GB2389139A - Object holder including first and second object engaging portions wherein the second portion is axially movable relative to the first engaging portion - Google Patents
Object holder including first and second object engaging portions wherein the second portion is axially movable relative to the first engaging portion Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2389139A GB2389139A GB0209961A GB0209961A GB2389139A GB 2389139 A GB2389139 A GB 2389139A GB 0209961 A GB0209961 A GB 0209961A GB 0209961 A GB0209961 A GB 0209961A GB 2389139 A GB2389139 A GB 2389139A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- holder
- bottle
- engaging portion
- object engaging
- holder portion
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
- B41F15/00—Screen printers
- B41F15/08—Machines
- B41F15/0872—Machines for printing on articles having essentially cylindrical surfaces
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41P—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO PRINTING, LINING MACHINES, TYPEWRITERS, AND TO STAMPS
- B41P2217/00—Printing machines of special types or for particular purposes
- B41P2217/50—Printing presses for particular purposes
- B41P2217/60—Means for supporting the articles
- B41P2217/62—Means for supporting the articles externally, e.g. for bottles
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Labeling Devices (AREA)
Abstract
An object holder 10 (e.g. for a bottle) comprises: first and second object receiving portions 11,12, and a first object engaging portion 13 and a second object receiving portion 14 spaced apart axially from the first object engaging portion. The second engaging portion is movable axially relative along grooved shafts 15,16 to the first object engaging portion according to the size of the bottle. The relative positions of the first and second engaging portions being fixed by spring-loaded balls 20 positioned on the first receiving portion 11 which locate within the appropriate grooves 19 of the shafts according to the size of the bottle to be held. Alternatively (Fig.3), the first and second object receiving portions may be fixed by screws being received within apertures (38). The first receiving portion may include apertures 22-24 positioned within a recess 25 which are connected to a pump to create a vacuum within the recess to hold the bottle in position on the holder. The holder may be used to hold bottles on a process line during a screen printing process (Figs. 1A&B).
Description
( A HOLDER
This invention relates to an apparatus for conveying an object along a process line, and particularly, but not exclusively to an apparatus for screen 5 printing objects such as bottles. The invention also relates to a holder for holding the object as it moves along the process line.
It is known to screen print objects such as bottles that are made from plastics materials. The bottles may be printed with information about the lo product and the manufacturer or distributor. For example, a trade mark, and information about the product contained within the bottle may be applied to the bottle by screen printing, thus obviating the need to apply labels to the bottle. This simplifies the manufacturing process of the bottle. In addition, important information is likely to remain on the bottle for the lifetime of the 15 product contained within the bottle. This is in sharp contrast to the situation that exists when labels are applied to the bottle, since a label may become detached from the bottle while the bottle is In use.
During the process of screen printing, different colours are applied at so different stages along the process line. This means that it is very important that the bottle is kept accurately located relative to the components on the process line in order that the ditberent colours are applied to the bottle in the correct location relative to one another. If the bottle is not located accurately throughout the printing process then the colours will not Is superimpose and the information printed on the bottle is likely to be illegible. It is known to locate the bottle on a component known as a bottle transport.
The bottle transport is dimensioned to enable a particular bottle to be :, receivable on the bottle transport. Since it is important that the bottle is
accurately located, the bottle transport is shaped such that it engages with the bottle at two or more points along the length of the bottle, for example at the neck and the bottom. The bottle transport further comprises a vacuum table over which the bottle is positioned. The vacuum table creates a 5 vacuum underneath the bottle which holds the bottle in position. The transport may be either fixed or moveablc. As the bottle progresses from station to station along the process line, it is transferred from one transport to the next by a walking beam.
lo A problem with known bottle transports is that a given bottle transport is dimensioned to receive a bottle of a particular size. It is therefore necessary to change all the transports every time that a batch of bottles of a different size is to be printed. This is time consuming and expensive as it results in "down time" of the process line.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a holder for holding an object, the holder comprising: an object receiving portion; a base for supporting the object receiving portion, the base having a first surface adjacent the object receiving portion, and further comprising a first object engaging portion and a second object engaging portion spaced apart axially from the first object engaging portion; characterised in that the second object engaging portion is moveablc axially relative to the first object engaging portion.
2s It had previously been thought necessary to have a bottle transport of fixed dimensions so that the transport was shaped to exactly correspond with the shape of the bottle to be held. This was to ensure that the bottle could not move within the transport, and thus that the bottle remained in register with so other components in the process line. However, the inventors have realised -2
( that the bottle may be accurately positioned even though the second object engaging portion is moveable relative to the first object engaging portion.
Because the object engaging portions are moveable relative to one another, s the bottle transport is able to receive bottles having a range of different sizes. An advantage of the present invention is therefore that bottles having sizes within a given range may be held in position by a single bottle transport.
lo This means that when a batch of bottles having a different size to a previous batch of bottles is required to be printed, it is not necessary to close down the process line and replace the bottle transports with different bottle transports suitable for holding a bottle of a different size.
15 When changing known bottle transports, it is necessary to realign and re-
register many components in the process line in order to ensure correct positioning of each transport, and therefore the bottle at all points along the process line. This leads to a significant amount of time when the process line is not in use.
Preferably, the base portion of the holder further comprises at least one aperture extending from the first surface of the base portion and connectable to a vacuum pump.
The vacuum pump creates a vacuum that is sufficiently powerful to keep the bottle in position without the need for accurate engagement of the bottle with the bottle transport.
Advantageously, the holder comprises a first holder portion comprising the so first object engaging portion, and a second holder portion comprising the -3
( second object engaging portion, the second holder portion being formed separately from the first holder portion.
Advantageously, the second holder portion is moveably engageable with the s first holder portion. This allows axial movement of the first object engaging portion relative to the second object engaging portion. This in turn means that it is possible for the bottle transport to receive bottles having a range of lengths and widths.
lo Conveniently, the first holder portion is adapted to receive the second holder portion.
Preferably, the second holder portion comprises at least one elongate member slidably receivable within the first holder portion.
t Conveniently, the second holder portion comprises two elongate members each slidably receivable within a respective aperture extending axially along the whole or part of the length of the first holder portion.
so It is thus possible to adjust the distance between the first object engaging portion and the second object engaging portion by sliding the elongate members within a respective aperture.
Advantageously, the holder further comprises means for locking the second as holder portion at a predetermined position relative to the first holder portion. This means that once the first and second object engaging portions are a predetermined distance from one another appropriate to the bottle which is to be printed? the relative positions of the first and second object engaging portions may be fixed prior to being used in the process line.
-4
( Advantageously, the locking means comprises a screw-threaded member receivable within a threaded aperture in the first holder portion such that the screw-threaded member is engageable with an elongate member. By screwing the screw member into the aperture, the screw member makes 5 contact with and bears down on the elongate member and prevents further axial movement of the elongate member within the aperture.
Advantageously, each elongate member comprises at least one groove formed at a predetermined position, and the locking means comprises a lo springloaded ball engageabte within the at least one groove.
Conveniently, each elongate member comprises a plurality of grooves positioned at spaced apart intervals along the elongate member.
15 The grooves are positioned so that when the spring-loaded ball engages with a groove, the spacing of the first and second object engaging portions corresponds to the dimensions of a particular bottle.
The invention will now be further described by way of example only with to reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure la is a schematic representation of a process line used for screen printing bottles; Figure lb is a schematic representation of one module forming part of the process line of Figure la; 25 Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of a holder according to a first aspect of the present invention; and Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a holder according to the first aspect of the present invention.
( RcLerring to Figures la and lb, a process line for screen printing bottles is designated generally by the reference numeral 100. The illustrated process line is a five colour printer.
s Bottles to be screen printed are picked and sorted at station 110. The bottle which is picked is then transferred from the picker and sorter 110 along a walking beam 120 consecutively to in feed fixed transports 130. The bottle is then walked into the first print module 140 and is consecutively transferred from a first print transport 150 to a second print transport 160.
Once the bottle has been printed with the first colour at the first print station 140, it is transferred to fixed transports 170 and then to second print station 180 where it is printed with a second colour. Whilst within the second print station the bottle is contained in second print transports 190. The bottle is then transferred consecutively to transports 200 before entering third print Is station 210 where a third colour is printed onto the bottle. While the bottle is in the third print station it is supported by third print transports 220. The bottle is then transferred consecutively to transports 230 and into the forth print station 240 where it is supported by forth print transports 250. Next, the bottle is transferred to transports 260 before entering fifth print station to 270 where it is supported by transports 280. Finally, the bottle is discharged from the process line 100 via transport 290 and discharge plate 300. If fewer than five colours are required to be printed on the bottle, then a as process line having less than five print stations may be used.
Turning now to Figure lb. A print station for example the first print station 140 is shown in more detail. All the print stations in the process line 100 are similar.
-6
It can be seen that a fixed transport 130 receives the bottle from the previous station, in this case, the walking beam 120. A second fixed transport 130 receives the bottle from the first fixed transport 130.
s A print transport 150 receives the bottle from transport 130 and lifts the bottle up to a screen print head 300 where a first colour is printed on the bottle. The print transport 150 then transfers the bottle to a second print transport 150 which takes the bottle away from the print station. The bottle is then consecutively transferred from print station transport 150 to fixed lo transports 170.
Referring to Figure 2, a holder according to a first aspect of the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. Each of the transports shown in Figures la and lb is in the form of holder 10. The Is holder comprises a first holder portion 11 and a second holder portion 12.
The first holder portion comprises first object engaging portion 13, and the second holder portion comprises the second object engaging portion 14.
l he first object engaging portion 13 and the second object engaging, portion 14 are moveable axially relative to one another. The second holder portion 20 further comprises elongate members in the form of shafts 15, 16. Each shaft is receivable within an aperture 17, 18 respectively formed in the first holder portion the axial distance between the first object engaging portion 13 and the second object engaging portion 14 may be adjusted by slidably moving the shafts 15, 16 within the aperture 17, 18.
2s The shafts further comprise grooves 19 which are formed at predetermined locations along each shaft 15, 16. The first holder portion further comprises two spring-loaded balls 20 receivable within a respective aperture 21 extending substantially at right angles to the axis of the holder lo. Each so spring-loaded ball is in contact with a respective shaft 15, 16 when the shaft -7
( is located within an aperture 17, 18. When the groove l9 aligns with the spring-loaded ball 20, the spring-loaded ball will locate within the groove preventing further movement of the second holder portion. At this point the relative positions of the first object engaging portion and the second object s engaging portion are fixed.
The positions of the grooves are determined by the dificrent sizes of bottles which are to be held by the holder. In the illustrated example, each shaft 15, 16 comprises three grooves and the holder is thus able to accommodate lo three separate bottle sizes.
The first holder portion further comprises apertures 22, 23, 24 positioned within a recess 25. The apertures 22, 23, and 24 enable the holder lO to be connected to a vacuum pump. When a bottle is positioned on the holder, 15 the vacuum pump removes air from the recess 25 and creates a vacuum within the recess 25 which holds the bottle in position on the holder.
The holder lO is positionablc on a vacuum block (not shown) which is positioned between the holder and the vacuum pump and also serves to so support the holder.
Turning now to Figure 3, a second embodiment of the first aspect of the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 30. Parts which are equivalent to those parts shown in Figure 2 have been given the same :5 reference numerals for clarity.
In this embodiment, the second holder portion 12 comprises a plate 36 which is engageable with a second recess portion 37 of the first holder portion. The plate 36 comprises apertures 38 which are engageable with > apertures formed in the first holder portion (not shown). When the relative -8
( positions of the first object engaging portion 14 and the second object engaging portion 14 are at a prcdetennined distance' the position of the second holder portion relative to the first holder portion may be fixed by means of screws receivable within the apertures 38.
The holder 30 is shown in position on a vacuum block 35.
i)
Claims (12)
1. A holder for holding an object, the holder comprising: an object receiving portion; 5 a base for supporting the object receiving portion, the base having a first surface adjacent the object receiving portion, and Further comprising a first object engaging portion and a second object engaging portion spaced apart axially from the first object engaging portion; characterized in that the second object engaging portion is lo moveable axially relative to the first object engaging portion.
2. A holder according to Claim I wherein the base portion further
comprises at least one aperture extending from the first surface of the base portion and being connectable to a vacuum pump.
3. A holder according to Claim I or 2 comprising a first holder portion comprising the first object engaging portion, and a second holder portion comprising the second object engaging portion, the second holder portion being formed separately from the first holder portion.
4. A holder according to Claim 3 wherein the second holder portion is moveably engageable with the first holder portion.
5. A holder according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the first holder s portion is adapted to receive the second holder portion.
6. A holder according to any one of Claims 3 to 5 wherein the second holder portion comprises at least elongate member slidably receivable within the first holder portion.
- 1 O
(
7. A holder according to Claim 6 wherein the second holder portion comprises two elongate members each slidably receivable within a respective aperture extending axially along the whole or part of the length of the first holder portion.
8. A holder according to any one of Claims 3 to 7 further comprising means for locking the second holder portion at a predetermined position relative to the first holder portion.
lo
9. A holder according to any one of Claims 6 to 8 wherein the locking means comprises a screw threaded member receivable within a threaded aperture in the first holder portion such that the screw threaded member is cngageable with an elongate member.
15
10. A holder according to Claim 9 wherein each elongate member comprises at least one groove formed at a predetermined position, and the locking means comprises a spring-loaded ball engageable with the at least one groove.
to
11. A holder according to Claim 10 wherein each elongate member comprises a plurality of grooves positioned at spaced apart intervals the elongate member.
12. A holder substantially as herein before described with reference to as the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0209961A GB2389139A (en) | 2002-05-01 | 2002-05-01 | Object holder including first and second object engaging portions wherein the second portion is axially movable relative to the first engaging portion |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0209961A GB2389139A (en) | 2002-05-01 | 2002-05-01 | Object holder including first and second object engaging portions wherein the second portion is axially movable relative to the first engaging portion |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0209961D0 GB0209961D0 (en) | 2002-06-05 |
| GB2389139A true GB2389139A (en) | 2003-12-03 |
Family
ID=9935867
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0209961A Withdrawn GB2389139A (en) | 2002-05-01 | 2002-05-01 | Object holder including first and second object engaging portions wherein the second portion is axially movable relative to the first engaging portion |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2389139A (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2100733A1 (en) * | 2008-03-11 | 2009-09-16 | Polytype S.A. | Modular linear printing press for printing onto hollow bodies with different print procedures |
| CN104908411A (en) * | 2015-06-30 | 2015-09-16 | 合肥阿格德信息科技有限公司 | Locating tool for screen printing of end cover of filter cleaner |
| CN110744918A (en) * | 2019-10-30 | 2020-02-04 | 杭州匡明科技有限公司 | Automatic printing device for customized wine bottle packaging cover anti-counterfeiting two-dimensional code |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1277235A (en) * | 1968-06-11 | 1972-06-07 | Werner Kammann | Screen printing machine |
| FR2689812A1 (en) * | 1992-04-09 | 1993-10-15 | Ligier Laure | Tool for hot marking or serigraphy for decorating articles - comprises rotary shaft in bearings, set inside machined block |
-
2002
- 2002-05-01 GB GB0209961A patent/GB2389139A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1277235A (en) * | 1968-06-11 | 1972-06-07 | Werner Kammann | Screen printing machine |
| FR2689812A1 (en) * | 1992-04-09 | 1993-10-15 | Ligier Laure | Tool for hot marking or serigraphy for decorating articles - comprises rotary shaft in bearings, set inside machined block |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2100733A1 (en) * | 2008-03-11 | 2009-09-16 | Polytype S.A. | Modular linear printing press for printing onto hollow bodies with different print procedures |
| CN104908411A (en) * | 2015-06-30 | 2015-09-16 | 合肥阿格德信息科技有限公司 | Locating tool for screen printing of end cover of filter cleaner |
| CN110744918A (en) * | 2019-10-30 | 2020-02-04 | 杭州匡明科技有限公司 | Automatic printing device for customized wine bottle packaging cover anti-counterfeiting two-dimensional code |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0209961D0 (en) | 2002-06-05 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |