# US 2013/0153129 A1 · Method and apparatus for transferring images onto a curved surface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153129 A1 - Document ID: US20130153129A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/330,599 - Filed: 2011-12-19 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-19 - Assignees: FUJIFILM North America Corporation - Inventors: Michael Lane Polk; Gregory Lee Franklin; Armand Wayne DeSollar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153129A1 ## CPC - B44C 1/17: Dry transfer - B29C 66/8167: {Quick change joining tools or surfaces} - B65C 3/14: the container being positioned for labelling with its centre-line vertical - B65C 9/36: Wipers; Pressers - B29C 65/18: using heated tools - B29C 66/80: {General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof} - B65C 9/02: Devices for moving articles, e.g. containers, past labelling station - B65C 9/08: Label feeding - B65C 9/42: Label feed control - Y10T 156/1033: Flexible sheet to cylinder lamina - B44C: PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS (processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general B05D; shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; printing processes to produce transfer pictures B41M3/12; thermographic duplication or marking methods B41M5/00); MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK (imitation of mosaic or tarsia work patterns B44F11/04); PAPERHANGING {(labels G09F; multi-step processes for making paper labels or tags B31D1/02)} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B65C: LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES (nailing or stapling in general B25C, B27F; applying labels for packaging purposes B65B; labels, name-plates G09F ){(series-printing machines B41L; containers for the storage or transport of packages B65D)} - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The application of image transfer paper and a wrap to a curved surface of a container is described. A device for affixing the image transfer paper and wrap includes a base, a support member to support the container, and two wrap applicator arms coupled to the base in a pivoting manner. The support member includes a shoulder and, when the container is placed upon the support member, an edge of the container around an opening of the container rests upon the shoulder and a perimeter of the shoulder extends beyond a perimeter of the edge of the container. The shoulder receives the image transfer paper and aligns the image transfer paper with the edge of the container. Each wrap applicator arm is configured to receive a respective end of the wrap. Rotating the wrap applicator arms about the support member stretches the wrap around the container and image transfer paper. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus to affix an image transfer paper to a curved surface of a container having an opening and edge around the opening, the apparatus comprising: a base; a support member coupled to the base to support the container, wherein the support member includes a shoulder upon which the edge rests when the container is placed upon the support member and, the support member having an elevated portion received by the opening in the container, and wherein a perimeter of the shoulder extends beyond a perimeter of the edge of the container to receive and align the image transfer paper with the edge of the container; and two wrap applicator arms rotatably coupled to the base in a pivoting manner, each wrap applicator arm configured to receive a respective end of a wrap such that, when the wrap applicator arms are rotated about the support member, the wrap applicator arms stretch the wrap around the container and image transfer paper. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an exterior perimeter of the portion of the support member that is received within the opening of the container further comprises movable members to accommodate containers with openings of varied sizes, wherein moving the members changes the size of the exterior. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: two image transfer paper positioning arms rotatably coupled to the base in a pivoting manner, each image transfer paper positioning arm to receive a respective end of the image transfer paper. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the image transfer paper positioning arms are triggered to rotate in response to the wrap applicator arms being rotated about the support member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the rotation of the image transfer paper positioning arms is triggered after the wrap applicator arms have rotated a predetermined amount. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the image transfer paper positioning arms include holding slots to receive respective ends of the image transfer paper that release the image transfer paper as the image transfer paper positioning arms rotate about the support member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each wrap applicator arm includes a holding slot to receive the respective end of the wrap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the ends of the wrap include mating fastening components, and wherein the wrap applicator arm holding slots are arranged to maintain tension on the ends of the wrap while the applicator arms are rotated about the support member and arranged to release the ends of the wrap when the wrap mating fastening components are coupled together. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the wrap applicator arm holding slots include a plurality of locking stops to enable a plurality of vertical positions for the wrap. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container includes a handle and further comprising: a slotted support member to secure the handle of the container when the container is placed upon the support member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the slotted support member is adjustable to accommodate handles of different sizes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a motor coupled to the base to cause the wrap applicator arms to rotate about the support member. ### Claim 13 A method of affixing an image transfer paper to a curved surface of a container using a device including a base, support member coupled to the base, and two wrap applicator arms rotatably coupled to the base in a pivoting manner, the method comprising: supporting the container with the support member, wherein the support member includes a shoulder and, when the container is placed upon the support member such that an opening in the container receives a portion of the support member that is elevated above the shoulder, an edge of the container around the opening rests upon the shoulder, and wherein a perimeter of the shoulder extends beyond a perimeter of the edge container; securing an end of a wrap to each of the wrap applicator arms; supporting the image transfer paper with the support member such that an edge of the image transfer paper rests upon the shoulder to align the image transfer paper with the edge of the container; and rotating the wrap applicator arms about the support member to stretch the wrap around the container and image transfer paper. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein an exterior perimeter of the portion of the support member that is received within the opening of the container further comprises movable members, and wherein placing the container upon the support member causes the movable members to change the size of the exterior perimeter of the portion of the support member that is received within the opening of the container to a size that corresponds to the size of the opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the device further includes two image transfer paper positioning arms coupled to the base in a pivoting manner, and wherein supporting the image transfer paper includes inserting ends of the image transfer paper into receiving portions of the paper positioning arms. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein rotating the wrap applicator arms being rotated about the support member includes causing the image transfer paper positioning arms to rotate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: rotating the image transfer paper positioning arms to a position in which the image transfer paper positioning arms to release the image transfer paper. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein ends of the wrap include mating fastening components, further comprising: rotating the wrap applicator arms to a position that causes the mating fastening components to couple to one another, wherein the wrap applicator arm holding slots are arranged to maintain tension on the ends of the wrap while the applicator arms are rotated about the support member and arranged to release the ends of the wrap when the wrap mating fastening components are coupled together. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the container includes a handle and wherein supporting the container with the support member includes placing the container in an orientation such that a handle is secured by a slotted support member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the rotating the wrap applicator arms includes activating a motor coupled to the base to cause the wrap applicator arms to rotate about the support member.