Digital printing machine and method

1. A decorator assembly comprising:

a number of mandrels and a number of independent ink stations;

each mandrel structured to rotate about a longitudinal axis;

said mandrels' longitudinal axes disposed generally in a plane;

each said independent ink station disposed adjacent to the path of travel of said mandrels;

each independent ink station includes a number of digital print head assemblies; and

wherein each independent ink station includes a collar assembly.

2. The decorator assembly of claim 1 wherein a number of said ink cure stations include an ultraviolet cure assembly.

3. The decorator assembly of claim 1 wherein:

each independent ink station includes a number of print head drive assemblies;

each said print head drive assembly operatively coupled to an associated digital print head assembly and structured to move said associated digital print head assembly between a longitudinal first position and a longitudinal second position; and

wherein each said digital print head assembly path of travel extends generally parallel to the axis of rotation of an adjacent mandrel.

4. The decorator assembly of claim 3 wherein:

each independent ink station includes a number of print head radial positioning assemblies; and

each said print head radial positioning assembly operatively coupled to an associated digital print head assembly and structured to move said associated print head assembly between a radial first position and a radial second position.

5. The decorator assembly of claim 1 wherein each digital print head assembly is disposed in a cantilever configuration.

6. The decorator assembly of claim 1 wherein:

each said independent ink station includes a track, a carriage and a print head;

each said carriage traveling over an associated track; and

each said carriage supporting an associated print head.

7. The decorator assembly of claim 6 wherein said decorator assembly is structured to apply ink to a can body, and wherein:

each digital print head assembly includes a number of modules;

said number of modules includes a number of design modules;

each design module having an associated pattern; and

wherein the digital print head assembly reads a design module and applies an ink according to the pattern associated with that design module.

8. A decorator assembly comprising:

a number of mandrels and a number of independent ink stations;

each mandrel structured to rotate about a longitudinal axis;

said mandrels' longitudinal axes disposed generally in a plane;

each said independent ink station disposed adjacent to the path of travel of said mandrels;

each independent ink station includes a number of digital print head assemblies;

wherein each independent ink station includes a collar assembly;

said mandrels have a path of travel;

each collar assembly includes a collar element and a print head drive assembly;

each collar element includes a hollow, generally cylindrical body including a center axis;

wherein each collar element body inner radius is larger than the outer radius of a mandrel; and

said print head drive assembly structured to move said collar element from a first position, wherein said collar element is positioned outward from said mandrel path of travel and a second position, wherein said collar element is positioned about said mandrel that is stopped adjacent to an independent ink station.

9. The decorator assembly of claim 8 wherein each collar assembly includes said number of said digital print head assemblies.

10. The decorator assembly of claim 9 wherein each print head assembly has a spray direction that is generally radial to a mandrel longitudinal axis when a mandrel is stopped adjacent to an independent ink station.