EP2207684B1 - Apparatus for printing bottles or similar containers on the outer container surface - Google Patents

Abstract

Container printing arrangement for printing bottles or similar containers on an outer surface thereof. The container printing arrangement comprises one or more printing stations and a container conveyor. The printing station has a print head, a conveyor arrangement, and transfer elements which are moved by the conveyor arrangement. The transfer elements each comprise a first resilient layer and a second resilient layer which supports the first resilient layer. The first resilient layer has a transfer surface which receives a print image from the print head, and then transfers the print image onto a container.

Description

The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

For printing on bottles or similar containers, devices of different designs are known, for example devices ( GB 2 376 920 A . WO 2004/009360 A1 ), in which the container area to be printed is arranged directly adjacent one or more print heads during printing. Also known are devices ( US 6,684,770 B2 . US 7,011,728 B2 ), in which the printing takes place by rolling the container region to be printed on a printing ink-colored printing forme, which is provided on a rotating printing drum or on a circulating belt.

Also known is a device for printing on containers ( US 6,920,822 B2 . WO-A-03/103966 or WO-A-2008/031930 54, which forms prior art according to Art. 54 (3)), in which the containers are arranged in receptacles of a transport wheel driven circumferentially around a horizontal machine axis, are moved past a printing position at which each container with its container region to be printed is attached to one of several each with a negative printed image provided transfer surfaces rolls. These are m formed star-shaped circumference of a likewise driven about a horizontal axis rotating pressure wheel. For generating the negative print images, a plurality of print heads are provided at the periphery of the print wheel, which are executed in the manner of an ink jet print head and with each of which a color set of each multicolor print image is generated.

The known devices allow printing on containers of high quality, ie with a high quality, especially sharp and distortion and / or defect-free imprint only if the containers to be printed have the smallest possible dimensional tolerances and on their area to be printed no or as possible have no bumps. The object of the invention is to provide a device that allows bottles or similar containers with high performance (number of printed containers per unit time) to print with high quality. To solve this problem, a device according to the patent claim 1 is formed.

The inventive construction, it is u.a. It is possible to print even bottles or similar containers, which have relatively large dimensional tolerances and / or unevenness, with high quality and at high output directly on the container outer surface.

Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. In this case, all described and / or illustrated features alone or in any combination are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their dependency. Also, the content of the claims is made an integral part of the description.

Fig. 1

in sehr vereinfachter Darstellung und in Draufsicht eine Druckstation zum Bedrucken von Flaschen oder dergleichen Behälter an einer kreiszylinderförmigen oder im Wesentlichen kreiszylinderförmigen Behälteraußenfläche, zusammen mit auf einem Behältertransporteur an der Druckstation vorbei bewegten Flaschen;

Fig. 2

in vereinfachter perspektivischer Darstellung die Transfertrommel der Druckstation der Figur 1 mit den Transferelementen, zusammen mit einer auf einem Behälterträger aufstehenden Flasche;

Fig. 3

in vergrößerter Darstellung einen Schnitt durch ein Transferelement der Druckstation der Figur 1;

Fig. 4

in schematischer Darstellung und in Draufsicht eine Vorrichtung zum Bedrucken von Flaschen oder dergleichen Behältern an kreiszylinderförmigen Behälteraußenflächen mit zwei Druckstation;

Fig. 5

in vereinfachter Darstellung und in Draufsicht eine weitere Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Druckstation mit mehreren an einem Hilfstransporteur vorgesehenen und mit diesem umlaufend angetriebenen Transferelementen;

Fig. 6

in perspektivischer Darstellung eines der Transferelemente der Figur 5 zusammen mit einer auf einem Behälterträger aufstehenden Flasche.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1

in a very simplified representation and in plan view of a printing station for printing on bottles or the like container on a circular cylindrical or substantially circular cylindrical container outer surface, together with on a container conveyor at the printing station moving past bottles;

Fig. 2

in a simplified perspective view of the transfer drum of the printing station of FIG. 1 with the transfer elements, together with a bottle standing on a container carrier;

Fig. 3

in an enlarged view a section through a transfer element of the printing station of FIG. 1 ;

Fig. 4

a schematic representation in plan view of an apparatus for printing bottles or the like containers on circular cylindrical container outer surfaces with two printing station;

Fig. 5

in a simplified representation and in plan view, another embodiment of the printing station according to the invention with a plurality of provided on an auxiliary conveyor and with this circumferentially driven transfer elements;

Fig. 6

in a perspective view of one of the transfer elements of FIG. 5 together with a bottle standing on a container carrier.

The in the Figures 1 - 3 generally designated 1 printing station is used for printing bottles 2 directly on an example circular-cylindrical or substantially circular-cylindrical region of the bottle outer surface, for example on a bottle belly 2.1, as shown, or at a bottleneck 2.2.

The printing station 1 comprises, inter alia, a transfer drum 3 driven circumferentially about its vertical axis in the direction of the arrow A, at the circular cylindrical surface of which at equal angular intervals about the drum axis offset a plurality of transfer elements 4, ie in the illustrated embodiment a total of three transfer elements 4 are preferably provided interchangeable. How specifically the FIG. 3 shows, each transfer element 4 is formed multi-layered, ie it consists inter alia of an outer with respect to the axis of the transfer drum 3 adhesive layer 5 of a suitable material for a transfer printing, from an adjoining the adhesive layer 5 rubber elastic intermediate layer 6, for example, a harder rubber or an elastomeric plastic and from a subsequent to the intermediate layer 6 support layer 7 made of a metallic material or plastic, with which the respective transfer element 4 is attached to the circumference of the transfer drum 3. Each transfer element 4 is curved at its formed by the adhesive layer 5 outer or transfer surface 4.1 part-circular cylindrical around the axis of the transfer star 3 and there cushion-like elastic, but wrinkle-free deformable.

The printing station 1 further comprises a print head 8, which is arranged on the periphery of the transfer drum 3 with this not co-rotating and with each of the complete, applied to a bottle 2 print image in a negative or mirror image form, i. is applied as a negative print image on the transfer surface 4.1 of the transfer element 4 moving past the print head 8 when the transfer drum 3 is rotating. The printhead 8 is preferably an electronic printhead and comprises for multicolor printing a plurality of electronically controllable individual printheads which are provided consecutively in the direction of rotation A, for example a single printhead for black and a plurality of individual printheads for different color sets of a multicolor print.

The individual printing heads are, for example, those which are known by the name "Tonejet" and each having a plurality of nozzle openings in a row which is oriented parallel or substantially parallel to the axis of the transfer drum 3. Each nozzle opening is associated with an electrode. The individual print heads or their electrodes are driven by a control device 9 electronically generating the print image, in such a way that printing ink is applied to the nozzle openings on the transfer surface 4.1 upon a change in the potential of the associated electrode relative to the potential of the nozzle opening.

The printhead in the direction of rotation A is preceded by a cleaning station or position 10 is provided on the periphery of the transfer drum and this not mitdrehend at which the transferred with the transfer drum 3 moving transfer elements 4 before applying the new negative print image on its transfer surface 4.1, ie existing residues of printing ink are removed. The cleaning station 10 is formed in the simplest case of one or more scrapers.

Each provided with the negative print image on the transfer surface 4.1 transfer element 4 passes with the rotating transfer drum 3 to a printing area 11 when there on a bottle or container conveyor 12 upright, ie with its axis oriented in the vertical direction bottle 2 is moved past , The container conveyor 12 is in the in the Figures 1 - 3 illustrated embodiment, a synchronous to a vertical machine axis with the transfer drum 3 rotatably driven turntable or rotor with a plurality of plate-shaped container carriers 13, which are provided at equal angular intervals about the vertical machine axis of the rotor offset at the periphery thereof and are rotatably controlled about its vertical axis. With the respective container support 13, each at its upper end by an unillustrated element, for example by a stamp secured against falling bottle 2 at the printing area 11 is rotated about its axis of the bottle (arrow C), in such a way that this bottle 2 with the printing area (for example, cylinder belly 2.1) without slip on the passing transfer element 4 or the local transfer surface 4.1 rolls and thus the negative print image is applied by the respective transfer element 4 as a positive pressure on the relevant bottle 2.

Each bottle 2 printed in this way is then further moved on the associated container carrier 13, standing upright with the container conveyor 12 and reaches the like, inter alia. to a station 14 at which by action of energy or entry, for example by infrared radiation, UV radiation, microwave energy, hot air, etc., a drying, setting or baking of the applied directly to the bottle 2 printed image, preferably while continuing to its bottle axis with the container carrier 13 rotated bottle. 2

A special feature of the printing station 1 is that on each transfer surface 4.1 when moving past the print head 8 in each case in negative form the complete, applied to the bottles 2 print image is generated. In order to achieve a high-quality, especially clean, defect-free and sharp print image, it is necessary that a precisely prescribed distance between the transfer surface 4.1 and the print head 8 or the individual print heads is exactly maintained. This is easily possible.

By the elastic intermediate layer 6 ensures that even with dimensional tolerances, eg tolerances in the diameter of the bottles 2, the (tolerances) may well be in the range between 0.5 to 07 mm, but also in unevenness for the transmission of the printed image is ensured by the transfer element 4 to the respective bottle 2 required dense concerns the transfer surface 4.1 against the bottle area to be printed. Overall, offers Thus, the printing station 1 has the advantage that a high quality printing while maintaining the necessary and very critical distance between the print head 8 and the transfer surfaces 4.1 is possible, despite considerable dimensional tolerances of the bottles 2, these tolerances by the elastic design of the transfer elements 4, that are compensated in the elastic intermediate layers 6.

The FIG. 4 1 shows a device 15 for printing on bottles 2 or similar containers, which (device) in turn has the container conveyor 12, designed as a rotor and driven in a circle around a vertical machine axis in the direction of the arrow B, with the container carriers 13 provided on the circumference. At the periphery of the container conveyor 12, two printing stations 1 are provided, in the illustrated embodiment by 180 ° about the vertical axis of rotation of the container conveyor 12 offset from each other.

In the apparatus 15, the container carriers 13 are not only rotatably controlled (arrow C) about their vertical container carrier axis, but also controlled radially or substantially radially with respect to the vertical axis of the container conveyor 12, so that the container carriers 13 and / or on these standing upright bottles 2 are not only rotated about the vertical axis of the container carrier 13 at the printing area 11 of each printing station 1 (arrow C), but also on a curved around the axis of the respective transfer drum 3 path, for example, move on a part-circular path. As a result, the usable for the transmission of the print image of the transfer elements 4 on the bottles 2 angular range of rotation of the container conveyor 12 is substantially increased, so that a high-quality printing of the bottles 2 at high performance of the device 15 (number of printed bottles 2 per unit time) ensured is.

The bottles 2 are supplied to the device 15 via a conveyor belt 16 and arrive individually via an inlet star 17 on a container carrier 13. The printed bottles 2 are removed from the respective container carrier 13 at an outlet star 18 and conveyed away with the conveyor belt 16. With the two printing stations 1, a printing of the bottles 2 takes place at different In principle, however, it is also possible to supplement the print image generated by the first printing station 1 in the transport direction B with the printing station 1 following in the direction of transport B, with the one printing station 1 and the bottleneck 2.2. for example, individually different from bottle 2 to bottle 2 or individually different from bottle group to bottle group.

In the transport direction B, a drying station 14 for drying, setting and / or baking of the printed image is again provided following each printing station 1.

The Figures 5 and 6 show as a further embodiment, a printing station 1a, which differs from the printing station 1 essentially in that the transfer elements 4a corresponding to their function and structure of the transfer elements 4 are provided on an auxiliary conveyor, in the form of at least one closed oval loop forming endlessly driven (arrow D) belt, belt or chain-shaped transport element 19. This is about at least two in the FIG. 5 is guided with 20 indicated wheels and carries on the outside of the loop, the transfer elements 4a. Each transfer element 4a in turn consists of the adhesive layer forming the transfer surface 4a.1, of the elastic intermediate layer and of a carrier element with which the transfer element 4a is held on the transport element 19. Deviating from the transfer elements 4, the transfer elements 4 a are flat or substantially planar on their transfer surface 4.1. The print head 8 and the cleaning station 10 preceding this print head 8 in the transport direction D of the transport element 19 are provided on a straight loop length 19. 1 of the transport element 19.

At the loop length 19.1 opposite, also rectilinear loop length 19.2 of the transport element 19, the pressure region 11a is formed on which the bottles 2 are moved upright on a container conveyor 21 or on there plate-like container carriers 22 straight past. namely while rotating the container carrier 22 and the bottles 2 about their vertical axes (arrow E) such that each bottle 2 slip-free on a transfer element 4a or the local arranged in a vertical plane transfer surface 4a.1 for transferring the negative print image rolls.

The operation of the printing station 1a corresponds to the operation of the printing station 1, i. on the transfer surfaces 4a. 1, a complete negative print image is generated when moving past the print head 8, which is then transferred to a bottle 2 at the print area 11 a. Before reaching the print head 8, the respective transfer surface 4a.1 is cleaned or, for example, at the cleaning position 10. freed by scraping from residual ink. The printed bottles 2 are carried along with the container conveyor 21, u.a. to a not shown, the drying station 14 corresponding drying station.

The printing station 1a has the additional advantage that a relatively large length of the transport path of the container conveyor 21 is available for the transfer of the negative print images from the transfer elements 4a to the bottles 2, so that the printing station 1a is especially suitable for very high outputs ,

The invention has been described above by means of exemplary embodiments. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention.

Thus, it was assumed above that the container conveyor 21 is a linear container conveyor and that accordingly the transfer elements 4 a are moved on the printing area 11 a on a straight loop length 19. 2 of the transport element 19. In principle, it is also possible to guide the transport element 19 and thus also the transfer elements 4a on the printing area 11a on a curved path, for example on a part-circular curved path, so that then the corresponding printing station on the periphery of a container transporter in the form of a vertical Machine axis rotating rotor can be arranged.

Above, it was further assumed that the transfer elements 4 and 4a are each made of a multi-layer, consisting of the adhesive layer 5, the intermediate layer 6 and the carrier layer 7. However, it is also possible to produce several layers in one piece, for example the adhesive layer 5 as a closed outer skin or layer of a formed with a plurality of pores elastic intermediate layer 6. By the elastic, pillow-like Forming the transfer element 4 is in any case a compensation of the bottle or container tolerances in the transfer element possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1 a

printing station

2

bottle

2.1

bottle body

2.2

bottleneck

3

transfer drum

4, 4a

transfer element

4.1, 4a.1

transfer surface

5

adhesive layer

6

interlayer

7

supporting member

8th

printhead

9

control device

10

cleaning station

11, 11 a

Print position or print area

12

container transporter

13

container carrier

14

drying station

15

contraption

16

conveyor belt

17

feed star

18

outlet star

19

Hilfstransporteur or loop-type transport element

19.1, 19.2

straight length of the loop of the transport element 19th

20

wheel

21

container transporter

22

container carrier

A

Direction of rotation of the transfer drum 3

B

Rotational or transport direction of the container conveyor 12

C

Direction of rotation of the container carrier 13

D

Direction of movement of the transport element 19th

e

Transport direction of the container conveyor 21

F

Direction of rotation of the container carrier 22nd

Claims (13)

1. An apparatus for printing bottles or similar containers (2) on an outer container surface, having at least one printing station (1, 1a), which has the containers (2) moving past its printing region (11, 11 a) on a container conveyor (12, 21), having at least one printing head (8) and having a transfer element (4, 4a) which forms at least one transfer surface (4.1, 4a.1) and is provided on an auxiliary conveyor (3, 18) and which is moved by the auxiliary conveyor (3, 19) at least between the at least one printing head (8) and the printing region (11, 11a), for the purpose of applying a negative printing image to the at least one transfer surface (4.1, 4a.1) for transferring the negative printing image to a container region (2.1, 2.2) rolling over the transfer surface (4.1, 4a.1), the transfer surface (4.1, 4a.1) being elastically or resiliently configured, and a plurality of transfer elements (4, 4a) being provided on the auxiliary conveyor (3, 19), characterised in that the transfer elements (4, 4a) are each configured with at least two layers comprising an adhesive layer that forms the transfer surface (4.1, 4a.1) and a resilient intermediate layer (6) carrying this adhesive layer.
2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that a complete negative printing image is produced with each printing head (8).
3. An apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at least one station (10) for cleaning the at least one transfer surface (4.1, 4a.1) is provided in the direction of motion or transport (A, D) of the auxiliary conveyor (3, 19) upstream of the at least one printing head (8).
4. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the adhesive layer (5) and/or the intermediate layer (6) consist of one or more individual layers or individual strata.
5. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the auxiliary conveyor is a transfer drum (3) driven to rotate about a drum axis, for example about an axis parallel or essentially parallel to the axis of the containers (2).
6. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the auxiliary conveyor is formed by at least one belt-like or chain-like transport element (19) forming a continuous loop.
7. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the container conveyor (12) is a turntable or rotor rotating about a vertical machine axis.
8. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the container conveyor (21) is a linear conveyor.
9. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by container carriers (13, 22) on the container conveyor (12, 21), each for one container (2).
10. An apparatus according to Claim 8, characterised by means for the controlled rotating of the container carriers (13, 22) and hence of the containers (2), at least at the printing region (11, 11 a).
11. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by means for the controlled moving of the container carriers (13) in such a way that at the printing region (11) of the at least one printing station (1) the trajectory of the container carriers (13) and hence of the containers (2) thereon disposed runs parallel or essentially parallel to the trajectory there of the transfer elements (4), for example concentrically to a circular trajectory of the transfer elements (4).
12. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one transfer surface (4.1) of the at least one transfer element (4) is convex, for example curved in the manner of an arch.
13. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one transfer surface (4a.1) of the at least one transfer element (4a) is configured so as to be flat or essentially flat.

Images