EP2461979B1 - System for printing on containers - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a system for printing on containers, such as bottles, with a printed image (font and / or image pattern) on at least one printing machine with at least one print head, as well as to a thus executed method.

It is known that labels such as bottles and packages are labeled so that consumer information can be displayed. It is also known that with inkjet printers markings or other information are applied to the packaging, which allow an individualization that does not allow the label printing. Such printing systems work monochrome and are limited to a few printing dots / lines.

It is also known that printing processes and systems are used which allow printing heads of different manufacturers to print widths of up to 174 mm per print head. These printheads work in a single color, with several colors, several printheads one after the other and offset accordingly to arrange so that depending on the number of colors, an always uniform distance between the individual pressure points is achieved. This is possible with an adjustment to a machine with several printheads arranged one after the other. The packaging material and the print heads are guided past each other at a constant speed relative to each other. The performance of such a machine is therefore dependent on the printing speed of a respective printhead. This is indeed practical for absorbent packaging materials. For other materials, such as metals, glass or plastic, the paint must either be dried by heat or cured by UV or electron beam crosslinking. This Operation is to be applied after the printing of each ink, which increases the length of such machines. If you want to increase the power, so either multiple printing systems to switch in parallel or to choose a different arrangement.

There is already a proposal to arrange on a carousel a plurality of holders for packaging material to be printed circular and to rotate the individual packaging on the individual station during the rotation of the carousel itself and thus to pass the surface of the package at several disposed at each station and aligned printheads , The disadvantage here is that with surfaces that require the use of UV-curing or by electron beam to be cured inks, no intermediate drying or crosslinking of the individual printing inks is possible.

Therefore, there is still the proposal to apply each color on individual successively arranged one after another carousels, the drying / crosslinking can be done on the transfer between the carousels. It is envisaged in this embodiment, the container or the packaging on a belt in each case on the belt in a division, which equals the pitch of the machine, to be fastened, self-contained transport unit and thus centered successively through the various successively arranged carousels to drive , This holder would be designed as a pivot bearing, so that drive the container on the carousels and thus be passed to the individual print head of the respective color with the entire surface.

It has also been proposed to clamp containers in individual holders, each holder rotatably receiving the container and having a mark for the 0 degree angle. The containers are thus transported individually transported and in successive printing presses with the holder added. The holder and the receptacle is designed so that a centering of the holder in the machine is so accurate that the container is aligned to match the print image of the corresponding printhead and by the 0 degree mark accordingly in the axis of rotation. However, the requirements for the centering and the accuracy of the guide, so that a high-quality print image is achieved, but it is high and complex, since when pulling and braking different tensile forces act on the belt and also temperature fluctuations can occur, both of which lead to tolerance violations, the are not compensable. It should also be kept in mind that if the container is a bottle, it is usually difficult, since printing normally takes place after filling. The mass of the holder itself adds to this weight. The accuracy of the centering requirement becomes clear when it is known that with standard 600 dpi print quality the print dots are 0.042 mm apart and the heavy bottle holder therefore has to be permanently aligned to 1/100 mm , For processing quantities of z. B. 36,000 bottles / h in the beverage industry thus run over 200 million bottles per year through such a machine. The wear is enormous and affects the print quality considerably.

It also gives the applicant the proposal, when printed on successively arranged machines to align the print heads by means of electrically driven systems on the individually supplied to the machine bottles and the resulting random tolerance of their clamping in a rotating device, thus to compensate for the tolerances active means of electrical drives ,

For all systems discussed so far, experience is only available with test systems that work stationary under laboratory conditions. The industrial use should, however, at high powers, z. B. at bottling plants with z. B. 36,000 bottles / h happen. Here, a bottle and thus also the printhead are transported at a speed of about 1.5 m / sec. As a result, the drop of paint is exposed to an air flow, which can affect the print quality.

From the DE-A-10 2007 050 490 a system for printing on containers according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed.

Object of the present invention is to propose a system of the type mentioned, with the help of which in a simple way with reliable function and high print quality, a high printing performance can be achieved.

This object is achieved in a system according to claim 1.

A container, such as a bottle, is thus clamped in a carrier device. The restraint holds the container in a defined position on a bottom of the clamping device and centers it with respect to the clamping device. The mutual centering ensures that a flawless print image can be applied to the container with little expenditure of time. The container is preferably rotatably mounted in the clamping device about its axis of symmetry. By clamping the axis of rotation of the container relative to the print head system always remains the same orientation.

In the system according to the invention, at least one further printing machine of the previously indicated type for printing with the same or different Be the color of the first printing machine downstream, so that with equal advantage different colored print images can be generated.

The at least two printing presses can work individually and independently of one another or control technology with each other in order to apply the multicolored printed image to the container.

Advantageously, the movable printhead mount of the at least one printhead is resiliently mounted.

Therefore, the at least one printhead is preferably slidably mounted in two or three axes and is driven by, e.g. pressed by one or more pneumatic cylinders, force applied in the centering with the clamping device.

The holder for the printhead is preferably withdrawn during the running of the chuck in a printing station of a printing press. The same preferably takes place during the running out of the clamping device from a printing station of a printing press.

The accuracy of the printed image can be further promoted by constantly measuring the distance between the print head and container surface by means of sensors during printing and the distance value in the x-axis and the inclination angle α ₁ and α _{2 of} the container surface are readjusted during rotation of the container. The respective container experiences, for example, during one revolution of a printing machine designed as a carousel one revolution in its station and is printed during its on its surface.

The container is preferably substantially enclosed by a capsule during printing, for example in a printing press designed as a carousel, so that the "wind" can not affect the print result. Furthermore, soiling of the environment by aerosols are prevented in this way.

A further improvement in this relationship results when air is sucked out of the interior of the capsule by means of a suction device.

According to the invention, furthermore, the clamping device can be provided as a part of the capsule with a cover which covers the container to be printed, e.g. partially or completely encloses in height and approximately half in the circumferential direction.

Likewise, the printhead support or counter-abutment of the chuck may be provided as another part of the capsule with a housing enclosing the container to be printed, e.g. in height partially or completely and in the circumferential direction encloses about half and in printing, without forming a significant gap, reaching up to the cover of the clamping device.

The enclosure does not need to be attached to the printhead mount but be part of the printing station of a printing press.

The enclosure thus keeps the machine open to the outside and closes inwards the room towards the middle of the machine. If the jig in the printing press, z. B. by means of infeed star, so close the two capsule halves of cover and enclosure and there is created according to the invention a completely or largely closed space in which no or only a small draft even at higher speeds or benefits of the printing press.

Alternatively, the capsule may have at least two parts mounted on a respective printing station of a printing press, which are opened relative to one another prior to the introduction of the container into the printing station and closed again after the introduction of the container into the printing station and before printing, preferably each automatically.

One of the at least two parts of the capsule can be hinged pivotably about an axis in a structurally simple manner at the printing station, wherein the axis is preferably upright.

In addition, one of the at least two parts of the capsule may be an enclosure of the printhead mount.

The actuation of the at least one movable part of the capsule may further be e.g. by means of lever and / or cam and / or an actuator, such as a piston / cylinder arrangement or a motor done.

Between the operation according to the invention, the position of the angle of rotation of the container can be determined during at least one revolution of the container for full-scale printing or when rotated by less than 360 degrees for printing with only partially to be printed outer peripheral surface of the container with the help of obtained in a zero point data in which printing begins or ends.

The respective container preferably undergoes a revolution on a turntable during one revolution of a printing machine designed as a carousel, while it is printed on its surface.

In a system according to the invention, for example, the respective printed container by means of an outlet star from a z. B. trained as a carousel Printing machine transported out and possibly the applied color, z. B. in a curing tunnel, such as a UV tunnel, electron beam tunnel or the like., Hardened before it is introduced into an optionally further and possibly similar trained printing press for further printing.

The at least one printing press can in one embodiment of the system according to the invention a z. B. upstream as a carousel machine, in the first separate Einlaufsterne the jig is placed on a station of this machine, then make appropriate preparations for receiving containers and then the respective container is inserted into the jig and fixed in position.

Here, for example, the at least one printing press a z. B. be designed as a carousel machine, in which via an inlet star first the jig with clamped printed container is placed on a station of this machine, then make appropriate preparations for separating jig and container and then the container with still fixed jig means Outlet star can be extended out of the machine before the jigs are driven out of the machine again via an outlet star.

In an alternative embodiment of a system according to the invention, the at least one printing machine is a z. B. upstream as a carousel machine, in which via an inlet star first the jig with clamped printed container is placed on a station of this machine, then make appropriate preparations for separating jig and container and then the printed container with still fixed jig means Outlet star from the Machine are extended before entering via a further inlet star a new container to be printed, inserted into the jig and fixed in position before the jig is supplied with a new container via a discharge star of at least one printing press.

Accordingly, the invention can also be carried out on linear machines.

• Nach einem Transport der Einspannvorrichtung mit dem sich darin befindlichen Behälter in eine Druckmaschine, bei hohen Leistungen bevorzugt eine sich nach Art eines Karussells kontinuierlich im Rundlauf bewegende Maschine, wird diese dort mittels erfindungsgemäßer Zentriervorrichtungen an einer z. B. ein Gegenlager bildende Druckkopfhalterung der aufzunehmenden Station des Karussells zentriert und erfindungsgemäß z. B. mittels Elektromagneten in der Station fixiert. Damit ist die Einspannvorrichtung mit dem sich darauf befindlichen Behälter fest mit einer Station der Druckmaschine verbunden. Die Genauigkeit an dieser Stelle kann erfindungsgemäß niedrig sein. An diesen Stationen befinden sich erfindungsgemäß nämlich jeweils ein oder mehrere Druckköpfe die erfindungsgemäß beweglich gelagert sind.

The operation of a system according to the invention thus follows, for example in a preferred embodiment, as follows:

• After a transport of the jig with the container located therein in a printing press, at high power preferably a moving in the manner of a carousel continuously in the concentricity machine, this is there by means of inventive centering on a z. B. an abutment-forming printhead holder of the male station of the carousel centered and according to the invention z. B. fixed by means of electromagnets in the station. Thus, the jig with the container located thereon is firmly connected to a station of the printing press. The accuracy at this point can be low according to the invention. According to the invention, one or more print heads, which are movably mounted according to the invention, are in each case located at these stations.

According to the invention, these print heads or the holders to which the at least one print head is fastened also have centering devices which fit on the respectively matching counterparts on the clamping device. The printheads or the printhead holders according to the invention are movably mounted and movable by means of springs and / or by means of active delivery systems, such as pneumatic cylinders, in the direction of the clamping device. Will now the printhead or printhead mount during the Inlet of the clamping device z. B. either via a curve mechanically or via active systems such. As a pneumatic cylinder, withdrawn from the later position of the jig, so this can be easier to run in and / or avoid damage to the jig or the print head or its holder or the centerings, as occur during the enema of the jig relative movements between jigs and centerings.

After the clamping device is fixed by means of the electromagnets according to the invention, the printhead or the print head according to the invention by means of its holder in the direction of the clamping device z. B. either by a curve during the rotation of the carousel or a separate mechanism, running, for example, as a pneumatic cylinder, controlled moves. The centerings on the print head or its holder come into contact with the counterparts on the clamping device. By the movable storage either by springs or free on waves in certain lengths in the x and y directions, as well as in angular positions, the print head or the holder with the attached printhead can now fully match in position to the position of the jig. Thus, a tolerance compensation according to the invention is achieved without great effort in all directions and ensures a uniform good print image.

Alternatively, according to the invention, the print head using the in the German patent application 10 2009 033 810.1 applicant's invention also be aligned electrically to markings on the clamping device.

According to the invention, the clamping device can be designed so that a base plate for the container is rotatable, in such a way that the turntable itself is to be understood as a part of a drive motor. This is for example the case when the turntable is equipped with magnets on the circumference in a number> 3. After centering and fixing on a station of the printing press designed as a carousel, these are then brought into overlap with electric coils which are fixedly attached to the station of the carousel so that an electric motor is produced therefrom. The advantage here is that no cable moves with the jig, but also that no gear or other power transmissions must be engaged.

The turntable can be provided with a zero mark, which determines the zero angle of the printed image. With the help of this zero mark, it is possible to properly match the printed images of possible downstream printing presses to the printed image of the previous printing presses.

For non-rotationally symmetrical containers, eg. As four-sided or other polygonal, even irregular containers is to properly print this, provided that the print head is located in a centering on the fixture and during the rotation of the container, the print head always guided at a constant distance to the surface to be printed becomes. This can be done according to the invention, for example, by a finger follower on which either the printhead is attached or executed as an active system, the edition is kraftgering and its signal are converted into control in setting commands for the adjustment of the distance.

Since a container, for. As a bottle, even tolerances in itself, it is conceivable that the container axis is not concentric with the turntable axis. This is not disturbing for a printing process when the distance deviation is small. It is therefore not disturbing for a multicolored printed image, since the deviation due to the inventive design always on is equal to all printing presses for the different colors. However, if the deviation is large, according to the invention either the drag lever described above can be used or it is further proposed according to the invention to measure the distance between the print head and container surface by means of sensors constantly to the distance value in the x-axis and the y-axis and the Angle α ₁ and α ₂ during the rotation of the container z. B. readjust by means of servo motor or stepper motor. This is always an equal distance from the surface to be printed, even if z. B. non-round bottles or oval bottles to print.

Other objects, features, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. All described and / or illustrated features, alone or in any combination form the subject matter of the invention, regardless of their summary in individual claims and / or their dependency.

FIG. 1 illustrates an inventive system for printing on containers 1 with three successively connected each having a carousel printing presses 28, each having a plurality of stations 22. The unprinted container 1 are from a linear conveyor line by means of an inlet star 26 first in the first carousel 25 on a turntable 6 z , B. after Fig. 3 and 4 trained clamping device 4, which was previously brought by means of inlet star 27 on the carousel 25, brought. Thereafter, the container 1 clamped in the clamping device 4 runs together with the clamping device 4 via the outlet star 30 in the direction of a first printing press 28 and via an inlet star 26 into the printing press 28. There, the clamping device 4 is received with the clamped container 1 on each of a base 23 of the stations 22, centered and fixed by means of electromagnet 17 via a counter-surface 16 of magnetizable material.

During printing, the containers 1 rotate about their vertical axis so that they undergo one revolution during one revolution of the carousel of the printing machine 28. The printed container 1 are then transported by means of a discharge stem 30 back into the conveyor line and reach after drying or curing of the color z. In a UV tunnel, electron beam tunnel or the like 29 to a second carousel having printing machine 28 for the application of the next color. A container 1 of the fourth station 22 of the first printing press 28 may be z. B. on the fifth station 22 of the second or the seventh station 22 of the then following third printing press 28 arrive. As a printing process including container orientation about 2 sec. lasts, the carousels have 28 at 10 tanks / sec. = 36,000 containers / h, ie about 8 to 9 stations 22 including inlet / outlet. The tolerances of six printing presses 28 in six-color printing and each 9 stations, d. H. It is impossible to align 72 stations in total, so that all containers with a size of 1/100 mm can accurately record the printed image. Therefore, it is important that the print head 20 or 21 is aligned so that an always equal distance to the turntable center is achieved.

Following the last printing machine 28, the clamping device 4 is retracted with the clamped ready-printed container 1 in a designed as a carousel machine 31 and fixed there again. In the machine 31, the clamping is released and the re-released container 1 transported by means of outlet star 30 from the machine 31. The empty clamping device 4 is then output via an outlet star 32 and transported back to the machine 25 via a conveyor line 33.

In the arrangement of the machines, it should be noted that the cover 5 of the clamping device 4 in the printing presses 28 points outwards and thus insertion or removal of the container 1 is not possible in this position. So it must be the jig 4 in the machines 25 and 31 so run in that the cover 5 points inwards to the center of the carousel. Only in this way can a star also place the container 1 on the turntable 6 or remove it from it.

Out FIG. 1 It is also easy to see that it is possible to fasten the clamping devices 4 to a belt, preferably a toothed belt. However, there is no buffer lines between the individual carousels for decoupling the machines available.

FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of a system according to the invention, in which the functions of the carousels 25 and 30 are combined in a machine 40.

FIG. 3 shows how a container 1 by means of locking spring 3 and by lowering by means of a handle 8 between a turntable 6 and an upper centering 2 can be clamped by way of example. This happens, for example, on a carousel 25 automatically, in which after lifting the handle 8 of the container 1 is retracted by means of inlet star in the position and is fixed by lowering the handle 8 in the clamping device 4. Thereafter, the clamping device 4 moves out of the machine 25 or 40 with the clamped container 1 and into the first printing press 28.

Each trained with a carousel printing press 28 has a plurality of printing stations 22, the z. B. are simultaneously provided with a base 23 on which the jig 4 is pushed by means of synchronously rotating stars in the inlet with its base 7. During this process, the pneumatic cylinder 14 retracts the printhead support 12 to prevent collisions. After the clamping device 4 stands on the base 23, the clamping device 4 is fixed by means of electromagnets 17, which act on the mating surface 16 of magnetizable material on the clamping device 4. Thereafter, the pneumatic cylinder 14 leaves the means of the springs 13th floating printhead mount 12 move in the direction of the fixed jig 4. There, the print head holder 12 is precisely centered by means of the centerings 10, 15 and pressed by the forces of the springs 13 to the clamping device 4. So that the printheads, here z. B. 20 and 21, in a defined preset position to the clamping device 4, regardless of the position in which the clamping device 4 is fixed by means of the electromagnet 17.

For other bottles, the print heads 20, 21 adjustable by means of adjustment in angle and position (height and diameter distance).

After centering, the coil 28 and the magnets 9 of the turntable 6 with the container 1 and serving as an abutment upper Behälterzentrierung 2 is rotated and moved over the control device 24 of the rotary plate 6 marked zero point 34 to a predefined starting point. Now, the intended printing process can be done with each belonging to a print image pixel-by-pixel inking by the print head 21 and 22 emits ink on the surface to be printed of the container 1 during rotation of the turntable 6 with a constant speed as possible.

In this case, the container to be printed 1 is completely enclosed in a kind of capsule 50. The capsule 50 is formed from the clamping device 4 with the approximately half enclosing cover 5 and from the inner housing 19, which encloses the print head holder 12 and extends to the cover 5 of the clamping device 4 when printing the container 1.

Alternatively, the cover 5 may be omitted and replaced by a hinged lid-like capsule part 5 '(shown in dashed lines), which is pivotably articulated about an axis 51 at the printing station 22 itself.

After the end of Duckvorganges, ie after the end of the circulation around the carousel 28, the print head holder 12 is withdrawn by means of the pneumatic cylinder 14 against the resistance of the springs 13 again. Once the jig 4 reaches the delivery point of the outlet star 30 in the outlet or alternatively shortly before, the fixation is achieved by switching off the electromagnet 17 and the jig 4 can be transported out of the carousel 28 again.

FIG. 4 illustrates a jig 4 with behind it, but removed cover 5, wherein the individual components result from the following list of reference numerals.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Container, in particular bottle

2

upper centering

3

detent

4

frame-like clamping device

5

Cover of the clamping device 4

5 '

hinged lid-like capsule part

6

Turntable (lower container centering)

7

Base of the clamping device 4

8th

Handle for raising / lowering the upper container center 2

9

Magnets in the turntable 6

10

Centering surfaces (conical depressions) in the clamping device 4

11

Adjustment of the printheads 20, 21

12

Cartridge Holder

13

Spring mounting of printhead mount 12

14

Pneumatic cylinder for retracting the printhead mount 12 during the on / off of the chuck 4

15

Centering surfaces (conical elevations) of the print head holder 12 as a counterpart of the centering surfaces 10 of the clamping device. 4

16

Mating surfaces of magnetizable material for fixing the clamping device. 4

17

Electromagnet for fixing the clamping device 4

18

Coils for direct drive of the turntable 6

19

Enclosure of Printhead Mount 12

20

Upper printhead

21

lower printhead

22

Print stations on a printing machine 28

23

Stand surface for the clamping device 4

24

control device

25

Machine (eg carousel) for picking up containers 1 to be printed in clamping devices 4

26

Infeed star for containers to be printed 1

27

Infeed star for empty clamping devices 4

28

(eg carousels)

29

Curing tunnel (UV tunnel, electron beam tunnel, etc.)

30

Outlet star for printed containers 1

31

Machine (eg carousel) for separating printed containers 1 and clamping devices 4

32

Outlet star for empty clamping devices 4

33

Return transport of empty clamping devices 4

34

Zero mark

35

Zero point detection (reading device)

36

Inlet star for clamping devices 4 with clamped printed container 1

37

Outlet star for printed containers 1

38

Infeed star for containers to be printed 1

39

Outlet star for clamping devices 4 with clamped to be printed container 1

40

Machine (eg carousel) for separating printed containers 1 and clamping devices 4

41

Inlet star for clamping device 4 with clamped container 1

50

capsule

51

axis

Claims (22)

1. System for printing on containers (1), such as bottles, having a print image on at least one printing press (28) rotatable about a vertical axis, comprising a plurality of printing stations (22), which also rotate, comprising at least one printing head (20, 21), wherein the at least one printing head (20, 21) is movably supported during the printing process and/or is aligned by means of a movable printing head holder (12) over a centring element (10, 15) on a clamping device (4) for the container (1), characterised in that individual clamping devices (4) are provided into which the containers (1) can be clamped, wherein each clamping device (4) rotatably receives the container (1) and wherein the containers (1) thus clamped can be individually transported together with the clamping device (4) and received in successive printing presses.
2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that
   the first printing press (28) is followed by at least one further printing press (28) of the type characterised in claim 1 for printing with the same or a different colour.
3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that
   the at least two printing presses (28) operate individually and independent of each other or in a link-controlled manner.
4. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
   the movable printing head holder (12) of the at least one printing head (20, 21) is springmounted.
5. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
   the at least one printing head (20, 21) is glidingly supported in two or three axes and pressed by means of forces, e.g. applied by one or several pneumatic cylinders (14), into the centring element (10, 15).
6. System according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that
   the printing head holder (12) is pulled back during entry and/or exit of the clamping device (4) in a printing station (22) of a printing press (28).
7. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that,
   during printing, the distance between printing head (20, 21) and container surface is constantly measured by means of sensors and the distance value in the x axis and the angle of inclination ([alpha]|, 02) of the container surface are readjusted during a rotation of the container (1).
8. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
   the container (1) during printing, e.g. in a printing press (28) designed as a carousel, is essentially enclosed by a capsule (50).
9. System according to claim 8, characterised in that
   air can be sucked from the interior of the capsule (50) by means of a suction device.
10. System according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that
    the clamping device (4) as a part of the capsule (50) is provided with a cover (5) which encloses the container (1) to be printed, e.g. partly or fully in terms of the height and approximately half in the peripheral direction.
11. System according to claim 10, characterised in that
    the printing head holder (12) as another part of the capsule (50) is provided with a housing (19) which encloses the container (1) to be printed, e.g. e.g. partly or fully in terms of the height and approximately half in the peripheral direction and reaching, during printing, without forming an appreciable gap, up to the cover (5) of the clamping device (4).
12. System according to claim 10, characterised in that
    the housing (19) is not attached to the printing head holder (12) but is part of the printing station (22) of a printing press (28).
13. System according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that
    the capsule (50) has at least two parts (5', 19) attached to a respective printing station (22) of a printing press (28), which, prior to introducing the container (1) into the printing station (22), are opened relative to each other and, after introducing the container (1) into the printing station (22) and prior to commencement of printing, are closed again, preferably always automatically.
14. System according to claim 13, characterised in that
    one of the at least two parts (5', 19) of the capsule (50) is pivotably arranged on the printing station (22) about an axis (51).
15. System according to claim 13 or 14, characterised in that
    one of the at least two parts (5', 19) of the capsule (50) represents a housing (19) of the printing head holder (12).
16. System according to one of the claims 13 to 15, characterised in that
    the at least one movable part (5<1>) of the capsule (50) is operated by means of lever and/or cam and/or an actuator, such as in a piston/cylinder arrangement or in a motor.
17. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that,
    with at least one rotation of the container (1) for full printing or with a rotation by less than 360 angular degrees for printing only part of a peripheral outer surface of the container (1), the position of the rotation angle of the container (1) is determined using data obtained during a zero point identification (34, 35) at which the printing begins or ends.
18. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
    the respective container (1) experiences, during a rotation of a printing press (28) designed as a carousel, a turn on a turntable (6) while its is being printed on its surface.
19. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
    the respective printed container (1) is transported, by means of an outfeed star (30), out of a printing press (28) e.g. designed with a carousel and, if required, the applied colour is cured e.g. in a curing tunnel (29) before it is introduced possibly into a further and possibly similarly designed printing press (28) for a further printing.
20. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
    a machine (25) e.g. designed with a carousel is upstream of the at least one printing press (28) in which, via separate infeed stars (26, 27), initially the clamping device (4) is introduced on a station of this machine (25), then corresponding preparations are made to receive containers (1) and thereafter the respective container (1) is inserted into the clamping device (4) and fixed in its position.
21. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
    a machine (31) designed e.g. with a carousel is downstream from the at least one printing press (28) in which, via an infeed star (41), initially the clamping device (4) with the clamped printed container (1) is introduced on a station of this machine (31), then corresponding preparations are made to separate clamping device (4) and container (1) and thereafter the containers (1), with the clamping device (4) still fixed, are discharged from the machine (31) by means of outfeed star (30) before, via an outfeed star (32), the clamping devices (4) are again discharged from the machine (31).
22. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
    a machine (40) e.g. designed as a carousel is upstream of the at least one printing press (28) in which, via an infeed star (36), initially the clamping device (4) with the clamped printed container (1) is introduced on a station of this machine (40), then corresponding preparations are made to separate clamping device (4) and container (1) and thereafter the printed containers (1), with the clamping device (4) still fixed, are discharged by means of outfeed star (37) from the machine (40), before, via a further infeed star (38), a new container (1) to be printed enters, is inserted into the clamping device (4) and fixed in its position, before the clamping device (4) with the new container (1) is supplied via an outfeed star (39) of the at least one printing press (28).

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