Machine to transfer ink from a web onto a container

Abstract

A system for printing indicia onto a surface of a container includes an elongate web having indicia thereon; a web drum for moving the elongate web; a continuous container transfer station having a container holder for releasably securing a container. The continuous container transfer station configured for moving the container from an infeed container station to a web-container contact location. The container holder includes a motor system for moving the container into contact with the web and for moving the container away from contract with the web and includes at least one additional motor for rotating the container. Upon contact of the container to the web, the indicia is transferred from the web to the container. The at least one additional motor rotates the container whereby a tangential velocity of the container is substantially equal to a surface velocity of the web at a point of the web-container contact location.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.