US 5,829,350 A · Printing apparatus and method for printing the inner surface of a cylindrical object

Abstract

The printing apparatus has a holding cylinder in which communication holes for communicating an external portion and an internal portion are made and a transfer pad which covers the outer surface of the holding cylinder at ordinary times in a detachable manner, expands upon pressure being applied via the above communication holes when the interior of the holding cylinder is pressurized, and contracts and returns to its original state when the pressure is released. Ink is adhered to the outer surface of the expandable/contractable transfer pad. The transfer pad is inserted in the contracted state into a cylindrical hole of an object to be printed. Pressure is applied from the inside of the transfer pad to cause it to expand and cause the outer surface of the transfer pad to press against the inner surface of the cylindrical hole and thereby transfer the ink adhered to the outer surface of the pad to the inner surface of the cylindrical hole.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A printer apparatus comprising:

a transfer pad,
a support member having a plurality of holes inserted into the transfer pad,
wherein the transfer pad is secured to the support member and the member has at least one groove with a fastening band formed over the transfer pad above the groove;
and
a pressure applying means for applying pressure to the transfer pad through the support member for causing the outer surface of the transfer pad to contact the inner surface of the object to be printed.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Printing apparatus and method for printing the inner surface of a cylindrical object

Life of this patent

Printing apparatus and method for printing the inner surface of a cylindrical object

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13