PRINTING APPARATUS FOR PRINTING DIRECTLY ONTO CONTAINERS
An apparatus includes a plurality of print heads configured to print directly on a curved surface of each of the plurality of containers and a plurality of container holders for retraining each of the plurality of containers. Each of the plurality of container holders is configured to rotate a container retained therewithin and to move the container linearly relative to the plurality print heads in a continuous motion to maintain a print location on the curved surface of each of the plurality of containers at a substantially constant perpendicular distance from each of the plurality of print heads during a printing process.
1 . An apparatus for printing on a plurality of containers, the apparatus comprising:
a plurality of print heads configured to print directly on a curved surface of each of the plurality of containers; and
a plurality of container holders for retraining the plurality of containers, each of the plurality of container holders configured to rotate a container retained therewithin and to move the container linearly relative to the plurality print heads in a continuous motion to maintain a print location on the curved surface of each of the plurality of containers at a substantially constant perpendicular distance from each of the plurality of print heads during a printing process.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of container holders is configured to rotate the container about a container vertical axis.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of container holders is configured to move linearly along a line that is perpendicular to the print head, allowing a consistent distance from the printing surface of the container to the print head, as the container rotates and moves continuously during the printing process.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of container holders comprises an upper slide having an upper mandrel mounted thereon, a lower slide having a lower mandrel mounted thereon, a rotary actuator, and a linear actuator.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the container in each of the plurality of container holders is rotated by the rotary actuator.
6 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the container in each of the plurality of container holders is moved linearly by the linear actuator.
7 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the upper mandrel and lower mandrel engage with a top end portion of the container and a bottom end portion of the container, respectively, such that each end portion of the container is mounted onto the upper mandrel and lower mandrel.
8 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein lower mandrel is operably connected to the rotary actuator.
9 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the rotary actuator is implemented under the lower slide of the container holder.
10 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a turret, an infeed starwheel, and a discharge starwheel.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of container holders are mounted on the turret, with an evenly spaced distance therebetween.
12 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the rotary actuator and the linear actuator are servo motor and stepper motor.
13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the infeed starwheel transports the containers from a conveyor belt to the turret.
14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the discharge starwheel transports the containers from the turret to the conveyor belt.
15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , the plurality of print heads are configured to move horizontally in a moving direction of the plurality of the containers.
16 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the linear actuator is connected to the lower slide that is connected to the upper slide via a connecting bar and is disposed between the lower slide and a top surface of the turret.
17 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the rotary actuator is configured to rotate in a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction.
18 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the container is rotated 360 degrees via the rotary actuator.
19 . A method of printing directly on a curved surface of a container, the method comprising:
securing the container in a container holder such that the container is retained during a printing process;
moving, via a turret, the container disposed within the container holder to a printing area;
rotating the container while the curved surface of the container is being printed; and
moving the container linearly towards and away from a print head to maintain a substantially constant distance between the print head and a location of printing on the curved surface.
20 . The method of claim 19 , where the container holder is configured to rotate the container and to move the container linearly.