VERTICAL TRACK FOR MANDREL ASSEMBLY OF CONTINUOUS MOTION CAN DECORATORS.

摘要

Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles includes a plurality of mandrel assemblies (40) mounted on a carrier (18) that rotates continuously on a main axis. Each assembly includes a base (41) and a cantilevered mandrel (20) pivotally mounted to the base (41) on a mandrel pivot that is parallel to the main axis. For each revolution of the carrier (18) a decorator engages an article on the mandrel and applies a decoration to such article. Engagement between the articles and decorator produces a reaction force that tends to tile the free end of the mandrel (20) radially inward. A bracing device is provided to resist tilting of the mandrel. One form of such bracing device includes a track (207) and a roller (206) that is mounted on the base and rides on the track (207). The tracks (207) are fixedly mounted on the carrier (18) and are disposed generally in a common plane at right angles to the main axis.