GB2023500A - Turret machine for printing articles - Google Patents

Abstract

A turret machine for applying at least two colour images to cylindrical or frustoconical articles, incorporates a plurality of printing stations, each including a printing roll (75) mounted for rotation about a radially extending rotational axis, inking means (79) for applying ink to the printing roll and an auxiliary frame (80) on which the inking means, the printing roll and means defining the rotational axis are mounted, and means defining a substantially horizontal pivot axis (91) about which the auxiliary frame is pivotable relative to the main frame of the apparatus to align the outer surface of the printing roll for adjustment thereof to image transferring relation with respect to the outer surfaces of articles mounted on the mandrels carried by the turret. The individual auxiliary frames can be raised or lowered together on a single sub-frame. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Process decorator This invention relates to a process decorator, and in particular to apparatus for applying multicoloured images to frustoconical or cylindrical articles, especially containers, and is an improvement over the type of apparatus described in U.S. Patent No. 3,645,201.

The aforesaid U.S. Patent No. 3,645,201 illustrates printing apparatus in which there are a plurality of print rolls angularly spaced about a main vertical axis. Each roll is rotatably mounted on a rotational axis extending radially from the main axis. Rotatably mounted on the main axis is a turret carrying a plurality of mandrels which support containers during printing thereon by the print rolls. The turret is driven in angular steps and during each dwell period thereof the print rolls are in engagement with a container carried by one of the mandrels. The stepping motion of the turret is synchronized with rotation of the mandrels and print rolls about their respective rotational axes so that the individual images printed by the various print rolls are located precisely.

A significant drawback to the apparatus described in U.S. Patent No. 3 645 201 is the extensive time required for changeover when differently sized and/or shaped containers are to be decorated. In addition, for many of these changeover situations the cost of different parts is substantial.

The present invention in one aspect provides apparatus for applying at least two colour images to cylindrical orfrustoconical articles, comprising: a frame, a turret mounted on the frame for rotation about a substantially vertical main axis; a plurality of mandrels for supporting articles to which images are to be applied, the mandrels being mounted on the turret in angularly spaced relationships and each of the mandrels being mounted for rotation on an individual mandrel axis extending radially with respect to the said main axis; indexing means operable to turn the turret intermittently so as to index each of the mandrels in succession at a plurality of printing stations angularly spaced around the main axis, each of the printing stations being mounted on the frame and including a printing roll mounted for rotation about a radially extending rotational axis, inking means for applying ink to the printing roll, an auxiliary frame on which the inking means, the said roll and means defining the said rotational axis are mounted, and means defining a substantially horizontal pivot axis about which the auxiliary frame is pivotable relative to the frame to align the outer surface of the printing roll for adjustment thereof to image transferring relation with respect to the outer surfaces of articles mounted on the mandrels; and drive means for synchronizing rotation of the mandrels and the said rolls with each other and with operation of the indexing means.

The invention in another aspect provides apparatus for applying at least two colour images to cylindrical orfrustdconical articles, comprising: a main frame and a sub-frame; a turret mounted on the main frame for rotation about a substantially vertical main axis; a plurality of mandrels for supporting articles to which images are to be applied, the mandrels being mounted on the turret in angularly spaced relationship and each of the mandrels being mounted for rotation on an individual mandrel axis extending radially with respect to the said main axis; indexing means operable to turn the turret intermittently so as to index each of the mandrels in succession at a plurality of printing stations mounted on the said sub-frame at locations angularly spaced around the main axis, at each of the printing stations there being a printing roll mounted for rotation about a radially extending rotational axis and inking means for applying the ink to the said roll, the turret being rotatably mounted on the main frame and the printing stations being mounted on the sub-frame; drive means for synchronizing rotation of the mandrels and the said rolls with each other and with operation of the indexing means; and means for effecting relative substantially vertical movement between the main frame and the subframe to simultaneously adjust gap widths between the outer surfaces of the printing rolls and the mandrels.

In order to reduce parts and labour costs during changeover, in the apparatus according to the present invention all of the print rolls and their inkers are preferably mounted on a sub-frame which is vertically adjustable relative to the turret, the latter being in a fixed vertical position.

Preferably each print roll and its associated inker are mounted on an auxiliary frame which in turn is connected to the sub-frame by a horizontal pivot so that the auxiliary frame and elements mounted thereon are pivotally adjustable. The rotational drive train for each of the print rolls may suitably include a double universal joint assembly having an expandable shaft for accommodating different angular relationships between the auxiliary frame and the sub-frame.

Each of the mandrels is mounted on an individual rotational axis which extends radially from the main axis of the turret. The mandrel rotational axes are preferably in a fixed horizontal plane. Because of this, container loading and unloading positions do not change with a change of container shape and adjustment of the loading and unloading equipment is thereby simplified materially.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of an apparatus according to the present invention, taken along line 1-1 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of arrows 1-1; Figures 2 and 3 are horizontal cross-sections taken along the respective lines 2-2 and 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the directions of the respective arrows 2-2 and 3-3; Figure 4 is a front elevation of one of the printing stations of the apparatus; Figure 5 is a full cross-section and Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-section taken along the respective lines 5-5 and 6-6 of Figure 4 looking in the directions of the respective arrows 5-5 and 6-6;; Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-section taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 6 looking in the direction of arrows 7-7; Figure 8 is a side elevation of a universal joint assembly; Figure 9 is a fragmentary elevation of an intermittent drive mechanism; and Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the activities at each dwell position or station.

Figures 1 to 3 show a decorating apparatus 20 which includes a hollow base 21 constituting part of a fixed frame which houses an intermittent drive mechanism 200 (Figure 9) and rotatably supports a vertically extending main shaft 22.

Fixedly supported at the top of the base 21 is a horizontal frame plate 23 which supports a transmission 24. A bracket 26 is interposed between the transmission 24 and the fixed plate 23. An output shaft 25 of the transmission 24 drives the input of a displacement coupling 27 whose output drives a shaft 28 rotatably mounted in bearings supported by the spaced arms of the U-shaped bracket 29. The latter is secured to the top side of a vertically movable horizontal plate 30 which constitutes a sub-frame. Four apertures 36 (Figure 3) receive bolts for securing the bracket 26 to the plate 23, and four apertures 37 (Figure 3) receive bolts for securing the bracket 29 to the Dlate 30.

The plate 30 is supported by the upper ends of three screws 31 which extend upwardly from three identical jacking devices 32 supported on the underside of the fixed plate 23. As seen in Figure 3, the three jacking devices 32 are interconnected for simultaneous operation by means of a plurality of universal joints 33, a plurality of stub shafts 34 and a single input coupling device 35 having a manually operable crank 36 through which operating forces are applied to the jacking units 32 for raising and lowering the plate 30 relative to the stationary plate 23.

A turret 40 (Figure 1) is secured to the main shaft 22 near its upper end by so-called ring fedder locking devices 41, 42 so that the turret 40 is rotationally fixed to the shaft 22. Rotationally mounted on the turret 40 are sixteen mandrels 45 disposed outboard of the turret with equal angular spaces between adjacent mandrels 45. Since each mandrel 45 is mounted on the turret 40 and is driven in the same manner, only the mounting and drive for one mandrel will be described.

More particularly, a bolt 44 removably secures a mandrel 45 to the outboard end of a stub shaft 43 which extends radially with respect to main shaft 22 and is disposed in a fixed horizontal plane. The shaft 43 is rotationally mounted in axially spaced bearings 47, 48 mounted in a block 46. A coupling 49 provides a driving connection between the inboard end of the shaft 43 and the outboard end of a rotationally supported stub shaft 51 whose inboard end mounts a bevelled pinion gear 52. All of the bevelled pinions 52 are in mesh with a bevelled ring gear 50 which is fixedly secured to a sleeve 55. The latter is concentrically mounted on the main shaft 22 and is rotationally supported theron by bearings 53, 54 so as to be in a fixed vertical position.

The sleeve 55 extends through another sleeve 59 and is rotationally keyed thereto by vertically extending elongate keys 56, 57. A bevelled ring gear 60 is fixedly secured to the upper end of the sleeve 59 so as.to be rotatable therewith.

Disposed about the main shaft 22 in fixed angular positions with respect thereto are six print stations P-1, P-2 etc. (Figure 10). The elements at each of these print stations P-1 P-2, etc., are identical and are driven from the ring gear 60 by means of an individual bevelled pinion gear 61 in mesh with the ring gear 60. A bevelled pinion gear 125 (Figure 2) drives ring gear 60. A pinion gear 61 is secured to the outboard end of a stub shaft 62 which extends through a bore 63 in a ring member 64 secured to the upper end of a subframe casting 65. The latter is secured to the upper surface of the plate 30 and is provided with a central bore through which the main shaft 22 extends. Axially spaced bearings 58 rotationally support the shaft 62 on the ring member 64.

A double universai joint assembly 70 provides a driving connection between the gear 61 and a shaft 71 having a print roll 75 removably mounted thereon by screws 73. A control 74 operates an eccentric to move a print roll 75 radially on the shaft 71 for fine register adjustment. The inboard end of the shaft 71 is rotationally supported by axially spaced bearings 76, 77 disposed within a bore 78 of an auxiliary frame 80.

The periphery of the print roll 75 is normally in operative engagement with the periphery of an inking roll 79 having a shaft 81 extending axially therethrough and rotationally supported on bearing portions outboard of an ink pan support 82. The latter is removably secured to a platform 83 on an auxiliary frame 80 by means of a clamping device 84. A friction wheel 86 on the outboard end of the shaft 71 normally engages a friction wheel 87 on the shaft 81 to drive the ink roll 79; however, in a manner well known to the printing art, when the print roll 75 is not in operation, the ink roll 79 is separated therefrom and the driving connection between the wheels 86, 87 is broken. At this time the ink roll 75 continues to rotate slowly through the operation of an air acutator 88 acting through an overriding clutch 89.

With particular reference to Figures 2, 4, and 5, it is seen that the auxiliary frame 80 extends vertically and at its upper end is mounted on a horizontally extending pivot 91 consisting of axially aligned sections extending outboard of the auxiliary frame 80 into circular apertures in trunion arms 92 at the upper end of a vertically extending reference member 90. The vertical edges of the reference member 90 are captured by guide ways 93, 94 secured to the casting 65. Projecting upward into a recess at the bottom of the member 90 is an adjusting screw 95 (Figure 1) which extends through a threaded aperture in a block 96 guided for vertical movement on the casting 65. The latter is supported by rotary acutator and an eccentric 97 mounted on the upper surface of the plate 30.

Operation of the actuator and eccentric 97 brings about limited vertical movement of the member 90 and pivot 91 connected thereto. Downward movement of the member 90 to a no-print position is signalled by the detection of a mandrel which is unloaded or improperly loaded.

The outboard surface 98 (Figure 5) of the member 90 is referred to as a reference surface in that the fee end of an adjusting screw 99 rests against the surface 98 to establish the angular position of the auxiliary frame 80 relative to the vertical. A lock nut 101 is provided to hold the adjusting screw 99 in an adjusted position. A pin 102, extending through an eyelet at the inboard end of a bolt 103, pivotally secures the latter to the member 90. The bolt 103 extends forward from the pin 102 through a clearance aperture in the auxiliary frame 80 and threadedly receives a nut 1 04 which abuts the outboard surface of the frame 80. Thus, it is seen that the nut 104 is effective to limit movement of the frame 80 away from the member 90 and the adjusting screw 99 is effective to limit movement of the frame 80 toward the member 90.There are two sets of elements 99, 103 for each auxiliary frame 80. The angular position of the frame 80 relative to the member 90 is set so that the rotational axis of the print roll 75 is parallel to the outer surface of the mandrel 45. A hand wheel 106 operates a mechanism 107 for raising and lowering the platform 83 to adjust the pressure between the ink roll 79 and the print roll 75. An air actuator 1 56 (Figure 9) is operated automatically to separate the ink roll 79 from the print roll 75 when rotation of the latter ceases.

An input shaft 111 of the transmission 24 is disposed at right angles to the shaft 25. An input shaft 115 for the intermittent drive mechanism 200 (Figure 9) is driven continuously by a variable speed power source (not shown) and mounts a sprocket 114 which drives another sprocket 112 on the shaft 111 through a closed loop timing belt 113. The drive mechanism 200 drives an intermittent output main driving shaft 22 in equal angular steps of 22T . A suitable intermittent drive mechanism for this purpose is of the type manufactured by the Ferguson Machine Company of St.Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. and is shown in its Catalog No. 1 60A. Briefly, this type of intermittent drive mechanism 200 includes a cam 11 6 driven by the shaft 11 5 and in engagement with a plurality of rollers 11 7 mounted on an extended portion of the main shaft 22. The cam 116 and rollers 11 7 cooperate to form a worm gear type drive in that the cam 11 6 is formed with a thread which is modified in such manner that the rotation of the main shaft 22 takes place in accelerated and decelerated annular steps with dwell or rest periods between each of these steps. There are sixteen rollers 11 7 which act as teeth of a spur gear to rotate the main shaft 22 through a complete revolution in sixteen equal angular steps.

The shaft 28 (Figure 1) drives a sprocket 118 which drives another sprocket 11 9 through a timing belt 120. The sprocket 11 9 drives a stub shaft 1 21 extending radially with respect to the main shaft 22 and rotationally mounted in bearings supported on an extension 122 of the casting 65. A coupling 123 connects the stub shaft 121 in alignment with a stub shaft 124 rotatinally mounted on the casting extension 122.

A bevelled pinion gear 125, identical to the pinion gear 61, is mounted on the shaft 124 and is in mesh with the ring gear 60 to rotate the latter.

As the gear 60 rotates about the axis of the main shaft 22, the sleeve 55 secured to the gear 60 is rotated to impart rotation to the ring gear 50 so that the ring gears 50 and 60 rotate together.

When the plate 30 is adjusted (moved vertically), the casting 65 moves in unison therewith sliding with respect to the main shaft 22 at an interface 127. This causes a thrust bearing 128 at the .bottom of the outer sleeve 59 to move vertically.

This moves the sleeve 59 vertically with respect to the inner sleeve 55 although the sleeves 55, 59 are retained in rotational driving engagement by the keys 56, 57.

The universal joint assembly 70 (Figure 8) includes identical universal joints 131,132 constructed in a manner well known to the art with means providing mutually perpendicular axes. The input for the joint 131 includes a slit stub tube 133 having a clamping ring 134 thereon and the output of the joint 132 includes a hollow stub shaft 135. The input for the joint 132 includes a stub shaft 136 which telescopes inside the shaft 1 35 and is connected thereto by means (not shown) which permits relative axial movement between the shafts 125, 136 while rotationally keying the shafts 135,136 together.

The output of the joint 132 is provided with a slit stub tube 137 having a clamping ring 138 mounted thereon. It is noted that the horizontal pivot 91 for the auxiliary frame 80 extends perpendicular to the axis of the shafts 135, 136.

When the print roll shaft 71 is horizontal the axis of the pivot 91 extends through a point A located on the axis of the shafts 135,136 and midway between the universal joints 1 31, 132.

As seen in Figure 2, at an infeed station F the ring gear 60 drives a bevel gear 1 60 rotatably mounted on a horizontal stub shaft 161 extending radially with respect to the main shaft 22. The gear 1 80 is connected through a coupling 162 to drive a rotatably mounted stub shaft 1 63 in axial alignment with the shaft 161. At its free end the shaft 1 61 mounts a timing spocket 165 which supplies driving power to a cup in a feeding device (not shown).

During operation of the decorating apparatus 20, the turret 40 moves through sixteen angular steps for each revolution of the main shaft 22 so that each mandrel 45 moves through sixteen steps for each revolution of the shaft 22, stopping for a substantial period of time between steps; however, during the dwell periods of the main shaft 22, the mandrels 45 continue to rotate about their respective rotational axes provided by the stub shafts 43 since the ring gear 50 is in continuous motion and rotates the sixteen pinion gears 52 about their rotational axes. At the angular positions F (Figure 10), the mandrel 45 stopped thereat will be loaded with a container having an open end and typically constructed of plastics or metal. In a manner similar to that described in the aforesaid U.S. Patent No.

3,645,201, suction is applied through passages (not shown) in the mandrel 45 to hold a container thereon until an unloading position U is reached.

At a first dwell B following the in-feed position F, if the container has been damaged or improperly loaded on the mandrel 45, pressurized air will be applied through the mandrel to shed this damaged or improperly loaded container. At the next position P-1, a properly loaded container will have a first colour image applied thereto and this image will be dried at the first drying position D-1.Thereafter, this particular mandrel will move alternately to and be stopped at printing stations P-2 through P-6 and drying stations D-2 through D-6. An unloading station U follows the last drying station D-6. At the unloading station the vacuum holding forces are discontinued and a blow-offforce is applied to remove the decorated container from the mandrel 45. At a station L located between the unloading station U and the in-feed station F, if the presence of a container is detected the entire apparatus 20 will cease operation and an alarm will sound indicating that a malfunction exists.

Mandrels 45 are illustrated as being cylindrical and are suitable for carrying cylindrical containers; however, when frustoconical containers (those in which the open end is of larger diameter than the closed end) are to be decorated, frustoconical mandrels must be mounted on the stub shafts 43.

If the printing area on a frustoconical container has a mean diameter substantially the same as that of the cylindrical containers for the mandrels 45 then a cylindrical print roll 75 may be used; however, the shaft 71 of the print roll 75 must be adjusted so that it is parallel to the line of contact between the roll 75 and the container being decorated. This is accomplished by initiaily lowering the plate 30 to lower all of the print rolls 75 and then replacing all of the cylindrical mandrels 45 by frustoconical mandrels (not shown). Each of the auxiliary frames 80 is then tilted individually about its respective horizontal pivot 91 until the print roll shaft 71 is parallel to what will be the line of contact when the print roll 75 is in proper printing engagement with the container. After all of the auxiliary frames 80 are in proper tilted positions, the jacking devices 32 are operated to raise the plate 30 until there is proper printing engagement between the print rolls 75 and the mandrel mounted containers. It is noted that by tilting of the auxiliary frame 80 there is relative axial movement between the shafts 135, 1 36 as required to accommodate new positions for the universal joints 131, 132.

Claims (11)

1. Apparatus for applying at least two colour images to cylindrical or frustoconical articles, comprising: a frame; a turret mounted on the frame for rotation about a substantially vertical main axis; a plurality of mandrels for supporting articles to which images are to be applied, the mandrels being mounted on the turret in angularly spaced relationship and each of the mandrels being mounted for rotation on an individual mandrel axis extending radially with respect to the said main axis; indexing means operable to turn the turret intermittently so as to index each of the mandrels in succession at a plurality of printing stations angularly spaced around the main axis, each of the printing stations being mounted on the frame and including a printing roll mounted for rotation about a radilly extending rotational axis, inking means for applying ink to the printing roll, an auxiliary frame on which the inking means, the said roll and means defining the said rotational axis are mounted, and means defining a substantially horizontal pivot axis about which the auxiliary frame is pivotable relative to the frame to align the outer surface of the printing roll for adjustment thereof to image transferring relation with respect to the outer surfaces of articles mounted on the mandrels; and drive means for synchronizing rotation of the mandrels and the said rolls with each other and with operation of the indexing means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the frame includes a main frame and a sub-frame, the turret being rotatably mounted on the main frame and the printing stations being mounted on the sub-frame, and including means for effecting relatively substantially vertical movement between the main frame and the sub-frame to simultaneously adjust gap widths between the outer surfaces of the printing rolls and the mandrels.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, in which the main frame and the sub-frame are fixed against rotation, the main frame being fixed vertically and the sub-frame being vertically adjustable and the said horizontal pivots being -mounted on the sub-frame.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, in which the drive means includes a ring gear, an individual pinion conntected to each of the printing rolls to transmit driving power from the ring gear to the said pinions, and an individual coupling between each of the pinions and the printing roll to which the pinion is connected, each said individual coupling including spaced first and second universal joints connected by a shaft disposed generaliy perpendicular to and extending through the horizontal axis for the auxiliary frame on which the said roll is mounted, the said shaft being tiltable as the auxiliary frame is tilted to accommodate deviation of the rotational axis of the said roll from the horizontal.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, in which for each of the couplings the shaft is constructed to elongate and contract as required by relative orientation between the universal joints.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 when appendant to Claim 3, in which the ring gear includes first and second drive gears concentric with the said main axis and continuously drivable by the drive means, there being means connecting the first drive gear to the plurality of mandrels to rotate the latter about the said mandrel axes, the said pinions being drivingly connected to the second drive gear to transmit driving power from the latter to rotate the printing rolls about their rotational axes, and the second drive gear being connected to the sub-frame for vertical adjustment therewith relative to the first drive gear while the latter remains fixed vertically.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6, in which the mandrel axes extend in a common horizontal plane which is fixed vertically.

8. Apparatus for applying at least two colour images to cylindrical or frustoconical articles, comprising: a main frame and a sub-frame; a turret mounted on the main frame for rotation about a substantially vertical main axis; a plurality of mandrels for supporting articles to which images are to be applied, the mandrels being mounted on the turret in angularly spaced relationship and each of the mandrels being mounted for rotation on an individual mandrel axis extending radially with respect to the said main axis; indexing means operable to turn the turret intermittently so as to index each of the mandrels in succession at a plurality of printing stations mounted on the said sub-frame at locations angularly spaced around the main axis, at each of the printing stations there being a printing roll mounted for rotation about a radially extending rotational axis and inking means for applying ink to the said roll, the turret being rotatably mounted on the main frame and the printing stations being mounted on the sub-frame; drive means for synchronizing rotation of the mandrels and the said rolls with each other and with operation of the indexing means; and means for effecting relative substantially vertical movement between the main frame and the sub-frame to simultaneously adjust gap widths between the outer surfaces of the printing rolls and the mandrels.

9. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, in which the mandrel axes in a common horizontal plane which is fixed vertically.

10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, in which the main frame and the sub-frame are fixed against rotation, the main frame being fixed vertically and the sub-frame being vertically adjustable.

11. Apparatus for applying at least two colour images to cylindrical or frustoconical articles, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.