Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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P~OCESS DECO~ATOR
This invention relates to apparatus for
applying multi-colored images to frustoconical or
cylindrical containers and is an improvement over this
type of apparatus described in U.S. Patent No. 3,645,201
issued February 29, 1972, to J.M. Jackson for a ~ilulti-
Color Printing J~lachine ~or Cylindrical and Frustoconical
Objects.
The aforesaid U.S. Patent No. 3,645,201
illustrates printing apparatus in which there are a
plurality of print rolls angularly spaced about a main
vertical axisr Each roll is rotatably mounted on a
rotational axis extending radially from the main axis.
Rotatably mounted on the main axis is a turret carrying
a plurality of mandrels which support containers during
printing thereon by the print rolls. The turret is
driven in angular steps and during each dwell period
theTeof the print rolls are in engagement with a container
carried by one of the mandrels. Stepping motion of the
turret is synchronized with rotation of the mandrels
and print rolls about their respective rotational axes
so that the individual images printed by the various
print rolls are located precisely.
A significant drawback to the apparatus
described in the aforesaid U,S. Patent No. 3,645,201 is
2S the extensive time required for changeover when differ-
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ently sized and/or shaped containers are to be decorated.
In addition, for many of these changeover situations the
cost of different parts is substantial.
In order to reduce parts and labor costs during
changeover the instant invention mounts all of the print
rolls and their inkers on a subframe which is vertically
adjustable relative to the turret, the latter being in a
fixed vertical position. Each print roll and its associated
inker are mounted on an auxiliary roll and its associated
inker are mounted on an auxiliary frame which in turn is
connected to the subframe by a horizontal pivot so that
the auxiliary frame and elements mounted thereon are pivot-
ally adjustable. The rotational drive train for each of the
print rolls includes a double universal joint assembly
having an expandable shaft for accommodating different
angular positions of the shaft which depend upon spacial
relationships between the auxiliary frame and the subframe.
Each of the mandrels is mounted on an individual
rotational axis which extends radially from the main
axis of the turret. The mandrel rotational axes are in
a fixed horizontal plane. Because of this, container
loading and unloading positions do not change with a
change of container shape and adjustment of the loading
and unloading equipment is thereby simplified materially.
Accordingly, a primary object of the instant
invention is to provide novel improved multi-color
printing apparatus for cylindrical and frustoconical
containers.
Another object is to provide apparatus of
this type in which adjusting procedures are materially
simplified over those required for similar apparatus of
the prior art.
Still another object is to provide apparatus
~ of this type in which the rotational axes for the
container carrying mandrels are in a fixed horizontal
plane.
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~ further object is to provide apparatus of
this type in which the print rollers are mounted on
individual auxiliary frames which in turn are individually
mounted by horizontal pivot axis to a common vertically
adjustable subframe.
These objects as well as other objects of
this invention shall become readily apparent after
reading the following description of the accompanying
drawings in which:
FiguTe 1 is a vertical cross-section of
apparatus constructed in accordance with teachings of
the instant invention, taken through lines l-l of
Figure 2 loo~ing in the direction of arrows 1-1.
Figures 2 and 3 are hori~ontal cross-sections
taken through the respective lines 2-2 and 3-3 of
Figure l looking in the directions o the respective
arrows 2-2 and 3-3.
Figure 4 is a front elevation of one of the
printing stations.
Figure 5 is a full cross-section and Figure 6
is a fragmentary cross-section taken through the respec-
tive lines 5-5 and 6-6 of Figure 4 looking in the
directions of the respective arrows 5-5 and 6-6.
Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-section ta~en
through lines 7-7 of Figure 6 looking in the direction
of arrows 7-7.
Figure 8 is a side elevation of a universal
joint assembly.
Figure 9 is a fragmentary elevation of an
intermittent drive mechanism.
Figure lO is a diagram illustrating the
activities at each dwell position or station.
Now referring to the Figures and more particu-
larly to Figures 1 through 3. Decorating apparatus 20
of Figure l includes a hollow base 21 constituting part
of a fixed frame which houses intermittent drive mechanism
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200 (Figure 9) and rotatably supports vertically extending
main shaft 22. Fixedly supported at the top of base 21
is fixed horizontal frame plate 23 which supports
transmission 24. Bracket means 26 is interposed between
transmission 24 and fixed plate 23. Output shaft 25 o
transmission 24 dTives the input of displacement coupling
27 whose output drives shaft 28 rotatably mounted in
bearings supported by the spaced arms of U-shaped
bracket 29. The latter is secured to the top side of
vertically movable horizontal plate 30 which constitutes
a subframe, The four apertures 36 (~igure 3) receive
bolts for securin~ bracket 26 to plate 23, and the four
apertures 37 (Figure 3) receive bolts for securing
bracket 29 to subframe plate 30.
Plate 30 is supported by the upper ends of
three screws 31 which extend upwardly from three identical
jacking devices 32 supported on the underside of fixed
plate 23, As seen in Figure 3, the three jacking
devices are interconnected for simultaneous operation
by means of a plurality of universal joints 33, a
plurality of stub shafts 34 and a single input coupling
device 35 having a manually operable crank 36 through
which operating forces are applied to jacking units 32
or raising and lowering subframe 30 relative to station-
ary frame plate 23.
Turret 40 (Figure l) is secured to mainshaft 22 near its upper end by so^called ring fedder
locking devices 41, 42 so that turret 40 is rotationally
fixed to sha~t 22. Rotationally moun.ted on turret 40
are sixteen mandrels 45 disposed outboard of turret 40
with equal angular spaces between adjacent mandrels 45.
Since each mandrel 45 is mounted to turret 40 and is
driven in the same manner, only the mounting and drive
for one mandrel 45 will be described.
~lore particularly, bolt 44 removably secures
mandrel 45 to the outboard end of stub shaft 43 which
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extends radially with respect to main shaft 22 and is
disposed in a fixed horizontal plane. Shaft 43 is
rotationally mounted in axially spaced bearings 47, 48
mounted in block 46. Coupling 49 provides a driving
connection bstween thz inboard end o~ shaft 43 and the
outboard end of rotationally supported stub shaft 51
whose inboard ~nd mounts beveled pinion gear 52. All
of the beveled pinions 52 are in mesh with beveled ring
- gear 50 which is fixedly secured to sleeve 55. The
latter is concentrically mounted to main shaft 22 and
is rotationally supported thereon by bearings 53, 54 so
as to be in a fixed vertical position.
Sleeve 55 extends through another sleeve 59
and is rotationally keyed thereto by vertically extend-
ing elongated keys 56, 57. Beveled ring gear 60 is
fixedly secured to the upper end of sleeve 59 so as to
be rotatable therewith. As will hereinafter be seen)
disposed about main sha-Et 22 in fixed angular positions
with respect thereto are six prin~ stations P-l, P2,
etc. (Figure 10). The elements at each of these print
stations P-l, P-2, etc., are identical and receive
their driving power from ring gear 60; by means of an
individual beveled pinion gear 61 in mesh with ring
gear 60. As will hereinafter be explained, beveled
pinion gear 125 (Pigure 2) drives ring gear 60. Cear
61 is secured to the outboard end of stub sha-ft 62
which extends through bore 63 in ring member 64 secured
to the upper end oE subframe casting 65. The latter is
secured to the upper sur-Eace of subframe plate 30 and
is provided with a central bore through which main
shaft 22 extends. Axially spaced bearings 58, 5
rotationally support shaft 62 on ring member 64.
Double universal joint assembly 70, to be hereina-Eter
described, provides a driving connection between pinion
61 and shaft 71 having print roll 75 removably mounted
thereon by screw means 73. Control 74 operates an
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eccentric to move roll 75 radially on shaft 71 for fine
regis*er adjustment. The inboa~d end of shat 71 is
rotationally supported by axially spaced bearings 76,
77 disposed within bore 78 o auxiliary frame 80 to be
hereinar.er describ2d.
The periphery of print roll 75 is normally in
operative engagement with the periphery of inking roll
79 having shaft 81 extending axially therethrough and
rotationally supportod on bearing poTtions.outboard of
ink pan support 82. The latter is removably secured to
platfor~ 83 on auxiliary frame ~0 by means of clamping
device 84. Friction wheel 86 on the outboard end of
sh~ft 71 nor.~ally engages fr~ction wheel 87 on shaft 81 .
to drive ink Toll 79; however, in a manner well ~nown
l; to the printing art, when-print roll 75 is not in
operation, in~ roll 79 is separated therefrom and the
driving connection between elements 86, 87 is broken.
At this time.ink roll 75 continues to ro Late 510wly
through the operation of air actuator 88 acting through
oYerriding clutch 89..
With particular ref~re~ce to Figures 2, 4,
and 5, it is seen that auxiliary frame 80 extends
vertically and at its upper end is mounted to horizontally
extending pivo; 91 consisting of axially aligned sections
extending outboard of auxiliary frame 80 into circular
apertures in.the trunion arms 92, 92 at the upper end
of vertically extending reference member 90. The
vertical edges of reference ~ember 90 are captured by
guide h~ays 9~ ~ 94 secured to casting 65. Projec.ing
upward into a recess at the bottom of member 80 is
adjusting screw 95 (Figure l) which extends through a
threade~ apertur~ in block 96 guided for verticai
.~i movemen; on castin~ 65. The latter is supported by
rotary actuator and eccentric 97 ~ounted to the upper
3S surface of plate 30. Operation of actuator 97 brings
about li~ited verticzl movement of ~e~ber 90 and pivot
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91 connected thereto. Down~ara movement of member 90
to a no-print position is signaled by the detection of
a mandrel which is unloaded or improperly loaded.
, The outboard surface 98 ~Figure 5) of member
90 is referred to as the reference surface in that the
free end of adjusting screw 99 rests against surface 98
to establish the angular position of auxiliary frame 80
relative to the vertical. Lock nut 101 is provided to
hold adjusting screw 99 in adjusted position. Pin 102,
extending through the eyelet at the inboard end of bolt
103, pivotally secures the latter to member 90. Bolt
103 extends forward from pin 102 througl a clearance
aperture in au~iliary frame S0 and threadedly receives'
nut 104 which abuts the outboard surface of member 80.
Thus, it is seen that nut 104 is effective to limit
movement o~ member 80 a-Yay from m~mber 90 and ad~usting
screw 99 is effecti~-e to limit movement of member 80
toward member 90. There are two sets of elements 9~,
103 for each auxiliary frame 80. As will hereinafter
be seen, the angular position of member 80 relative to
member 90 is set so that the rotational axis of print
roll 75 is parallel to the outer surface of mandrel 45.
Hand wheel 106 operates mechanism 107 for raising and
lowering support 83 to adjust pressure between ink roll
79 and print roll 75. Air actuator 156 (Figure 9) is
operated automatically to separate ink roll 79 from
print roll 75 when rotation of the latter ceases,
Input shaft 111 of transmission 24 is disposed ''
at right angles to shat 25. Input sha-ft 115 of inter-
mittent drive 200 (Fi~ure 9) is driven continuously by
a variable speed power source tnot shown) and mounts
sproc~et,ll4 which drives another sprocXet 112 on sha~t
111 through closed loop timing belt 113. ~rive mechanism
200 produces an intermittent output driving main sha~t
22 in equal an~ular steps of 22-1/2~. A suitable
intermittent drive mechanism for this purpose is of the ~ -
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type manufactured by the Ferguson Machine Company of
St. Louis, ~lissouri, U.S.A. and is shown in its Catalog
No. 160A. Briefly, this type of intermittent dr~ve
mechanism 200 includes cam 116 driven by shaft 115 and
in engagement with a plurality of rollers 117 mounted
on an extended portion of main shaft 22. Cam 116 and
rollers 117 cooperate to form a worm gsar type drive in
that cam 116 is formed as a thread which is modified in
such a manner that the rotation of main shaft 22 takes
place in accelerated and decelerated annular steps with
dwell or rest periods between each of these steps.
There ara sixteen rollers 117 which act as teeth of a
spur gear to rotate ~ain shaft 22 through a complete
revolution in sixteen equal angular steps.
Shaft 28 (Figure 1~ drives sprocket llS which
drives sprocket ll9 through timing belt 120. Sprocket
119 drives stub shaft 121 extending radially with
respect to main shaft 22 and rotationally mounted in
bearings supported on extension 122 of casting 65.
Coupling 123 connects stub shaft 121 in alignment with
stub shaft 124 rotationally mounted to casting extension
64. Beveled pinion 125, identical to pinion gear 61, is
mounted on shaft 124 and is in mesh with ring gear 60
to rotate the latter.
As gear 60 rotates about the axis o main
shaft 22, sleeve 55 secured to gear 60 is rotated to
impart rotation to ring gear 50 so that ring gears 50
and 60 rotate together. When subframe 30 is adjusted
(moved vertically), casting 65 moves in unison therewith
sliding with respect to main shaft 22 at interface 127.
This causes thrust bearing 12~ at the bottom of outer
sleeve 59 to move vertically. This moves the latter
vertically with respect to inner sleeve 55 although
sleeves 55, 59 are retained in rotational driving
engagement by keys 56, 57.
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Universal joint assembly 70 (Figure 8) includes
identical universal joints 131, 132 constructed in a
manner i~ell known to the art with means providing
mutually.perpendicular axes. The input for joint 131
includes slit stub tube 133 having clamping ring 134
thereon and the output of joint 132 includes hollow
stub shaft 135. The input for joint 132 includes stub
shaft 136 which telescopPs inside of shaft 135 and is
connected thereto by maans (not shown) well known to
the art which permits relative axial movement between
shaft sections 135, 136 while rotationally keying shaft
sections 135, 136 together. The output of joint 132 is
provided with slit stub tube 137 havin~ clamping ring
138 mounted thereon. It is noted that horizontal pivot
91 for auxiliary frame 80 extends perpendicular to the
axis of shaft 135, 136. When print roll shaft 71 is
horizontal the axis of pivot 91 extends through point A
located on the axis of shaft 135, 136 and midway between
universal joints 131, 132.
As seen in Figure 2, at infeed station F ring
gear 60 drives bevel gear 160 on rotatably mounted on
horizontal st~b shaf L 161 extending radially with
respect to main shaft 22, Gear 160 is connected through
coupling 162 to drive rotatably mounted stub shaft 163
in axial alignment with.$haft 161. At its free end
shaft 161 mounts timing sprocket 165 which supplies
driving power to a ~up in feeding device ~not shown~.
During operation of decorating apparatus 20,
turret 40 moves through sixteen angular steps for each
revolution of main shaft 22 so that each mandrel 45
moves through sixteen steps for each revolution of
shat 22, stopping for a substantial period of time
between steps; however, during the dwell periods for
main shaft 22, the mandrels 45 continue to rotate about
their respective rotational.axes provided by stub
shats 43 in that ring gear S0 is in continuous motion
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rotating the sixteen pinions 52 about their rotational
axes. At the angular position F (Figure lO), the
mandrel 45 stopped thereat will be loaded with a container
having an open end and typically constructed of plastic
or metal. In a manner similar to tha* described in the
aforesaid U.S. Patent No. 3,645,201, suction is applied
*hrough passages (not shown) in mandrel 45 to hold a
container thereon until the unloading position U is
reached. At the first dwell B followin~ the in-feed
position F, if the container has been damaged or impro-
perly loaded on mandrel 45 a pressurized air will be
applied through mandrel 45 to shed this damaged or
improperly loaded container. ~t the next position P-l,
a properly loaded container will have a first color
image applied thereto and this ir,age will be dried at
the first drying position D-l. Thereafter, this parti-
cular mandrel will move alternately to and stop print
at printing stations P-2 throu~h P-6 and drying stations
D-2 through D-6. Unloading station U follows the last
20 drying station D-6. At the unloading station the -
vacuum holding forces are discontinued and a blow-off
force is applied to remove the decorated container from
mandrel 45. At station L located between the unloading
station U and the in-feed station F, if the presence of
a container is detected the entire apparatus 20 will
cease opeTation and an alarm will sound indicating that
a problem condition exists.
~ landrels 45 are illustrated as being cylindrical
and are suitable for carrying cylindrical containers;
however, when frustoconical containers (those in which
the open end is of larger diameter than the closed end)
are to be decorated, frustoconical mandrels must be
mounted on stub shafts 43. If the printing area on the
frustoconical container has a mean diameter substantially
that of the cylindrical containers for mandrels 45 then
cylindrical print roll 75 may be used, however, the
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rotational axis 71 for print roll 75 must be adjusted
so that it is parallel t the line of contact between
roll 75 and the container being decorated. This is
accomplished by initially lowering subframe 30 to lower
all of the print rolls 75 and then replacing all of the
cylindrical mandrels 45 by frustoconical mandrels (not
shown). Each of the auxiliary frames 80 is then
tilted individually about its respective horizontal
axis 91 until the print roll rotational axis 71 is
parallel to what will be the line of contact when print
roll 75 is in proper printing engagement with the
container. after all of the auxiliary frames 80 are in
proper tilted positions, jacking devices 32 are operated
to raise subframe 30 until there is proper printing
engagement between print rolls 75 and the mandrel
mounted containers. It is noted that by tilting of
auxiliary frame 80 relative axial movement between shaft
sections 135, 136 occurs automatically as requied to
accommodate new positions for universal joints 131, 132.
Although a preferred embodiment of this
invention has been described, many variations and
modifications will now be apparent to those skilled in
the art, and it is therefore preferred that the instant
invention be limited not by the specific disclosure
herein, but only by the appending claims.
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