Automatic Cup Printing Machine

Abstract

In an automatic cup printing machine, a transfer device is arranged for locating cup holders in position for printing and varnishing cups and includes a turntable on which the cup holders are mounted. A printing machine for the cups is adjustably positionable relative to the cup holders. Angularly spaced from the printing machine relative to the turntable is an apparatus for applying varnish to the cups positioned on the cup holders. The over-varnishing apparatus is positionable between a horizontal plane and an angular plane pivoted upwardly from the horizontal plane. After leaving the varnishing station, the cups are removed by a take-off device which is movably displaceable between a position for removing the cups and a position for depositing the cups on a conveyor.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an automatic cup printing machine for round and conically shaped cups and, more particularly, it is concerned with an arrangement for moving the cups between a printing station, a varnishing station, and a take-off station with the apparatus at the printing and varnishing stations being adjustable to accommodate various shapes of cups.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,195,451 a machine for printing cups is shown, however, the arrangement for feeding cups to the printing cylinder is complicated and expensive and there is no over-varnishing apparatus provided. Further, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,411,439 a printing machine for cups is shown where the revolving support for the cups to be printed must be moved radially in steps and axially to locate the cups at the printing cylinder. This arrangement is also complicated and expensive and does not provide an over-varnishing apparatus.

When conically shaped cups are referred to herein it is meant to include cups which have a frusto-conical shape.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an automatic cup printing machine which overcomes the problems experienced in the prior art and incorporates an over-varnishing apparatus as one of the parts of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a printing machine which has a minimum space requirement and is of a simple and reliable construction. Furthermore, the parts of the machine are arranged to cooperate effectively and efficiently in printing and varnishing the cups.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, an automatic cup printing machine is comprised of a transfer device for moving the cups between a vertical printing mechanism, an over-varnishing apparatus, and a take-off device for removing the cups after the completion of the printing and varnishing operations. The transfer device is formed of a revolving turntable with at least eight radially arranged spindle supports on the outer ends of which holders are provided for the cups as they are moved between the different stations in the machine. Further, a vacuum and air blast control device is incorporated as part of the turntable support.

The printing mechanism contains at least six inking devices for a printing cylinder and the printing mechanism is arranged to be adjusted in the longitudinal, vertical and oblique directions relative to the position of the cup holder at the printing station. In addition, a pneumatic device is provided for stopping the printing mechanism.

The over-varnishing apparatus comprises a plurality of rollers including a ductor roller and a squeezing roller. The rollers can be arranged in an upwardly extending plane of 45.degree. so that a varnish passage with overflow is formed between the ductor roller and the squeezing roller.

The take-off device comprises a carriage which is supported on and moves back and forth along a spline shaft and a guide shaft and is controlled to operate synchronously with the working cycle of the printing machine. A take-off holder is supported on the lifting carriage and at least four angularly spaced grip members extend radially outwardly from the take-off holder for removing cups from the transfer device and delivering the cups to a conveyor. Bevel gears are incorporated into the spline shaft for positively rotating the take-off holder so that the grip members can be turned through 90.degree. as the carriage and take-off holder are moved along the spline shaft and guide shaft for removing cups from the cup holders on the transfer device and then depositing the cups onto a moving conveyor belt only when the next cup moves away from the printing machine. The feed velocity corresponds to the approximate velocity of the conveyor belt.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall side view of an automatic cup printing machine embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the automatic cup printing machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view in the leftward direction of the machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 illustrating an over-varnishing apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the over-varnishing apparatus shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 illustrating a take-off device; and

FIG. 7 is a top view of the take-off device shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1 and 2 an automatic cup printing machine is shown having a base 1 and a cup feeding device 2. In addition to the base and the cup feeding device, the printing machine is made up of a transfer device A, a vertical printing mechanism B, and over-varnishing apparatus C, and a take-off device D.

As is best illustrated in FIG. 6, the transfer device A consists of a rotating turntable 3 having eight angularly spaced radially extending spindles 4 with cup holders 5 located on their radially outer ends. Additionally, the transfer device contains a vacuum and air blast control device, not shown, which is incorporated into the support for the rotating turntable 3. The transfer device A rotates so that the cup holders 5 are sequentially positioned before the vertical printing mechanism B. The printing mechanism consists of a printing cylinder 6 supported on two sides with six block cylinders 7 in contact with the surface of the cylinder spaced from the transfer device, and six inking devices 8 each cooperating with one of the block cylinders. Positioned in the base 1 below the printing mechanism is a hand wheel 9 for effecting the longitudinal adjustment of the printing mechanism and another hand wheel 10 is also positioned on the base for effecting the oblique adjustment of the printing mechanism. Further, the entire printing apparatus is secured on a vertically adjustable plate which is located on the base 1.

In addition to the illustration of the over-varnishing apparatus C shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be noted in FIG. 3 that the over-varnishing apparatus extends upwardly in a plane at a 45.degree. angle to the horizontal from the location at which the over-varnishing apparatus is positioned adjacent the transfer device A. In FIGS. 4 and 5 a cup 17 is shown mounted on one of the cup holders 5 in contact with the over-varnishing apparatus. The over-varnishing apparatus includes an applicator roller 11 in contact with the cup 17 on the holder 5, a ductor roller 12 contacting the applicator roller and a squeezing roller 13 in contact with the ductor roller. In the 45.degree. position shown in FIG. 3 a varnish passage with overflow is formed between the ductor roller 12 and the squeezing roller 13. The rollers 11, 12 and 13 are driven in synchronism with the printing machine and with the spindle drive 14. The application of varnish on the cups 17 is determined by the change wheels 15 and 16.

During stoppages of the printing machine, an additional motor 18 is provided which affords a synchronous drive in a freewheeling manner for the varnishing rollers so that the varnish does not dry on the rollers.

The over-varnishing apparatus C can be used both in a horizontal plane and in an inclined plane, such as in the 45.degree. plane described above and for effecting the angular adjustment of the over-varnishing apparatus it can be displaced about a pivot bearing 19 by releasing a lock 20 on a pneumatic cylinder 21 incorporated as a part of the apparatus. In this operation the varnishing apparatus is stopped in the event a cup 17 is not located on the cup holder 5. A gear wheel 22 is in operative engagement with the ductor cylinder 12 and another gear wheel 23 is in operative connection with the applicator roller 11 and the gear wheels are arranged for adapting the circumferential velocity of the applicator roller to the ductor roller. A carriage 24 supports the over-varnishing apparatus C and is mounted on a pair of guide bars 25 so that the apparatus can be adjusted to accommodate the diameter variations of the cups being printed. The conical arrangements of the applicator roller 11 is adjustable, by means of the pivot bearing 26, to the ductor roller 12. Due to its arrangement and adjustable features, the over-varnishing apparatus can be used to varnish both conical and cylindrical cups.

After the transfer apparatus has rotated the cups 17 mounted on the cup holders 5 through the printing station and the varnishing station the cups are moved into the position for removal from the transfer device by the take-off device D. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the take-off device D consists of a carriage 27 on which a take-off holder 28 is mounted with four angularly spaced radially extending grip members 29 affixed to the take-off holder. In operation, the carriage 27 is arranged to slide back and forth on a spline shaft 32 and a guide shaft 33 with a push rod 31 secured at one end to the carriage and at its other end to a chain drive 30 for providing the back and forth movement of the carriage. The driving effect provided by the chain drive 30 and the rod 31 is arranged to operate synchronously with the working cycle of the transfer device. When the carriage 27 and the take-off holder 28 is displaced in its rear end position on the shafts, a bevel gearing 34 operatively engaged with the spline shaft and the carriage effects a positive 90.degree. displacement of the take-off holder from the position at which it removes the cup from the cup holder, note FIG. 6, and rotates it downwardly into position to be displaced from the grip member 29. The grip member 29 drops the cup onto a conveyor belt when the next grip member has removed a cup 17 from one of the cup holders 5 and is moved away from the transfer device. Due to this arrangement the cups do not turn over even at high speed operations. The speed of the conveyor belt 35 is adapted to the speed of the operating cycle of the printing machine. For removal of the cup 17 from the cup holders 5, the grip members can use both vacuum grip members and tongue grip members controlled by pneumatic pistons.

As shown in FIG. 2, hand wheels 36 and 37 are arranged on the opposite sides of the base 1 for use as hand drives for setting the automatic cup printing machine.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Automatic cup printing machine for printing round and conically shaped cups and having a base with motive power and a cup feeding device, a transfer device for moving cups through the printing machine, a printing apparatus, and a take-off device for removing cups from the transfer device after the completion of the printing operation, wherein the improvement comprises that said transfer device comprises a rotatable turntable, a plurality of angularly spaced spindles attached to and extending outwardly from said turntable, cup holders attached to the outer ends of said spindles for receiving cups to be printed and as said turntable rotates said cup holders locate the cups in a number of angularly spaced stations, said printing apparatus comprising an upwardly extending printing cylinder adjustably positionable relative to said cup holders, an over-varnishing apparatus located adjacent said cup holders at a position spaced angularly from said printing cylinder relative to said turntable, said over-varnishing apparatus comprising a plurality of rollers arranged for applying varnish on the cups and including a squeezing roller and a ductor roller and said rollers adjustably positonable between a horizontal plane and a plane extending upwardly at an angle from the location of the application of the varnish from said rollers to a cup held by one of said cup holders, said ductor roller and squeezing roller arranged to form a varnish passage with an overflow therebetween, said take-off device angularly spaced from said over-varnishing apparatus relative to said turntable for removing cups from said cup holders after the completion of the painting and over-varnishing of the cups, said take-off device comprising a rotatable take-off holder, means for movably positioning said take-off holder for removing printed and varnished cups from said cup holders on said turntable and for releasing the removed cups from said take-off holder at a position spaced from the position at which the cups are removed from said transfer device, a plurality of angularly spaced grip members extending radially outwardly from said take-off holder, said means for movably positioning said take-off holder comprising a spline shaft and a guide shaft disposed in spaced relationship to one another and each located laterally of and extending outwardly away from the position of said holder for the removal of a cup by said take-off device, a carriage slidably mounted on said spline shaft and guide shaft for movement thereon toward and away from said cup holders on said transfer device, said rotatable take-off holder is mounted on said carriage for movement therewith, a chain drive device, a rod connected at one end to said chain drive device and at its other end to said carriage for positioning said carriage and take-off holder along said shafts, double gear means associated with said spline shaft and in operative engagement with said holder on said carriage for rotating said take-off holder so that said grip members on said take-off holder can be rotated from the position at which cups are removed from said cup holders to a position for releasing the cups from said take-off device.

2. Automatic cup printing machine for printing round and conically shaped cups and having a base with motive power and a cup feeding device, a transfer device for moving cups through the printing machine, a printing apparatus, and a take-off device for removing cups from the transfer device after the completion of the printing operation, wherein the improvement comprises said transfer device comprising a rotatable turntable, a plurality of angularly spaced spindles attached to and extending outwardly from said turntable, cup holders attached to the outer ends of said spindles for receiving cups to be printed and as said turntable rotates said cup holders locate the cups in a number of angularly spaced stations, said printing apparatus comprising an upwardly extending printing cylinder, means for adjustably portioning said printing cylinder in the vertical, longitudinal and oblique directions including a base, a vertically adjustable plate located on said base, first support means including a hand wheel mounted on said base for effecting the longitudinal adjustment of said printing cylinder, second support means including a hand wheel mounted on said base for obliquely adjusting said printing cylinder for contact with the cups mounted on said transfer device, an over-varnishing apparatus located adjacent said cup holders at a position spaced angularly from said printing cylinder relative to said turntable, said over-varnishing apparatus comprising a plurality of rollers arranged for applying varnish on the cups and including a squeezing roller and ductor roller and said rollers adjustably positionable between a horizontal plane and a plane extending upwardly at an angle from the location of the application of the varnish from said rollers to a cup held by one of said cup holders, said ductor roller and squeezing roller arranged to form a varnish passage with an overflow therebetween, said take-off device angularly spaced from said over-varnishing apparatus relative to said turntable for removing cups from said cup holders after the completion of the painting and over-varnishing of the cups, said take-off device comprising a rotatable take-off holder, and means for movably positioning said take-off holder for removing printed and varnished cups from said cup holders on said turntable and for releasing the removed cups from said take-off holder at a position spaced from the position at which the cups are removed from said transfer device.

3. Automatic cup printing machine, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the axis of said printing cylinder is positioned vertically, at least six vertically extending block cylinders are spaced angularly apart and disposed in contact with said printing cylinder on the opposite side thereof from said transfer device, a separate inking device for each said block cylinder, and means for adjustably positioning said printing cylinder in the longitudinal, vertical and oblique directions relative to the position of said cup holder for locating a cup at the printing station.