US3905292A

US3905292A - Decorating machine with timed ink dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3905292A
Application number: US128246A
Authority: US
Inventors: Anthony T Rossi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-03-26
Filing date: 1971-03-26
Publication date: 1975-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-16

Abstract

An improved decorating machine is provided for applying decoration to the outer surfaces of objects such as cans or bottles. The objects to be decorated are moved in a continuous stream past a decorating station. The decoration producing means comprises a plurality of print elements moved on an endless conveyor and adapted to sequentially pick up printing fluid from a fluid dispensing means and apply said printing fluid to the outer surfaces of said articles as they move past said decorating station. The fluid dispensing means is adapted to dispense a measured amount of printing fluid evenly on the print elements as they move therepast. The printing fluid is dispensed through an aperture in a fluid container which is adapted to open and close in timed sequence to the movement of the print elements therepast. The configuration of the aperture and the timing of its opening and closing ensures a uniform distribution of printing fluid, thereby to provide a decoration having a uniform image.

Description

United States Patent Rossi 1 51 Sept. 16, 1975 l DECORATING MACHINE WITH TIMED INK DISPENSER 3,621,779 11/1971 Carl et all w. 101/366 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Inventor: Amhony Rossi [800 Point Assistant ExaminerClifford D. Crowder Pleasant Ave, Bradenton, Fla. 3 3505 57 ABSTRACT 1 Filedi M311 1971 An improved decorating machine is provided for apl in decoration to the outer surfaces of ob'ects such 1 A 1. N .1 128,246 PY g 1 [2 pp 0 as cans or bottles. The ob ects to be decorated are moved in a continuous stream past a decorating sta- [52] US. Cl. 1 1/ 101/123; 1 tion. The decoration producing means comprises a l l/367 plurality of print elements moved on an endless con- [51] Int. Cl B411- 17/22 yor and adapted to sequentially pick up printing [58] Field of Search .1 l0l/38-40. fluid from a fluid dispensing means and apply said 3 367 printing fluid to the outer surfaces of said articles as they move past said decorating station. The fluid dis- [56] Ref r nces Ci pensing means is adapted to dispense a measured UNITED STATES PATENTS amount of printing fluid evenly on the print elements 443,050 12/1390 Kerr .w 101/367 x as they herepast The Priming fluid is dispensed L275256 8H9; Dem 101/367 through an aperture in a flu1d container which is 2,143,885 1/1939 Kline 101/366 adapted to p n n lose in timed sequence to the 2.189.765 2/1940 Tukats h l01/367 UX movement of the print elements therepast. The config- 2,767647 10/1956 g 1 X uration of the aperture and the timing of its opening 293 x0 5/1960 g l01/40 UX and closing ensures a uniform distribution of printing 3303754 3/1967 01/366 X fluid, thereby to provide a decoration having a uni- 3,407,729 10/1968 Stach .1 101/366 X form ima ge. 3,503.32) 3/1970 Ross1 1 1 1 1 1 101/40 3,543.680 12/1970 Killcn et a1. 101/40 16 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures wt :0 T a 2: m 1 J0 A 142 I? y y 1/ '1 74 1 4 \K 2:9 I II I N1 40 i 22 1 7/ I, as 1 m I w 1 o t: 4} I \L' 0 0 I 4? III 4| 1 .e 1 r J 1' 7a 1 a! 4 T i to w 1 J0 PATENTEU 1 5% 3,905,292

SHEET 1 [1F 4 ANTHONY 7. 2056/ ATTORNEY INVENTOR ATTORNEY LIE.

14m 3 OF 1 PATENTH! SEP 6 I975 3m u or 4 PATEN IE1] SEP I 6 i975 ATTORNEY DECORATING MACHINE WITH TIMEI) INK DISPENSER The present invention relates to decorating machines and more particularly to machines of the type adapted to apply a printed decoration upon objects in a eontinu ous fashion.

Goods or articles are normally marketed in containers or packages having decorations on the outer surface thereof. Such decorations may range from simple idcntifying printed matter to rather complicated pictorial designs. In some cases, it is not feasible or practical to apply the required decoration to the container surface during fabrication thereof. In such cases. for example when the container is a glass bottle or other molded article, it has been found convenient to apply the decoration to an outer surface of the containerjust prior to its being filled with the product. While the decoration may be printed on labels and the labels subsequently affixed to the articles by adhesive or the like, this process is rather time consuming and expensive and results in an inferior appearance.

In the past, machines have been designed which are adapted to apply decorations directly to articles such as bottles or the like. One such machine is disclosed in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,269,305 of Aug. 30, 1966, entitled Machine for Printing Upon Bottles and Similar Articles. A major drawback of machines of the type there disclosed is that they operate intermittently. The objects to be decorated are moved to a decorating station. their travel through the machine is interrupted while the decoration is being applied to them. and then they are moved away out from the decorating station. This gives rise to appreciable machine complexity, pro duces excessive internal stresses in the machine. requiring the use of structures which are overly heavy so as to be capable of withstanding those stresses, and otherwise greatly limits productivity.

A second drawback of machines of this type is that the printing fluid supply is generally carried directly on the decoration applying means and thus requires frequent refilling which necessitates substantial down time of the machine. Some machines of this type utilize a main fluid supply means. However, these arrangements have proved relatively unsatisfactory. Thus, the use of a wick or roller pickup from a continuous printing fluid supply generally results in an uneven distribution of printing fluid on the fluid applying means. In addition such devices are often ineffective to dispense the required quantities of printing fluid from the supply con tainer to the wick or roller surface without a substantial loss or drying up". This problem is particularly significant in machines of the intermittent type. Thus. dry ink tends to rapidly build up on the wick or roller surface, requiring frequent cleaning or replacement of such parts. In addition. each time the machine is stopped for any appreciable length of time, these parts must be wiped clean in order to avoid excessive ink build-up.

It is a primary object of the present invention to design an improved decorating machine which substantially eliminates all of the foregoing difficulties of prior art devices.

It is another object of the present invention to design a printing head assembly for a decorating machine of the type described wherein printing fluid is dispensed from a main supply unit in timed sequence with the movement of the fluid applying elements therepast.

It is still another object of the present invention to dcsign an improved decorating machine of the type adapted to apply a decoration to a plurality of objects in a continuous fashion, wherein the means to move the objects and fluid applying elements and the fluid dispensing mechanism are all adapted to operate in a continuous synchronized manner.

It is yet another object of the present invention to design an improved fluid dispensing system for use with a decorating machine adapted to dispense a measured amount of printing fluid evenly upon a fluid applying element in timed relationship with the movement of said element.

To the accomplishment of the above, the present invention comprises a decorating machine wherein arti cles are adapted to have applied to their outer surfaces a decoration at a decoration station. Means are provided for conveying a continuous stream of articles past the decorating station. The decoration producing means comprises a plurality of print elements mounted on an endless conveyor means and adapted to sequentially move past a printing fluid dispensing means and the decorating station. Accordingly, said printing ele ments are adapted to pick up a measured amount of printing fluid and apply said printing fluid through a silk screen or the like at said decorating station onto the outer surface of the articles moving therepast.

The supply means comprises a fluid container having an aperture therein. A shutter mechanism is adapted to open and close the container aperture in timed sequence with the movement of the printing elements therepast. A measured amount of printing fluid is dispcnsed through said container aperture onto the printing element and the printing element proceeds to the decorating station whereupon said measured amount of printing fluid is applied evenly to the surface of an object moving therepast. The articles are moved past said decorating station while rotatably mounted in holders and means are provided for rotating said articles within said holders as they traverse the decorating station in timed sequence with the application of the printing fluid to the outer surface thereof. The ink supply container is continuously filled with printing ink through an appropriate pump and hose connection.

To the accomplishment of the above and to such other objects as may hereinafter appear the present invention comprises a decorating machine having an improved printing head assembly as defined in the ap pended claims and as described in this specification. taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the decorating station and printing head assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side clevational view, partly broken away, of the decorating machine of the present invention showing the infeed and outfeed sections and the decorating machine.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the decorating machine of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the printing head assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the fluid dispensing container and associated printing elements;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the printing fluid dispensing container;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the printing fluid dispensing container taken generally through the line 77 of FIG. 6 and showing the container in the open position;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the container in FIG. 7 partly broken away; and

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the container of FIG. 6 similar to FIG. 8 but showing the container in the closed position.

The machine of the present invention comprises a framework generally designated A on which the various operative parts are mounted. The details of that framework form no special part of the present invention and hence are here shown only in fragmentary and schematic fashion. The machine is adapted to be driven in any appropriate manner as by means of the motor B shown in FIG. 2 with appropriate drive mechanisms generally designated C. The machine may generally be considered as consisting of a plurality of sections, to wit, the infeed section generally designated D which takes the articles and deposits them on the main conveyor line generally designated E. the decorating station generally designated F, where decoration is applied to the outer surface of the articles, and an output section G which carries the bottles away from the decorating machine usually to a station where they are filled.

The embodiment have illustrated and specifically described by way of example is designed for use with cylindrical bottles H having a circular cross section. The invention, however. is not so limited and may be designed for use with a variety of objects having a variety of shapes.

The details of the infeed section are best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The bottles H may be fed to the machine in an appropriate manner, as by conveyor 2 (which forms no part of the present invention but may be any suitable conveyor available in the plant in which the machine of the present invention is to be used) with the bottles in the customary upright position. The conveyor 2 feeds the bottles H into a helical rotated feed screw 4 mounted on the frame parallel to the conveyor, the pitch of the screw 4 being such that a bottle is received between each pair of opposed screw threads. Thus the feed screw 4 moves the bottles from right to left (as viewed in FIG. 2) while maintaining them spaced from one another in the desired fashion. As best shown in FIG. 3 the bottles H are maintained in abutting relationship with feed screw 4 by means ofa spring biased guide rail 6, the springs 8 being provided to accommodate articles of various sizes.

As shown in FIG. 3. the bottles are fed by feed screw 4 to the main conveyor system E. Conveyor system E comprises a continuous belt or link chain I mounted on sprocket wheels 12 and I4 which in turn are rotatable on vertical shafts l6 and 18, respectively. A horizontal guide shaft of any suitable configuration is arms 26. A roller 28 is rotatably mounted on the end of each arm 26 by any suitable means such as pins 30. Rollers 28 are thus freely rotatable and are adapted to engage the outer surface of a bottle H when the latter is received within the holder 20 in a fashion such that it is readily rotatable about its vertical axis.

As may be seen from FIG. 3., a bottle H as it reaches the end of feed screw 4 is picked up by a holder 22. which holder is adapted to guide the bottle along shaft 20 past decorating station F. A vertical guide plate 32 is laterally spaced from the front flight of conveyor 10 and maintains bottles H within their respective holders 22 centered on vertical support shaft 20 as the bottles approach the decorating station F. Guide plate 32 is provided with a slightly flared portion 34 (see FIG. 3) at the infeed end of conveyor belt 10 to insure a smooth transition of the bottles H from feed screw 4 to holders 22. The transition from conveyor 2 to support shaft 20 is accomplished by means of a suitable platform 36 (FIG. 3).

The bottles are retained in properly spaced relation by holders 22 as they traverse the decorating station as will be described hereinafter in more detail. are removed from their respective holders 22 at the lefthand end of the machine (as viewed in the drawings) in any appropriate fashion and are conveyed away from the machine as by an output conveyor 38 similar to input conveyor 2.

The decorating station F comprises means to apply printing fluid to the outer surface of bottles H in continuous fashion through a silk screen device or the like. As best shown in FIG. I, an appropriately designed silk screen 40 is mounted in a longitudinally extending framework generally designated 42 comprising top and

bottom walls

44 and 46, respectively, side walls 48 and a front panel 50 facing conveyor belt [0. The bottles H are moved past the decorating station within holders 22 in the guideway defined between belt 10 and panel 50. A pair oflongitudinally extending strips 52 ofa suitable material, such as neoprene. are mounted along the top and bottom edges, respectively, of panel 50 facing bottles H and are spaced so as to firmly engage the outer surfaces of the bottles at the top and bottom portions of the main body thereof below the necks.

The entire silk screen frame 42 is mounted on the framework A by a pair of mounting members 53 se cured to side walls 48 thereof in any appropriate manner, said mounting members being secured to shafts 54 which in turn are slidably mounted in mounting blocks 56 and retained therein by any suitable means. Mounting blocks 56 are in turn mounted on horizontal support members 57 comprising a portion of framework A (four blocks are provided. one at each corner of the frame. only two being shown in FIG. I The frame 42 is spring biased outwardly from support members 57 toward belt I0 by means of compression coil springs 58 mounted concentrically on shafts 54 between mounting members 53 and blocks 56. Accordingly. the strips 52 are effective to exert a firm lateral pressure on the outer surface of bottles H. said bottles being pressed against freely rotatable rollers 28 on holders 22. As the bottles move longitudinally along the silk screen frame. the friction of strips 52 is effective to rotate the bottles H within holders 22. The outer surfaces of the bottles thus have zero velocity relative to the frame 42 and merely roll therealong.

The decorations are applied to the outer surfaces of the bottles H as they move past the silk screen 41) by means of a printing head assembly generally designated 58. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 assembly 58 comprises a pair of shafts 60 and 62 rotatably mounted \ertically on framework A between support members 57, and on which are mounted sprocket wheels 64 and 66, respectively. An endless belt or link chain 68 extends around sprocket wheels 60 and 62 and is adapted to be driven thereby in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 4). Mounted on the outer surface of chain 68 and spaced along its length are a plurality of printing elements such as squeegces 70. (The term printing elements herein includes any device which may be adapted to pick up printing fluid from a dispenser and deposit said fluid by pressure on an object engaged therewith.) As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, printing element 70 comprises a mounting structure generally designated 71 in which is mounted a resilient wiper 73 extending therefrom. Wiper 73 may be made of any suitable resilient material such as neoprene. The spacing of printing elements 70 on chain 68 corresponds to the spacing of holders 22 on belt so that, as best seen in FIG. 4, as each bottle H is carried by its holder 22 past silk screen 40, a printing element moves parallel thereto with its wiper tip pressing against the other side of the silk screen 40, substantially in synchronism and registration with a bottle H.

As best shown in FIG. 1, chain guide

elements

72 and 74 are mounted on horizontal support members 57 by means of a plate 76 fastened to the top of support member 57 at a position thereon directly opposite silk screen 40.

Guide elements

72 and 74 define a channel 78 effective to guide chain 68 in the region of silk screen 40. As perhaps best seen in FIG. 5, the chain links 80 upon which printing elements 70 are mounted are greater in height than the remaining links 81 and extend upwardly therefrom a substantial distance. Guide element 72 is provided with gradually curved end surfaces 82 and 84 coterminous with a straight guide surface 86 defining one wall of guide channel 78. Thus as an enlarged link 80 comes off sprocket wheel 66 the upper extending portion thereof engages end surface 84 ofguidc element 72 and is guided into chan nel 78. The straight guide surface 86 of guide element 72 corresponds in length to the length of the design on silk screen 40. The

guide elements

72 and 74 are mounted slightly laterally outwardly from an imaginary line defining a common tangent between sprocket wheels 64 and 66 and thus effective, when a link 80 is captured within channel 78, to pull that link farther outwardly from the sprocket wheels than its unimpeded travel would carry it. By virtue of this arrangement, as a printing element 70 leaves sprocket wheel 66 and approaches the silk screen frame 42 it is guided in its travel by

guide members

72 and 74 and pressed firmly into engagement with the silk screen 40 making its first point of contact therewith at the extreme righthand edge of the silk screen design. As the printing element 70 traverses the silk screen, it is maintained in engagement therewith under constant pressure by means of the engagement of the straight guide surface 86 of guide element 72 with the link 80 upon which such printing element is mounted. The printing clement breaks contact with the silk screen precisely at the end of the design thereon as a result of curved guide surface 84 positioned in registration therewith, thereby preventing any blurring of the printed design. It will be ap parent that in this manner each bottle H as it rolls along silk screen 40 is adapted to have applied to the outer surface thereof a decoration by means of a quantity of printing fluid forced under pressure through silk screen 40.

The manner in which the printing fluid is supplied to printing elements will now be described in detail. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 a fluid dispensing means generally designated 88 is provided adjacent the printing assembly chain 68 at the opposite side thereof from silk screen frame 42. It comprises a fluid dispensing container 89 mounted between

structural members

90 and 92 secured to and extending laterally out from support members 57, and a control mechanism therefore generally designated 94.

Referring to FIG. 7 it willl be seen that container 89 comprises an outer cylindrical casing 96 and an inner cylindrical container or cage 98 concentric therewith. Cage 98 is closed at its top and bottom ends by cover members or lids 100 and 102, respectively, which are scalingly secured thereto in any suitable manner. Cover members 100 and 102 are provided with central aper tures 104 and 106, respectively, receiving a shaft 108 which extends axially through cage 98. A pair of

closure members

110 and 112 are plugged into the open top and bottom ends, respectively, of outer cylinder 96 and secured thereto in any suitable manner. Shaft 108 extends through apertures 104 and 106 in cover members 100 and 102, respectively, and is rotatably received at its lower end in a low friction bushing 114 within a central recess 116 in closure member 112, bushing 114 having a flanged portion adapted to space the inner cover member 102 from closure member 112. Cage 98 is secured fast on shaft 108 by suitable means such as by soldering at apertures 104 and 106. Upper closure member 110 is provided with a central aperture 118 within which is securely mounted a low friction bearing 120. Shaft 108 is rotatably received in bearing 120 and extends through an aperture 121 in structural member 90 at its upper end. Accordingly, shaft 108 and cage 98 are rotatable within casing 96.

Closure members

110 and 112 of casing 96 are secured to

structural members

90 and 92, respectively, by suitable means such as

bolts

122 and 124, respectively (FIG. 8).

The outer casing 96 is provided with a narrow vertical slot 126 centrally located on the cylinder surface and has parallel vertical side walls 128 and 130. The inner cylindrical cage 98 is also provided with a vertical slot 132 centrally located thereon, said slot being slightly longer than slot 126 in cylinder 96 and having

side walls

134 and 136. As best seen in FIG. 6, slot 132, at its extreme lower end has a width substantially equal to that of slot 126. However, the left hand side wall 136 is slightly inclined to the left of the vertical so that the width of slot 132 increases toward its upper end. In a typical embodiment tapered slot 132 will increase in width from about onefourth inch at its lower end to about seven-sixteenth inch at its upper end.

As best seen in FIGS. 6-9, a porous pad 137 is mounted adjacent side wall of slot 126 on outer cylinder 96 by suitable mounting structure such as angle bar 139 and extends outwardly from slot 126 generally tangentially to cylinder 96. Cage 98 is filled with printing fluid through a hose 141 having an end communicating therewith and is maintained full under a substantially constant pressure by means of a fluid pump (not shown) operatively connected to the other end of hose I4I.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a 'I" shaped timii 3 arm generally designated 138 comprising a base arm 140 and a cross bar 142 is fixedly secured to shaft I08 at the free end of base arm 140 by any suitable means such as screw I44. arm 140 being rotatable with shaft 108 on a bearing I41 through which shaft 108 extends. As best shown in FIG. the end of cross bar 142 extending toward chain 68 is provided with a vertically depending shaft I46 having an enlarged cylindrical roller 148 at its lower free end. The opposite end of cross bar 142 is secured to one end of a tension spring 150 (indicated schematically in the drawings). the other end of spring I50 being secured to framework A, as at support member 57. Roller 148 is generally situated in the line of travel of long links 80 somewhat above the line of travel of printing elements 70 and short links 81.

In its normal position timing arm 138 is spring biased by spring I50 in the counterclockwise directi n. the other end of shaft 146 engaging the structural member 90 which serves as a stop member (see FIG. I and solid line position of FIG. 4). Accordingly, shaft I08 and cage 98 are biased counterclockwise to the position shown in FIG. 9. As there shown tapered slot 132 in cage 98 is offset from straight slot I26 in the counterclockwise direction, there being no communication therebetween.

In operation a plurality of bottles are fed to the ma chine in the manner hereinbefore described and the bottles are carried past the silk screen frame 42 at the decorating station in properly spaced relationship, each bottle being rolled along the frame within holders 22. At the same time continuous conveyor chain 68 moves around sprocket wheels 64 and 66 at a peripheral speed equal to the speed at which bottles H are moved along the silk screen frame 42, the printing elements 70 carried thereby being spaced and timed so that a printing element and a container meet, one on each side of silk screen 40, precisely at the righthand edge of the silk screen design.

Each time a printing element moves past the fluid dispensing means 88 the long link 80 upon which it is mounted engages roller 148 on timing arm 138 and is effective as it moves therepast to rotate the timing arm 138 in a clockwise direction (see FIG. 5). As best shown by the broken line position of FIG. 4, this occurs just after the printing element has moved past the fluid dispensing container 89. The clockwise rotation of timing arm 138 is effective to rotate shaft 108 and cage 98 within outer cylinder 96 to the relative position shown in FIG. 8 in which

slots

126 and 132 are in full registration. As the long link 80 moves beyond roller 148 the timing arm is returned in a counterclockwise direction to its normal position by the action of spring 150. (See solid line position of FIG. 4)v As a result shaft 108 and cage 98 are also rotated counterclockwise back to the closed position shown in FIG. 9, in which

slots

126 and 132 are again out of registration. During the interval when link 80 is engaged with roller 148 a measured amount of printing fluid is dispensed from container 89 through slots I26 and 132. said fluid being adapted to be picked up by the wiper 73 on the next printing member 70. However. because of the decrease in fluid pres sure within container 89 from the top to the bottom thereof in accordance with known hydraulic principles and the time interval between the emission of the printing fluid and the pickup action of the wiper on the next printing element, a uniform emission of fluid through straight slot I26 will result in an uneven distribution of fluid picked up by wiper 73 as it passes container 89. Accordingly, the amount of incline of side wall 136 of the tapered slot 126 is chosen to compensate precisely for this phenomenon. Thus as cage 98 is rotated counterclockwise the side wall I36 at the upper end of slot 132 first comes into registration with the straight slot 126. Accordingly, printing fluid is dispensed from the container at the upper end of the slots for a longer period of time than from the lower portions thereof. This longer period of emission is adapted to overcompensate for the increased rate of fluid flow at the lower end of the slot which would otherwise result from the increased fluid pressure in that region. Thus a greater amount of fluid is dispensed at the top of the slot. Once the fluid is dispensed and the slots move out of registration there is a tendency for the fluid to drip downwardly along the container wall prior to being picked up by the wiper 73 of the next printing element 70, the amount of drip depending primarily on the viscosity of the fluid Thus, the degree of incline of side wall 136 of slot 132 is chosen, in accordance with the viscosity of the printing fluid used and the length of the slot. to result in a substantially uniform deposition of fluid on the operative surface ofwipers 73 which of course are ofa length corresponding to the length of slot 126. The length of slot 126 and wipers 73 are chosen to coincide with the height of the design on silk screen 40 to be printed on bottles H. In practice the tapered slot 132 may be made long enough to be used with the largest design contemplated and a plurality of outer cylinders 96 having slots I26 of a variety of sizes may be provided so that it is only necessary to replace the outer cylinder for a change in decoration size. Alternatively. outer cylinder 96 may be provided with a series of vertical slots 126 of different sizes spaced around its pe riphery, base arm 140 and shaft I08 being provided with a corresponding number of securing means to se cure timing arm 138 on the shaft 108 in the appropriate angular position for use with the desired slot.

After the wiper picks up the printing fluid from the outer surface of cylinder 89 it is moved over porous pad I37 which is effective to remove excess fluid therefrom and disperse the fluid evenly thereover. The printing element is subsequently moved around sprocket wheel 66 and into firm engagement with silk screen 40. The printing fluid is evenly dispersed through the silk screen design onto the outer surface of a bottle H as it rolls therealong on the other side of the design. The op erative length of the silk screen 40 is so correlated to the circumference of the bottle H that decoration is applied to all or any desired portion of the outer surface of the bottle.

The thus decorated bottle H is carried onto outlet conveyor 38 and released from its holder 22 which is carried around sprocket wheel 12 by belt 10.

If a multi-colored decoration is desired, a plurality of decorating stations F may be provided along the main conveyor assembly E, said stations being properly spaced so as to provide precise registration of the differently colored decorations sequentially applied to the outer surface of bottles H.

The driving mechanism C may take a wide variety of forms. As here disclosed in FIG. 2 the motor B drives a belt I60 which in turn, through a gear reducer 162.

drives a belt or sprocket chain 164 which rotates wheel 166 on shaft 168. The righthand end of the drive shaft I68, through gearing 170, shaft 172 and gearing I74 rotates, the helical screw 4. The lefthand end of the shaft 168 through the gearing 176 drives shaft [78 which in turn through gearing 180 rotates shaft 60 and sprocket wheel 64 in order to move the link chain 68 which carries the printing elements 70. The lefthand end of shaft 168, through gearing 182 also rotates shaft 16 and sprocket wheel 12, that sprocket wheel in turn moving the chain and the bottle holders 22. Thus, synchronism of various parts of the machine is positively assured.

it will be apparent from the foregoing that with the machine of the present invention a decoration of virtually any desired type may be applied continuously to articles such as bottles, cans or the like in a simple and effective manner. A uniform and continuous operation is ensured by the provision of a continuous printing fluid dispensing means in which a measured amount of printing fluid is dispensed evenly on the wiper of a printing element in timed sequence with its movement past the decorating station. The printing fluid supply container is continuously maintained filled under a relatively constant pressure whereby the machine may opcrate continuously for substantial periods without the necessity of replenishing the printing fluid supply. The apparatus is simple, all of the operating parts are readily accessible, proper synchronization of the various parts is achieved in an effective manner, and the machine may be readily adapted to operate on many different kinds of objects and on many different sizes of objects and to produce decorations of virtually any desired character.

While only a single preferred embodiment of the present invention is herein specifically described, it will be appreciated that many variations may be made therein, all within the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a decorating machine for printing a decoration on the surface of an object at a decorating station, having means for moving said objects past said decorating station in a given direction with their decorationrecciving surfaces facing said decorating station, the improvement comprising a printing assembly at said decorating station comprising a plurality of print applying means for applying printing fluid to said decorationreceiving surfaces of said objects, a supply means adapted when actuated to supply printing fluid directly to said applying means, means to move said print applying means sequentially past said supply means and said decorating station in synchronism with the movement of said objects past said decorating station, each of said print applying means in sequence picking up printing fluid directly from said supply means and applying said printing fluid to the decoration-receiving surfaces of said object at said decorating station, and means to actuate said supply means each time one of said print applying means moves therepast, to dispense a separate measured amount of printing fluid to each of said print applying means on each said actuation.

2. The decorating machine of claim 1, wherein said object moving means includes means for holding objects with their decorating surfaces facing said decorating station and for permitting said objects to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to said surface and substantially perpendicular to said given direction. and means at said decorating station to rotate said objects relative to said holding means as said printing fluid is applied by said applying means.

3. In a decorating machine for printing a decoration on the surface of an object at a decorating station, having means for moving said objects past said decorating station in a given direction with their decorationreceiving surfaces facing said decorating station, the improvement comprising a printing assembly at said decorating station comprising a plurality of print applying means for applying printing fluid to said decorationreceiving surfaces of said objects, a supply means adapted when actuated to supply printing fluid directly to said applying means, means to move said print applying means sequentially past said supply means and said decorating station in synchronism with the movement of said objects past said decorating station, each of said print applying means in sequence picking up printing fluid directly from said supply means and applying said printing fluid to the decoration-receiving surfaces of said object at said decorating station, and means to actuate said supply means each time one of said print applying means moves therepast, thereby to dispense a separate measured amount of printing fluid to each of said print applying means, said supply means comprising container means having an aperture, closure means effective in a first position relative to said container means to closs off said aperture to prevent the flow of printing fluid therethrough, and means operatively connected to said applying means moving means to move said closure means to a second position, relative to said container, in which said aperture is open to permit the flow of fluid therethrough.

4. The decorating machine of claim 3, wherein said closure means comprises shutter means mounted outwardly of said container means and movable relative thereto.

5. The decorating machine of claim 4, wherein said container is cylindrical and wherein said aperture means comprises an axially extending slot therein, said shutter means being cylindrical and being mounted concentrically of said container and also having an axially extending slot therein, said container being rotatable within said shutter cylinder to bring said container slot into and out of registration with said shutter slot.

6. The decorating machine of claim 5 further comprising a rotatably mounted shaft, said container being fixed on said shaft for rotation therewith, linkage means operatively connected to said shaft for rotating same upon actuation thereof, means to bias said linkage means to a first position wherein said container slot is out of registration with said shutter slot and means on said applying means moving means to actuate said linkage means thereby to rotate said shaft to bring said container slot into registration with said shutter slot.

7. The decorating machine of claim 6, wherein said container means is mounted with its axis extending vertically and wherein said axially extending slot in said container means is tapered from top to bottom thereby to account for fluid pressure differentials within said container.

8. The decorating machine of claim 7, wherein said tapered slot in said container means has a width at its reduced bottom end substantially equal to the width of said shutter slot.

9. The decorating machine of claim 8 wherein said tapered slot has a first side wall substantially vertical and a second side wall inclined upwardly away from said first side wall.

10. in a decorating machine for printing a decoration on the surface of an object at a decorating station. hav ing means for moving said objects past said decorating station in a given direction with their decorationreceiving surfaces facing said decorating station. the improvement comprising a printing assembly at said decorating station comprising a plurality of print apply ing means for applying printing fluid to said decoration receiving surfaces of said objects, a supply means adapted when actuated to supply printing fluid directly to said applying means means to move said print applying means sequentially past said supply means and said decorating station in synchronism with the movement of said objects past said decorating station, each of said print applying means in sequence picking up printing fluid directly from said supply means and applying said printing fluid to the decoration-receiving surfaces of said object at said decorataing station and means to ac tuate said supply means each time one of said print applying means moves therepast, thereby to dispense a separate measured amount of printing fluid to each of said print applying means, wherein said object moving means includes means for holding objects with their decorating surfaces facing said decorating station and for permitting said objects to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to said surface and substantially perpendicular to said given direction. and means at said decorating station to rotate said objects relative to said holding means as said printing fluid is applied by said applying means wherein said supply means comprises container means having an aperture, closure means effective in a first position relative to said container means to close off said aperture to prevent the flow of printing fluid therethrough, and means operatively con nected to said applying means moving means to move said closure means to a second position relative to said (all container in which said aperture is open to permit the flow of fluid therethrough.

ll. The decorating machine of claim It), wherein said closure means comprises shutter means mounted outwardly of said container means and movable rela tive thereto.

l2. The decorating machine of claim ll, wherein said container is cylindrical and wherein said aperture means comprises an axially extending slot therein. said shutter means being cylindrical and being mounted concentrically of said container and also having an axially extending slot therein said container being rotatable within said shutter cylinder to bring said container slot into and out of registration with said shutter slot.

13. The decorating machine of claim 12 further comprising a rotatably mounted shaft, said container being fixed on said shaft for rotation therewith linkage means operatively connected to said shaft for rotating same upon actuation thereof, means to bias said link age mechanism to a first position wherein said container slot is out of registration with said shutter slot and means on said applying means moving means to ac tuate said linkage mechanism thereby to rotate said shaft to bring said container slot into registration with said shutter slot.

14. The decorating machine of claim [3, wherein said container means is mounted with its axis extending vertically and wherein said axially extending slot in said container means is tapered from top to bottom thereby to account for fluid pressure differentials within said container.

15. The decorating machine of claim [4, wherein said tapered slot in said container means has a width at its reduced bottom end substantially equal to the width of said shutter slot.

[6. The decorating machine of claim 15, wherein said tapered slot has a first side wall substantially vertical and a second side wall inclined upwardly away from said first side wall.

Claims

1. In a decorating machine for printing a decoration on the surface of an object at a decorating station, having means for moving said objects past said decorating station in a given direction with their decoration-receiving surfaces facing said decorating station, the improvement comprising a printing assembly at said Decorating station comprising a plurality of print applying means for applying printing fluid to said decoration-receiving surfaces of said objects, a supply means adapted when actuated to supply printing fluid directly to said applying means, means to move said print applying means sequentially past said supply means and said decorating station in synchronism with the movement of said objects past said decorating station, each of said print applying means in sequence picking up printing fluid directly from said supply means and applying said printing fluid to the decoration-receiving surfaces of said object at said decorating station, and means to actuate said supply means each time one of said print applying means moves therepast, to dispense a separate measured amount of printing fluid to each of said print applying means on each said actuation.

2. The decorating machine of claim 1, wherein said object moving means includes means for holding objects with their decorating surfaces facing said decorating station and for permitting said objects to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to said surface and substantially perpendicular to said given direction, and means at said decorating station to rotate said objects relative to said holding means as said printing fluid is applied by said applying means.

3. In a decorating machine for printing a decoration on the surface of an object at a decorating station, having means for moving said objects past said decorating station in a given direction with their decoration-receiving surfaces facing said decorating station, the improvement comprising a printing assembly at said decorating station comprising a plurality of print applying means for applying printing fluid to said decoration-receiving surfaces of said objects, a supply means adapted when actuated to supply printing fluid directly to said applying means, means to move said print applying means sequentially past said supply means and said decorating station in synchronism with the movement of said objects past said decorating station, each of said print applying means in sequence picking up printing fluid directly from said supply means and applying said printing fluid to the decoration-receiving surfaces of said object at said decorating station, and means to actuate said supply means each time one of said print applying means moves therepast, thereby to dispense a separate measured amount of printing fluid to each of said print applying means, said supply means comprising container means having an aperture, closure means effective in a first position relative to said container means to closs off said aperture to prevent the flow of printing fluid therethrough, and means operatively connected to said applying means moving means to move said closure means to a second position, relative to said container, in which said aperture is open to permit the flow of fluid therethrough.

10. In a decorating machine for printing a decoration on the surface of an object at a decorating station, having means for moving said objects past said decorating station in a given direction with their decoration-receiving surfaces facing said decorating station, the improvement comprising a printing assembly at said decorating station comprising a plurality of print applying means for applying printing fluid to said decoration-receiving surfaces of said objects, a supply means adapted when actuated to supply printing fluid directly to said applying means, means to move said print applying means sequentially past said supply means and said decorating station in synchronism with the movement of said objects past said decorating station, each of said print applying means in sequence picking up printing fluid directly from said supply means and applying said printing fluid to the decoration-receiving surfaces of said object at said decorataing station, and means to actuate said supply means each time one of said print applying means moves therepast, thereby to dispense a separate measured amount of printing fluid to each of said print applying means, wherein said object moving means includes means for holding objects with their decorating surfaces facing said decorating station and for permitting said objects to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to said surface and substantially perpendicular to said given direction, and means at said decorating station to rotate said objects relative to said holding means as said printing fluid is applied by said applying means, wherein said supply means comprises container means having an aperture, closure means effective in a first position relative to said container means to close off said aperture to prevent the flow of printing fluid therethrough, and means operatively connected to said applying means moving means to move said closure means to a second position relative to said container in which said aperture is open to permit the flow of fluid therethrough.

11. The decorating machine of claim 10, wherein said closure means comprises shutter means mounted outwardly of said container means and movable relative thereto.

12. The decorating machine of claim 11, wherein said container is cylindrical and wherein said aperture means comprises an axially extending slot therein, said shutter means being cylindrical and being mounted concentrically of said container and also having an axially extending slot therein, said container being rotatable within said shutter cylinder to bring said container slot into and out of registration with said shutter slot.

13. The decorating machine of claim 12 further comprising a rotatably mounted shaft, said container being fixed on said shaft for rotation therewith, linkage means operatively connected to said shaft for rotating same upon actuation thereof, means to bias said linkage mechanism to a first position wherein said container slot is out of registration with said shutter slot and means on said applying means moving means to actuate said linkage mechanism thereby to rotate said shaft to bring said container slot into registration with said shutter slot.

14. The decorating machine of claim 13, wherein said container means is mounted with its axis extending vertically and whereIn said axially extending slot in said container means is tapered from top to bottom thereby to account for fluid pressure differentials within said container.

15. The decorating machine of claim 14, wherein said tapered slot in said container means has a width at its reduced bottom end substantially equal to the width of said shutter slot.

16. The decorating machine of claim 15, wherein said tapered slot has a first side wall substantially vertical and a second side wall inclined upwardly away from said first side wall.