GB2262912A

GB2262912A - Applying decals to articles.

Info

Publication number: GB2262912A
Application number: GB9226814A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Walter Newton Clare
Original assignee: AUTOMATED TRANSFERS Ltd
Current assignee: AUTOMATED TRANSFERS Ltd
Priority date: 1992-01-04
Filing date: 1992-12-23
Publication date: 1993-07-07
Also published as: GB9200095D0; GB9226814D0

Abstract

A conveyor 10 has a spigot 12 which carries a mug 14 caused to roll over a resilient pad 16 thereby taking up a decal held on the pad 16. The decal is provided on a band 26 and has been moved on to the pad 16 after having been held on a heated metal plate 18, subject to hot air or passed over a container of hot oil in order to melt the heat sensitive adhesive of the decal. <IMAGE>

Description

Improved Decal Applying Appaus This invention concerns improvements in or relating to decal applying apparatus and particularly but not exclusively apparatus for applying decals on holloware such as cups, mugs and the like.

It is known to apply decorative designs to holloware using heat releasable decals mounted on a carrier such as a roll of plastics tape or paper, or individual carrier sheets. The designs can be applied by heating the ware to melt the heat release decal. In a further previous arrangement an indexed roll of decals is sequentially fed onto a heated resilient pad and the ware is rolled over the pad to accept the decal. This system has the disadvantage that the pad can wear and become damaged, and complex shaped articles cannot be decorated. Furthermore, such heated pads generally have a maximum working temperature above which they will not provide the required resilience. Furthermore, there often occurs a temperature gradient across the pad, and heat is taken from the pad as the relatively cold ware is passed thereacross requiring a rapid warming up of the pad.

According to the present invention there is provided decal applying apparatus comprising: seating means for receiving an item of ware to be decorated; a heating device upon which a decal is locatable to melt the heat sensitive adhesive thereof; a transfer device in the form of a resilient pad; decal moving means for sequentially moving decals on a carrier onto the heating device and subsequently onto the transfer device; conveying means for moving the seating means past the transfer device; the seating means being rotatable such that an item to be decorated rolls over the transfer device to pick up a decal from its carrier.

The apparatus may also comprise an orientating device for the seating means to ensure that the seating means is positioned such that a feature on an item to be decorated is properly aligned before the surface of the item comes into contact with the transfer device.

Supply and take up means are preferably provided for supplying decals on a carrier, whether in the form of a band of material or individual sheets, to the heating device and subsequently to the transfer device, and taking up the carrier subsequent to transfer of the decal onto an item. Where the carrier is in the form of a band of material, tensioning means are preferably provided to ensure that the band overlying the transfer device is flat but not stretched.

The heating means may include a plate over which the decals pass, and means for warming the plate. Means may be provided to urge decals against the plate to ensure thorough heating, and said means may comprise a plurality of openings in the plate to which reduced pressure is applied to suck the decal against the plate.

Alternatively, the heating means may comprise means for blowing warm air onto the decals. As a further alternative, the heating means may comprise a container of hot fluid, such as oil, over which the decal is passed.

A plurality of seating means may be provided which may move along an endless path.

The or each seating means preferably comprises a spigot which can receive an item of holloware, desirably in a friction fit. Alternatively, means may be provided for applying reduced pressure to hold the item on the spigot. The spigots are preferably circulated in front of the transfer device. The seating means may be adjustable to accept various items. This may be achieved by addition or subtraction of caps to make the spigot smaller or larger, or alternatively by making the spigot removable so that it may be replaced by a spigot of a different size.

The transfer device may comprise a shaped resilient pad, and the resilient pad may be interchangably mounted on the apparatus to permit different shaped pads to be used for different shaped items to be decorated.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a plan view of decal applying apparatus according to the invention.

The apparatus of the present invention is intended primarily for applying designs to beakers or mugs but can be used with many other items. The apparatus shown in the drawing comprises a conveyor 10 for reciprocally moving a seating means 12 on which an item to be treated such as a mug 14 can be mounted in an inverted manner.

The seating means 12 comprises a spigot which may have an upper portion of a size to receive a mug 14 in a friction fit. Alternatively, means may be provided for supplying reduced pressure through the spigot to hold the mug 14 thereon. The spigot is freely rotatably mounted on the conveyor 10.

An upstanding adjustable guide bar 15 is provided adjacent the conveyor 10 on an upper side thereof towards the right hand end as shown in the drawing. The guide bar 15 may be adjusted for different sizes and shapes of mugs and handles.

A transfer device 16 is provided adjacent a side edge of the conveyor 10, raised therefrom and substantially midway therealong. The transfer device 16 comprises a resilient pad which may have any suitable form such as for example a steel backplate overlaid by a layer of rubber and covered with a low resistance surface such as a PTFE covering. The transfer device 16 may comprise a flat pad as shown in the drawing or alternatively may be contoured. For example an upper part of the device 16 may be inclined towards the conveyor 10 for use when decorating shaped mugs or cups.

Alternatively, or in addition, a lower part of the device 16 may be inclined away from the conveyor 10 for use on mugs and cups with flared rims.

Located behind the transfer device 16 relative to the conveyor 10 is a heating means. The heating means comprises a metal plate 18 aligned at right angles relative to the device 16 and any suitable means (not shown) for heating the plate 18. A plurality of openings 20 are provided through the plate 18 and connected to a suitable source 22 of reduced pressure.

A plurality of vertical guide rods 24 define a path for decals to be carried on a paper backing 26 from a supply spool 28 across the plate 18 and on to the device 16 for transfer of decals onto the mugs 14. Further guide bars 24 define a path for the paper backing 26 after removal of the decals to a take up spool 30. The spools 28 and 30 are both mounted on shafts the rotation of which is governed by a torque limiter (not shown). Adjacent to the take up spool 30 is a drive drum 34 for the band 26, and sandwiching the band 26 thereagainst is a spring urged pressure pulley 36 thereby ensuring that the band 26 receives a positive drive from the drum 34.

Tensioning means (not shown) may be provided for the band 26 to ensure that the band 26 overlying the device 16 is flat but not stretched. A photo cell 38 is provided on a straight run of the band 26 before the plate 18 to ensure that the decal is correctly indexed on the device 16.

In use, with the seating means 12 towards the right hand end of the conveyor 10 as shown in the drawing, a mug 14 is placed thereon and turned so that the handle engages the left hand side of the bar 15. A decal is carried on the band 26 onto the plate 18 to melt the heat sensitive adhesive and is then moved onto the device 16, with the photo cell 38 ensuring correct indexing thereof. Movement of a decal onto the device 16 causes a further decal to be moved onto the plate 18.

The conveyor 10 moves the seating means from left to right and the handle of the mug 14 abuts the device 16 ensuring correct alignment thereof. The seating means 12 is positioned such that the surface of the mug 14 rolls across the device 16 taking up a decal held on the backing paper at this point. Once the mug 14 has moved fully past the device 16 the mug 14 is removed from the seating 12 which is returned by the conveyor 10 to its original position. The process can then be repeated with a further mug.

There is thus described apparatus which provides preheating of a decal before location on the transfer device and hence onto a mug. This apparatus could be readily operated e.g. using a pedal by a single operative. It is relatively easy to provide a constant temperature across the plate 18 thereby ensuring that the adhesive is melted consistently across the decal and the reduced pressure through the openings 20 holds a decal on the plate 18 to ensure constant heating thereof. As the ware does not contact the heating element no cooling down thereof occurs. Considerably less wear occurs to the transfer device as this item is not heated.

If required, the transfer device can be shaped and/or inclined for use with highly shaped ware. As the transfer device does not need to include heating elements, relatively complex shapes can be provided and thus the apparatus of the present invention can be used on a wider range of ware than conventional arrangements.

If required the transfer plate could be interchangeable to permit different shaped plates to be used for different applications.

Other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, instead of the heated plate, hot air could be blown onto the decals to melt the adhesive, or the decals could be passed over a container holding a hot liquid such as for example oil. If required, a plurality of seating means could be provided which may run for example on a continuous conveyor which may permit loading and/or unloading of ware remote from the decal application.

Claims

Claims:-

1. Decal applying apparatus comprising: seating means for receiving an item of ware to be decorated; a heating device upon which a decal is locatable to melt the heat sensitive adhesive thereof; a transfer device in the form of a resilient pad; decal moving means for sequentially moving decals on a carrier onto the heating device and subsequently onto the transfer device; conveying means for moving the seating means past the transfer device; the seating means being rotatable such that an item to be decorated rolls over the transfer device to pick up a decal from its carrier.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the apparatus also comprises an orientating device for the seating means to ensure that the seating means is positioned such that a feature on an item to be decorated is properly aligned before the surface of the item comes into contact with the transfer device.

3. Apparatus according to Claims 1 or 2, in which supply and take up means are provided for supplying decals on a carrier, whether in the form of a band of material or individual sheets, to the heating device and subsequently to the transfer device, and taking up the carrier subsequent to transfer of the decal onto an item.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, in which, where the carrier is in the form of a band of material, tensioning means are provided to ensure that the band overlying the transfer device is flat but not stretched.

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the heating means includes a plate over which the decals pass, and means for warming the plate.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, in which means are provided to urge decals against the plate to ensure thorough heating.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, in which the urging means comprises a plurality of openings in the plate to which reduced pressure is applied to suck the decal against the plate.

8. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 4, in which the heating means comprises means for blowing warm air onto the decals.

9. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 4, in which the heating means comprises a container of hot fluid over which the decal is passed.

10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which a plurality of seating means are provided

11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, in which the seating means move along an endless path.

12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the or each seating means is adjustable to accept various items.

13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the or each seating means comprises a spigot which can receive an item of holloware.

14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, in which the item of holloware is received by the spigot in a friction fit.

15. Apparatus according to Claim 13, in which means are provided for applying reduced pressure to hold an item of holloware on the spigot.

16. Apparatus according to any of Claims 13 to 15, in which the spigots are circulated in front of the transfer device.

17. Apparatus according to any of Claims 13 to 15 when dependent on Claim 12, in which the spigot is adjustable by addition or subtraction of caps to make the spigot smaller or larger.

18. Apparatus according to any of Claims 13 to 15 when dependent on Claim 12, in which the spigot is removable so that it may be replaced by a spigot of a different size.

19. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the transfer device comprises a shaped resilient pad.

20. Apparatus according to Claim 19, in which the resilient pad is interchangably mounted on the apparatus to permit different shaped pads to be used for different shaped items to be decorated.

21. Decal applying apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

22. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed in the foregoing specification or claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.