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.

The present invention relates to a method for providing a multi-layered, hollow, chocolate figure with a print in edible colour preparation, comprising providing one half of a hollow, chocolate figure with one or more types of edible colour preparation by means of an elastic pad, characterised in that the printing takes place at a pressure of between 8 and 12 bar and wherein the figure is situated in a mould-half during printing.

A metallic beverage container body inspection apparatus processes a plurality of metallic beverage container bodies along an index path. An indexer sequentially transfers metallic beverage container bodies from the manufacturing queue through the apparatus while maintaining an orientation of the container bodies. A dwell position is located on the index path wherein the indexer delivers metallic beverage container bodies to the dwell position. An inspection position is vertically aligned with and horizontally offset from the dwell position. An image recorder is aimed the inspection position and captures a plurality of images about a circumference of each metallic beverage containers.

A processing machine has a plurality of processing stations for the processing of articles. A plurality of the processing stations are each configured in the form of a printing unit. The processing stations, which are provided for processing the articles, are each arranged at different positions. At least one handling device is provided for transporting at least one of the articles which is to be processed. The handling device has a drive which is controlled by a control device and, which handling device, by the use of this drive, can be displaced from one processing station, in which the respective article is processed, to at least one next processing station for processing this article. The processing machine has a learning phase and a production phase. Provision is made for a memory device, which is connected to the control device, to store, in the learning phase, position-related values of the relevant handling system, those position-related values being determined by the use of a calibration travel executed by the relevant handling system for a certain processing procedure. Following the changeover of the processing machine from its learning phase to its production phase, the drive of the relevant handling device is controlled by the control device such that the relevant handling device assumes, one after the other, the positions previously stored for it in the memory device in the learning phase.

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 decorator assembly includes a cup holder assembly, a cup transfer assembly, and a decorator mandrel turret assembly. The cup holder assembly is structured to hold a number of cups in a nested, bottom leading configuration. The cup transfer assembly is structured to move cups from said cup holder assembly to a decorator mandrel turret assembly. The decorator mandrel turret assembly is structured to rotatably support a number of cups.

A processing machine is configured, in particular, as a printing machine and has a plurality of processing stations for the processing of typically hollow bodies. The processing stations for the processing of the bodies are arranged in an operating chamber each at different positions, in a state in which they are lined up in a row in the direction of transport of the bodies which are to be processed. The processing stations are arranged in the same horizontal plane in the operating chamber. A body which is to be processed, or which has been processed, is transported from one processing station to the next processing station beneath that horizontal plane in which the individual processing stations are arranged. A plurality of simultaneously operated, or simultaneously operable, handling devices are provided in the operating chamber. Each handling device is provided for transporting at least one body which is to be processed, or which has been processed. At least two of the handling devices, which are arranged in the same operating chamber and are simultaneously operated, or are at least simultaneously operable, are arranged in different horizontal planes arranged vertically one above the other and are each moved, or at least are capable of being moved, horizontally in the respective plane.

The present invention relates to a method for decorating a drinking or eating vessel, the method comprising: a. providing: i. a drinking or eating vessel, wherein the vessel comprises an inner surface that defines a volume for receiving a liquid or a solid food and an outer surface comprising a polymeric coating; and ii. a transfer sheet, wherein the transfer sheet comprises a printed decoration; and iii. a supporting means comprising a recess for receiving the vessel; and b. arranging the vessel within the recess of the supporting means thereby defining a lower portion of the outer surface of the vessel occluded from contact with the transfer sheet and an upper portion of the outer surface of the vessel for contacting the transfer sheet; and contacting the upper portion of the outer surface of the vessel and the supporting means with the transfer sheet under at least a partial vacuum, wherein the printed decoration is transferred from the transfer sheet to the upper portion of the outer surface of the vessel, and wherein the supporting means reduces stretching of the transfer sheet from the upper portion of the outer surface of the vessel to the lower portion of the outer surface of the vessel. Also described are associated uses, an apparatus, and drinking or eating vessels obtainable by the methods of the invention.

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.

The present invention relates to a method for providing a multi-layered, hollow, chocolate figure with a print in edible color preparation, comprising providing one half of a hollow, chocolate figure with one or more types of edible color preparation by means of an elastic pad, characterized in that the printing takes place at a pressure of between 8 and 12 bar and wherein the figure is situated in a mold-half during printing.