Disclosed herein are squeegee apparatuses and methods and systems for screen printing on a surface of a substrate comprising the disclosed squeegee apparatus and a framed screen. Also disclosed herein are methods for screen printing a 3D substrate comprising creating a 2D test framed screen. Methods for predicting the distortion of an image printed on a 3D substrate are also disclosed herein.

A screen printing device has a screen printing stencil. At least two doctor blade systems, each acting on the screen printing stencil are provided. The at least two doctor blade systems are arranged to each apply printing ink to an object to be printed in the same printing process. Each of the doctor blade systems has at least one doctor blade. Each of the doctor blades is arranged to sweep over the screen printing stencil. Each of the doctor blade systems is individually controlled by a control unit. The at least one doctor blade of each of the doctor blade systems is moved by a robot. At least respective two-dimensional motion paths of the doctor blades of each doctor blade system are each freely programmed and are established by control of the robot.

A screen printing device has a screen printing stencil. At least two doctor blade systems, each acting on the screen printing stencil are provided. The at least two doctor blade systems are arranged to each apply printing ink to an object to be printed in the same printing process. Each of the doctor blade systems has at least one doctor blade. Each of the doctor blades is arranged to sweep over the screen printing stencil. Each of the doctor blade systems is individually controlled by a control unit. The at least one doctor blade of each of the doctor blade systems is moved by a robot. At least respective two-dimensional motion paths of the doctor blades of each doctor blade system are each freely programmed and are established by control of the robot.

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 processing machine has a plurality of processing stations for the processing of articles. A plurality of the processing stations are each configured in the form of a printing unit. The processing stations, which are provided for processing the articles, are each arranged at different positions. At least one handling device is provided for transporting at least one of the articles which is to be processed. The handling device has a drive which is controlled by a control device and, which handling device, by the use of this drive, can be displaced from one processing station, in which the respective article is processed, to at least one next processing station for processing this article. The processing machine has a learning phase and a production phase. Provision is made for a memory device, which is connected to the control device, to store, in the learning phase, position-related values of the relevant handling system, those position-related values being determined by the use of a calibration travel executed by the relevant handling system for a certain processing procedure. Following the changeover of the processing machine from its learning phase to its production phase, the drive of the relevant handling device is controlled by the control device such that the relevant handling device assumes, one after the other, the positions previously stored for it in the memory device in the learning phase.

A processing machine is configured, in particular, as a printing machine and has a plurality of processing stations for the processing of typically hollow bodies. The processing stations for the processing of the bodies are arranged in an operating chamber each at different positions, in a state in which they are lined up in a row in the direction of transport of the bodies which are to be processed. The processing stations are arranged in the same horizontal plane in the operating chamber. A body which is to be processed, or which has been processed, is transported from one processing station to the next processing station beneath that horizontal plane in which the individual processing stations are arranged. A plurality of simultaneously operated, or simultaneously operable, handling devices are provided in the operating chamber. Each handling device is provided for transporting at least one body which is to be processed, or which has been processed. At least two of the handling devices, which are arranged in the same operating chamber and are simultaneously operated, or are at least simultaneously operable, are arranged in different horizontal planes arranged vertically one above the other and are each moved, or at least are capable of being moved, horizontally in the respective plane.

A processing machine is configured, in particular, as a printing machine and has a plurality of processing stations for the processing of typically hollow bodies. The processing stations for the processing of the bodies are arranged in an operating chamber each at different positions, in a state in which they are lined up in a row in the direction of transport of the bodies which are to be processed. The processing stations are arranged in the same horizontal plane in the operating chamber. A body which is to be processed, or which has been processed, is transported from one processing station to the next processing station beneath that horizontal plane in which the individual processing stations are arranged. A plurality of simultaneously operated, or simultaneously operable, handling devices are provided in the operating chamber. Each handling device is provided for transporting at least one body which is to be processed, or which has been processed. At least two of the handling devices, which are arranged in the same operating chamber and are simultaneously operated, or are at least simultaneously operable, are arranged in different horizontal planes arranged vertically one above the other and are each moved, or at least are capable of being moved, horizontally in the respective plane.

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 processing machine has a plurality of processing stations for the processing of articles. A plurality of the processing stations are each configured in the form of a printing unit. The processing stations, which are provided for processing the articles, are each arranged at different positions. At least one handling device is provided for transporting at least one of the articles which is to be processed. The handling device has a drive which is controlled by a control device and, which handling device, by the use of this drive, can be displaced from one processing station, in which the respective article is processed, to at least one next processing station for processing this article. The processing machine has a learning phase and a production phase. Provision is made for a memory device, which is connected to the control device, to store, in the learning phase, position-related values of the relevant handling system, those position-related values being determined by the use of a calibration travel executed by the relevant handling system for a certain processing procedure. Following the changeover of the processing machine from its learning phase to its production phase, the drive of the relevant handling device is controlled by the control device such that the relevant handling device assumes, one after the other, the positions previously stored for it in the memory device in the learning phase.