Parallel Motion Apparatus for Depositing a Substance on Articles

摘要

Apparatuses and methods for depositing a substance onto an article are disclosed, including apparatuses and methods of directly printing on and/or decorating three-dimensional articles, as well as the articles printed and/or decorated thereby. The apparatuses include a conveyor having at least a first station and a second station thereon or adjacent thereto. There is a first substance deposition device located at the first station and a second device, such as a functional device, located at the second station. The apparatus and method are such that at least at the first station where the first substance deposition device is located, a cycle of at least two intra-station movements occur between the article and the deposition device. The relative motion between the article and deposition device may be substantially in translation. The substance deposition device may deposit a substance on the article in an array during the intra-station movements to form different portions of a predetermined pattern.

主权项

1. An apparatus for depositing a substance onto the surface of an article in a predetermined pattern, said apparatus comprising:
a) a conveyor for transporting articles in a conveying direction to at least two stations, said stations comprising at least a first station and a second station; and b) at least one substance deposition device comprising a first substance deposition device located at said first station and a second device comprising a functional device located at said second station; c) at least one mechanism located at least at said first station for moving at least one of the articles and said first substance deposition device through a cycle of at least two intra-station directional movements, wherein said cycle comprises:
1) a first intra-station movement wherein said first substance deposition device deposits a first substance on the surface of the article so that said first substance is deposited in a first array to form only a portion of the predetermined pattern; and2) a second intra-station movement wherein said first substance deposition device deposits a second application of said first substance on the surface of the article within the first array to form another portion of the predetermined pattern, wherein the at least one mechanism is configured to move at least one of the article and the deposition device such that the relative motion between the article and deposition device is substantially in translation.