Disclosed is a printing apparatus carriage for a container having a circular cross section. The present invention is directed to perform stable transport and mass printing therethrough without using a groove formed on a middle part of the container when the container is transported.

Disclosed is a printing apparatus carriage for a container having a circular cross section. The present invention is directed to perform stable transport and mass printing therethrough without using a groove formed on a middle part of the container when the container is transported.

The invention is a method of using a turret styled decorator machine to decorate container media. The machine utilized has a rotatable turret and a number of circumferentially spaced container holding assemblies for holding a variety of pieces of media, such as a drink container, the exterior surface of which is to have ink applied to form an image. A plurality of workstations are positioned around the perimeter of the turret through which each media holder passes as the turret rotates. Due to the unique configuration of the decorating machine, each piece of media, once loaded, spins at a rate different from any other piece of media so that the entire decorating process is speed optimized for each print job. Further, container media may spin continuously during the decorating process so that the turret never needs to pause for media to stop rotating or to begin rotating.

The invention is a method of using a turret styled decorator machine to decorate container media. The machine utilized has a rotatable turret and a number of circumferentially spaced container holding assemblies for holding a variety of pieces of media, such as a drink container, the exterior surface of which is to have ink applied to form an image. A plurality of workstations are positioned around the perimeter of the turret through which each media holder passes as the turret rotates. Due to the unique configuration of the decorating machine, each piece of media, once loaded, spins at a rate different from any other piece of media so that the entire decorating process is speed optimized for each print job. Further, container media may spin continuously during the decorating process so that the turret never needs to pause for media to stop rotating or to begin rotating.

A turret styled container decorator machine is disclosed having a rotatable turret and a number of circumferentially spaced container holding assemblies for holding a variety of pieces of media, such as a drink container, the surface of which is to be printed upon with an image. A plurality of workstations are positioned around the perimeter of the turret through which each media holder passes as the turret rotates. Each workstation includes an ink printing assembly and a curing assembly so that ink may be applied and cured as each piece of media is indexed into each workstation location. Each printing workstation may be removed and replaced with a different arrangement or configuration of ink heads to suit different types of media sizes and shapes, and the turret holds a plurality of media holding means assigned to a pie-shaped section of the turret adjustable to accommodate various types of media geometries.

A turret styled container decorator machine is disclosed having a rotatable turret and a number of circumferentially spaced container holding assemblies for holding a variety of pieces of media, such as a drink container, the surface of which is to be printed upon with an image. A plurality of workstations are positioned around the perimeter of the turret through which each media holder passes as the turret rotates. Each workstation includes an ink printing assembly and a curing assembly so that ink may be applied and cured as each piece of media is indexed into each workstation location. Each printing workstation may be removed and replaced with a different arrangement or configuration of ink heads to suit different types of media sizes and shapes, and the turret holds a plurality of media holding means assigned to a pie-shaped section of the turret adjustable to accommodate various types of media geometries.

A method for manufacturing a printed can lid (1) of a can with a digital printing method; comprising at least the following steps: a) making available a shell (2) with an outer face (3) and an inner face (4); b) making available a control unit (9) and a printed image (8), wherein the printed image (8) can be processed in the control unit (9); c) making available at least a first digital printing unit (10) with at least one printing head (11); wherein the printed image (8) which is made available by the control unit (9) can be printed onto the outer face (3) with the printing head (11); and d) printing the printed image (8) which is made available by the control unit (9) onto the outer face (3) with the printing head (11).

A method for manufacturing a printed can lid (1) of a can with a digital printing method; comprising at least the following steps: a) making available a shell (2) with an outer face (3) and an inner face (4); b) making available a control unit (9) and a printed image (8), wherein the printed image (8) can be processed in the control unit (9); c) making available at least a first digital printing unit (10) with at least one printing head (11); wherein the printed image (8) which is made available by the control unit (9) can be printed onto the outer face (3) with the printing head (11); and d) printing the printed image (8) which is made available by the control unit (9) onto the outer face (3) with the printing head (11).

A printing machine, including a frame, at least one printing station having at least one inkjet print head, a turret rotating about an axis of rotation, object carriers rotating on the turret about respective object carrier axes, the turret being movable between a plurality of positions, and a drive system driving one of the object carriers in rotation relative to the turret, the drive system including a first part mounted on the frame, and a second part having a locking device and a drive device, wherein the second part moves between an active position, in which the drive device rotates one of the object carriers and the locking device locks the rotating turret about the axis of rotation in one of the positions of the turret, and a rest position, in which the drive device and the locking device are away from the one of the object carriers.

A printing machine, including a frame, at least one printing station having at least one inkjet print head, a turret rotating about an axis of rotation, object carriers rotating on the turret about respective object carrier axes, the turret being movable between a plurality of positions, and a drive system driving one of the object carriers in rotation relative to the turret, the drive system including a first part mounted on the frame, and a second part having a locking device and a drive device, wherein the second part moves between an active position, in which the drive device rotates one of the object carriers and the locking device locks the rotating turret about the axis of rotation in one of the positions of the turret, and a rest position, in which the drive device and the locking device are away from the one of the object carriers.