Apparatus and method for printing on containers
AssigneeKHS GmbH
InventorsSascha Koers, Markus Reiniger, Werner Van De Wynckel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A printing machine includes printing stations that each print a different color. The images printed by each printing station are superimposed on each other. Each printing station has a wireless interface for passing data to a successive printing station indicating where on the bottle the printing is to occur.
Claims18
An apparatus for printing on containers, said apparatus having a container transport path on which said containers to be printed upon are moved from a container inflow to a container outflow along a transport direction, wherein said container transport path is formed by a plurality of transport elements, each of which can each be driven so as to rotate about a vertical machine axis, wherein each transport element has a plurality of printing stations on which containers are held, centered and/or moved under control by a holding-and-centering unit, wherein said containers, in order to be printed upon, are passed together with said holding-and-centering unit, from a first transport element to a subsequent second transport element or, on the same transport element, from a first printing station to a second printing station, wherein said printing stations of a first transport element comprise means for defining a printing position, with a first image-portion being printed on said containers at said printing stations of said first transport element, wherein communication means are provided at said printing stations of said transport elements for wireless communication of a value defining said printing position from a printing station of said first transport element to a printing station of said second transport element, wherein said printing station of said second transport element is configured to receive said value defining said printing position, wherein said printing station of said second transport element is configured to print, on said container, on a container wall region and to do so based on said received value defining said printing position.
A method for printing on a container using a printing apparatus that applies of at least two image portions in different colors on said container, said method comprising positioning said container at a holding-and-centering unit, defining a printing position at a printing station of a first transport element, printing an image portion on said container at said printing station of said first transport element, passing said container, which is held at said holding-and-centering unit, from said printing station of said first transport element to a printing station of a second transport element, communicating a printing-position value, which defines a printing position and which is relevant for a following image-portion, from said printing station of said first transport element directly to a printing station of said second transport element by wireless communication means, and printing, upon said container, a further image-portion at said printing station of said second transport element at a printing position defined by or derivable from said communicated printing-position value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.