A modular decorator ink temperature control system for use with a blanket wheel, the blanket wheel having inker station configured with an inker station panel and at least one roller operatively mounted thereto. The modular decorator ink temperature control system includes a thermal transfer fluid conduit having an entry end distal to the blanket wheel and an exit end proximate to the blanket wheel with the thermal transfer fluid conduit in contact with the at least one roller and configured to convey at least one thermal transfer fluid therethrough. The modular decorator ink temperature control system also includes at least one control manifold device mounted on the inker station panel in operative communication with the thermal transfer fluid conduit.

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 printing apparatus includes a printing pad having a printing surface configured to be deformed to conform to a shape of a surface of an item to be printed, a printing original plate stage on which a printing original plate is placed, the printing original plate having a placement surface on which ink is placed, a printing stage provided for placing the item to be printed, and a blower configured to send air toward the printing surface of the printing pad. The printing pad is movable between the printing original plate stage and the printing stage, and is vertically movable from and to the printing original plate stage or the printing stage, and the blower sends air toward the printing surface of the printing pad in a state where the ink on the placement surface of the printing original plate is transferred to the printing surface.

A temperature control assembly controls the temperature of functional parts of a printing machine. The temperature control assembly comprises a plurality of assembly-side sub-circuits, the temperature of which is to be individually controlled, each sub-circuit having a temperature-control fluid outlet and a temperature-control fluid inlet, on each of which, in order to form a respective temperature control circuit, one or more functional parts can be connected as loads of a temperature-controlling external temperature control sub-circuit by the use of releasable connections, and which, on the feed side of the temperature control thereof, are or can be thermally and fluidically coupled, via respective removal points, to a common feed line, and on the return side, via each return point, to a common fluid return. The temperature control assembly is configured as a structurally independent assembly comprising the assembly-side temperature control circuits thereof and the feed and return, and a temperature control device that controls the temperature of the temperature control fluid supplied to the feed, one of on and in a single-component or in a multi-component frame of the temperature control assembly. The temperature control device is provided in a fluid stream between the last return point and the first removal point. A line section of the feed line, which extends at least over the length from the first removal point to the last downward removal point of the assembly-side temperature control circuit, has an average line cross-section which is one of greater than a multiple of the average line cross-section of a supply line section arranged in the feed downstream of the temperature control device and arranged upstream of the line section, and which is greater than a multiple of a line a cross-section upstream of each of the largest return point.

A modular decorator ink temperature control system for use with a blanket wheel, the blanket wheel having inker station configured with an inker station panel and at least one roller operatively mounted thereto. The modular decorator ink temperature control system includes a thermal transfer fluid conduit having an entry end distal to the blanket wheel and an exit end proximate to the blanket wheel with the thermal transfer fluid conduit in contact with the at least one roller and configured to convey at least one thermal transfer fluid therethrough. The modular decorator ink temperature control system also includes at least one control manifold device mounted on the inker station panel in operative communication with the thermal transfer fluid conduit.

A temperature control assembly controls the temperature of functional parts of a printing machine. The temperature control assembly comprises a plurality of assembly-side sub-circuits, the temperature of which is to be individually controlled, each sub-circuit having a temperature-control fluid outlet and a temperature-control fluid inlet, on each of which, in order to form a respective temperature control circuit, one or more functional parts can be connected as loads of a temperature-controlling external temperature control sub-circuit by the use of releasable connections, and which, on the feed side of the temperature control thereof, are or can be thermally and fluidically coupled, via respective removal points, to a common feed line, and on the return side, via each return point, to a common fluid return. The temperature control assembly is configured as a structurally independent assembly comprising the assembly-side temperature control circuits thereof and the feed and return, and a temperature control device that controls the temperature of the temperature control fluid supplied to the feed, one of on and in a single-component or in a multi-component frame of the temperature control assembly. The temperature control device is provided in a fluid stream between the last return point and the first removal point. A line section of the feed line, which extends at least over the length from the first removal point to the last downward removal point of the assembly-side temperature control circuit, has an average line cross-section which is one of greater than a multiple of the average line cross-section of a supply line section arranged in the feed downstream of the temperature control device and arranged upstream of the line section, and which is greater than a multiple of a line a cross-section upstream of each of the largest return point.

A chamber blade system maximizes ink flow at an anilox doctor blade by including a heating element adjacent the doctor blade to heat ink adjacent the blade. The heating element may be a heat strip next to an anilox doctor blade that heats the ink adjacent the doctor blade and temporarily reduces the ink viscosity to improve the flow of ink in the vicinity of the blade. Doctoring blades with a ceramic tip coating may be configured to allow a small amount of controlled ink flow through that can wet the lands thereby reducing the hydrodynamic back pressures and friction when trying to force the ink into anilox cells.

A device for printing on hollow bodies has a plurality of printing units each having a printing cylinder. At least one of the printing units has an inking unit having a chambered doctor blade that provides printing ink. The chambered doctor blade system has at least one ink pan and a doctor blade holder in a single assembly. The single assembly of the chambered doctor blade system is retained in the inking unit only on one side. The assembly of the chambered doctor blade system forms a cantilever arm on a side frame of the inking unit. The assembly of the chambered doctor blade system can be moved axially parallel to the anilox roller and can be removed from the inking unit by that movement.

A device for printing on hollow bodies has a plurality of printing units each having a printing cylinder. At least one of the printing units has an inking unit having a chambered doctor blade that provides printing ink. The chambered doctor blade system has at least one ink pan and a doctor blade holder in a single assembly. The single assembly of the chambered doctor blade system is retained in the inking unit only on one side. The assembly of the chambered doctor blade system forms a cantilever arm on a side frame of the inking unit. The assembly of the chambered doctor blade system can be moved axially parallel to the anilox roller and can be removed from the inking unit by that movement.

An automatic registration and color adjustment system includes a can decorator including at least a plurality of plate cylinders and a plurality of inking station; a plurality of sensors; and an automatic registration and color adjustment device communicatively coupled to the can decorator, the plurality of sensors and the plurality of temperature control elements, the automatic registration and color adjustment device structured to: receive outputs from at least the plurality of sensors; determine that an adjustment to the can decorator is to be made based on the outputs and previous adjustment information; and control the can decorator to make the determined adjustment.