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.

A printer includes a spindle that rotates a fibrous object opposite a plurality of printheads while a forced air heater directs heated air toward the surface of the fibrous object. The plurality of printheads eject drops of solid ink onto the surface of the fibrous object to form a solid ink image on the fibrous object and the heated air affixes the solid ink image to the surface of the fibrous object without requiring pressure to affix the solid ink image to the fibrous object.

In one method, a piece of nonwoven PET or PP fabric is formed into a tote bag using a bag forming device. Seams of the tote bag are ultrasonically welded using an ultrasonic bag welding device. The ultrasonic bag welding device includes at least one sonotrode. In another method, BOPP film is received and a full-color graphic is printed on the BOPP film for each tote bag using a printer. The printed BOPP film is received from the printer and nonwoven PP or PET fabric is received from a roll of nonwoven PP or PET fabric using a laminator. The printed BOPP film is laminated to the nonwoven PP or PET fabric. The printed BOPP film laminated to nonwoven PP or PET fabric is received from the laminator and a finished version of each tote bag is produced using an ultrasonic bag welding device.

A method is provided for printing on hollow bodies in which the hollow bodies are printed on in a decorator having a rotating segment wheel. Printing ink provided by multiple different plate cylinders and inking units are each collected on printing blankets arranged one after another on the circumference of the segment wheel. The plate cylinders and inking units involved in the printing are arranged and set in such a way that, when printing on the hollow body, an iris print is, or at least can be implemented.

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.

An oscillating roller system for a beverage can decorator is driven back and forth by a cam follower. A cam body having a cam is mounted to a frame of the inker system. Three oscillating cam roller assemblies are positioned about the cam body. Rotation of the cam oscillates the cam followers for each one of the oscillating rollers. Bearings of the oscillating roller assemblies includes an inlet gallery and outlet gallery for a closed loop lubrication system. The rollers are water cooled.

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 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 beverage container printing device including a frame, a container speed regulator mounted to said frame, a motor on said frame and drivingly engaged with said container speed regulator, an entry sensor disposed in an entry chute, an exit sensor disposed proximate an exit chute, and a control system for selectively operating said motor to drive said container speed regulator. The entry and exit sensors are each operable to determine the presence of a beverage container. In one embodiment, the container speed regulator may be in the form of a spiral device or star wheel. Beverage containers are fed by gravity to the printing device, the speed is controlled to ensure a quality print of text or symbols, and the speed regulator device in concert with a stop sensor stop the beverage containers at a position to ensure a quality print during a shutdown or startup condition of the machine.

The invention relates to a method and a device for clampingly holding against a substrate (8), for example a drinking cup, a heat transfer sheet (5) using a clamping sheet (2), the method comprising the steps of:providing a device (1) with a substrate holder (10) for clampingly holding the substrate (8);providing a clamping sheet (2) with a width and a length, said length being measured between longitudinal ends of the clamping sheet (2), and wherein at the longitudinal ends of the clamping sheet (2) coupling means (3) are provided,positioning in catch means (4) of a positioning device the coupling means (3) for keeping the clamping sheet (2) in a first position; especially wherein the method further comprises the steps of:positioning on the clamping sheet (2) a heat transfer sheet (5) wherein a layer comprising a transferrable ink is to be directed towards the substrate (8);positioning against each other the substrate (8) and the heat transfer sheet (5);moving along the substrate the coupling means (3) and at least partially extending the clamping sheet (2); andmoving towards each other the coupling means (3) that are provided at respective ends of. the clamping sheet (2) for clamping the heat transfer sheet (5) in a second position against the substrate (8) wherein the clamping sheet (2) has a substantially maximum extension.