A device for printing on hollow articles comprises a segmented wheel and an apparatus for sequentially supplying the hollow articles to the periphery of the segmented wheel. The apparatus comprises at least a conveyor wheel and a mandrel wheel, arranged in the transport direction of the hollow articles, with first the conveyor wheel, then the mandrel wheel and thereafter the segmented wheel being arranged. A plurality of driver elements are on the periphery of the conveyor wheel, and a plurality of retaining apparatuses are arranged on the periphery of the mandrel wheel. Each retaining apparatus is provided for receiving a hollow article, which is to be printed on in cooperation with the segmented wheel. The conveyor wheel has a suction apparatus for suctioning each hollow article to be supplied to the segmented wheel. The suction apparatus has a suction pump which is switched on or off in dependence on an angular position of the conveyor wheel. When the suction pump is switched on, it produces a negative pressure. A hollow article, which is to be conveyed to the mandrel wheel by the conveyor wheel and which is arranged on one of the driver elements of the conveyor wheel, is retained on the particular driver element of the conveyor wheel by the negative pressure, in an angular range of the rotating conveyor wheel.

A device for printing on hollow articles comprises a segmented wheel and an apparatus for sequentially supplying the hollow articles to the periphery of the segmented wheel. The apparatus comprises at least a conveyor wheel and a mandrel wheel, arranged in the transport direction of the hollow articles, with first the conveyor wheel, then the mandrel wheel and thereafter the segmented wheel being arranged. A plurality of driver elements are on the periphery of the conveyor wheel, and a plurality of retaining apparatuses are arranged on the periphery of the mandrel wheel. Each retaining apparatus is provided for receiving a hollow article, which is to be printed on in cooperation with the segmented wheel. The conveyor wheel has a suction apparatus for suctioning each hollow article to be supplied to the segmented wheel. The suction apparatus has a suction pump which is switched on or off in dependence on an angular position of the conveyor wheel. When the suction pump is switched on, it produces a negative pressure. A hollow article, which is to be conveyed to the mandrel wheel by the conveyor wheel and which is arranged on one of the driver elements of the conveyor wheel, is retained on the particular driver element of the conveyor wheel by the negative pressure, in an angular range of the rotating conveyor wheel.

An image control system for a can decorator includes an electronic can decorator control assembly, a mechanical can decorator control assembly and a number of sensors. The electronic can decorator control assembly includes a programmable logic circuit and a number of modules. The mechanical can decorator control assembly is structured to be, and is, operatively coupled to at least one of an ink fountain ink application adjustment assembly, a ductor roll assembly duty cycle adjustment assembly, a printing plate cylinder assembly axial adjustment assembly or a printing plate cylinder assembly circumferential adjustment assembly. The electronic can decorator control assembly is structured to be operatively coupled to the mechanical can decorator control assembly. Each sensor in the number of sensors is structured to measure a can body applied image characteristic and to generate an image signal including data representing the can body applied image characteristic.

An image control system for a can decorator includes an electronic can decorator control assembly, a mechanical can decorator control assembly and a number of sensors. The electronic can decorator control assembly includes a programmable logic circuit and a number of modules. The mechanical can decorator control assembly is structured to be, and is, operatively coupled to at least one of an ink fountain ink application adjustment assembly, a ductor roll assembly duty cycle adjustment assembly, a printing plate cylinder assembly axial adjustment assembly or a printing plate cylinder assembly circumferential adjustment assembly. The electronic can decorator control assembly is structured to be operatively coupled to the mechanical can decorator control assembly. Each sensor in the number of sensors is structured to measure a can body applied image characteristic and to generate an image signal including data representing the can body applied image characteristic.

A beverage use can includes a cylindrical can main body. The can main body includes a round opening at its upper portion. The can main body further includes a bottom at its lower portion. The can main body further includes an outer circumferential surface. Inkjet printing is performed over the entire outer circumferential surface of the can main body to form inkjet-printed images thereon. Then, plate printing is performed on these inkjet-printed images to form thereon images including characters. This improves quality of images formed on an outer circumferential surface of a beverage use can.

A beverage use can includes a cylindrical can main body. The can main body includes a round opening at its upper portion. The can main body further includes a bottom at its lower portion. The can main body further includes an outer circumferential surface. Inkjet printing is performed over the entire outer circumferential surface of the can main body to form inkjet-printed images thereon. Then, plate printing is performed on these inkjet-printed images to form thereon images including characters. This improves quality of images formed on an outer circumferential surface of a beverage use can.

A method of applying a pattern to a nonplanar surface. A stamp has a major surface with pattern elements having a lateral dimension of greater than 0 and less than about 5 microns. The major surface of the stamp has a functionalizing molecule with a functional group selected to chemically bind to the nonplanar surface. The stamp is positioned to initiate rolling contact with the nonplanar surface, and contacts the nonplanar surface to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of the functionalizing material thereon and impart the arrangement of pattern elements thereto. The major surface of the stamp is translated with respect to the nonplanar surface such that: a contact pressure is controlled at an interface between the stamping surfaces and the nonplanar surface, and a contact force at the interface is allowed to vary while the stamping surfaces and the nonplanar surface are in contact with each other.

A device for printing on hollow articles comprises a segmented wheel and an apparatus for sequentially supplying the hollow articles to the periphery of the segmented wheel. The apparatus comprises at least a conveyor wheel and a mandrel wheel, arranged in the transport direction of the hollow articles, with first the conveyor wheel, then the mandrel wheel and thereafter the segmented wheel being arranged. A plurality of driver elements are on the periphery of the conveyor wheel, and a plurality of retaining apparatuses are arranged on the periphery of the mandrel wheel. Each retaining apparatus is provided for receiving a hollow article, which is to be printed on in cooperation with the segmented wheel. The conveyor wheel has a suction apparatus for suctioning each hollow article to be supplied to the segmented wheel. The suction apparatus has a suction pump which is switched on or off in dependence on an angular position of the conveyor wheel. When the suction pump is switched on, it produces a negative pressure. A hollow article, which is to be conveyed to the mandrel wheel by the conveyor wheel and which is arranged on one of the driver elements of the conveyor wheel, is retained on the particular driver element of the conveyor wheel by the negative pressure, in an angular range of the rotating conveyor wheel.

A device for printing on hollow articles comprises a segmented wheel and an apparatus for sequentially supplying the hollow articles to the periphery of the segmented wheel. The apparatus comprises at least a conveyor wheel and a mandrel wheel, arranged in the transport direction of the hollow articles, with first the conveyor wheel, then the mandrel wheel and thereafter the segmented wheel being arranged. A plurality of driver elements are on the periphery of the conveyor wheel, and a plurality of retaining apparatuses are arranged on the periphery of the mandrel wheel. Each retaining apparatus is provided for receiving a hollow article, which is to be printed on in cooperation with the segmented wheel. The conveyor wheel has a suction apparatus for suctioning each hollow article to be supplied to the segmented wheel. The suction apparatus has a suction pump which is switched on or off in dependence on an angular position of the conveyor wheel. When the suction pump is switched on, it produces a negative pressure. A hollow article, which is to be conveyed to the mandrel wheel by the conveyor wheel and which is arranged on one of the driver elements of the conveyor wheel, is retained on the particular driver element of the conveyor wheel by the negative pressure, in an angular range of the rotating conveyor wheel.

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 on a predetermined portion of a metallic container body. The decorator includes a sensor that senses decorations on metallic containers. A control system receives information related to the sensed decorations from the sensor and then determines if the decorations at least meet predetermined color, density, thickness, orientation, and consistency targets. The control system can automatically adjust elements of the decorator to correct a deficient decoration. In one embodiment, the control system can automatically adjust ink blades associated with a plurality of inking assemblies of the decorator to adjust the color, density, orientation, positioning, and consistency of decorations transferred to the metallic containers. In another embodiment, the control system can adjust a position of an inking assembly, an ink roller, a plate cylinder, a printing plate, a blanket cylinder, and a transfer blanket of the decorator.