US 5,339,731 A · Method and apparatus for printing multicolored container body blanks in a single pass

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for printing individual metal body blanks, from which three piece container bodies are formed, in a multi-colored image on an individual body blank basis. Individual body blanks are cut from a sheet and fed in two parallel streams to the rotating impression cylinder of a multi-color off-set litho press. The body blanks are secured to the impression cylinder using mechanical clamps and magnets and are rotated sequentially past a number of inking unit/ultraviolet lamp pairs. As each color ink is applied by an inking unit, it is immediately cured by an adjacent ultraviolet lamp before the body blank is transported to the next inking unit.

Claims49

Dependent claims

A method of forming metal body blanks printed in a plurality of colors and suitable for being formed into container bodies, comprising the steps in the following sequence of:

a) a cutting a sheet of said metal into a plurality of said body blanks;
b) transporting said body blanks to an impression cylinder and sequentially securing each of said body blanks thereon with a magnet so that a plurality of body blanks are simultaneously secured to said impression cylinder;
c) applying a first color ink onto said body blanks by rotating said impression cylinder so as to carry said secured body blanks sequentially past a first inking unit;
d) at least partially curing said first color ink applied by said first inking unit by rotating said impression cylinder so as to carry said secured body blanks sequentially past a first curing device;
e) applying a second color ink onto said body blanks by rotating said impression cylinder so as to carry said secured body blanks sequentially from said first curing device to a second inking unit;
f) at least partially curing said second color ink applied by said inking unit by rotating said impression cylinder so as to carry said secured body blanks sequentially past a second curing device;
and
g) sequentially releasing said body blanks from said impression cylinder and transporting said body blanks therefrom.

5 more elements

A printing press for printing an image onto metal container body blanks prior to forming said body blanks into cylinders, said image formed from a plurality of colors, comprising:

a) a support stand;
b) a plurality of inking units arranged circumferentially around said support stand, each of said inking units having means for applying to said metal body blanks the portion of said image to be printed in a particular color using an ultraviolet curable ink;
c) an ultraviolet lamp for each of said inking units arranged circumferentially around said support stand, each of said lamps disposed adjacent each of said inking units;
d) an impression cylinder rotatably mounted in said support stand and having both mechanical and magnetic means for simultaneously holding a plurality said body blanks onto its circumference, said impression cylinder having means for carrying said body blanks in a circular path sequentially past each of said inking units and said lamps, whereby said portion of said image applied to said body blank in each one of said colors is at least partially cured prior to applying said portion of said image to said body blank in another one of said colors.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for printing multicolored container body blanks in a single pass

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for printing multicolored container body blanks in a single pass

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims49