Modular decorating machine for conical products
AssigneeThe Beckwood Corporation, Inc.
InventorsDavid L. Poeling, Jeffrey E. Debus
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A decorating machine applies artwork to a product having a central axis and a frustoconical surface around its central axis. The decorating machine includes a film with artwork, a moveable deck, and a roller. The moveable deck includes a rotating mount on which the product is rotatably mounted. The product undergoes a pendulum-like movement on the deck while the product rotates relative to the moveable deck. The roller has a frustoconical shape that generally corresponds to the frustoconical surface of the product. The film is located between the roller and the product. The roller provides heat and pressure to the film such that the artwork attaches to the frustoconical surface of the product.
Claims9
A decorating machine for applying artwork to a product having a central axis and a frustoconical surface around the central axis, comprising:
- a film that includes the artwork, the film extending in a first direction;
- a deck having a rotating mount on which the product is mounted, the deck being pivotable to adjust the pitch angle of the deck;
- a track structure including a track extending in the first direction, the deck moving along the track in the first direction, the track structure further being movable in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction;
- a roller for forcing the artwork against the frustoconical surface of the product, the roller providing heat and pressure to the film such that the artwork becomes attached to the frustoconical surface of the product;
- wherein the combination of (i) the pivotable movement of the deck, (ii) the movement of the track structure in the second direction, and (iii) the movement of the deck along the track in the first direction, causes the product to undergo a pendulum-like movement while the product is rotating around the central axis due to the rotation of the rotating mount.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.