An apparatus is disclosed for printing images on generally cylindrical objects. The apparatus comprises an impression station that includes a movable imaging surface for bearing an ink image; and a transport mechanism for advancing the objects through the impression station, comprising a drive member rotatably connected to a plurality of rotatable mandrels, each for mounting a respective one of the objects, the transport mechanism being configured to cause each object to rotate during passage through the impression station such that, within a nip region of the impression station, the surface of the object makes rolling contact with the imaging surface, thereby causing the ink image to be impressed on the object. An impression platen is provided opposite the imaging surface within the nip region, the impression platen being configured to apply a force, directly or indirectly, to the objects to ensure rolling contact between the objects and the imaging surface.

The present invention provides a method of forming a pattern that can form a precise pattern on a variety of media by using powders and provides a pattern-producing apparatus. The method of forming a pattern includes providing a liquid pattern on a surface of a medium, applying a powder to the liquid pattern so as to adhere to the liquid pattern, removing the powdery particles of the powder not adhered to the liquid pattern to give a pattern of the powder, and further applying another powder to the pattern of the powder.

A gravure offset printing apparatus includes two clamps, a printing roller and a driving device. The two clamps are applicable to clamp individually two opposing ends of a blanket. The printing roller having an axial direction parallel to a first direction is disposed between the two clamps. The blanket wraps part of a radial periphery of the printing roller. The driving device is to drive the two clamps to undergo reverse motions so as to displace the blanket, and the blanket further rotates the printing roller. A gravure module, disposed on a platform of the gravure offset printing apparatus, has a groove for containing an offset ink. While the two clamps pull the blanket to undergo the reverse motions, a surface of the blanket contacts the gravure module so as to adhere the offset ink on the surface of the blanket.

Offset print apparatus comprises a blanket arranged in a closed loop around a plurality of rollers. Each of the plurality of rollers is rotatable about a respective roller axis to support and convey the blanket around the closed loop. The plurality of rollers comprises: a primary steering roller rotatable about a primary roller axis and being pivotable about a primary steering axis perpendicular to the primary roller axis; and a secondary steering roller rotatable about a secondary roller axis and being pivotable about a secondary steering axis perpendicular to the secondary roller axis. The primary and secondary steering rollers are each independently pivotable. The offset print apparatus further comprises an actuator to actuate pivoting of the primary steering roller and the secondary steering roller.

An apparatus is disclosed for printing images on generally cylindrical objects. The apparatus comprises an impression station that includes a movable imaging surface for bearing an ink image; and a transport mechanism for advancing the objects through the impression station, comprising a drive member rotatably connected to a plurality of rotatable mandrels, each for mounting a respective one of the objects, the transport mechanism being configured to cause each object to rotate during passage through the impression station such that, within a nip region of the impression station, the surface of the object makes rolling contact with the imaging surface, thereby causing the ink image to be impressed on the object. An impression platen is provided opposite the imaging surface within the nip region, the impression platen being configured to apply a force, directly or indirectly, to the objects to ensure rolling contact between the objects and the imaging surface.

An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit that comes into contact with an object to transfer an image to the object, a facing unit that moves together with the object in a transport direction of the object to bring the object into contact with the transfer unit, and a mechanism that brings the facing unit closer to the transfer unit in accordance with movement of the facing unit in the transport to bring the object into contact with the transfer unit and then further brings the facing unit and the transfer unit closer to each other.