EP3044005B1 - Device for printing rotationally asymmetrical containers - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for printing on non-rotationally symmetrical or rotationally asymmetric containers, in particular oval containers, preferably by digital printing, with at least one print head and a turntable for rotatably driving at least one receptacle connected to the turntable for the container to be printed about a first axis of rotation. The containers may be, for example, bottles made of plastic and / or glass.

The printing of containers by means of digital printing is known in principle, in particular printing methods, such as the drop-on-demand method, are used, in which an area to be printed on the surface of the container at one or more in a plant around the container is passed around arranged printheads, which irradiate the surface of the container with a printing medium from spray nozzles while it rotates in front of the printheads. With increasing variability of the container outer shapes, which may be not only rotationally symmetric but also rotationally asymmetric relative to a vertical or longitudinal axis of the container, the demands on the quality of the printed image also increase. Particularly in the case of chemical products, such as household cleaners, containers with a variety of shapes are required, which place equally high demands on print quality.

The printing of rotationally symmetrical bodies is comparatively unproblematic. From the DE 10 2009 058 222 A1 For example, a system for printing on containers is known in which a cylindrical container to be printed on a turntable is sold, which of a servomotor is rotated about an axis of rotation or the axis of symmetry of the container, which lies on the longitudinal axis of the container. Printheads, which are arranged around the container, irradiate this with the pressure medium.

In digital printing with inkjet printheads, the drops of the print medium ideally meet at a right angle to the surface to be printed. While in a rotating rotationally symmetrical body, the distance of the body surface to the print head remains constant, changes in a non-rotationally symmetrical body, the distance between the surface of the body and the print head or the radius between the surface to be printed and the axis of rotation continuously. In the case of a non-rotationally symmetrical container shape, for example in the case of a shampoo bottle, there is also the problem that the orientation of the printing surface opposite the print head constantly changes during rotation (see FIG EP1038782 ). In other words, a surface tangent that is applied in the printing area on the outer surface of the container and facing the printhead may change its position with respect to the printhead, for example, fall off. In the case of oval-shaped containers which have an oval cross-section in the area to be printed in the direction of their vertical axis, this means that the printing medium is blasted on an inclined plane and can smear or run as a result, so that no round pressure point is generated.

The printing of rotationally asymmetrical container therefore requires a great deal of technical effort to achieve a satisfactory printing result. In addition to the axis of rotation of the container, a second servo axis is necessary, which establishes the necessary distance and the correct alignment between the surface to be printed and the print head, for example. By pivoting or moving the print head itself. However, it should also be considered that the relative speed between the area to be printed on the surface of the container and the print head at a about a rotational axis rotating rotationally asymmetric body as a function of the distance of the point to be printed on the surface of the container changed to its axis of rotation. This leads to further technical efforts and requires elaborate control of the printing process to ensure that the relative speed between the printhead and the printing surface remains constant.

The object of the invention is therefore to show a device with which the printing of containers with rotationally asymmetric surface with high print quality and high utilization of the printing system is possible.

This object is achieved in that the receptacle is arranged eccentrically to the first axis of rotation of the turntable and receives the container such that an outermost portion of the surface to be printed recorded in the receptacle is guided in a first circular path about the first axis of rotation. In this case, the vertical axis or the longitudinal axis of the container inserted into the receptacle is offset parallel to the first axis of rotation. The outermost portion describes, with respect to the first axis of rotation, the point or portion in the printing area that is the greatest distance from the first axis of rotation.

Unlike systems in which the longitudinal axis of the container coincides with the common axis of rotation of the turntable and recording, the invention offers the possibility of optimally printing non-rotationally symmetrical container, in particular container with an oval in the longitudinal direction, oval or elliptical cross section. An oval container or an oval bottle, as they are primarily used for household chemicals or other products of the chemical industry, such as shampoo, usually has in the printing area in a vertical direction substantially constant cross-section. For a container with an elliptical cross section has the cross section two opposite long elliptical arch and two short elliptical arch on. The longitudinal axis of the container usually extends from the container bottom upwards. Ideally, the device has a drive device, such as a motor, for rotatably driving the turntable.

The invention is based on the idea to set up the container on a turntable so eccentric that the usually arcuate area to be printed in its shape comes closest to a circular arc around the central axis of rotation. For example, since a long elliptical arc moves in the printing area during a rotation of the container about its vertical axis in a circular path whose curvature is large compared to the elliptical arc, it is proposed to approximate the radius of curvature of the circular path to the radius of curvature of the printing area. This can be achieved by the eccentric arrangement of container and axis of rotation. In the case of a container having an elliptical cross-section, such a narrow osculation can be set between the elliptical arc of the printing area and the circular path that the small distances between the printing area and the circular path can be neglected for a satisfactory printed image.

In order to make the printing process more efficient, according to a further embodiment of the invention, a plurality of print heads are arranged around the first rotation axis such that they are equidistant from an enveloping circle defined by the first circular path around the surface of the rotationally asymmetric container to be printed. Since due to the eccentric arrangement of the images of the enveloping circle is larger than in a rotationally symmetrical container which is rotated about its longitudinal axis, much more print heads can be arranged on the turntable. For example, all the colors necessary for printing can be arranged around the turntable.

It has been found to be particularly advantageous if the distance between the at least one print head and the circular path is 5 mm to 20 mm, preferably 5 to 10 mm. This makes it possible to achieve a particularly uniform print image. For print images that require a fine and sharp print image, such as text print, it proves to be advantageous if the distance is about 5 mm to 8 mm.

To avoid damaging the printed image, the container should stand firmly on the rotating turntable during printing. Thus, the pressure area orbits on a constant first circular path, the first axis of rotation and remains directed radially outward. Preferably, the receptacle, in particular in the attack area or insertion area, in which the container is inserted and held in the receptacle, adapted to the outer shape of the container. According to the invention, the receptacles are adapted to the outer shape of the container, that the container is positively received in the receptacle and centered, so that it does not twist during printing. The receptacle can be formed as a format part, which is integrally formed on the turntable or mounted interchangeable. Thus, a printing device for different sized containers, bottles, cans or the like can be used economically. The so-called format parts are individually adapted to the most diverse container shapes and act as an adapter between the container and the printing device. Depending on the container shape, a suitably designed format part is used to transport the container within the printing device to fix or align for printing. Ideally, the turntable is driven by means of a suitable motor, e.g. a servomotor, rotationally driven about the first axis of rotation.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the at least one print head is adjustable perpendicular to the first axis of rotation. Thus, the at least one print head can be moved radially inwards and / or outwards and the position The print head can be adapted to different enveloping circle diameters. Different container sizes can be printed in the same printing device. The at least one print head can be adjusted so far as the first axis of rotation that the pressure of a rotationally symmetrical container is possible. According to the invention, the recordings on the turntable in the radial direction are adjustable. In a further development of the inventive concept it is also provided that the print heads are provided adjustable parallel to the first axis of rotation.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the print heads are arranged in a plurality of superimposed horizontal planes. It turns out to be particularly advantageous if the printheads are not only circularly positioned in a plane around the enveloping circle, but also distributed in the vertical direction. The printheads can be arranged so that a print area of several printheads is printed simultaneously. Thus, print images can be generated whose width and / or height exceed the print width and / or print height of a single print head. The printheads may be distributed annularly around the enveloping circle and also distributed in a plurality of parallel superimposed planes, thereby achieving an economical printing process. Multiple printheads can be placed offset in a common plane around the turntable. The distributed arrangement of the printheads offers a more efficient printing process by allowing the printing areas to be superimposed, eg vertically above one another, thus creating a uniform printed image composed of several subregions, each subregion being from a single printhead is printed. Similarly, it is possible that the pressure areas of the individual print heads overlap at least in sections. The printheads, for example, which have about 1000 printing nozzles, each can cover a pressure range in the vertical direction of about 70 mm. The single printhead, however, has due the necessary fasteners in practice often have a height of 130 mm. This would lead to a non-printed gap-like section for printheads that are exclusively stacked. On the other hand, if the print heads are distributed in several horizontal planes and offset in the circumferential direction of the turntable, these gaps can be closed. Another advantage is in particular that an annular offset arrangement of the printheads ensures that the printing medium meets the container at an optimum angle, while the problem arises in a large and very wide printhead that the printing medium coming from the outer printing nozzles is ejected, can hit the container obliquely.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the turntable is adjustable along the first axis of rotation. Thus, the turntable can be moved with or without container from the range of printheads by lifting or lowering, for example, for the supply and removal of the container or to rotate the container so that in addition to a first outer surface also prints a second surface opposite the first surface can be. Especially with tight space conditions in the pressure range, this is a considerable advantage.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a plurality of receptacles is provided in particular uniformly distributed around the first axis of rotation on the turntable. Thus, the throughput of the printing device can be significantly increased. The receptacles are preferably arranged on the turntable so that the containers arranged therein have a uniform first circular path or a common enveloping circle.

In order to print rotationsasymmetrische container on both sides, it is proposed that the receptacle is rotatable about a second axis of rotation and that the second axis of rotation parallel to the first axis of rotation extends. Thus, a container can be guided past not only about the first axis of rotation of the printheads, but also be turned about its longitudinal axis, so that a radially outer outer surface, for example a first elliptical arc by a 180 ° rotation about the second axis of rotation turned inwards and the the first axis of rotation is aligned, whereby one of the first surface opposite the second surface to be printed (eg second elliptical arc) is pivoted outwards. This can then be guided past the rotation of the turntable about the first axis of rotation of the printheads. Ideally, each receptacle of the turntable is equipped with a rotating device with which the containers can preferably be simultaneously rotated about their respective longitudinal axes. Depending on the container shape, other angles of rotation, for example, a rotation angle of 120 ° for triangular container are possible.

According to a further embodiment, the receptacle is rotatable via a gear arranged on the turntable. In a further development of this inventive concept, the transmission is a planetary gear with a rotatable about the first axis of rotation first transmission element, at least one engaging with the first transmission element second transmission element, which is rotatably connected to the recording, and a rotatable about the first axis of rotation support member to which the second transmission element is rotatably mounted. Due to the mounting of the second gear element on the carrier element, the second gear element can rotate about the second axis of rotation, but is otherwise stationary with respect to the carrier element. In this way, a rotary drive and adjusting device can be realized in the manner of a planetary gear, wherein the central first gear element, the sun gear, the second gear element, the planetary gear and the carrier element forms the planet carrier.

In order to achieve the greatest possible variability in the control and positioning of the recordings, according to a further embodiment of the invention Means for braking or setting the support member provided about the first axis of rotation. Are possible clutches, as they are known from the transmission, eg multi-plate clutches or other locking and / or braking mechanisms, which are arranged so that the support member can be prevented from moving around the first axis of rotation, so can be fixed. By setting the support member, the support member can be blocked against rotation about the first axis of rotation. The second gear element is also prevented from moving around the first axis of rotation due to the bearing in the carrier element, but can continue to rotate about the second axis of rotation. By setting the carrier element, a container located in the receptacle can be rotated about its longitudinal axis. Preferably, the first gear element and the second gear element are formed in the manner of a gear wheel and roll on each other.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, means are additionally or alternatively provided for the relative braking or setting, preferably rotationally fixed coupling of the first gear element and the carrier element. Thus, a block circulation can be realized, wherein the second transmission element can be locked against rotation about the second axis of rotation. The first gear element, the second gear element and the carrier element jointly revolve around the first axis of rotation when the first gear element is rotationally driven about the first axis of rotation. The three gear elements thus form a uniform turntable on which the receptacle or a container located in the receptacle is guided eccentrically offset from the first axis of rotation about this. The center of rotation of the container is the first axis of rotation.

It is also possible to provide, in addition to the at least one print head, also suitable energy sources, such as a UV lamp, to cure and / or dry or otherwise post-treat the print medium blasted onto the container. It has proven to be advantageous if the energy source is also adjustable perpendicularly and / or parallel to the first axis of rotation, so that its position can be adapted to different enveloping circle diameters.

Further advantages, features and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and the drawings. All described and / or illustrated features alone or in any combination form the subject matter of the present invention, also independent of their summary in the claims or their back references.

Fig. 1

in einer Draufsicht die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung nach einer ersten Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

Fig. 2

die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 1 in einer Schnittansicht;

Fig. 3

in einer Schnittansicht die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung nach einer zweiten Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

Fig. 4

eine dritte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung in einer Draufsicht; und

Fig. 5

eine vierte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung.

Show it:

Fig. 1

in a plan view of the device according to the invention according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2

the device off Fig. 1 in a sectional view;

Fig. 3

in a sectional view of the device according to the invention according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4

a third embodiment of the device according to the invention in a plan view; and

Fig. 5

A fourth embodiment of the device according to the invention.

In the Fig. 1 a circular turntable 1 is shown as part of a printing device according to the invention, which is rotatable about a center 2 passing through its central first axis of rotation 3. Two receptacles 4 for receiving containers, such as plastic bottles are each on the circumference 5 of the turntable 1 mounted on this and form a receptacle for container 6, which are inserted into the receptacles 4. The receptacles 4 are formed as format parts, and adapted to the outer shape of the respective container to be printed 6, so that the container 6 is held in the receptacle 4. The receptacles 4 are therefore adapted in contour and size to the portion of the container to be printed 6, which is inserted into the receptacles 4. In the drawing, two images 4 are shown by way of example. It is understood, however, that only one receptacle 4 or preferably several receptacles 4 distributed over the entire circumference of the turntable 1 can also be provided.

The containers 6 each have the shape of an ellipse in the plan view in the print area and are arranged such that an outer elliptical arc 7 lies on the circumference 5 of the turntable 1. An inner elliptical arc 8 lies opposite the outer elliptical arc 7 and is aligned with the center 2. The receptacles 4 are each arranged eccentrically to the rotation axis 3 of the turntable 1, wherein the ellipse center 9 of the receptacles 4 is radially offset by a distance 10 to the rotation axis 3 and the center 2 is arranged. Laterally next to the turntable 1, a print head 11 is arranged, which has a number of nozzles 12 which are substantially aligned with the center 2 of the turntable 1 and at a distance 13 to the container 6. In practice, a plurality of print heads 11 are arranged distributed over the circumference of the turntable 1 in order to apply different colors to the container 6.

When the turntable 1 rotates about the first axis of rotation 3, a radially outermost region of the container 6 moves on a circular path 14 about the axis of rotation 3 and thereby defines an enveloping circle 17 around the surface 15 of the container 6 to be printed. The enveloping circle 17 is aligned in the Top view of FIG. 1 with the circumference 5 of the turntable 1. The pressure area 15 provided on the outer elliptical arc 7 on the container 6 is defined by a section (angle cutout). the outer elliptical arc 7, wherein the outermost to be printed portion 16 has the greatest distance from the axis of rotation 3 and defines the radius of the enveloping circle 17. Starting from the outermost to be printed portion 16 along the outer elliptical arc 7, the outer contour of the container 6 moves away from the enveloping circle 17. In the illustrated projection plane between the outermost to be printed section 16 and the enveloping circle 17 point contact prevails, while the distance between the enveloping circle 17th and the pressure area 15 gradually decreases toward the lateral boundaries of the pressure area 15. Due to the eccentricity and best possible adaptation of the enveloping circle 17 to the ellipse radius, however, there is a close osculation between enveloping circle 17 and elliptical arc 7.

If the turntable 1 is rotated about the axis of rotation 3, the container 6 also rotate about the central axis of rotation 3. The container 6 are guided past the print head 11 and thereby printed with a pressure medium from the nozzles 12. In this case, the printing medium strikes the tangent 18 running through the outermost region 16 and the circular path 14 or the enveloping circle 17, and thus perpendicular to the section 16, while the remaining area of the printing area 15 is slightly obliquely illuminated. Due to the close osculation between enveloping circle 17 and the elliptical sheet 7 to be printed on, the maximum distance between the printing area 15 and the enveloping circle 17 is minimal, so that a sufficient printing quality remains ensured.

In the Fig. 2 is the turntable 1 according to Fig. 1 shown in a side sectional view, wherein the receptacles for the container 6 are not shown. The containers 6 are each arranged on the outer edge of the turntable 1, that its outermost to be printed portion 16 is aligned with the circumference 5 of the turntable 1 in a direction parallel to the first axis of rotation 3. Three print heads 11 are distributed in three superimposed planes in the vertical direction and in Viewing partially offset from each other so that they cover the entire printing area 15. Each of the three print heads 11 is arranged at an equal distance 13 from the enveloping circle 17. The top and bottom printheads are vertically stacked, while the center printhead is circumferentially offset from the top and bottom printheads, but at the same distance 13 to the enveloping circle 17 as the other two printheads. As can be clearly seen, forms the outermost to be printed portion 16 of the container 6 with respect to the first axis of rotation 3, the radius 20 of the first circular path 14 and thus also the radius of the enveloping circle 17. It is understood that instead of the three as shown here vertically offset print heads also more print heads can be provided to cover a larger print area.

In the Fig. 3 the turntable 1 comprises a first gear element 21, two second gear elements 22 and a carrier element 23, which are coupled together in the manner of a planetary gear. The first gear element 21 forms the sun gear, while the second gear elements 22, the planet wheels and the carrier element 23 represent the planet carrier. The second gear elements 22 are rotatably mounted in the carrier element 23 by means of a bearing 24 about a second axis of rotation 25. The second axis of rotation 25 is parallel to the first axis of rotation 3. The second gear elements 21, 22 each have an upper gear 26 which meshes in a direction perpendicular to the first axis of rotation 3 on an outer side with a gear 27 of the first gear member 21. The gears 26 are fixedly connected to the receptacle 4 for the container 6, so that upon rotation of one of the second gear member 22 about the second axis of rotation 25, the associated receptacle 4 and the container 6 equally rotates about the second axis of rotation 25.

The first gear element 21 is rotatably mounted on the carrier element 23 such that it can rotate about a bearing 28, so that the first gear element 21 can rotate about the first axis of rotation 3 relative to the carrier element 23.

A first clutch 29 shown schematically here serves to decelerate or inhibit a relative movement or rotation between the carrier element 23 and the first transmission element 21. By means of a second clutch 30, which can be switched if necessary, the support member 23 can be fixed so that it is prevented from rotating about the rotation axis 3. By means of the couplings 29, 30, the turntable 1 can be operated and controlled in different operating modes. The first gear element 21 is connected to a rotary drive motor, not shown, which can rotationally drive the first gear element 21 about the first axis of rotation 3. When the first gear member 21 and the support member 23 are coupled together via the first clutch 29, the containers 6 are moved around the rotation axis 3, with the outer elliptical arc 7 remaining directed radially outward. If, on the other hand, the first clutch 29 is released and the second clutch 30 is locked, so that the carrier element 23 is prevented from rotating about the first axis of rotation 3, the second transmission element 22 becomes due to the meshing engagement between the sun gear 27 and the planet gear 26 about the second axis of rotation Turned 25, wherein the second axis of rotation 25 extends through the ellipse center of the container 6 here. As a result of the rotation of the second gear elements 22 about the second axis of rotation 25, the outer elliptical arc 7 is pivoted inwardly toward the first axis of rotation 3, while the inner elliptical arc 8 is pivoted outwardly, so that subsequently when the first clutch 29 is locked and the second clutch 30 is released again, in each case the inner elliptical arc 8 of the container 6 can be moved past the print head 10 and printed.

Fig. 4 shows components of a system 31 for printing not rotationally symmetrical container 6 with the printing device according to the invention. Here, the turntable 1 has four receptacles 4 for containers 6 arranged centrally about the first axis of rotation 3 and fastened respectively to planetary gears (second gear elements) 22. The planetary gears 22 are each connected to the carrier element 23 and are rotatably mounted thereon about the second axis of rotation 25. The planetary gears 26 intermesh with the sun gear (first gear element) 21. The turntable 1 can be moved vertically upwards and downwards along the first rotation axis 3, so that the turntable 1 can be moved out of the region of the print heads 11.

The outermost areas to be printed each in Fig. 4 shown containers 6 are located on the common enveloping circle 17. The printheads 11 were all arranged at the same distance from the enveloping circle 17. The distance 13 is chosen so that a collision with the containers is avoided. At the same time, however, they are positioned so close to the enveloping circle 17 that a high-quality printed image is generated even with increasing distance between the container outer wall and the printing head 11 in the printing area.

In a first step, the container 6 are inserted into the receptacles 4 and the turntable 1 driven by means of a lifting device, not shown, in the printing area, whereby the container 6 are positioned between the printheads. Subsequently, the turntable 1 is rotated about the first axis of rotation 3, which is shown by the arrow. The support member 23 is fixedly coupled to the sun gear 21, so that the support member 23, the sun gear 21 and the planetary gears 22 rotate as a block about the first axis of rotation 3, whereupon the outer elliptical arc 7 of the container 6 is guided past the print heads 11 and printed becomes. After each container 6 has been printed by the printheads 11, the applied pressure is cured by a UV lamp 32. After printed on all the containers 6, the outside 7 has been moved, the turntable 1 by means of the lifting device from the printing area and the receptacles 4 are each pivoted by means of the transmission about the second axis of rotation 25, as with respect to the Fig. 3 has been explained.

Since, on pivoting of the receptacles 4, the containers 6 protrude beyond the edge of the turntable 1 due to the elliptical shapes and would strike against the print heads 11, the turning is made outside the printing area. After the receptacles 4 have been turned so that the inner side 8 of the container is pointing radially outwards, the turntable 1 is again moved into the printing area and the turntable 1 is rotated as a block about the first axis of rotation 3, so that now the inside 8 of the container can be printed with the printheads 11.

After the end of the printing process, the turntable 1 is again moved by lifting or lowering from the printing area to a position in which the now printed on both sides of the container are exchanged for unprinted container.

Fig. 5 schematically shows a part of another printing device according to the invention with a plurality of arranged around the turntable 1 print heads 11, which are responsible for various components of the printed image. Identical oval container 6 are placed on the turntable 1 and indicated for the sake of illustration with dashed lines, the corresponding images are not shown, but are available. The print heads 11 are in several parallel superimposed horizontal planes 33, 34 and 35, positioned and distributed annularly around the turntable 1. The horizontal planes 33, 34, 35 also define three pressure levels. The print heads 11 each have the same distance to the enveloping circle 17 of the surface to be printed in the horizontal direction. The nozzles 12 of the print heads 11 are designed so that they can cover in only a certain pressure range in the vertical direction, here by way of example over a height of 70 mm in the vertical direction. In contrast, the actual print head is significantly larger and extends for example over a height of 130 mm. This inevitably leads to a gap in the printed image, which lies in the middle plane 34 in the two print heads shown on the left and on top of each other. To close them, the nozzles 12 of the three print heads 11 are each arranged to cover a region 36 in the vertical direction that corresponds to the distance between the boundaries of two adjacent planes. In this case, one pressure area directly adjoins the adjacent pressure area. The right-side, in the vertical direction middle nozzle thus covers the pressure range in the middle level 34 from. The nozzles 12 of the three print heads 11 are thus distributed in the print areas or planes 33, 34, 35 such that they create a uniform print image, in particular in the vertical direction, during printing, wherein each of the print heads 11 prints a partial area of the print image. In other words, the three print heads 11 are used in combination in the manner of a large print head whose print area would extend over the three planes 33, 34, 35. The advantage, however, is in particular that the annular arrangement of the printheads ensures that the printing medium hits the container at an optimum angle, while with a large and very wide printhead the problem arises that the printing medium ejected from the outer printing nozzles will be able to hit the printing area very diagonally. By the distribution of the print heads 11 in a plurality of planes 33, 34 and 35, a print image can be generated that in height and with a corresponding close arrangement of the print heads in the width is greater than the individual print head. The enveloping circle 17 is in the Fig. 4 indicated by a sub-segment of the enveloping circle that extends vertically to illustrate the size of the printing area. Of course, the printheads can also be arranged so that they overlap in the vertical direction partially. Thanks to the combined use of individual print heads, even large print areas on large containers can be printed quickly and efficiently.

Each of the print heads 11 has at its upper and lower end attachment means 37, by means of which the print head can be mounted in the printing device. Suitable types of fastening are, for example, screw, clamp, snap or other detachable and permanent connections.

Each of the print heads 11 is connected to an adjustment device, not shown, with which each individual print head 11 can be moved perpendicular to the first axis of rotation 3.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

turntable

2

Center / Center

3

first axis of rotation

4

Recordings

5

scope

6

container

7

outer elliptical arc / outside

8th

inner elliptical arc / inside

9

ellipse center

10

distance

11

printhead

12

jet

13

distance

14

first circular path

15

Pressure range on container

16

extreme to the printing section

17

enveloping circle

18

surface tangent

19

maximum distance

20

radius

21

first transmission element / sun gear

22

second transmission element / planetary gear

23

Carrier element / planet carrier

24

storage

25

second axis of rotation

26

gear

27

gear

28

storage

29

first clutch

30

second clutch

31

investment

32

UV lamp

33

Level 1 / Print area 1

34

Level 2 / pressure area 2

35

Level 3 / pressure area 3

36

Pressure range of the pressure nozzles

37

fastener

Claims (11)

1. Device for printing rotationally asymmetrical containers (6), preferably using digital print, with at least one print head (11) and a rotary table (1) for rotationally driving at least one receptacle (4) attached to the rotary table (1) for the container (6) to be printed about a first rotational axis (3), wherein the receptacle (4) is arranged eccentric to the first rotational axis (3) of the rotary table (1) and accommodates the container (6) such that an outermost section (16) of the surface to be printed (15) of a container (6) accommodated in the receptacle (4) is guided in a first circular path (14) about the first rotational axis (3), characterized in that the at least one receptacle (4) is displaceable on the rotary table (1) in the radial direction.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that multiple print heads (11) are arranged about the first rotational axis (3), such that they maintain an even distance from the circumscribed circle (17) defined by the first circular path (14) around the surfaces (15) of the rotationally asymmetrical containers (6) that are to be printed.
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the clearance (13) between the at least one print head (11) and the circular path (14) is from 5 mm to 20 mm.
4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one print head (11) is adjustable perpendicularly to the first rotational axis (3).
5. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the print heads (11) are arranged in multiple superposed horizontal planes (33, 34, 35).
6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary table (1) is adjustable along the first rotational axis (3).
7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that multiple receptacles (4) are provided on the rotary table (1), distributed about the first rotational axis (3).
8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receptacle (4) is rotatable about a second rotational axis (25), and that the second rotational axis (25) runs parallel to the first rotational axis (3).
9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the receptacle (4) is rotatable by means of a gear arranged on rotary table (1).
10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the gear is a planetary gear with a first transmission element (21) that is rotatable about the first rotational axis (3), at least one second transmission element (22) meshed with the first transmission element (21), which is rotationally connected to the receptacle (4), and a supporting element (23) rotatable about the first rotational axis (3), to which the second transmission element (22) is rotatably mounted.
11. Device according to claim 10, characterized by means (30) for braking or fixing the carrier element (23) about the first rotational axis (3) and/or means (29) for braking or fixing the carrier element (23) relative to the first transmission element (21).

Images