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US 12,545,033 B2Granted
Multi-pole printing system and method
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsTimothy Joseph Boucher, Ryan Patrick Boucher, Jack Quillin, Brian Schwartz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A printing system is provided that may include plural stations that load objects to be printed upon into the printing system, print indicia on the objects, cure the indicia printed on the objects, inspect the indicia printed on the objects, re-orient the objects, and/or unload the objects from the printing system. The printing system also may include a conveyance assembly extending between the stations. The conveyance assembly may independently and/or separately move the objects between or among the stations.
Claims20
A printing system configured to print onto objects, the printing system comprising:
- plural stations including at least:
- a first printing station configured to receive a first object of the objects, rotate the first object around a first axis, and print first indicia onto the first object in multiple different first locations around the first object while rotating the first object at the first printing station;
- and
- a second printing station configured to receive the first object after the first object leaves the first printing station, rotate the first object around a second axis that differs from the first axis, and print the first indicia or different, second indicia onto the first object in the first locations or multiple different second locations around the first object while rotating the first object at the second printing station;
- and
- a conveyance assembly extending between the first printing station and the second printing station, the conveyance assembly configured to one or more of independently or separately move the objects between or among the first printing station and the second printing station.
3 more elements
A method for pad printing on objects, the method comprising:
- receiving a first object of the objects at a first printing station of multiple stations in a pad printing system;
- rotating the first object around a first axis at the first printing station;
- printing first indicia onto the first object at the first printing station in multiple different first locations around the first object while rotating the first object at the first printing station;
- independently or separately moving the objects including the first object between or among the stations including between or among the first printing station and a second printing station of the stations using a conveyance assembly extending between the stations;
- rotating the first object around a second axis that differs from the first axis at the second printing station;
- and
- printing the first indicia or different, second indicia on the first object in the first locations or multiple different second locations around the first object while rotating the first object at the second printing station.
4 more elements
A printing system comprising:
- a first printing station configured to receive objects, rotate each of the objects around a first axis, and print first color indicia on different first locations around each of the objects during rotation of each of the objects around the first axis;
- a second printing station configured to receive the objects after printing the first color indicia on the objects at the first printing station, the second printing station configured to rotate each of the objects around a second axis that is different from the first axis, and print second color indicia that is different from the first color indicia on different second locations around each of the objects during rotation of each of the objects around the second axis, the second locations on each of the objects being different from the first locations on each of the objects;
- and
- a conveyance assembly extending between the first printing station and the second printing station, the conveyance assembly including shuttles configured to one or more of independently or separately move the objects between or among the first printing station and the second printing station such that the objects are moved different distances, different speeds, or both different distances and different speeds between or among the first printing station and the second printing station at a same time.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.