Apparatus and method for decorating articles of non-circular cross-section

Apparatus for decorating the surface of an article having a non-circular cross-sectional configuration, the apparatus including an applicator having a surface for applying a decorating medium to the article surface at successive corresponding portions of the article surface and the applicator surface, with the applicator surface and the article surface maintained in proper relative position and appropriate relative velocity for the application of the decorating medium, throughout a decorating cycle of operation, the apparatus comprising:

• positioning means for positioning the article and the applicator at successive positions relative to one another during the decorating cycle such that successive portions of the article surface will be placed in the proper relative position and at the appropriate relative velocity with corresponding successive portions of the applicator surface throughout the decorating cycle, the positioning means including drive means for placing the successive portions of the article surface and the successive portions of the applicator surface at the successive positions during the decorating cycle;
• article-configuration information means for providing information pertaining to the successive relative positions of the article and the applicator at which the successive portions of the article surface are placed in the proper position relative to the corresponding successive portions of the applicator surface, based upon the cross-sectional configuration of the article, and for identifying the condition of the positioning means when the article and the applicator are at each of said successive relative positions so as to provide article-configuration information pertaining to the condition of the positioning means as determined by the cross-sectional configuration of the article;
• information processing means for receiving the articleconfiguration information from the article-configuration information means and for providing operating information for actuation of the positioning means;
• and
• actuating means for actuating the positioning means in accordance with the operating information provided by the information processing means to actuate the drive means such that the proper relative position and the appropriate relative velocity are maintained between the article surface and the applicator surface, throughout the decorating cycle;
• the drive means including
• rotating means for rotating the article about a longitudinal first axis, relative to a corresponding home position;
• and
• translating means for translating the first axis laterally in directions perpendicular to the first axis, relative to a further corresponding home position;
• such that
• the condition of the positioning means when the article is at each of the successive positions is determined at least partly by the angular position of the article about the first axis and the location of the first axis, relative to the corresponding home positions;
• and
• the translating means including
• first moving means for moving the first axis along directions parallel to a second axis;
• and
• second moving means for moving the first axis along directions parallel to a third axis;
• the first, second and third axes being mutually perpendicular such that the condition of the positioning means when the article is at each of the successive positions is determined at least partly by the location of the first axis relative to the second and third axes.

The method of decorating the surface of an article having a non-circular cross-sectional configuration and utilizing an apparatus which includes an applicator having a surface for applying a decorating medium to the article surface at successive corresponding portions of the article surface and the applicator surface, with the applicator surface and the article surface maintained in proper relative position and appropriate relative velocity for the application of the decorating medium, throughout a decorating cycle of operation, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning the article and the applicator at successive positions relative to one another such that successive portions of the article surface will be placed in the proper relative position with corresponding successive portions of the applicator surface for each corresponding portion of the decorating cycle;
• detecting the successive relative positions of the article and the applicator at which the successive portions of the article surface are placed in the proper position relative to the corresponding successive portions of the applicator surface, based upon the cross-sectional configuration of the article, to provide article-configuration information determined by the cross-sectional configuration of the article;
• and
• placing the successive portions of the article surface and the successive portions of the applicator surface at the successive positions in accordance with the article-configuration information such that the proper relative position and the appropriate relative velocity are maintained between the article surface and the applicator surface throughout the decorating cycle;
• the step of positioning the article and the applicator at successive positions including
• rotating the article about a longitudinal first axis relative to a corresponding home position;
• and
• translating the first axis laterally in directions perpendicular to the first axis relative to a further home position;
• such that
• each said successive position of the article is defined at least partly by the angular position of the article about the first axis, and the location of the first axis, relative to the corresponding home positions;
• and
• the first axis is translated along directions parallel to a second axis;
• and
• the first axis is translated along further directions parallel to a third axis;
• the first, second and third axes being mutually perpendicular such that each successive position of the article is defined at least partly by the location of the first axis relative to the second and third axes.

In the method of decorating the surface of an article having a non-circular cross-sectional configuration and utilizing an apparatus which includes an applicator having a surface for applying a decorating medium to the article surface at successive corresponding portions of the article surface and the applicator surface, with the applicator surface and the article surface maintained in proper relative position and appropriate relative velocity for the application of the decorating medium, throughout a decorating cycle of operation, the steps of:

• positioning the article and the applicator at successive positions relative to one another such that successive portions of the article surface will be placed in the proper relative position with corresponding successive portions of the applicator surface for each corresponding portion of the decorating cycle;
• detecting the successive relative positions of the article and the applicator at which the successive portions of the article surface are placed in the proper position relative to the corresponding successive portions of the applicator surface, based upon the cross-sectional configuration of the article, to provide article-configuration information determined by the cross-sectional configuration of the article;
• and
• storing the article-configuration information for selective subsequent use in advancing the successive portions of the article surface and the successive portions of the applicator surface throughout the decorating cycle;
• rotating the article about a longitudinal first axis relative to a corresponding home position;
• and
• translating the first axis laterally in directions perpendicular to the first axis relative to a further home position;
• such that
• each said successive position of the article is defined at least partly by the angular position of the article about the first axis, and the location of the first axis, relative to the corresponding home positions;
• and
• the first axis is translated along directions parallel to a second axis;
• the first axis is translated along further directions parallel to a third axis;
• the first, second and third axes being mutually perpendicular such that each successive position of the article is defined at least partly by the location of the first axis relative to the second and third axes.