EP2799240A1 - Rotary machine for printing on containers - Google Patents

Abstract

Rotary machine (1) for printing on containers (2), comprising a carousel (3) for conveying the containers (2) about a substantially vertical carousel axis (A) and at least one co-rotating with the carousel (3) associated printing unit (4) at least two juxtaposed print heads (4 _B , 4 _W , 4 _Y , 4 _M , 4 _C ), which is designed for applying a print on the container (2), characterized in that at least one traversing device (5) with at least one container receptacle (6) is adapted to move at least one of the containers (2) along a web (B) associated with the printing unit (4) with printing positions (P), wherein the printing positions (P) with the at least two printing heads (4 _B , 4 _W , 4 _Y , 4 _M , 4 _C ) correspond.

Description

The invention relates to a rotary machine for printing containers with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Usually, containers for products, such as drinks, toiletries and the like, are provided with a print for identifying the product and / or for a high quality product presentation. The printing can be applied both directly on a container outer surface and / or as additional pressure on a label. The printing can have, for example, characters, logos, patterns and color gradients. To apply the printing, the containers are usually conveyed in a carousel and printed with printing units that rotate with the carousel and have multiple print heads with different colors.

The DE 10 2010 034780 A1 discloses a device and a method, wherein each container is received with a container receptacle and parallel to the carousel axis to various printheads and is moved up and down to sequentially install the individual inks on the container. The print heads are arranged one above the other and the container receptacle is lifted by a lever mechanism during transport in the carousel vertically upwards. The disadvantage here is that the printing unit is associated with a plurality of printheads in a single circulation of the carousel only a single container and thus can not be used efficiently.

The EP 2152519 discloses a rotary machine for printing on containers, wherein the containers are received in container receptacles along a carousel. In addition, each container receptacle on the carousel is associated with a printing unit, the print heads are aligned radially outward. Here, the print heads along a cylindrical surface of the carousel are arranged to be movable in the circumferential direction, so that they can be successively moved into a printing position and thus the container is printed sequentially with the individual printing inks. The disadvantage here is that the movable arrangement of the printheads can easily lead to inaccurate printing of the container and that the printheads are supplied via leads with the ink, which are both flexible and durable. The supply of the print heads with the ink is therefore expensive.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a rotary machine for printing on containers, with an efficient, accurate and cost-effective printing of the container is possible.

This object is achieved in a rotary machine for printing on containers according to the preamble of claim 1 with the features of the characterizing part, according to which at least one traversing device with at least one container receptacle is adapted to at least one of the container along a printing unit associated with web with printing positions method, wherein the printing positions correspond to the at least two printheads.

Due to the fact that the container receivers with the traversing device can be moved to the printing positions, all movements required for the printing can take place by means of the traversing device and the container receivers. As a result, a tolerance chain with particularly favorable leverage ratios is possible and the printing is particularly accurate. In addition, it is also possible with the traversing device to move a plurality of containers to different printing positions of a printing unit and then to print them simultaneously, whereby the printing unit can be used efficiently. Because the traversing device moves the container receptacles relative to the printing unit, it is possible to rigidly connect the printing unit to the carousel. The supply lines for the ink must therefore not be flexible and can be made particularly cost effective and durable. This ensures that the printing is applied precisely to the containers and that the rotary machine operates efficiently and cost-effectively.

The rotary machine for printing on containers can be arranged in a beverage processing plant. The rotary machine may be arranged downstream of a bottling plant for filling a product into the containers. The rotary machine can also be subordinated directly to a stretch blow molding machine for PET bottles.

The containers may be intended to contain drinks, toiletries, pastes, chemical, biological and / or pharmaceutical products. The containers may in particular be plastic bottles, glass bottles and / or cans. The containers may be disposable PET bottles.

The carousel may be configured to print a continuous stream of containers. The carousel may be associated with an inlet and / or outlet star to the container Add and / or remove container receptacles. The carousel may have a carousel plane which is perpendicular to the carousel axis and optionally formed horizontally.

Under perpendicular is meant here in the preamble of the first claim, the direction whose vector is directed to the center of the earth.

The fact that the printing unit is co-rotating with the carousel can mean that the printing unit is rigidly connected to the carousel. Alternatively, this may mean that the printing unit is not displaceable relative to the carousel. The fact that the printheads are arranged side by side may mean that the printheads are arranged with a horizontal offset from one another. The horizontal offset may lie in a plane that is parallel to the carousel plane. In other words, at least two printheads may be arranged substantially in one plane. The plane may run parallel to or in the carousel plane. The printheads may in addition to the horizontal offset also have a perpendicular, vertical offset in the direction of the carousel axis (for example in a stepped or zigzag-shaped arrangement). The printing unit can be designed to apply printing inks to the containers. The printing unit may be an ink jet printing unit. The printheads may be inkjet printheads, each having a plurality of nozzles for applying the printing to the containers. The nozzles may each comprise a pressure generating element, for example a piezoelectric element. The printing inks can be curable by drying or an energy input. The energy input can be heat, light, optionally UV light and / or an electron beam.

The printheads can be adjustable in height, in particular in the direction of a container longitudinal axis. They can also be adjusted in all angular dimensions in order to be able to print on different container contours. Likewise, an adjustment perpendicular to the path and perpendicular to the container longitudinal axis may be present, in this way containers of different diameters can be processed. An adjustment can be made automatically or manually. In an automated solution, at least one drive may be present, which adjusts at least one print head, in particular two print heads, if necessary, via corresponding lever or gear couplings.

The container receptacles can be designed to non-rotatably receive the containers at the container bottom and / or at the container mouth. The traversing device can be designed to move the container receptacles substantially horizontally. Alternatively, the traversing device may be configured to oppose the container receptacles at an angle a plane of rotation of the carousel. The angle may be in a range of 0 ° to 45 °, optionally in a range of 0 ° to 10 °. The traversing device can be connected to the carousel via a guide rail. The guide rail can be a profiled rail guide. The guide rail can be arranged along the path with printing positions. The traversing device may comprise a drive, a gear, a position sensor (for example a rotary encoder), a drive belt, a drive chain and / or a position control. The drive can be an electric motor, a pneumatic pressure cylinder or a hydraulic pressure cylinder. The drive for the traversing device may be a linear motor, a stepping motor or a servomotor.

The web with printing positions can be arranged in a plane perpendicular to the carousel axis. As a result, the construction of the mechanical elements of the displacement device is particularly cost-effective, since, for example, guide elements can be applied in parallel to the carousel. The plane perpendicular to the carousel axis may be parallel to the carousel plane. The carousel may comprise at least two spaced and mutually parallel carousel planes on each of which at least one traversing device is formed with a web having printing positions for printing the containers at least two-storey.

The at least one container receptacle may be connected to a motor for rotating the container about a longitudinal axis. This allows the container to be rotated about the longitudinal axis for printing and the construction of the printheads can be simplified. For example, each printhead may contain a row of nozzles aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis. Thereby, the two-dimensional pressure can be applied in one direction through the line of the printing nozzles and in the other direction by the rotation of the container. The motor may be a servomotor or a stepper motor. The container receptacles may have a gearbox to the reduction of the engine. The container receptacles may include sensors for detecting the angular position of the container receptacles, optionally a rotary encoder. The container receptacles may be connected to a control device for controlling the rotational movement of the container receptacles. The rotary encoder can be arranged outside the drive.

A sensor may be designed to detect a container position, wherein optionally the sensor is a camera. The container position may be a lateral position of the container relative to a printhead, a distance from a printhead, and / or a rotational position about the longitudinal axis. The camera may be formed with an image processing device to detect container features, printing features and / or label features.

The printheads may be arranged on one or both sides of the web with printing positions and / or on at least one end of the web with printing positions. As a result, the container outer surfaces can be passed particularly close to the printheads and the printing is applied so precisely. In a two-sided arrangement of the printheads and / or at least one end of the web with printing positions, the printing unit can be made very compact. The printheads arranged on one or both sides along the web with printing positions may be oriented substantially perpendicular to the web with printing positions. In a two-sided arrangement, the print heads may be arranged in a lane along the web with printing positions. In a two-sided arrangement of the two printheads is conceivable that they print with the same or with different inks. In an embodiment with the same printing ink, the two printing heads can be designed to each print substantially half of the outer surface of the container (corresponding to 180 °) at the same time. The print head arranged at the end of the web with printing positions may be arranged substantially parallel to the web with printing positions. The printhead located at the end of the web with printing positions can eject the ink precisely in a tangent to the web.

The traversing device may comprise at least two of the container receivers and the traversing device may be movable such that the at least two container receivers alternately correspond to all the printing heads of the printing unit. As a result, the printing unit can be used simultaneously for a plurality of containers and is thus used particularly efficiently. The fact that the two container receptacles correspond alternately with all print heads may mean that the at least two container receptacles respectively correspond to one of the print positions and the print heads are designed to simultaneously print the containers in the at least two container receptacles. For example, a container receptacle with a first printhead correspond with a first ink and the second container receptacle with a second printhead with a second ink. Here, the first container can be printed with the first color and at the same time the second container with the second color.

The printing unit may comprise at least one curing device, which is designed for curing (pinning) at least one partial printing and which is arranged corresponding to at least one curing position of the web with printing positions. As a result, the color can be cured very quickly after printing. The curing device can be designed to provide an energy input into the paint. The curing device may include an ultraviolet light source, a heater, an electron beam device and / or be formed with a fan. The curing position may be arranged in sequence with the printing positions on the web. The at least one curing device may be arranged on one side or on both sides along the web with printing positions and / or on at least one end of the web with printing positions. Thereby, as described above with respect to the positioning of the print heads, the containers can be guided particularly close to the curing device and / or the printing unit can be made particularly compact. The curing device may include a shutter to prevent direct energy input to the ink on the printheads.

The web with printing positions may be an endless web, which is optionally circular. As a result, a plurality of printing units can be arranged on the same web with printing positions. As a result, the printing units can be used particularly efficiently.

The traversing device may be a printing carousel arranged on the carousel, optionally wherein the axis of the printing carousel is arranged on the carousel axis or at a radial distance parallel to the carousel axis. Due to the printing carousel drive for the traversing device can be very simple. In an arrangement of the axis of the printing carousel on the carousel axis, the container receptacles can be moved in the circumferential direction of the carousel. As a result, the print heads of the printing unit can be arranged in the radial direction to the outside or inwards, wherein a particularly accurate printing is ensured by the centrifugal forces. In an arrangement of the printing carousel at a radial distance from the carousel axis, a multiplicity of printing carousels can be arranged on the carousel.

The web with printing positions may be a web segment, which is optionally formed as a circle segment, linear segment and / or spiral-like segment. This allows the container receptacles are moved in an inner area of the carousel and the space on the carousel can be better used by the printing units. As a result, the carousel can be made very compact. The web segment may comprise two ends. The web with printing positions can be arranged parallel to the carousel plane. The spiral-like segment can run on a cylindrical surface, for example as a helical path, on a frustoconical surface or in a plane.

The web with printing positions may be at least partially disposed along a radial direction of the carousel. As a result, the container receptacles can be moved radially inward or outward with the displacement device. This allows the space on the carousel especially be used efficiently, as well as the inner surface of the carousel is at least partially traversed by the container.

It would also be conceivable to provide the web with printing positions with at least two radial segments relative to the carousel and at least one segment in the circumferential direction of the carousel.

The moving unit may be designed to move the container receptacle with the container at least twice to the same printing position, for example during a forward and backward movement.

The rotary machine may comprise at least two traversing devices, the tracks of which merge into one another with printing positions, optionally wherein the transition of the webs lies on the carousel axis. As a result, at least one print head and / or at least one curing device for two printing units can be used particularly efficiently.

The carousel can have at least two printing units and at least two print heads of different printing units with the same printing ink can be arranged in pairs next to one another. As a result, the leads to the at least two printheads can be made particularly short with the same ink.

A vacuum device may be designed to generate a vacuum during the printing. As a result, air turbulence between the printing unit and the containers are avoided when printing and the pressure can be done very accurately.

However, it may also be provided a container-specific housing, which shields the container from environmental influences during printing. The housing can be connected to a suction device (vacuum device or simple blower). This can be sucked a paint mist. The enclosure may be stationary and fixed on the carousel and / or provided on a container receptacle.

The traversing device can be designed to move the at least one container receptacle parallel and / or perpendicular to the carousel axis. As a result, drive elements of the displacement device can be configured particularly simply.

The traversing device can be designed for the sequential printing of printing areas to move the container receptacles relative to a printing position along a container longitudinal axis. This allows several superimposed pressure sections on the Container are printed by a printhead sequentially one after the other, wherein between two printing operations, a lifting movement of the container receptacle takes place. In other words, the traversing device and / or the at least one container receptacle can be designed to rotate the containers at the same printing position and to displace them along the longitudinal axis of the container so that different pressure regions of the container outer surface can be printed. The pressure areas may be a plurality of superimposed, cylindrical partial surfaces of a container.

The traversing device can be designed to move the at least one container receptacle along a printing direction of the print head during a printing operation and to rotate about a container longitudinal axis. As a result, non-cylindrical container outer surfaces can be accurately printed. The container longitudinal axis can extend perpendicularly through a plate of the container receptacle. The container longitudinal axis can run parallel to the carousel axis through the container receptacle. The printing direction of the printhead may be a radial direction with respect to the carousel axis. A control unit may be designed to keep the distance of the print head to the container outer surface during printing in the circumferential direction substantially constant.

In one system, several of the described rotary machines can be arranged one behind the other. As a result, different partial printing images can be applied by different rotary machines, for example, in each case only one or two colors per rotary machine.

Figur 1A

ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel einer Rundläufermaschine in einer Draufsicht;

Figur 1B

die Rundläufermaschine aus der Figur 1A in einer seitlichen Ansicht;

Figur 2A

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel einer Rundläufermaschine in einer Draufsicht;

Figur 2B

die Rundläufermaschine aus der Figur 2A in einer seitlichen Schnittansicht;

Figur 3A

ein drittes Ausführungsbeispiel einer Rundläufermaschine in einer Draufsicht;

Figur 3B

die Rundläufermaschine aus der Figur 3A in einer seitlichen Schnittansicht;

Figur 4A

ein viertes Ausführungsbeispiel einer Rundläufermaschine in einer Draufsicht;

Figur 4B

die Rundläufermaschine aus der Figur 4A mit einer zusätzlichen Auswerteeinheit in einer Draufsicht;

Figur 4C

ein fünftes Ausführungsbeispiel einer Rundläufermaschine in einer Draufsicht;

Figur 4D

ein sechstes Ausführungsbeispiel einer Rundläufermaschine in einer Draufsicht;

Figur 4E

ein siebtes Ausführungsbeispiel einer Rundläufermaschine in einer Draufsicht;

Figur 4F

ein achtes Ausführungsbeispiel einer Rundläufermaschine in einer Draufsicht;

Figur 5

ein neuntes Ausführungsbeispiel einer Rundläufermaschine in einer perspektivischen Ansicht; und

Figur 6

ein zehntes Ausführungsbeispiel einer Rundläufermaschine in einer perspektivischen Ansicht.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be explained below with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the figures. It shows

Figure 1A

a first embodiment of a rotary machine in a plan view;

FIG. 1B

the rotary machine from the Figure 1A in a side view;

FIG. 2A

a second embodiment of a rotary machine in a plan view;

FIG. 2B

the rotary machine from the FIG. 2A in a side sectional view;

FIG. 3A

a third embodiment of a rotary machine in a plan view;

FIG. 3B

the rotary machine from the FIG. 3A in a side sectional view;

FIG. 4A

A fourth embodiment of a rotary machine in a plan view;

FIG. 4B

the rotary machine from the FIG. 4A with an additional evaluation in a plan view;

FIG. 4C

a fifth embodiment of a rotary machine in a plan view;

Figure 4D

a sixth embodiment of a rotary machine in a plan view;

Figure 4E

a seventh embodiment of a rotary machine in a plan view;

FIG. 4F

an eighth embodiment of a rotary machine in a plan view;

FIG. 5

a ninth embodiment of a rotary machine in a perspective view; and

FIG. 6

a tenth embodiment of a rotary machine in a perspective view.

In the Figures 1A and 1B a first embodiment of a rotary machine 1 is shown in a plan view and in a side view. It can be seen that the containers 2 are initially supplied to the carousel 3 via an inlet star 15. On the carousel 3 are the two moving devices 5, each having five container receptacles 6. The containers 2 are received in the container receptacles 6 and then moved with the traversing device 5 along the web B with printing positions P, which are assigned to the printing unit 4. At the individual printing positions P, the containers 2 are each printed with one color through the printing heads 4 _W , 4 _B , 4 _Y , 4 _M , 4 _C. In this case, for example, five different printing inks (white, black, yellow, magenta and cyan) are successively applied to each of the five containers 2 in the container receptacles 6. The printing ink black is alternatively referred to in printing technology as a "key". After printing, the containers 2 are then transported via the outlet star 16 to further processing stations.

As in Figure 1A can be seen, the printing units 4 are rigidly connected to the carousel 3 and rotate together with the carousel about the carousel axis A (or parallel to the substantially horizontal carousel plane E). Due to the rigid connection, the leads (not shown here) can also be made rigid and are thus not deformed when printed. As a result, the leads for the ink can be made particularly durable and inexpensive.

It can also be seen that the traversing device 5 can be moved along a path B designed as a circle segment with printing positions P. The circular segment is concentric with the Carousel 3 executed. As a result, the axis of the circle segment is arranged on the carousel axis A. This applies in each case to the two illustrated webs B with printing positions P.

The traversing device 5 is guided over a rail particularly accurately to the printing unit 4. The rail can optionally be a profiled rail guide. The drive of the shuttle 5 via a motor 8, which is designed here for example as a servomotor. The servomotor comprises a rotary encoder, via which the position of the shuttle 5 can be detected. Via a control unit, not shown, the exact position of the shuttle 5 can be controlled so that the container receptacles 6 and thus the container 2 arranged therein with the printing positions P can be positioned correspondingly. Here then a maximum of 5 containers can be printed simultaneously with different inks.

The print heads 4 _W , 4 _B , 4 _Y , 4 _M , 4 _{C of} the printing unit 4 are formed as ink jet print heads. The print heads 4 _W , 4 _B , 4 _Y , 4 _M , 4 _C each have substantially vertically stacked nozzles, with which the ink can be sprayed onto the container outer surface. For the two-dimensional printing of the container 2 while the container 2 are rotated by means of the container receptacles 6 and the motors 8 about their longitudinal axes. As a result, two-dimensional images can be applied to the substantially cylindrical container surface. By a different application of paint with the respective different colors can then be controlled by superposition of the desired target color at each point on the outer surface of the container 2. In the actual printing process, the traversing device 5 is not moved with respect to the web B with printing positions P.

Like from the Figure 1A can be seen, with the rotary machine 1, first a first container on the traversing device 5 printed with white ink on the print head 4 _w . Subsequently, the traversing device 5 is moved so that the first container with the print head 4 _B corresponds and the second container with the print head 4 _W. Subsequently, the first container is printed by the print head 4 _B with the color black and the second container with the print head 4 _W with the color white. Subsequently, the traversing device 5 is again moved to the next printing positions P, so that the first container corresponds to the printing head 4 _Y. Then the first container is printed with the color yellow, the second container with the color black and the third container with the color white. This printing sequence is continued until the fifth container corresponds to the print head 4 _C and this is finally printed with the color cyan. Subsequently, all containers 2 are printed in the traversing device 5 each with all five colors.

In FIG. 1B It can be seen that the traversing device 5 additionally comprises the holding devices 7. These are substantially vertically movable and are intended to fix the container 2 at the container mouth. This ensures a stable mounting of the container 2 in the container receptacles 6. In addition, it can be seen that the printing unit 4 comprises a sensor 9, with which the exact position of the container 2 can be detected. The sensor 9 is designed here for example as a camera. About an image processing device (not shown here) marks, surface contours or label features can be detected and evaluated. As a result, a particularly accurate positioning of the container 2 relative to the printing unit 4 can be achieved.

In the FIG. 2A a second embodiment of the rotary machine 1 is shown in a plan view. In addition, in FIG. 2B a sectional view taken along the section line QQ in the FIG. 2A to see in a side view. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the traversing devices 5 are designed as a printing carousel. Each of the four printing carousels comprises four container receptacles with which the containers 2 are received. Around each printing carousel around the printing device 4 with the four printheads 4 _B , 4 _M , 4 _C , 4 _{Y is} arranged.

During printing, the printing carousels are each rotated so that the container receptacles 6 and the containers 2 received therein correspond to one of the print heads 4 _B , 4 _M , 4 _C , 4 _Y , respectively. In this case, the maximum printing of four containers with all printheads 4 _B , 4 _M , 4 _C , 4 _{Y occurs} simultaneously. Subsequently, the printing carousel are further rotated by 90 ° and the container 2 are each printed with a further ink.

The rotary machine 1 is designed so that a single container 2 is removed by the traversing star 16 from a traversing device 5 during one revolution of the carousel 3. Subsequently, an unprinted container 2 is placed in the empty container receptacle 6 via the feed star 15. For a printing of a container 2 with all colors, the carousel 3 requires a total of 4 turns.

In addition, in FIG. 2A to see that the carousel 3 has four printing units 4, wherein two print heads of different printing units 4 are arranged in pairs next to each other with the same ink. For example, it can be seen that two print heads 4 _C of different printing units 4 are arranged directly next to each other and are connected via the feed line 10 to a paint distributor 11. Thereby, the supply of the ink can be carried out particularly short.

In the FIG. 2B can be seen in the sectional view that the two opposing displacement devices 5 each have an axis C, which are arranged at a radial distance R to the carousel axis A. Trained as a printing carousels traversing 5 are connected via a storage and a drive with the carousel 3a. The exact angular position of the respective displacement device 5 relative to the carousel 3 can be determined in each case via the position sensor 5 c. In addition, the carousel 3a is rotatably supported via the bearing 3b on a machine foundation 12 of the rotary machine 1. The angular position of the turntable 3a relative to the machine foundation 12 can be detected with the rotation angle sensor 3c. As a result, the exact position of the carousel 3 and the displacement devices 5 can be detected.

In addition, it can be seen that the individual container receptacles 6 can be rotated about their longitudinal axis via a servomotor 8. The angle of rotation of the container receptacles 6 can be detected via the sensor 9, which is designed here as a position sensor.

Overall, therefore, in the second embodiment, the containers 2 are received in container receptacles 6 with a carriage 5 designed as a printing carousel and guided with this at the individual print heads 4 _B , 4 _M , 4 _C , 4 _Y on a closed circular path. As a result, the containers 2 can be sequentially printed one after the other with the individual printing inks.

In the FIGS. 3A and 3B is a third embodiment of the rotary machine 1 in a plan view and in a sectional view along the section line RR to see. The third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that the axis C of the positioning device 5 designed as a printing carousel coincides with the carousel axis A. In this case, the traversing device 5 is arranged in a ring around the carousel 3. The traversing device 5 in this case again has a plurality of container receptacles 6 which are rotatable about the motors 8 about their longitudinal axis. In addition, the containers 2 are received at the mouth of the holding devices 7. The traversing device 5 is designed to move the containers 2 along a path B assigned to the printing unit 4 with printing positions. The web B with printing positions is in this case formed concentrically as a circular endless web about the axis A.

The containers 2 can thus be guided past the individual printing heads 4 _M , 4 _C , 4 _{Y of} the two printing units 4 on the annular web B with printing positions and thus be printed sequentially successively as described above.

In the FIGS. 4A and 4B is a fourth embodiment of a rotary machine 1 to see in two plan views. In FIG. 4A It can be seen that the containers 2 are supplied to the carousel 3, on which the printing units 4 are arranged, in each case the web B extends with printing positions along a radial direction of the carousel 3. For printing, the containers 2 are moved from a circumferential transport path of the carousel 3 with a moving device with container receivers (not shown here) along the radial path B to the individual print heads 4 _W , 4 _B , 4 _Y , 4 _M , 4 _C. The containers 2 are printed in a first printing position with the printheads 4 _B and 4 _W with the colors black and white. The print heads lie opposite each other here and the printing direction of the ink jet print heads is perpendicular to the web B arranged. In a second printing position, both sides of the printheads 4 _C and 4 _Y are arranged, which print the container 2 with the colors cyan and yellow. In addition, at one end of the web B at a third printing position, the print head 4 _{M is} arranged to print the container 2 with the color magenta. The second and the third printing position may also coincide alternatively. After printing with all colors, the container 2 is moved back again to the circumferential transport path of the carousel 3 by means of the traversing device. Subsequently, the container 2 are removed from the carousel 3 again.

In the FIG. 4B includes the printing unit 4 in addition to FIG. 4A still a curing device 13 and aperture 14. Here, the ink is curable by means of an energy input. The curing device 13 here comprises a UV lamp with which the outer surface of the container 2 is irradiated after being printed by the printing heads 4 _W , 4 _B , 4 _Y , 4 _M , 4 _C. This is done in such a way that the container 2 is rotated about the container axis by means of the container receptacles during the UV light irradiation. This ensures a uniform energy input over the entire container outer surface. 14 In addition, to prevent the diaphragm a direct irradiation of the printing heads 4 _W, 4 _B, 4 _Y, 4 _M, 4 _C with UV-light in order to avoid that there in the nozzles of the printheads 4 _W, the printing ink, 4 _B, 4 _Y , 4 _M , 4 _C hardens. As a result, a blockage of the nozzles is avoided.

In the FIG. 4C a fifth embodiment of the rotary machine 1 is shown. The fifth embodiment differs from the fourth embodiment in that the tracks B of the two displacement devices 5 on the carousel axis A merge into one another. In addition, it can be seen that the curing devices 13 are arranged on both sides at the transition point of the webs B. As a result, the containers 2 can be moved into the curing device 13 from both sides after being printed in the printing units 4. As a result, the curing device 13 can be used more efficiently by both printing units 4.

In the Figure 4D a sixth embodiment of a rotary machine 1 is shown, in contrast to the fifth embodiment, not the curing devices 13 are shared by both printing units 4, but 2 print heads, which are arranged at the transition point of the two webs B on the carousel axis A.

In the Figure 4E is a seventh embodiment of the rotary machine 1 shown in a plan view, in which case the carousel 3 in contrast to the fifth embodiment in FIG. 4C a total of four printing units 4 welißt. The curing devices 13 are arranged around the carousel axis A in such a way that they radiate the UV light in the direction of the carousel axis A. By using four printing units 4 on a carousel 3, the rotary machine 1 can be used even more efficiently.

In the FIG. 4F an eighth embodiment of a rotary machine 1 is shown in a plan view, in contrast to the seventh embodiment, the four webs B are arranged with printing positions as four spiral-like segments. Here, along the web B also printheads are arranged on both sides and in addition to the end of the web B a curing device 13. By this arrangement, the surface of the carousel 3 can be used more efficiently.

In the FIG. 5 a ninth embodiment is shown, in which case the webs are arranged with printing positions as spiral-like segments along a cylindrical surface. In this case, the webs B merge with printing positions in the transition regions C and D into one another. It can be seen that the containers are transferred with an inlet star 15 to container receptacles (not shown here) and there along the spiral-like path B for printing by the printheads 4 _Y , 4 _M , 4 _C are performed. In the method of container receptacles by the traversing device (not shown here), the containers are moved both in the circumferential direction relative to the carousel 3, as well as along the vertical direction (parallel to the carousel axis A). After printing, the containers are removed via an outlet star 16 of the rotary machine 1. The empty container receptacles are returned in the transition region D back to the beginning of the web B with printing positions.

In FIG. 6 is a tenth embodiment of a rotary machine 1 to see, in which case the carousel 3 is provided simultaneously on two horizontal carousel planes, each with at least one printing unit and at least one traversing device. This allows the Container with a first inlet star 15a of the lower carousel level the container receptacles 6a are supplied. In the carousel 3, the containers are then optionally printed according to at least one of the embodiments 1-8 and discharged with the outlet star 16a. In addition, in the second carousel level, the containers with the second inlet star 15b are also fed to the container receptacles 6b. Here, the containers are optionally also printed according to at least one of the embodiments 1-8 and discharged again with the second outlet star 16b. As a result, the footprint for the rotary machine 1 for twice the number of containers per unit time can be used. It would also be conceivable to dispense with a traversing unit in this embodiment and to provide only receptacles for the containers for rotation (generation of relative movement between container and printhead).

Characterized in that in the embodiments 1 - 10, the container receptacles 6 are moved with the traversing 5 to the printing positions, all necessary for the printing movements can be done by means of the shuttle 5, whereby the tolerance chain of the moving parts has particularly short leverages. As a result, the printing can be done very accurately. In addition, a plurality of container receptacles 6 can be arranged on the traversing devices 5 and the printing units 4 can thus be used particularly efficiently. In addition, the leads 10 for the ink need not be flexible and can be made particularly cost effective and durable. Thus, it is ensured in the aforementioned embodiments that the printing is placed exactly on the containers 2 and the rotary machine 1 operates efficiently and inexpensively.

It is understood that in the embodiments described above mentioned features are not limited to these specific combinations and are possible in any other combinations.

Claims (16)

Rotary machine (1) for printing on containers (2), comprising a carousel (3) for conveying the containers (2) about a substantially vertical carousel axis (A) and at least one co-rotating with the carousel (3) associated printing unit (4) at least two juxtaposed print heads (4 _B , 4 _W , 4 _Y , 4 _M , 4 _C ), which is designed to apply a print to the containers (2),
characterized in that
at least one traversing device (5) with at least one container receptacle (6) is designed to move at least one of the containers (2) along one of the printing unit (4) associated web (B) with printing positions (P), wherein the printing positions (P) with the at least two printheads (4 _B , 4 _W , 4 _Y , 4 _M , 4 _C ) correspond. Rotary machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein the web (B) is arranged with printing positions (P) in a plane perpendicular to the carousel axis (A) and / or wherein the web (B) with printing positions (P) as a continuous web, circular endless web, Rail segment, circular segment, linear segment and / or spiral-shaped segment is formed. Rotary machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one container receptacle (6) with a motor (8) for rotating the container (2) is connected about a longitudinal axis. Rotary machine (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein a sensor (9) is designed to detect a container position, wherein optionally the sensor (9) is a camera. Rotary machine (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the print heads (4 _B , 4 _W , 4 _Y , 4 _M , 4 _C ) on one or both sides along the web (B) with printing positions (P) and / or at least one End of the web (B) with printing positions (P) are arranged. Rotary machine (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the traversing device (5) at least two of the container receptacles (6) and the traversing device (5) is movable such that the at least two container receptacles (6) alternately with all printheads (4 _B , 4 _W , 4 _Y , 4 _M , 4 _C ) of the printing unit (4) correspond. Rotary machine (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the printing unit (4) comprises at least one curing device (13), which is designed to cure at least a partial printing and with at least one curing position (H) of the web (B) with printing positions ( P) is arranged correspondingly. Rotary machine (1) according to claim 7, wherein the at least one curing device (13) on one or both sides along the web (B) with printing positions (P) and / or at least one end of the web (B) with printing positions (P) is arranged. Rotary machine (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the traversing device (5) on the carousel (3) arranged printing carousel, optionally wherein the axis (C) of the printing carousel on the carousel axis (A) or at a radial distance (R ) is arranged parallel to the carousel axis (A). Rotary machine (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the web (B) with printing positions (P) at least partially along a radial direction of the carousel (3) is arranged. Rotary machine (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotary machine (1) at least two traversing devices (5) whose tracks (B) with printing positions (P) merge into one another, optionally wherein the transition of the webs (B) on the carousel axis (A) is. Rotary machine (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the carousel (3) has at least two printing units (4) and at least two printing heads (4 _B , 4 _W , 4 _Y , 4 _M , 4 _C ) of different printing units (4). arranged side by side with the same printing ink in pairs. Rotary machine (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein a vacuum device for generating a vacuum during the printing is formed. Rotary machine (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the traversing device (5) is adapted to move the at least one container receptacle (6) parallel and / or perpendicular to the carousel axis (A). Rotary machine (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the traversing device (5) for sequential printing of printing areas is adapted to move the container receptacles (6) relative to a printing position (P) along a container longitudinal axis. Rotary machine (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the traversing device (5) is designed, during a printing operation, the at least one container receptacle (6) along a printing direction of the print head (4 _B , 4 _W , 4 _Y , 4 _M , 4 _C ) and to turn around a container longitudinal axis.

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