Apparatus and method for orienting components of a rotary machine, such as a container treatment machine, where the rotary machine comprises a stator and a rotor and also at least one component which is arranged on the stator, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one reference element which is arranged on the stator and a sensor which is arranged on the rotor so as to rotate with it, wherein the sensor is suitable for measuring the distance from the reference element and from the component, and the stator, the rotor and the component can be oriented in relation to one another based on the values measured by the sensor.

The invention relates to a holding and centering device for containers, comprising a fixing section (3) which enables the holding and centering device to be fixed to a transport element of a container treatment device, and at least one holding section (4, 4′) which is designed to pick up and hold a container (2) which is to be treated. Said holding and centering device is characterized by two holding sections (4, 4′) which are arranged opposite each other, by means of which respectively one container (2) which is to be treated, can be fixed.

A printing apparatus is provided with: a support member supporting a can body; a movement route in which the support member moves, the movement route being formed into an annular shape and partially including a linear part, which is a linear-shaped movement route; and plural inkjet heads forming an image onto the can body supported by the support member positioned at the linear part. Thus, it is possible to suppress degradation of image quality that may happen in the case of forming a movement route of can bodies into an annular shape when an image is to be formed on a can body by use of the plural inkjet heads.

A device for applying at least a first energy to a substrate includes a conversion material application unit configured to apply a conversion material for converting a second energy to the first energy to the substrate and an energy application unit configured to apply the second energy to the conversion material applied to the substrate, wherein the second energy corresponds to an amount of heat not less than heat of evaporation of the conversion material.

This invention relates to a print bar structure, a printing apparatus and a method for printing on an outer surface of an object comprising at least one cylindrical portion, particularly a cylindrical and/or conical container. The invention also relates to a manufacturing facility and method for manufacturing containers. The printing apparatus typically comprises a print bar structure, a plurality of print heads attachable to the print bar structure, a curing device, and a displacement assembly operatively attachable to the container. The print bar structure at least partly defines a print zone, wherein the print heads and the curing device is operatively disposed in the print zone. The displacement assembly is operable to rotate object about an axis substantially aligned with the central axis relative to the plurality of print heads in the print zone such that fluid is deposited onto the object during rotation of the object.

A printing apparatus (500) is provided with a moving unit (550) used to convey a can body (10). In addition, the printing apparatus (500) is provided with a first linear unit (610) in a linear shape which the moving unit (550) travels to move in one direction. Moreover, the printing apparatus (500) is provided with a second linear unit (620) which the moving unit (550) travels to move in a direction opposite to the one direction, the second linear unit (620) being arranged in parallel with the first linear unit (610) and formed linearly. Further, the printing apparatus (500) is provided with a printing unit (520) that performs printing on the can body (10) held by the moving unit (550). By these units, the miniaturization of a printing apparatus and a can body manufacturing system is attained.

A printing technique is presented for efficiently printing (i.e. with production lines rates at high resolution and high accuracy) on outer surfaces of a plurality of objects passing in an optimized stream through a printing route/zone. According to this technique, at least one array of printing head units is provided being configured to define at least one printing route along a printing axis, where the at least one printing route is a substantially linear segment of a closed loop lane along which the objects are progressing.

An apparatus and methods of decorating a metallic container are provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods used to provide a decoration or indicia on a predetermined portion of an outer surface of a metallic container body. The decorator includes at least one digital print unit, a transfer blanket, and a support element. The digital print unit transfers a decorating material to the transfer blanket to form a decoration on the transfer blanket. The support element then moves a metallic container into contact with the transfer blanket. In this manner, the decorating material is transferred to an exterior surface portion of the metallic container to decorate the metallic container. In one embodiment, the digital print unit is an electrophotographic system which transfers a toner material to the transfer blanket. In another embodiment, the digital print unit includes an inkjet print head which transfers an ink to the transfer blanket. Optionally, the decorator may include two or more support elements.

Provided are a personalized automatic customization method and an apparatus for a ring-pull can. In the apparatus, a bin device is located at an upper part of the apparatus, a distributing device is installed below a bin device, and a pushing device is arranged on a side of the distributing device and a positioning device. A pattern of a marking content is set on the control system, and a feeding wheel is driven to rotate so that a canned beverage falls down. The pushing device pushes the ring-pull can to the positioning device. The control system receives the positioning signal, and a marking header of the marking device is driven to mark on an outer surface of the ring-pull can. The pushing device pushes the ring-pull can towards a second chute, and an electrical thrust cylinder extends the push rod out thereof to push the discharging hopper forward.

The invention relates to a method for printing a cylindrical printing surface of a beverage can with a printing image, and to a beverage can. The method comprises a first and a second printing operation, in the first printing operation, a first section of the printing surface being printed by way of a first printing process in a first printing press, in the second printing operation, a second section of the printing surface being printed by way of a second printing process which is preferably different from the first printing process in a second printing press, the beverage can being positioned before or during the second printing operation in such a way that the second section of the printing surface is oriented in a predefined position with respect to the first section of the printing surface. The beverage can is printed by way of this method, the first section and the second section of the printing surface being arranged in a predefined position with respect to one another.