Device for Printing Cans, A Process for Printing Cans, A Printed Can and A Transfer Blanket

A can imprinting apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of ink cartridges;
• a plurality of printing plates rotationally mounted on the apparatus, each printing plate in communication with a corresponding ink cartridge of the plurality of ink cartridges and having an art in high relief, a first printing plate in the plurality of printing plates having a first art comprising a high relief portion of the first printing plate comprising a portion of an upper surface of the first printing plate wherein the high relief portion of the first printing plate receives an ink from one of the plurality of ink cartridges;
• a plurality of transfer blankets wherein a first transfer blanket has a plurality of low relief features and a plurality of high relief features on an upper surface thereof wherein the plurality of low relief cooperate with the plurality of high relief features to form a second art comprising a first character comprising a shading pattern to simulate depth and contour and a second transfer blanket has a plurality of low relief features and a plurality of high relief features on an upper surface thereof wherein the plurality of low relief features cooperate with the plurality of high relief features to form a third art comprising a second character comprising a shading pattern to simulate depth and contour which is unique relative to the first character on the first transfer blanket and wherein the high relief features on the first and second transfer blankets are engageable with the first printing plate and receive a supply of ink therefrom;
• and
• a can indexer rotationally mounted to the apparatus having a plurality of stations for receiving cans therein, the can indexer rotationally delivering a plurality of cans sequentially and continuously to a printing site wherein a first can engages the first blanket and receives ink therefrom at the printing site and wherein the can indexer transfers the first can from the printing site while simultaneously transferring a second can to the printing site wherein the second can engages the second blanket and receives ink therefrom.

A method of sequentially and continuously transferring a detailed art to a plurality of beverage cans on a dry rotary offset beverage can printing apparatus wherein a first beverage can in the plurality of beverage cans receives a first detailed art and a second beverage can processed by the apparatus immediately subsequent to the first beverage can receives a second detailed art which is unique relative to the first detailed art, the method comprising the steps of:

• creating low relief features on a first non-metallic transfer blanket with a laser having a laser beam spot less than 0.002 inches (0.05 mm) in diameter to remove portions of an upper surface of the first non-metallic transfer blanket in a first pattern wherein the first transfer blanket comprises high relief features comprising non-removed portions of the upper surface;
• creating low relief features on a second non-metallic transfer blanket with the laser to remove portions of an upper surface of the second non-metallic transfer blanket in a second pattern first pattern different from the first pattern;
• rotationally mounting the first and second non-metallic transfer blankets on a dry rotary offset printing apparatus;
• providing a plurality of printing plates rotationally mounted on the dry rotary offset printing apparatus, each printing plate having a finished art in high relief, a first printing plate in the plurality of printing plates having a first finished art comprising a high relief portion of the first printing plate comprising a portion of the upper surface of the first printing plate and a second printing plate in the plurality of printing plates having a second finished art in high relief different from the first finished art of the first printing plate;
• applying a first quantity of ink to the high relief portion of the first printing plate;
• applying a second quantity of ink to the high relief portion of the second printing plate;
• engaging the first printing plate with the first non-metallic transfer blanket;
• rotating the first printing plate against the upper surface of the first non-metallic transfer blanket;
• transferring ink from the high relief portions of the first printing plate to the high relief features of the first non-metallic transfer blanket;
• engaging the second printing plate with the first non-metallic transfer blanket;
• rotating the second printing plate against the upper surface of the first non-metallic transfer blanket;
• transferring ink from the high relief portions of the second printing plate to the high relief features of the first non-metallic transfer blanket;
• engaging a first beverage can with the first non-metallic transfer blanket;
• transferring ink from the high relief portions of the first non-metallic transfer blanket to form a first art to the first beverage container;
• applying a third quantity of ink to the high relief portion of the first printing plate;
• applying a fourth quantity of ink to the high relief portion of the second printing plate;
• engaging the first printing plate with the second non-metallic transfer blanket;
• rotating the first printing plate against the upper surface of the second non-metallic transfer blanket;
• transferring ink from the high relief portions of the first printing plate to the high relief features of the second non-metallic transfer blanket;
• engaging the second printing plate with the second non-metallic transfer blanket;
• rotating the second printing plate against the upper surface of the second non-metallic transfer blanket;
• transferring ink from the high relief portions of the second printing plate to the high relief features of the second non-metallic transfer blanket;
• and
• engaging a second beverage can with the second non-metallic transfer blanket;
• and
• transferring ink from the high relief portions of the second non-metallic transfer blanket to form a second art to the second beverage can wherein the second art is unique relative to the first art.