Process and apparatus for printing on flat individual articles

Apparatus for printing a print image on individual articles which each have an at least substantially flat surface to be printed upon and whose extent perpendicularly to said substantially flat surface is generally relatively small, using at least an offset printing process, comprising:

• at least one holding means for carrying an article;
• an offset printing station having at least one offset printing arrangement including at least one plate cylinder and a rotatable offset printing cylinder having a periphery with at least one transfer means providing at least one transfer surface for the print image;
• means for arranging a said article carried by the holding means on the one hand and said offset printing cylinder on the other hand adjustably relative to each other so that said at least one transfer surface for transfer of the print image on to the article is movable into a favorable position for performing a printing operation relative to said surface of the article in the offset printing station;
• and
• means for mounting the printing cylinder reciprocally in substantially parallel relationship with said surface for applying the print image to the article.

A process for printing on individual articles which each have a substantially flat surface to be printed upon and whose extent perpendicularly to said substantially flat surface is generally relatively small, using an offset printing process effected by an offset printing arrangement including an offset printing cylinder having a periphery with at least one transfer means providing a transfer surface for transferring a print image on to a said article, comprising the steps of:

• supporting each article by a holding device;
• ascertaining whether an article is supported by the holding device with a sensor device;
• transferring the print image onto the surface of said article by performing an offset printing operation at an offset printing station in response to the sensor device detecting the presence of a said article supported by the holding device;
• and
• moving a replacement article into a position relative to the printing cylinder in response to the sensor device detecting the absence of a said article supported by the holding device and transferring the print image intended for the absent article from said transfer means on to said replacement article.

An apparatus for printing a print image on individual articles which each have a substantially flat surface to be printed upon and whose extent perpendicularly to said substantially flat surface is generally relatively small, using an offset printing process, comprising:

• at least one holding device for transporting one of said individual articles along a transportation path;
• an offset printing station having an offset printing arrangement including at least one plate cylinder and a rotatable offset printing cylinder having a periphery with at least one transfer means providing at least one transfer surface for the print image, the holding device transporting one of said articles to the printing station;
• a sensor device for detecting the absence of an article carried by the holding device upstream from the printing station;
• means for arranging said article carried by the holding device and said offset printing cylinder adjustably relative to each other so that said at least one transfer surface for transfer of the print image on to the article is movable into a position for performing a printing operation;
• and
• means for moving a replacement article into a position relative to the printing cylinder in response to the sensor device detecting the absence of a said article supported by the holding device, wherein the print image intended for the absent article is transferred from said transfer means on to said replacement article.