Printing machine and drying device for cylindrical objects

1. A printing machine for cylindrical objects ( 100 ), comprising:

carousel means ( 2 ) for moving for locating the cylindrical objects ( 100 ) each in a successive number of work stations, among which at least a printing station ( 3 ) and at least a drying station ( 4 );

at least a means for inking ( 30 ) for printing on the lateral surface of a cylindrical object ( 100 ) located in the printing station ( 3 ); and

at least a drying device ( 5 ) for generating a beam of rays which strike a cylindrical object ( 100 ) located in the drying station ( 4 );

said printing stations ( 3 ) and said drying stations ( 4 ) being at least set in partially opposite positions,

wherein said drying device ( 5 ) comprises a source ( 50 ) of rays, an upper screen ( 52 ) provided with a slit ( 55 ), and an obturator ( 57 ) for intercepting the beam of rays and for selectively closing the slit ( 55 ), the slit ( 55 ) screening the rays emitted by the source ( 50 ) and delimiting the beam of rays, and where said obturator ( 57 ) is associated with actuating means ( 59 , 60 , 61 ) apt to operate said obturator ( 57 ) selectively in cooperation with said carousel means ( 2 ) in order to protect said means for inking ( 30 ) and comprises a cylindrical body ( 57 ) arranged parallel with respect to the slit ( 55 ) and having a diameter which is larger than a breadth of the slit ( 55 ), the cylindrical body ( 57 ) exhibiting a diametral longitudinal slit ( 59 ) which collimates with the slit ( 55 ).

2. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the drying device ( 5 ) comprises a shield system for directing the rays only onto the cylindrical object ( 100 ) located in the drying station ( 4 ).

3. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the drying station ( 4 ) and the printing station ( 5 ) are set in opposite positions.

4. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the slit ( 55 ) is elongate and is arranged parallel to and vertically aligned with and below the cylindrical object ( 100 ) located in the drying station ( 4 ).

5. The machine of claim 4 , wherein the slit ( 55 ) is not longer than a longest cylindrical object ( 100 ) processable by the machine.

6. The machine of claim 5 , wherein the slit ( 55 ) is narrower than or equal in width to a diameter of a slimmest cylindrical object ( 100 ) processable by the machine.

7. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the source ( 50 ) of rays is a lamp.

8. The machine of claim 7 , wherein the lamp ( 50 ) is elongate and is arranged parallel to the slit ( 55 ).

9. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical body ( 57 ) is associated to actuator means ( 59 , 60 , 61 ) which selectively place the longitudinal slit ( 58 ) in an open position, in which the longitudinal slit ( 58 ) collimates with the slit ( 55 ), and in a closed position, in which the longitudinal slit ( 58 ) is angularly displaced with respect to the slit ( 55 ).

10. The machine of claim 1 , further comprising a detecting device ( 62 , 64 ) of the position of the obturator ( 57 ).

11. The machine of claim 10 , wherein the detecting device comprises a mobile body ( 62 ), solidly fixed to the obturator ( 57 ), and a fixed proximity sensor ( 64 ) for detecting a position of the mobile body ( 62 ).

12. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the upper screen ( 52 ) is associated to means for cooling ( 53 ).

13. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the carousel means for moving ( 2 ) comprise a rotatable carousel ( 20 ) provided with a circumferential series of chucks ( 21 ), each of which chucks ( 21 ) can bear a cylindrical object ( 100 ).