U.S. patent number 3,915,085 [Application Number 05/399,478] was granted by the patent office on 1975-10-28 for apparatus for printing and handling hollow bodies.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Polytype AG. Invention is credited to Werner Lehmann.
United States Patent |
3,915,085 |
Lehmann |
October 28, 1975 |
Apparatus for printing and handling hollow bodies
Abstract
An automatic device for imprinting indicia upon hollow bodies,
such as cups, cans, or the like wherein a revolving carrier wheel
having radially extending spokes is arranged to support said hollow
bodies thereon in imprinting position and to rotatably convey said
hollow bodies through the printing mechanism. Pressure rollers
firmly compress the hollow bodies onto the spokes of the revolving
carrier wheel, a suction conveyor is located to engage the hollow
bodies after imprinting for removal thereof from said spokes and
for delivery to a drying belt. Stationary lifting flanks laterally
adjoining the revolving carrier wheel are arranged together with
air nozzles operatively associated therewith to facilitate removal
from the spokes of the hollow bodies and to enable engagement
thereof by the suction conveyor which is located to transport the
hollow bodies from the revolving carrier wheel onto the drying
belt. The drying belt is conveniently arranged between the suction
conveyor and a device which feeds the hollow bodies onto the spokes
of the revolving carrier wheel and a common drive may be provided
for the suction conveyor and the drying belt.
Inventors: |
Lehmann; Werner (Freiburg,
CH) |
Assignee: |
Polytype AG
(CH)
|
Family
ID: |
4398390 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/399,478 |
Filed: |
September 21, 1973 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Sep 22, 1972 [CH] |
|
|
14148/72 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
101/40.1;
198/689.1; 198/803.5; 414/676 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41F
17/28 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B41F
17/00 (20060101); B41F 17/28 (20060101); B41F
017/28 () |
Field of
Search: |
;101/38-40
;198/2R,25,22R,165 ;214/1B,1BA,1BS,1BH,1BT |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Crowder; Clifford D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Toren, McGeady and Stanger
Claims
I claim:
1. An automatic printer apparatus for imprinting indicia upon
hollow bodies, such as cups, cans, or the like, including a
printing mechanism, an inking device for said printing mechanism, a
revolving carrier wheel having radially extending spokes arranged
to support said hollow bodies in imprinting position on the ends
thereof, means for feeding said hollow bodies to said carrier wheel
into engangement with said spoke ends, and a control mechanism
operatively associated with said printing meachanism, said
apparatus comprising, in combination, a pressure roller located
adjacent said carrier wheel and positioned relative to said spokes
to firmly compress said hollow bodies onto said spokes in
imprinting position, suction conveyor means located to engage said
hollow bodies after imprinting for removal thereof from said
spokes, stationary lifting flanks adjoining said revolving carrier
wheel and arranged to have said carrier wheel rotate alongside
thereof, said lifting flanks having a configuration operative to
engage said hollow bodies and to lift said hollow bodies from said
spokes thereby to facilitate removal of said hollow bodies from
said spokes for engagement by said suction conveyor means, nozzle
means operatively associated with said lifting flanks and directed
to provide an air stream flowing in a direction for assisting in
the removal of said hollow bodies from said spokes and to propel
said hollow bodies toward said suction conveyor means, and a drying
belt for accomodating said hollow bodies thereon, said drying belt
being arranged between said suction conveyor means and said hollow
body feeding means to receive thereon hollow bodies delivered
thereto by said suction conveyor means, said suction conveyor means
comprising a pair of continuously revolving conveyor belts, a
suction box arranged to have said conveyor belts revolve
thereabout, said suction box having defined therein an elongated
slot extending lengthwise in the direction of rotation of said
belts, said conveyor belts being laterally spaced apart on opposite
sides of said elongated slot whereby suction from said suction box
may be applied through said slot to engage and hold said hollow
bodies upon said conveyor belts across the length of said slot to
enable transfer by said conveyor belts of said hollow bodies from
said carrier wheel to said drying belt.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said slot comprises a
generally tapered configuration extending from a first wider end
toward a second narrower end, with the wider end of said slot being
located rearwardly thereof taken in the direction of rotation of
said conveyor belts.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a pair of rollers
arranged for driving said conveyor belts, a first belt pulley
connected to one of said rollers, a second belt pulley, gear means
connected between said drying belt and said second belt pulley, and
belt means connected between said first belt pulley and said second
belt pulley for driving said dryer belt through said gear means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic printer for the
imprinting of hollow bodies, such as cups, cans, sleeves, or the
like, and more particularly to an improved printer including means
for continuously conveying therethrough the hollow bodies to be
imprinted. Printing and decorating machines of similar character
are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,685,441 and 3,195,451.
More specifically, the automatic printer of the present invention
involves a device which includes an improved revolving carrier
wheel operating as an indexing mechanism and having spokes thereon
adapted to have the hollow bodies supported on the ends of the
spokes in imprinting position. In such printers known in the art,
certain drawbacks arise with regard to the removal of the hollow
bodies, due to the fact that the bodies are not transported in
their ideal position and that a requirement arises for the
incorporation of costly speed impeding devices.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved
automatic printer that overcomes the drawbacks of prior art
mechanisms.
In accordance with the present invention, an automatic printer of
the type described is provided with pressure rollers which operate
to firmly press the hollow bodies onto the ends of the spokes of
the revolving carrier wheel as the bodies are delivered thereto
from a delivery mechanism. Stationery lifting flanks joining the
carrier wheel and arranged laterally thereof operate together with
air nozzles to facilitate the lifting of the hollow bodies from the
spoke ends for delivery to a suction device which operates to
convey the hollow bodies onto a drying belt which is arranged
between the suction device and the hollow body feeder mechanism. In
operation, hollow bodies are fed into engagement with the ends of
the spokes and after the imprinting operation they are removed
therefrom and engaged by the suction device which transports them
to the drying belt for further processing.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the suction device is
configured in the form of an elongated 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 disclosure. For a better understanding of
the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects
attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying
drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and
described preferred embodiments of the invention .
IN THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partial view showing the mechanism of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the mechanism showing the imprinting means;
and
FIG. 2a is a schematic view showing the outline of a slot formed in
a portion of the mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an automatic printer
including a frame (not shown) having side walls 1 and 2. A printing
mechanism 3 includes an inking device 4. A revolving carrier wheel
5 mounted on the output shaft of an indexing mechanism 8
operatively associated with the printing mechanism includes
radially extending carriers 6 arranged in the form of spokes whose
ends are adapted to have the hollow bodies to be processed
supported thereon. A hollow body feeder mechanism 7 is arranged to
deliver the hollow body 24 for engagement with the carrier 6. For
the sake of clarity, the indexing mechanism 8, which is
conventional and within the knowledge of those skilled in the art,
is not shown in detail.
In their imprinting position, the hollow bodies 24 to be imprinted
are firmly compressed upon the hollow body carriers 6 by means of a
pressure roller 9, with stationery lifting flanks 10 being arranged
in a delivery position laterally adjoining the revolving carrier
wheel 5. Air nozzles 11 are operatively associated with the lifting
flanks 10 and a suction conveyor 15 is arranged above the revolving
carrier wheel 5. A drying belt 23 is arranged between the suction
device 15 and the hollow body feeder device 7 for accommodating the
imprinted hollow bodies 24.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the suction device
15 is provided with continuously revolving conveyor belts 12 and 13
and with a suction box having a suction line 16. A slot 14 defined
between the conveyor belts 12 and 13 is also provided and a pair of
conveyor belt rollers 17 are arranged to have one of the rollers 17
connected with a belt pulley 18 which, by means of belts 19, drives
a drying belt 23 through a belt pulley 20 and gears 21, 22. The
slot 14 in the suction box 15 is designed in such a way that it
comprises a rectangular elongated configuration, or it may be
tapered from one of its ends to the other with the wider end of the
slot facing the delivery side of the mechanism. The contour of the
slot 14 is best seen in FIG. 2a.
In the operation of the device, the hollow bodies 24 which are to
be imprinted are placed upon the feeder mechanism 7 and are
conveyed to the hollow body carrier 6 in the imprinting position.
The pressure roll 9 firmly presses the hollow bodies 24 onto the
carriers 6. At a delivery station, stationary lifting flanks 10
arranged to be laterally adjoining the revolving carrier wheel 5
and which include air nozzles 11, facilitate lifting and removal of
the hollow bodies 24 from the carrier 6 at the point where the
hollow bodies pass beneath the suction device 15. It will be
apparent that the lifting flanks 10 engage the hollow bodies 24 to
alleviate engagement with the carrier 6 and that the nozzles 11
provide an upwardly directed air stream to assist in conveying the
hollow bodies 24 into engagement with the slot 14. The slot 14 in
the suction box 15 operates to enable the hollow bodies 24 to be
drawn toward the conveyor belts 12, 13 and to be carried thereby to
the drying belt 23 for placement thereupon.
From the drying belt 23, the dried hollow bodies are further
conveyed to a delivery station (not shown).
While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and
described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive
principles, it will be understood that the invention may be
embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.
* * * * *