GB1183786A - Printing Machine. - Google Patents

Abstract

1,183,786. Printing apparatus. VAN DAM MACHINE CORP. 2 April, 1968 [3 April, 1967], No. 15740/68. Heading B6C. As containers C are successively moved from the 12 o'clock position where they are placed on to turret-mounted mandrels 17 to the 9 o'clock position, where they are printed on, their rims r contact arcuate plate 58, pressing it away from drum 12 and keeping a switch associated with plate 58 closed, but if there is no container on a mandrel 17 approaching the 9 o'clock position plate 58 moves as soon as the previous container leaves the 9 o'clock position and mechanism actuated by the opening of the switch removes the complete assembly of turret and mandrels axially so that the empty mandrel is not printed on. Container feed mechanism.-Containers C are stacked between rods 31 and are moved downwards by rotating cylinders 32 as grooves 33 engage the container rims r. The turret revolves stepwise, 45 degrees at a time, presenting the containers in turn to the leading edge of plate 58, to printing drum 12 and to an unloading station at 3 o'clock, where each in turn is removed from its mandrel 17 by jets of air through openings in the end of the mandrel. Printing.-Plate 28 transfers an image to a blanket 24, carried by rotating drum 12 and protruding above its surface. Each container C in turn is presented to the 9 o'clock printing position, where it is contacted by the leading edge of blanket 24 and is caused by blanket 24 to rotate while the image is transferred to its side wall surface. The drum 12 and the turret are skewed so that there is a continuous contact between the blanket 24 and the tapering side wall. Drum 12 may carry four blankets 24. Preventing damage.-Failure of the container feed mechanism is followed by movement of plate 58 as soon as the container occupying the mandrel preceding that to which no container has been supplied clears its trailing edge. A fluid pressure cylinder which has kept the turret adjacent to drum 12 is depressurized when plate 58 moves and its associated switch opens. Springs then move the turret away from drum 12. The fluid pressure cylinder may be an air cylinder, in which case supply of two containers C to one mandrel is followed by movement of the turret against the cylinder and compression of the air in the cylinder, so that the blanket 24 is not damaged. A valve in the air cylinder may then permit air to escape when the pressure of the air in the cylinder reaches a preset value.