving source; and the printing plate mechanism includes a printing plate and a base. The base is internally provided with a heating section capable of generating heat for heating the printing plate, such that the printing plate in contact with the ink cup assembly is maintained at a set temperature, and ink in the ink cup assembly in contact with the printing plate can also be kept at the set temperature in the process of pad printing.

An over-varnish unit and mandrel pre-spin system for a can decorator, especially for beverage can bodies, can have a mandrel pre-spin belt that is outside of the over-varnish unit housing. The position of the can infeed on the mandrel wheel and the print point is controlled.

A print registration system for a beverage can decorator includes an axial registration system and a circumferential registration system. Each registration system is independent and includes a slider that is translated by a motorized lead screw. Axial movement of the axial registration slider is transmitted to axial adjustment of the plate cylinder by a mechanical connection between the axial registration slider and the plate cylinder shaft. Translation of the circumferential registration slider is transmitted to a helical gear mounted to the plate cylinder shaft such that the plate cylinder shaft is rotated by the movement of the circumferential registration slider upon engagement of the helical driven gear with a stationary drive gear.

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a refill container is described. The refill container includes a reservoir to house a volume of print compound and a chamber to house a pressurized fluid. A wall separates the reservoir from the chamber. A pressure release device of the refill container creates a fluid path between the chamber and the reservoir such that the pressurized fluid flows into the reservoir to mix with the volume of print compound. A trigger of the refill container activates the pressure release device.

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a refill container is described. The refill container includes a reservoir to house a volume of print compound and a chamber to house a pressurized fluid. A wall separates the reservoir from the chamber. A pressure release device of the refill container creates a fluid path between the chamber and the reservoir such that the pressurized fluid flows into the reservoir to mix with the volume of print compound. A trigger of the refill container activates the pressure release device.