Method and apparatus for in-line printing on a water soluble film

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for printing on a water soluble film for use in-line on a packaging machine. Typically, the packaging machine will form a web from a roll of water soluble film and transport the film web toward a forming, filling and sealing station where the web is formed into the shape of a container, filled with a substance and sealed to form a water soluble container. A printer in accordance with the present invention can be mounted to the packaging machine for printing on the film web while the packaging machine has temporarily halted transportation of the web. The printer includes a printing head with an engraved face which is applied to the film web by a suitable actuating device. Ink is supplied to the engraved face by pressing the printing head against an ink-absorbent pad. The actuating device includes a mechanism for rotating the printing head 180.degree. so that the engraved face of the printing head faces the film web during printing and the ink absorbent pad when the printer is idle. The printer can also include a pressure regulating device for absorbing energy from the motion of the printing head as it makes contact with the film web, thus protecting the film web from damage and assuring that a cleaner image is printed on the film web.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.