Apparatus and method utilizing continuous motion offset and direct printing techniques for decorating cylindrical containers

Continuous motion apparatus for decorating cylindrical containers, said apparatus including:

• a continuously rotating mandrel carrier having a plurality of rotatable container carrying mandrels positioned along its periphery;
• a continuously rotating blanket wheel having its periphery adjacent the periphery of the mandrel carrier;
• a plurality of blanket segments having outer arcuate surfaces on said blanket wheel disposed along the periphery thereof, and mounted so that during rotation of said blanket wheel all of said blanket segments remain fixed relative to each other;
• a plurality of printing cylinders adjacent the periphery of the blanket wheel;
• inking means for applying ink to each of said printing cylinders which in turn apply picture segments to each of said blanket segments on said outer arcuate surfaces to form a complete main image on each of said arcuate surfaces for transfer to an outer cylindrical surface of a container mounted on one of said mandrels, which container is in rolling engagement with said blanket segment as it passes through a printing zone;
• an individual direct printing unit associated with an individual one of each of said blanket segments;
• each of said direct printing units including a printing means that prints an auxiliary image directly on said cylindrical surfaces as the containers while still on said mandrels pass through the printing zone;
• additional inking means for applying ink to the printing means of said direct printing units;
• said printing means also including a closed loop flexible belt means having a plurality of printing plate segments disposed in tandem along the length thereof, guide means for directing said flexible belt means along a closed loop path, said guide means including a rotatable drive roll and an anvil disposed behind an individual plate segment to support the individual plate segment in a printing position while the individual plate segment is applying the auxiliary image to the container, and means for operating said drive roll continuously at uniform rotational speed about its own axis during each revolution of said blanket wheel to move said belt means with respect to said anvil by an incremental distance during each revolution of said blanket wheel, said incremental distance being such that a plate segment which is supported by said anvil and has applied an auxiliary image to said outer cylindrical surface of the container continues to move along said closed loop path with respect to said anvil and is replaced in said printing position by the next upstream plate segment;
• means for coordinating rotation of said mandrel carrier with rotation of said blanket wheel in a manner such that while said main image is being applied to the outer cylindrical surface, said outer cylindrical surface and said blanket segment are traveling essentially at the same linear speed;
• and
• means for coordinating movement of said belt means along said closed loop path with rotation of said mandrels about their respective axes in a manner such that while said auxiliary image is being applied to said outer cylindrical surface, the outer cylindrical surface and said plate segment are traveling at different linear speeds.