Can decorator machine, ink station assembly therefor, and can decorating method employing same

A can decorator machine for decorating cans, the can decorator machine comprising:

• a blanket wheel including a plurality of image transfer segments and a blanket disposed on the image transfer segments, the blanket being structured to transfer an image to a corresponding one of the cans;
• and
• a plurality of ink station assemblies, each of said ink station assemblies comprising:
• an ink fountain providing a supply of ink,
• a fountain roll receiving said ink from the ink fountain,
• a distributor roll,
• a ductor roll being cooperable with the fountain roll and the distributor roll to transfer said ink from the fountain roll to the distributor roll,
• a number of oscillator rolls each having a longitudinal axis and being structured to oscillate back and forth along said longitudinal axis,
• a number of transfer rolls each cooperating with at least one of the oscillator rolls,
• a printing plate cylinder including a printing plate, the printing plate being cooperable with a corresponding one of the image transfer segments of the blanket, and
• a single form roll cooperating with the printing plate cylinder to apply said ink to the printing plate,
• wherein the total number of rolls within said ink station assembly is less than ten.

A method of decorating cans using a can decorator machine, the can decorator machine comprising a blanket and a plurality of image transfer segments, the method comprising:

• (a) providing an ink station assembly, the ink station assembly comprising:
• a drive assembly,
• an ink fountain for supplying ink,
• a fountain roll for receiving said ink from the ink fountain,
• a distributor roll,
• a ductor roll being cooperable with the fountain roll and the distributor roll to transfer said ink from the fountain roll to the distributor roll,
• a number of oscillator rolls each having a longitudinal axis and being structured to oscillate back and forth along said longitudinal axis,
• a number of transfer rolls each cooperating with at least one of the oscillator rolls,
• a printing plate cylinder including a printing plate, and
• a single form roll cooperating with the printing plate cylinder
• wherein the total number of rolls within said ink station assembly is less than ten,
• (b) operating the drive assembly to move at least one of the fountain roll, the distributor roll, and the oscillator rolls to transfer ink from the ink fountain to the single form roll,
• (c) coating the printing plate of the printing plate cylinder with ink from the single form roll,
• (d) rotating the blanket to bring the printing plate into contact with the blanket at or about a corresponding one of the image transfer segments,
• (e) creating an image on the blanket,
• (f) engaging the blanket with a corresponding one of the cans, and
• (g) transferring the image to the can.