A post printing treatment assembly includes a product support assembly and a post printing treatment device. The product support assembly includes a primary support assembly, a primary drive assembly, a number of secondary support assemblies, and a secondary drive assembly. The primary drive assembly is operatively coupled to the primary support assembly. The primary drive assembly imparts a generally constant motion to the primary support assembly. Each secondary support assembly is structured to support a number of work pieces. Each secondary support assembly is movably coupled to the primary support assembly. The secondary drive assembly is operatively coupled to each secondary support assembly. The secondary drive assembly selectively imparts a motion to each secondary support assembly. The post printing treatment device is disposed adjacent the product support assembly.

A pretreatment assembly includes a product support assembly and a pretreatment device. The product support assembly includes a primary support assembly, a primary drive assembly, a number of secondary support assemblies, and a secondary drive assembly. The primary drive assembly is operatively coupled to the primary support assembly. The primary drive assembly imparts a generally constant motion to the primary support assembly. Each secondary support assembly is structured to support a number of work pieces. Each secondary support assembly is movably coupled to the primary support assembly. The secondary drive assembly is operatively coupled to each secondary support assembly. The secondary drive assembly selectively imparts a motion to each secondary support assembly. The pretreatment device is disposed adjacent the product support assembly.

A printing machine includes: a printing plate attached to a plate cylinder; a blanket configured to transfer ink from the printing plate to a printed material; a blanket wheel configured to rotate the blanket; and at least one of a distance sensor or a temperature sensor. The distance sensor is provided in the blanket wheel and configured to measure a distance of the printing plate to the blanket wheel, and the temperature sensor is provided in the blanket wheel and configured to measure a temperature of the printing plate.

A mandrel wherein a portion of the mandrel body outer surface is cortical; i.e., flared outwardly, is provided. In this configuration, the necked can is drawn against the conical portion of the mandrel body outer surface while a generally cylindrical portion of the mandrel body extends into the can. Further, the space between the cylindrical portion of the mandrel body and the can is pressurized so as to resist deformations in the can during the decorating process. In an exemplary embodiment, the mandrel includes an elongated mandrel body with an outer surface, a proximal, first end, a proximal medial portion, a distal medial portion, and a distal, second end and having an axis of rotation. The mandrel body outer surface includes an elongated conical portion; the mandrel body outer surface conical portion is disposed adjacently about the mandrel body first end.

What is disclosed is system which facilitates the application of a mark to a surface of an object in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the present marking system. The present marking system comprises a camera for capturing an image of an object retained by an object holder configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned to be parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject in onto a surface of the object. A processor receives an image of an object held and communicates the image to a display. A mark to be printed on the object is retrieved and overlaid on the object in the image. A location of the overlaid mark is determined and communicated to a controller which causes the printhead to print the mark on the object at the location.

A rotary digital printing system is disclosed, which includes: a print zone, including several independent print stations, each station including a respective print head, curing system, and read head; a number of fixtures, each fixture being configured to support an item that is to receive printed information, and including an encoder ring that can be read by a given print station's read head to determine a circumferential position and rotational speed of the fixture in question; a rotational drive for rotating each fixture positioned in a print station such that the surface of the item support member and an item disposed thereon is rotated past the print head and curing system for printing and curing; a conveyance module for transporting the fixtures to said print stations. The system is configured so as to convey, using the conveyance module, the plurality of fixtures through the print zone, stopping at one or more of the print stations.

What is disclosed is system which facilitates the application of a mark to a surface of an object in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the present marking system. The present marking system comprises a camera for capturing an image of an object retained by an object holder configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned to be parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject in onto a surface of the object. A processor receives an image of an object held and communicates the image to a display. A mark to be printed on the object is retrieved and overlaid on the object in the image. A location of the overlaid mark is determined and communicated to a controller which causes the printhead to print the mark on the object at the location.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for cold-stamping onto a three-dimensional object. In a first step, an adhesive is applied to the object at a first workstation. In a second step, a transfer film is pressed onto the object by a pressing device at a second workstation. At the same time, the adhesive is cured at the second workstation. As a result, the decorative material of the transfer film adheres to the object at the positions on the object which are provided with adhesive. If, following this, the transfer film is removed from the three-dimensional object after being pressed on, the decorative material remains on the object at the desired positions. At the positions at which in the first step no adhesive has been applied to the object, the decorative material does not adhere to the object but rather remains on the carrier film of the transfer film.

A mandrel wherein a portion of the mandrel body outer surface is cortical; i.e., flared outwardly, is provided. In this configuration, the necked can is drawn against the conical portion of the mandrel body outer surface while a generally cylindrical portion of the mandrel body extends into the can. Further, the space between the cylindrical portion of the mandrel body and the can is pressurized so as to resist deformations in the can during the decorating process. In an exemplary embodiment, the mandrel includes an elongated mandrel body with an outer surface, a proximal, first end, a proximal medial portion, a distal medial portion, and a distal, second end and having an axis of rotation. The mandrel body outer surface includes an elongated conical portion; the mandrel body outer surface conical portion is disposed adjacently about the mandrel body first end.

An apparatus and methods of decorating a metallic container are provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods used to provide a decoration or indicia on a predetermined portion of an outer surface of a metallic container body. The decorator includes at least one digital print unit, a transfer blanket, and a support element. The digital print unit transfers a decorating material to the transfer blanket to form a decoration on the transfer blanket. The support element then moves a metallic container into contact with the transfer blanket. In this manner, the decorating material is transferred to an exterior surface portion of the metallic container to decorate the metallic container. In one embodiment, the digital print unit is an electrophotographic system which transfers a toner material to the transfer blanket. In another embodiment, the digital print unit includes an inkjet print head which transfers an ink to the transfer blanket. Optionally, the decorator may include two or more support elements.