Method for printing cans from heat transfer paper

A method of continuous transfer of images on outer surfaces of generally cylindrical members by use of a sheet material having a series of spaced heat transferable ink images thereon comprising:

• continuously unwinding a roll of sheet material having a width sufficient to surround an outer surface of one of said generally cylindrical members;
• providing a portion of moving unwound sheet material;
• wrapping said unwound sheet material about each of said generally cylindrical members, in intimate contact with the outer surface of each cylindrical member, with each cylindrical member in a predetermined position relative to a spaced ink image, and thereby providing a first concave portion of moving sheet material upstream of the region of said wrapping in intimate contact;
• feeding the generally cylindrical members into association with the first concave portion of said moving sheet material;
• heating said sheet material while the sheet material is wrapped about each generally cylindrical member to cause the transfer of said images to the outer surfaces of the generally cylindrical members;
• after heating, unwrapping said sheet material to provide a second concave portion of moving sheet material;
• removing said generally cylindrical members from said second concave portion of moving sheet material;
• and
• rewinding said moving sheet material.