A system is disclosed to provide a DTS machine that is simple to operate and can through human operator control provide economic and competitive throughput speeds as compared to more complex DTS machines utilizing multiple printing tunnels and material handlers. The present invention utilizes a repositionable print carriage and a re-configurable inkjet printhead bank. The printing carriage is vertically positionable and tiltable, and includes a resizable spindle so that varying geometries of print media may be accommodated. The printer prints a single piece of media at each printing event, but maintains a printing throughput similar to DTS machines having the capability to print media in parallel printing events. Media is moved from a media loading area on the machine by a single operator into a printing tunnel and then the operator adjusts the angle of the media relative to a reconfigurable array of ink-heads to meet inkjet expression distance requirements.

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 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 method for decorating substrates, in particular packaging, comprising the steps: printing at least one first decorative pattern (2) on the substrate using a first radiation-curable, preferably UV-curable, printing ink composition (3); printing at least one second decorative pattern (4), using a second radiation-curable, preferably UV-curable, printing ink composition (5), on at least part of the substrate (1) in a region near to the first pattern (2), chronologically before, after, or during the printing of the first pattern; radiation curing of the first and second printing ink compositions (3, 5), preferably directly after the printing of each pattern, the radiation-cured second printing ink composition having a lower glass transition temperature than the radiation-cured first printing ink composition; application of a decorative coating to the second pattern by means of a hot foil stamping process, a hot stamping foil comprising a decorative coating material being pressed against the printed substrate by means of a stamping tool under the application of heat and pressure such that the decorative coating adheres to the second pattern but not to the first pattern.

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 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.