A printing method according to the invention comprises forming a printing pattern of ink on a surface of an intermediate transfer member, transferring the printing pattern by causing the printing target surface to abut on the surface of the intermediate transfer member while supporting the printing target material by making a backup member abut on the printing target surface, increasing viscosity of the ink to predetermined viscosity by irradiating the printing pattern transferred to the printing target surface with first light, and curing the ink by irradiating the printing pattern with second light. The first light is applied to a region, out of the printing target surface, in a state that after departing from the intermediate transfer member and before abutting on the backup member. The second light is applied while the printing target material is separated from the intermediate transfer member.

A printing method according to the invention comprises forming a printing pattern of ink on a surface of an intermediate transfer member, transferring the printing pattern by causing the printing target surface to abut on the surface of the intermediate transfer member while supporting the printing target material by making a backup member abut on the printing target surface, increasing viscosity of the ink to predetermined viscosity by irradiating the printing pattern transferred to the printing target surface with first light, and curing the ink by irradiating the printing pattern with second light. The first light is applied to a region, out of the printing target surface, in a state that after departing from the intermediate transfer member and before abutting on the backup member. The second light is applied while the printing target material is separated from the intermediate transfer member.

A manufacturing method comprises: a printing step printing on an outer peripheral surface of a cylinder part of a cylinder body; a necking step deforming the cylinder body after the printing step to form a tapered part in which a diameter is reduced upward from the cylinder part and a small-diameter part extending to an upper side of the tapered part; and a mouth part forming step deforming the small-diameter part to form the mouth part including a swelled part and a male thread part. In the printing step, ink is coated on a third coating region to be the cylinder part, a fourth coating region to be the tapered part, and a first coating region to be the swelled part. An apply amount of the ink per unit area on the first coating region is less than that of the ink per unit on the third coating region.

A manufacturing method comprises: a printing step printing on an outer peripheral surface of a cylinder part of a cylinder body; a necking step deforming the cylinder body after the printing step to form a tapered part in which a diameter is reduced upward from the cylinder part and a small-diameter part extending to an upper side of the tapered part; and a mouth part forming step deforming the small-diameter part to form the mouth part including a swelled part and a male thread part. In the printing step, ink is coated on a third coating region to be the cylinder part, a fourth coating region to be the tapered part, and a first coating region to be the swelled part. An apply amount of the ink per unit area on the first coating region is less than that of the ink per unit on the third coating region.

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 apparatus for printing a beer barrel includes a workbench, and a hydraulic pushing device, a barrel outer-sided printing device, and a barrel inner-sided printing device installed on the workbench. The barrel inner-sided printing device has a turntable rotating with respect to the Z-axis and mounted on the barrel, an inner mold installed onto a circumferential surface of the turntable for printing the inner side of the barrel. The barrel outer-sided printing device has a connecting frame moving linearly along the Y-axis direction. The connecting frame has an outer mold for printing an outer side of the barrel, and the hydraulic pushing device controls the outer mold to move linearly along the X-axis direction. The outer and inner molds print a sidewall of the barrel. This invention prevents unnecessary waste of manufacturing cost and time caused by the scrap of semi-finished products whose previous printing process becomes useless.

An apparatus for printing a beer barrel includes a workbench, and a hydraulic pushing device, a barrel outer-sided printing device, and a barrel inner-sided printing device installed on the workbench. The barrel inner-sided printing device has a turntable rotating with respect to the Z-axis and mounted on the barrel, an inner mold installed onto a circumferential surface of the turntable for printing the inner side of the barrel. The barrel outer-sided printing device has a connecting frame moving linearly along the Y-axis direction. The connecting frame has an outer mold for printing an outer side of the barrel, and the hydraulic pushing device controls the outer mold to move linearly along the X-axis direction. The outer and inner molds print a sidewall of the barrel. This invention prevents unnecessary waste of manufacturing cost and time caused by the scrap of semi-finished products whose previous printing process becomes useless.

An apparatus and methods of monitoring and adjusting a decorator for metallic containers 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 optionally automatically adjust elements of the decorator to correct a deficient decoration. In one embodiment, the control system can automatically send a signal to 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 send a signal to adjust a position of an inking assembly, an ink roller, a ductor roller a plate cylinder, a printing plate, a blanket cylinder, and a transfer blanket of the decorator.

An apparatus and methods of monitoring and adjusting a decorator for metallic containers 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 optionally automatically adjust elements of the decorator to correct a deficient decoration. In one embodiment, the control system can automatically send a signal to 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 send a signal to adjust a position of an inking assembly, an ink roller, a ductor roller a plate cylinder, a printing plate, a blanket cylinder, and a transfer blanket of the decorator.

While deterioration in processing efficiency caused by printing devices with slow printing speed is suppressed, facilities necessary to manufacture can bodies are able to be shared. A can body manufacturing system includes: a can body conveyance route, by which can bodies are conveyed, provided to branch halfway and thereafter merge again, the can body conveyance route at least including a first branching conveyance route and a second branching conveyance route; a first printing device performing printing on can bodies conveyed by the first branching conveyance route; and a second printing device performing printing on can bodies conveyed by the second branching conveyance route, the number of can bodies on which printing is performed by the second printing device per unit time being different from the number of can bodies on which printing is performed by the first printing device per unit time.