Rotary system and method for printing containers

摘要

A system for digitally printing directly on a plurality of containers is provided. In an embodiment, the system includes a device configured to determine an initial position or orientation of an individual container; a plurality of print heads configured to print directly on said containers; and a plurality of container holders configured hold or retain an individual container, to rotate the individual container, and to maintain a rotational position of the individual container relative to at least one print head while printing occurs; and one or more curing devices. The system may be configured such that the plurality of container holders are configured to move along a linear or curved path, and the plurality of container holders may be configured to controllably rotate about a container axis.

主权项

1. A system for digitally printing directly on a plurality of containers in the form of plastic bottles, the system comprising:
an inner wheel and an outer wheel, the inner wheel and the outer wheel having a substantially common axis of rotation; wherein the outer wheel is configured to generally rotate in a rotational direction, and the inner wheel is configured to rotate in the same rotational direction as the outer wheel and in a rotational direction opposite the rotational direction of the outer wheel; a plurality of print heads provided on the inner wheel and configured to print directly on a side portion of each of said containers; a plurality of container holders provided on the outer wheel, the holders are each configured to hold or retain an individual container, to rotate the individual container, and to maintain a rotational position of the individual container relative to at least one of the print heads while printing occurs; and one or more curing devices provided on the inner wheel and configured to cure a side portion of said containers; wherein the plurality of container holders are configured to move along a holder path having a portion with a radius, the plurality of print heads are configured to move along an arcuate print head path, and the print heads are configured to print on said containers while said containers and the print heads are moving.