Apparatus and method for ink refill of a can decorator
AssigneeStolle Machinery Company, LLC
InventorsIan Kenneth Scholey, Bryon Lee Kajfosz, Fabricio Scabello Gomes, Stephen Dane Christensen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ink refill cartridge of a decorator machine for a can production line has a body with an ink reservoir. The ink reservoir is connected to a nozzle. The ink refill cartridge has an actuator connected to the ink reservoir. The actuator moves the fluid from the ink reservoir out through the nozzle when operated in an output direction.
Claims37
An ink refill cartridge for a decorator machine for a can production line, the ink refill cartridge comprising:
- a body having an ink reservoir with a nozzle disposed on an end thereof, the nozzle being in fluid communication with the ink reservoir;
- and
- an actuator disposed in the ink reservoir, the actuator being movable in an output direction, the actuator being configured to move the fluid from the ink reservoir out through the nozzle when operated in the output direction.
An apparatus for refilling a plurality of ink fountains on a can decorator, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of ink refill cartridges, each ink refill cartridge comprising a body having an ink reservoir and a coupling assembly configured to attach the ink refill cartridge to a robotic arm, the ink reservoir having a nozzle disposed on an end thereof, the nozzle being in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, an actuator disposed in the ink reservoir being configured to move the fluid from the ink reservoir out through the nozzle when operated in an output direction;
- and
- a robotic arm comprising a proximal end connected to a base and a distal end configured to hold an ink refill cartridge of the plurality of refill cartridges.
A method of transferring ink to an ink fountain of a decorator machine for a can production line, the method comprising:
- identifying a target ink fountain to be filled;
- identifying the ink refill cartridge corresponding to the target ink fountain;
- attaching a distal end of a robotic arm to a coupling assembly of the ink refill cartridge;
- moving the nozzle of the ink refill cartridge into the target ink fountain;
- and
- actuating the actuator of the ink refill cartridge in an output direction to release ink into the ink fountain.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.