Apparatus for applying and drying ink on containers

Apparatus for applying ultraviolet light reactive ink to articles having upper, lower, and opposite side surfaces susceptible to damage from excessive heat and for drying the ink thereon comprising:

• conveyor means for moving said articles along a path at a predetermined speed;
• first printing means for applying ultraviolet light reactive ink to said opposite side surfaces of said articles moving along said path;
• first drying means including a pair of heat-emitting ultraviolet lamps for emitting ultraviolet light toward said opposite side surfaces of said articles moving along said path to dry said ink thereon;
• second printing means for applying ultraviolet light reactive ink to said upper and lower surfaces of said articles moving along said path;
• second drying means including at least one upper heat-emitting ultraviolet lamp for emitting ultraviolet light toward said upper surfaces of said articles to dry said ink thereof and including at least one lower heat-emitting ultraviolet lamp for emitting ultraviolet light toward said lower surfaces of said articles to dry said ink thereon, said first and second drying means each comprising a housing wherein a lamp is disposed, said housing having an access door thereon and a deflector mounted therein, said deflector being selectively movable between one position wherein it is disposed between a lamp and said path of movement and another position wherein it is removed from between a lamp and said path;
• lamp moving means for moving said lamps between a position near said articles and a position farther away from said articles, said lamps remaining illuminated and effecting drying of ink in both positions;
• and control means responsive to the speed of said articles past said lamps to operate said lamp moving means to maintain said lamps in said near position to effect drying of said ink without effecting heat damage to said articles when said articles are moving at said predetermined rate of speed and to move said lamps toward said position farther away from said articles to effect drying of said ink without effecting heat damage to said articles when said articles are moving at a speed less than said predetermined speed, said control means comprising a first switch for each housing responsive to opening movement of said door to move a lamp from said position near said articles toward said position farther away from said articles as said deflector is moved toward said one position wherein said deflector is disposed between a lamp and said path.

Apparatus for applying ultraviolet light reactive ink to expanded foam cartons having a bottom portion and a cover portion, said cover portion having upper, lower, and sloped opposite side surfaces, said cartons being susceptible to damage from excessive heat, and for drying the ink thereon comprising:

• conveyor means for moving said cartons along a path at a predetermined speed, said cartons being in open condition wherein said upper and lower surfaces face upwardly and downwardly, respectively;
• first printing means located above said conveyor for applying ultraviolet light reactive ink to said sloped opposite side surfaces of said cover portions moving along said path;
• first drying means including a pair of angularly disposed heat-emitting ultraviolet lamps located above said conveyor for emitting ultraviolet light toward said sloped opposite side surfaces of said cover portions moving along said path to dry said ink thereon;
• second printing means including printing units located above and below said conveyor for applying ultraviolet light reactive ink to said upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of said cover portions moving along said path;
• second drying means including at least one upper heat-emitting ultraviolet lamp located above said conveyor for emitting ultraviolet light toward said upper surfaces of said cover portions to dry said ink thereon and including at least one lower heat-emitting ultraviolet lamp located below said conveyor for emitting ultraviolet light toward said lower surfaces of said cover portions to dry said ink thereon, said first and second drying means each comprising a housing wherein a lamp is disposed, said housing having an access door thereon and a deflector mounted therein, said deflector being selectively movable between one position wherein it is disposed between a lamp and said path of movement and another position wherein it is removed from between a lamp and said path;
• lamp moving means for moving all of said lamps vertically between a position near said cartons and a position farther away from said articles, said lamps remaining illuminated and effecting drying of ink in both positions;
• and control means responsive to the speed of said cartons past said lamps to operate said lamp moving means to maintain said lamps in said near position to effect drying of said ink without effecting heat damage to said cartons when said cartons are moving at said predetermined rate of speed and to move said lamps toward said position farther away from said cartons to effect drying of said ink without effecting heat damage to said cartons when said cartons are moving at a speed less than said predetermined speed, said control means comprising a first switch for each housing responsive to opening movement of said door to move a lamp from said position near said cartons toward said position farther away from said cartons as said deflector is moved toward said one position wherein said deflector is disposed between a lamp and said path.