Direct flame drying apparatus

A system for decorating hollow cylindrical objects comprising, in combination:

• a supply system for continuously supplying hollow cylindrical objects to a discharge region,
• decorating means receiving hollow cylindrical objects from said discharge region and containing hollow cylindrical object moving means for moving said hollow cylindrical objects from said discharge region, a source of thermally settable decorating medium, and means disposed along the path of movement of said hollow cylindrical objects for applying thermally settable decorating medium from said source of thermally settable decorating medium to at least portions of the outer surface of said hollow cylindrical objects,
• a continuously moving conveyor pin chain for conveying hollow cylindrical objects with said decorating medium thereon away from said decorating means;
• said continuously moving conveyor pin chain comprising a generally closed chain disposed in a generally vertical plane, and having spaced pins extending therefrom in a generally horizontal direction;
• each of said pins being adapted to receive a hollow cylindrical object thereon and to suspend and move said hollow cylindrical object in the direction of movement of said pin and said chain,
• a hollow cylindrical object transfer means for transferring cans from said decorating means to said conveyor pin chain after said hollow cylindrical objects have decorating medium applied thereto,
• and a flame drying oven for thermally curing the decorating medium on said hollow cylindrical objects;
• said flame drying oven comprising an elongated chamber having gas fired burner head means disposed therein and operable to produce an open gas flame jet;
• said continuously moving conveyor pin chain being disposed to have a travel region which is parallel to said elongated chamber, with said pins on said chain being disposed within said chamber and moving relative to said burner head means so that said open gas flame jet is applied directly to the decorating medium on the hollow cylindrical objects on said pins for a length of time sufficient to thermally cure said decorating medium;
• said oven being spaced from said decorating means by a length of conveyor chain at least sufficient to permit the decorating medium on said hollow cylindrical objects to flow to an evenly distributed condition free of thickened ridges, the rate of movement of said chain, and the length of said burner head means in the direction of movement of said chain being such that said decorating medium on said hollow cylindrical objects is exposed to said open gas flame jet for a time less than about three seconds, and for a time long enough to thermally cure said decorating medium.