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 comprising:
- plural stations configured to two or more of 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, or unload the objects from the printing system;
- and
- a conveyance assembly extending between the stations, the conveyance assembly configured to one or more of independently or separately move the objects between or among the stations.
A method comprising:
- two or more of:
- loading objects to be printed upon into a pad printing system having multiple stations;
- printing indicia on the objects at a first station of the stations;
- curing the indicia printed on the objects at a second station of the stations;
- inspecting the indicia printed on the objects at a third station of the stations;
- re-orienting the objects at a fourth station of the stations;
- or
- unloading the objects from the pad printing system at the fourth station of the stations;
- and
- independently or separately moving the objects between or among the stations.
A printing system comprising:
- stations configured to two or more of load objects to be printed upon into the printing system, print indicia on the objects during rotation of the objects around different axes, cure the indicia printed on the objects, inspect the indicia printed on the objects, re-orient the objects, or unload the objects from the printing system;
- and
- a conveyance assembly extending between the stations, the conveyance assembly including shuttles configured to one or more of independently or separately move the objects between or among the stations such that the objects are moved different distances, different speeds, or both different distances and different speeds between or among the stations at a same time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.