A device for printing hollow bodies includes a rubber blanket cylinder. A supply device, which guides the hollow bodies to the rubber blanket cylinder, is provided. The supply device comprises a mandrel which is rotated by a drive. One of the hollow bodies to be printed is arranged coaxially on the mandrel. An axial spacing between the mandrel and the rubber blanket cylinder can be changed as a result of an adjusting movement of the supply device. The adjusting movement of the supply device is a linear adjusting movement. The supply device is configured as a linear system which radially supplies the hollow bodies to the rubber blanket cylinder individually and one after the other. The supply device has multiple different positions, each of which places the respective hollow body to be printed, along the adjustment path of the supply device. The positions are arranged at different respective radial distances with respect to the rubber blanket cylinder.

The machine (1) comprises: a stationary frame structure (2), wherein support elements (8-12) are provided for supporting an article (A) on which an image (I) is to be printed; a thermal transfer assembly (20) which is vertically movable relative to the frame structure (2), above the support elements (8-12), between a raised rest position and a lowered working position, and includes a transfer pad (21) having an active surface (21a) which is heated in operation; and supply and guide devices (23-36) arranged to advance, along a predetermined path extending in part between the active surface (21a) of the transfer pad (21) and the support elements (8-12), a flexible printing ribbon (N) which on a side thereof carries, at predetermined intervals, images (I) formed of a thermally transferable ink. The machine (1) further comprises a position sensor (80) arranged to provide electrical signals indicative of the vertical position of the transfer pad (21), and a control unit (14) arranged to carry out a learning phase wherein the control unit (14) causes a descent run of the thermal transfer assembly (20), until the transfer pad (21) is brought into engagement with an article (A) of a predetermined type positioned on the support elements (8-12), and through the position sensor (80) detects and then stores reference data characterizing such descent run, and a subsequent printing phase, wherein the control unit (14) causes a subsequent descent run of the thermal transfer assembly (20) towards and up to an article (A) of the same type positioned on the support elements (8-12), detecting and comparing with said reference data the corresponding data that characterize the current descent run, and stopping the printing phase when the comparison between these data is indicative of an anomaly in the current descent run.

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.

A device for printing hollow bodies includes a rubber blanket cylinder. A supply device, which guides the hollow bodies to the rubber blanket cylinder, is provided. The supply device comprises a mandrel which is rotated by a drive. One of the hollow bodies to be printed is arranged coaxially on the mandrel. An axial spacing between the mandrel and the rubber blanket cylinder can be changed as a result of an adjusting movement of the supply device. The adjusting movement of the supply device is a linear adjusting movement. The supply device is configured as a linear system which radially supplies the hollow bodies to the rubber blanket cylinder individually and one after the other. The supply device has multiple different positions, each of which places the respective hollow body to be printed, along the adjustment path of the supply device. The positions are arranged at different respective radial distances with respect to the rubber blanket cylinder.

An apparatus for printing on containers includes a transport arm and a lift that cooperate to form a first container-transport device that moves a container at a container-loading position into a printing position. The transport arm is arranged on the lift and pivotable about a pivot axis thereof. The lift is axially displaceable and displaces the transport arm axially in relation to the pivot axis. At the printing position, a print head prints on the container.

Provided is a conveyance device capable of reducing the speed of conveyed objects, with the interval therebetween being narrowed substantially, while arranging the conveyed objects, which have been carried in one row, in a plurality of rows. The present invention includes a conveyance turret (110) that holds and conveys conveyed objects (K) and a carrying-out turret (120) that holds the conveyed objects (K) and transfers the same to a carrying-out conveyor (130), wherein the carrying-out conveyor (130) is configured to hold the conveyed objects (K) in a plurality of rows and carry out the same, the carrying-out turret (120) is provided in plurality so as to correspond to the plurality of rows of the carrying-out conveyor (130), and the conveyance turret (110) and the carrying-out turret (120) have an interval adjustment mechanism that changes radial positions of the held conveyed objects (K) according to rotation angles thereof.

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.

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.

A mandrel wherein a portion of the mandrel body outer surface is conical; 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.

The present invention relates to using soft secondary plates and specialty inks in a printing process. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and methods of using soft secondary plates made of a rubber comprising a saturated chain of polymethylene or a photopolymer material to decorate an exterior surface of cylindrical metallic containers with high definition graphics and other indicia.