MXPA00004856A - Improved multicolor pad printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

A pad printing system (12) for applying high quality multicolor images to curved objects is provided. The pad printing system includes a substantially flat release substrate having an ink receiving surface and a digital printer having a plurality of print heads (28). The print heads of the digital printer are arranged to discharge ink in a plurality of colors onto the ink receiving surface of the release media substrate. The print heads (28) and release substrate are movable relative to each other such that the discharge of ink from the print heads prints a multicolor ink image on the ink receiving surface of the release substrate. The pad printing system (12) further includes a deformable ink transfer pad which is movable into pressure contact with the release substrate for receiving a multicolor ink image therefrom and movable into pressure contact with a curved object (16) to be printed for transferring a multicolor ink image from the transfer pad to the curved object.

Description

IMPROVED COLOR PRINTING SYSTEM WITH BEARING FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to bearing printing, and more particularly to an improved color printing system with bearing. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Bearing printing is a common method for printing images on curved or generally non-planar surfaces which may be spherical, conical, cylindrical and other curved objects. The bearing printing systems use a deformable bearing that receives images from a flat plate and transfers the images to the curved surface to be printed. Typically, an inverted cup containing an amount of printing ink is used to apply the ink to the stencil plate. To apply a new layer of ink to the stencil plate, the ink cup and the stencil plate move relative to one another following each ink transfer operation. While bearing printing is a highly efficient method for printing single-color images on spherical or generally curved objects, there is an increasing demand, particularly in the golf ball industry, to print multiple color images already the measurement on curved objects. However, there are several significant problems when using conventional bearing printing techniques to print color images on an object. Since conventional color separation printing uses four basic colors, specifically blue, yellow, red and black, conventional color printing systems with bearing are equipped with four separate color stations that allow the system to achieve the final desired color. Each color station includes a dispensing cup of ink containing the colored ink and its respective cliché plate. As will be appreciated, these bearing color printing systems are not easily or effectively cost-adjustable to print custom-made images, because each of the four separate color stations must be recog- nized in order to produce a new image. . Furthermore, in order to print a color image, the printing bearing must pass successively between the cliché plate of each color station and the object on which the image is to be printed, where each color image is deposited on the previously deposited image. Therefore, unlike the printing of a single color image, which in most cases does not require precise placement of the image on the object, the printing of color images requires that the individual images be printed on a precise place on the object.

However, with conventional bearing printing systems it is inherently difficult to print individual single color images comprising the multi-color image in a precise overlap relationship, even using expensive mechanisms with precise control to guide and move the printing bearing and the object to be printed. Since the individual images are not printed in an exact register, the resulting multicolor image is blurred. Therefore, it has been difficult to achieve high-quality multi-color images with bearing printing. Additionally, passing the printing bearing through the various color stations is a lengthy process that significantly reduces the potential output of the bearing printing system, which further increases the cost of multi-color printing with image bearing. It can often take several weeks to set up a conventional color printing system with bearing to form a particular image. In particular, some of the steps that must be performed include the separation of colors, producing the film for each color, coating soaked plates, exposing the coated plates, finishing the plates and fixing the inks. As you can seeDue to the time and cost associated with configuring a bearing printer to produce a different image, it is not practical to use conventional bearing color printing systems to produce relatively small quantities of custom printed parts. Also, since multiple ink dispensing cups must be cleaned and then re-filled after each print, which often results in ink spills, these bearing color printing systems also waste a significant amount of printing ink. OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, in view of the above-described, a general object of the present invention is to provide a color printing system with bearing adapted for the high-quality printing of multi-color images on spherical and curved surfaces. Another object is to provide a bearing printing system as previously characterized, which can be operated more quickly and efficiently than existing color bearing printing systems. A further object of the present invention is to provide a bearing color printing system of the type described above, which does not require costly precision mechanisms to guide and effect the movement of the bearing of the print bearing and the object to be printed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a color printing system with bearing of the type described above, which is relatively simple in construction and which lends itself to more economical manufacture and operation. A related object is to provide this color printing system with bearing that uses printing ink more efficiently. These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, and upon reference to the accompanying drawings, where: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative printing line using a color printing system with bearing according to the teachings of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the bearing printing system of the present invention, which takes and transfers the image by a stamping action. Figure 3 is a partial and elevated side view of the bearing printing system of Figure 2. Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the print head for the bearing printing system of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a side sectional view of the release device for the bearing printing system. Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of an alternative printer head arrangement for the bearing printing system. Figure 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the bearing printing system of the present invention, which takes and transfers images through a roll printing action. Figure 8 is a schematic side and partial elevational view of the bearing printing system of Figure 7. While the present invention will be described and disclosed in relation to certain preferred embodiments and methods, this does not imply that the invention is limited to these specific modalities. Rather, the intention is to cover all modalities and alternative modifications that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Referring now particularly to the Figure 1 shows an illustrative printing line 10 including a digital color printing system with bearing 12 which represents the teachings of the present invention. The illustrated printing line 10 is particularly adapted to the printing of images on non-planar surfaces such as those presented by spherical (ie, golf balls), conical, cylindrical and other curved objects or pieces 16. While the present invention is described in relation to the printing of images on curved surfaces, it will be immediately appreciated that the present invention is equally applicable to printing on any type of surfaces including, for example, flat surfaces. The parts are fed to the printing line 10, in this case, by means of a supply or loading station 14 which is disposed at the beginning of the printing line 10 and which is operable to feed the objects 16 to be printed to a printing system. handling of parts. In the illustrated embodiment, the parts management system comprises a parts conveyor 18 which is driven by a driving motor 19, and which includes a plurality of accessories 20 adapted to hold the individual parts 16 as they are transported by the printing line 10. In order to ensure that the pieces 16 are held in the proper orientation for the printing operation, the supply station 14 and the part management system can include an electronic vision system that reads the orientation of the pieces 16 and makes adjustments in the positions, as necessary. Before performing the printing operation itself, the pieces 16 are transported along one or more pre-treatment stations 21 as shown in Figure 1. The pre-treatment stations 21 can be used to prepare the pieces 16 for the operation of Print. In the illustrated mode, the pieces 16 are then transported through the printing system with bearing 12, where an image is applied to the pieces, as will be described in detail below. After the image is applied, the pieces 16 are then transported through one or more dryers 22 that dry or cure the printing inks on the pieces. Finally, the pieces 16 are unloaded from the parts conveyor 18 by means of a discharge station 24 which can be arranged to feed the pieces directly to a packer system. In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the printing system with bearing 12 in the illustrated printing line 10 incorporates a digital color printer 26 which allows the bearing printing system to apply high quality multi-color images on non-colored surfaces. flat, in the case of spherical or curved objects. The use of the digital color printer 26 eliminates the need to use 4 separate color stations, such as those which appear in prior art color printing systems with bearing, and through which a printing bearing must successively pass through. create a multicolor image. Similarly, there is no need for the associated high-precision control mechanisms to move and guide the print bearing and the object to be printed that should be used in existing systems, in order to try to print the individual images of a single color in register, on the object . Accordingly, the bearing printing system 12 of the present invention can print high quality multi-color images more quickly and efficiently than existing color bearing printing systems. To perform the invention, in the illustrated embodiment, the digital printer 26 includes one or more printheads 28 for downloading each of the basic colors used in color separation printing, blue (C), yellow (Y), red ( M), and black (K), as shown in Figures 1-3. Each print head 28 downloads a programmed arrangement of dots in one of the four basic colors of process ink, where the dot arrangement produced by the four or more print heads are arranged in precise overlapping relationship, one with the other, for achieve the desired colors and images. In addition to the four basic colors of process ink, it will be appreciated that the individual printheads could also be adapted to download ink of any color. In this case, the digital printer 26 and the associated printheads 28 are placed on a support 29 which also supports the other main parts of the printing system with bearing 12. In a preferred embodiment, the digital printer 26 comprises a piezoelectric injection printer of ink, commercially available and sold by MIT / Nu-Kote, with the trade name Piezojet tm and model designation XL 128-360. With this printer, each print head has one hundred and twenty-eight jet ink ejections that discharge by the vibratory motion of a piezoelectric element. Alternatively, as will be understood by the person skilled in the art, other types of digital printers may be used, including, for example, digital printers of the continuous injection type offered by the NUR Macroprinter, laser printers or bubble printers. Since these digital printers can be easily programmed to produce different images, the bearing printer system 12 of the present invention can be configured quickly and easily to produce any type of custom multicolor image. Accordingly, the bearing printing system 12 is much more flexible than previous designs, in the sense that they can be used to print a relatively small amount of printed pieces tailored to the cost effectively. Likewise, the use of the digital color printer 26 eliminates the need to clean and refill multiple ink cups after each print, thus allowing printing inks to be used much more efficiently. Since the printheads of a digital printer must be arranged at a fixed distance from the surface on which they discharge ink in order to produce a high quality image, a digital printer can not be used in most cases to print directly on a curved object. Accordingly, with the present invention, the printheads 28 of the digital printer 26 are arranged to discharge onto a flat surface or substrate comprising a release device 30. The release device 30 is made of a material that will receive an image of high quality of the digital printer, and will allow the image to be subsequently transferred by a deformable bearing to a curved object. As shown in Figure 5, the release device 30 preferably comprises a plate or band 31 coated with a layer 33 of a material that can be silicone or rubber, which will allow easy transfer of the ink layers 37 produced from the printheads that make up the image. Other types of coatings that can be used as release devices include plastic, metal, ceramic and plasma reservoir layers. Additionally, the delivery device could comprise a relatively inexpensive coated paper. Of course, those skilled in the art will appreciate that any material that is capable of receiving and allowing the transfer of a multi-color image of ink can be used as a release device. In order that the printheads 28 are capable of printing an image on the substrate of release means 30, the printheads and the release device are placed on the support 29 for relative movement relative to one another. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the relative motion necessary to produce the print image can be achieved either by configuring the printheads 28 so that they can move relative to a stationary release device, by configuring the release devices 30 to move in relationship to stationary printing heads, or when configuring release devices 30 and printheads 28 so that both are mobile. In the illustrated embodiment, to enable the continuous operation of the digital printer 26, thereby optimizing the production capacity of the bearing printing system 12, the release device substrate 30 is configured as an endless conveyor belt, which is driven by a suitable driving motor 32. As shown in Figures 2 to 3, in this instance the conveyor of release devices is disposed on the support 29 below and parallel to the discharge faces of the respective printheads 28, so that the release devices 30 can be moved continuously in the direction of transportation 35 under the printheads. As the release devices 30 pass below the printheads 28, the printheads discharge their respective color inks onto the release devices to produce a color image. As will be described in more detail below, the release device carrier 30 then transports the image to a transfer point where the image is taken by a deformable bearing for a subsequent transfer to a part. As will be appreciated how the use of the endless conveyor of release devices 30 allows the printing and transfer operations to take place in parallel. Accordingly, the bearing printing system 12 can operate with greater productivity than if the release devices comprised in a plate or the like pass successively between the printing and transfer stations in a similar way to the cliche plate of a conventional printer. of bearing. It will be appreciated, however, that the release devices can have any number of different configurations, including a configuration similar to the cliché plate. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, to allow the digital printer 26 to print images of sufficient size and resolution, the digital printer is configured to print images with different row widths. As the skilled artisan will understand, the "row" of a printhead is the width over which the head can discharge ink at a certain resolution during a single pass, for example, 0.36 inches at 360 dpi (dots per inch) of the PiezoJet printer described above. One method for printing images having various row widths is to support the print heads 28 in such a way that they can make multiple passes on the release devices 30. For example, as shown in Figure 4, the 4 color print heads 28 they can be supported on a conveyor 34 which is movable on a pair of guide rails 36 in a perpendicular or lateral direction relative to the conveying direction 35 of the release devices 30. A suitable servomotor or the like is provided to drive a reciprocal movement of conveyor 34 in relation to release devices 30 on guide rails 36, which in this instance are by a toothed belt 40. In the illustrated embodiment, each print head 28 has an associated ink hose 42 for supplying ink to the head. Additionally, each print head 28 is connected to the printer control system 26 by a respective wire strip 24 so that the printer control system can regulate the amount and patterns of ink discharge from each print head. To effect the printing of an image, as shown in Figure 4, the printheads 28 are disposed on the conveyor 34 in aligned relation, so that as the conveyor moves laterally on the release device 30, as shown in FIG. arrow 43, the print heads 28, each discharge a controlled amount of its respective color ink in precise overlapped relationship to produce a row of the desired color image. After printing each row, if the image is not yet complete, the release devices 30 advance a distance equal to a row width. Alternatively, if the image is complete, the release devices 30 advance a preselected distance sufficient to separate the image. Full of the next image to be printed. Once the release devices 30 advance the proper distance, the print head conveyor 34 can then execute another pass over the release devices. As will be appreciated, the number of passes, required to produce a particular image will depend on the desired size and resolution of the image, as well as the row width of the printheads. In order to ensure that the movement of the printhead conveyor and release devices is properly synchronized, the drivers of the printhead conveyor and the release device conveyor are connected to a common control system 45 As shown, for example, in Figure 1. Similarly, in a known manner, the impeller for the print head conveyor also communicates with the control system of the digital printer 26. This allows the digital printer 26 to control, based on the input of the desired image to the printer, movement of the print head conveyor 34 including the number of passes of the conveyor, the length of each pass, as well as the speed at which the conveyor travels. It will be appreciated that, in addition to the heads that discharge printing ink, other head types such as, for example, a head for unloading a final protective layer on the colored ink layers comprising a complete image or head for unloading an initial adhesive layer. Alternatively, in order to further increase the potential production capacity of the bearing printing system 12, series of print heads 28 can be provided for each of the 4 basic colors. These series of multiple printheads 28 discharge ink onto multiple rows during a single pass. By using multiple printheads 28 to print each color, the need to have a relative movement between the printheads 28 and the release devices 30 on two axes can be eliminated, as in the reciprocating movement of the printheads. In particular, the heads 28 can be mounted in a stationary position, where all the relative movement necessary to generate the image is produced simply by moving the release devices 30 together with the print heads in the transport direction 35. For example, as shown in Figure 6, instead of using a single printhead for each of the 4 basic colors, series of multiple printheads 28, in this case 3 heads, can be provided for each of the 4 colors. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the printing heads 28 for a respective color are mounted on a mounting block 46 arranged in a fixed position on the release devices 30. The 3 printheads 28 are each connected by a respective ink hose 42 to a stock of common ink 48 that can be heated by a heating mechanism, in order to decrease the viscosity of the ink. The individual print heads 28 are mounted on the mounting block 46 in an inclined relationship so that the release devices 30 pass under the heads, and the individual print heads produce rows that are adjacent to each other. In addition, the series of printing heads 28 for each of the 4 colors are placed on the support 29 in aligned relation, so that as the release devices 30 pass in the direction of transport 35 under the four series of print heads " "stationary" triples, the printheads 28 discharge a controlled amount of their respective color inks in a precise overlap ratio, to produce the desired colors and images. As will be appreciated, since the reciprocating movement of the print heads 28 is eliminated in the embodiment of Figure 6, the release devices 30 can travel at a significantly higher speed, which results in a greater potential production capacity. for the printing system with bearing 12. However, unlike the arrangement of the print head holders shown in Figure 4, which can be used to print images of any size, since the printheads 28 in the The modality shown in Figure 6 are fixed in relation to the release devices 30, the size of the largest image that can be produced is limited by the number of heads that is used. Of course, those skilled in the art will appreciate that, alternatively, the conveyor arrangement used in Figure 4 could be used with a series of multiple printheads in order to allow greater flexibility in the size of the image. This arrangement could also provide a higher production capacity by limiting the number of passes to print a given image, compared to using only heads of a single size. To transfer the printed image of the release devices 30 to the curved objects carried by the parts conveyor 18, the bearing printing system 12 of the present invention includes a bearing transfer system 52. The bearing transfer system 52 includes one or more transfer bearings 54 made of a deformable material, like silicone rubber, which can be contacted with the release devices 30, capable of taking an image produced by the digital printer 26, and upon contacting a curved object, is able to: transfer the image to the object. Since multicolored images are printed completely on the release devices 30, the image does not need to be transferred to a precise place on the object to be printed. Accordingly, in the present invention, the precise control mechanisms required in existing color systems with bearing are not necessary. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the bearing transfer system 52 comprises, in this case, a plurality of transfer bearings 54 supported on a rotating bearing conveyor 56 disposed on the printing medium 29 between the conveyor of devices. of release 30 and the parts conveyor 18. As will be appreciated, the use of multiple transfer bearings 54 allows the printing system 12 to operate at an increased production capacity allowing the digital printer 26 to operate continuously while the operation of transfer occurs in parallel. As shown in Figure 2, the bearing conveyor 56 is mounted on the printing support 29 not only for rotation but also for a vertical slide 58 and a horizontal slide 64 for linear movement on a perpendicular axis and a parallel axis the conveyor paths of the release devices 30 and the parts conveyor 18. By these linear movements of the bearing conveyor 56, the image transferring operation is executed by a stamping action. In this case, and more particularly, the upward movement of the bearing conveyor 56 on the vertical slide 58, moves the deformable bearing 54 in the intake position (the upper bearing in the illustrated embodiment) to join with the device conveyor Release 30 and thus take an image. Similarly, the downward movement of the bearing conveyor 56 on the vertical slide 58 moves the deformable bearing 54 in the transfer position (the lower bearing in the illustrated embodiment) to join with an object transported in a printing position on the conveyor of pieces, and in this way transfer the image that is transported from a previously executed shooting movement. Suitable motors 57 and 59 are provided to drive the linear and rotational movements of the bearing conveyor 56. More specifically, in an exemplary operating sequence, the transfer bearing 54 in the transfer position first stamps the image it conveys onto the part 16. which then remains in printing position on the parts conveyor 18. Then, as the next part 16 is moved by the piece conveyor 18 in the printing position, the bearing 54, in the pick position moves to take an image of the release devices 30. The bearing carrier 56 then rotates to sequentially advance the following bearings to the take and transfer positions. As this happens, the next color image is brought to the pick-up position by the release device carrier 30. Then the take and transfer movements are repeated. In order to optimize the production capacity and ensure that the image is not disturbed during take-up and transfer operations, the speed of the bearing conveyor 56 must be synchronized to the release devices 30 during the take and to the parts conveyor. 18 during image transfer. More specifically, since the digital printer must operate continuously to ensure optimum production capacity, the bearing conveyor 56 must move horizontally on the slider 64 at the same speed as the release devices during the pickup operation., to prevent distortion of the images during shooting. Similarly, when the image is transferred to the part, the bearing conveyor 56 must move horizontally at the same speed as the parts conveyor 18 during the transfer operation. Of course, it will be understood that the release devices 30 and the parts conveyor 18 can remain stationary during the respective take and transfer operation. To facilitate the transfer operation, the driving motors 57 and 59 for the rotary and linear movement of the bearing conveyor 56 are synchronized by the common control system 45 (as shown in Figure 2) with the control for the digital printer 26 and with the driving motors 32 and 19 of the conveyors of release devices and parts. As will be understood by the person skilled in the art, this control system can be integrated with the programmable controller for the digital printer 26, or comprise a separate control system which is in communication with the digital printer 26. Alternatively, the synchronization could be achieved mechanically. In order to allow the bearing printing system 12 to be vertically adjusted for parts having different heights, an adjustment lever 60 is provided on the upper part of the printing support 29. By rotating the adjustment lever 60, the position of the digital printer 26, the conveyor of release devices 30 and the bearing conveyor 56 can be adjusted in relation to the parts conveyor 18. Additionally, a heating mechanism (not shown) can be provided to heat the release devices 30 with in order to improve the transfer of the images of the release devices to the transfer bearings 54. Depending on the pressure that is applied to the release devices 30 during the intake operation, as well as the construction of the conveyor device release, it might also be necessary to provide a support surface under the release device in the to the area where the shooting operation occurs. To ensure that the friction between the release devices 30 and the support surface does not cause fluctuations in the speed at which the release devices travel, which could have an adverse impact on the print quality, the underside of the conveyor of release devices may be coated with a low friction material, such as Teflon®. It was found that the quality of the image produced by the bearing printing system 12 of the present invention decreases when the objects to be printed are not white. Accordingly, the present system can be adapted to first print a layer of white ink on a piece, and then apply the color image on the piece in tr-asylation relation with the white ink layer. As shown in Figure 3, in the illustrated embodiment, a conventional stencil plate arrangement 62 is provided adjacent to the bearing conveyor 56 from which a layer of white ink can be taken and transferred to an object transported by the conveyor belt. pieces 18. When a white layer is needed due to the color of the parts to be printed, the transfer bearings 54 alternate between executing a horizontal movement to make contact with, and take, a white layer of the cliché plate 62 and execute a movement vertical to take a color image of the conveyor of the release device 30. Therefore, only the alternating transfer bearings (ie the bearings designated with number 2 in Figure 3) on the bearing carrier 56 are used for take a color image of the release device 30, while other bearings (ie, the bearings designated with the number 1 in the Figure 3) Take a layer of white ink. Alternatively, the white ink layer could be printed by the digital printer 26 or by a separate digital printer. In operation, when the color part is made to advance towards the printing position by the parts conveyor 18, a first transfer bearing 54 with a white layer of the stencil plate 62 is rotated towards the transfer position and stamped on. the piece. Next, a second transfer bearing 54 is conveyed which conveys a color image of the release devices 30 in the transfer position and stamped on the part in an overlying relationship to the white ink layer. Once both the white layer and the color image were applied to the part, the parts conveyor 18 can advance the next part to the printing position. A bearing cleaning device 66 or placed on the stencil plate 62, as shown in Figure 3, can be arranged in order to clean all ink residue from the bearings 54 before they are rotated back to the position of taking. The individual bearings can be joined with the bearing cleaner 66 by a horizontal movement of the bearing conveyor 56 or by arranging the bearing cleaning device such that the bearings 54 are joined with the cleaner as it passes along and towards the intake position. As you can see, printing the white layer on the pieces before printing the color image halves the production capacity of the printing system. In order to avoid this reduction in production capacity, alternatively the white layer could be applied to the parts by a separate printing station arranged upstream of the digital printing system with bearing 12. In an alternative embodiment, the transfer system of Bearings can be configured to take and transfer images by rolling action, as opposed to stamping. With the alternative modality shown in Figures 7 and 8, objects similar to those described above received similar reference numbers, with the suffix "a" added to distinguish them. As shown in Figure 7 and 8, with this alternative embodiment, the rotary bearing carrier 56a is equipped with one or more transfer bearings 68 of the "bearing" type. The bearing conveyor 56a is arranged so that the bearing bearings 68 are connected to the release devices 30a and the parts 16a by rotating the bearing conveyor. The bearing transfer bearings 68, in turn, are configured to take and transfer the images through a rolling action that results when the bearings are joined with the release devices 30a and the parts 16a. Accordingly, the need to reciprocate the bearing conveyor in a linear direction is eliminated. More specifically, as shown in Figure 8, the image is taken from the release device 30a according to the bearing bearing 68 in the pick-up position (which again in the illustrated mode is the upper bearing) comes into contact and rolls over the image on the release devices 30a as the bearing is rotated by the conveyor 56a through the tap position. Similarly, the image is transferred to the piez forming the bearing bearing 68 in the transfer position (the lower bearing in the illustrated embodiment) comes into contact and rolls on the surface of the part 16 as the bearing rotates through the transfer position . In order to ensure that the image can properly roll on the part 16a, the parts conveyor 18a includes parts conveyor accessories 50 which allow the surface of the part to be rolled on the bearing 68, as the bearing comes into contact with the piece and rotate through the transfer position. As in the modality disclosed in Figures 1-6, the rotation of the bearing conveyor 56a must be synchronized with the digital printer 26a and the movement of the part release and conveyor devices 30a and 18a, to ensure optimum printing and production quality. In order to allow adjustment of the pick-up point as well as the pick-up pressure, the printing medium 29a is equipped with various adjustment mechanisms. As the skilled artisan will appreciate, the quality of the image that is transferred to the Curved piece can be adjusted by varying the place where the image is taken from the release devices 30a by the bearing transfer bearings 68. Accordingly, the bearing conveyor 56a is mounted on the sliding block 72, which is adjustable in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the release devices 30a by an adjusting screw 74, as shown in Figure 7. Additionally, the digital printer 26a and the release device conveyor 30a are mounted on the printing medium 29a so that they can be pivoted relative to the first and second pivot points 76 and 78. To further adjust the position of to a, a take-up lever 80 is provided, which pivots the printer 26a and the release device carrier 30a relative to a first pivot point 76. To allow adjustment of the Tapping pressure applied by the bearing transfer bearings 68, a tap pressure regulating lever 82 is provided which can be used to pivot the digital printer 26a and the release device carrier 30a relative to the second pivot point 78 , and in this way increase or decrease the intake pressure. A vertical adjustment 84 is also provided to allow adjustment of the printing system 29a based on the height of the pieces to be printed. As in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6, to allow high-quality color images to be printed on non-white objects, the bearing printing system 12a can be adapted to print a layer first. of white ink on the piece, and then print the color image on the white ink layer. As shown in Figure 8, in the illustrated embodiment this is achieved by arranging a rotary printer 86 adjacent to the bearing conveyor 56a. As in the embodiment shown in Figures 1-6, when the white ink layer is necessary, color images are taken only by alternating bearing bearings (ie, the bearings designated by number 2 in the Figure). 8), which rotates through the tap position. The other rolling bearings (ie the bearings designated by number 1 in Figure 8) receive a white ink layer from the rotary printer 86. However, since the rolling bearings 68 intended to carry the white layer follow in contact with the releasing devices 30a, the rotation of the bearing conveyor 56a must be synchronized so that the bearings receiving the white layer come into contact with the release devices in the space between consecutive color images. Similarly, the rotation of the bearing carrier 56a must be synchronized with the white layer rotary printer 86 so that the rotary printer does not disturb the bearing bearings 68 which convey a color image. In operation, when a part 16a enters the printing position by the parts conveyor 18a, a first bearing 68 is rotated towards and through the transfer position to roll a white layer onto the part and then a second bearing 68 is rotated to and from the transfer position to roll a color image onto the white layer. Once the white layer and the color image were printed in sequence on the piece, the parts conveyor 18a makes the next part move to the printing position. From the above it can be seen that a color printing system with bearing was provided w allows high quality color images to be printed on curved or flat objects. Since the multicolor image is printed completely on the release devices, there is no need to place the image in a precise place on the object to be printed. Accordingly, the expensive precision controlled mechanisms for moving and guiding the print bearing and the subject to be printed that are necessary in existing color printing systems with bearings can be eliminated. The elimination of these precision controlled systems, as well as the four separate color stations used in existing systems, allow the present invention to be operated much more efficiently and economically. Additionally, the digital printer that is used can be easily programmed to produce different images, thus allowing the printing system of the present invention to be quickly and easily configured to produce any type of custom multicolor image.

Claims (9)

1. CLAIMS 1.
2. A bearing printing system for applying multicolored images on an object comprising: an essentially flat release substrate having an ink receiving surface, a digital printer having a plurality of print heads arranged to discharge ink in a plurality of colors on the ink receiving surface of the substrate, where the printheads and the release substrate can be moved relative to each other so that the ink discharge from the printheads prints an image with multi-color inks on the receiving surface of ink from the released substrate, and a deformable ink transfer bearing movable and in contact with the release substrate to receive a multi-color ink image from the previous one, and which can be moved to make pressure contact with an object to be printed for Transfer a multicolor ink image of the transfer bearing to or Subject The printing system with bearing according to claim 1, wherein the release substrate is configured as an endless conveyor, rotating adjacent to the plurality of printheads in a transport direction.
3. 3. The bearing printing system according to claim 2, wherein the release substrate carrier is configured so that the multicolor image is printed on the release substrate at a printing site on the conveyor of release devices. , and transported, to a transfer location where the transfer bearing comes into contact with the release substrate and receives the image from it.
4. The bearing printing system according to claim 2, wherein the printing heads are supported on a conveyor for reciprocal movement on the release substrate in a direction essentially perpendicular to the conveying direction of the release substrate conveyor , and wherein the printheads print the multicolor image onto the release substrate by one or more passes on the release substrate.
5. The printing system with bearing according to claim 2, wherein the printing heads are supported in a stationary position in relation to the release substrate, and the print head prints a multicolor image on the release substrate, according to the release substrate It is transported next to the printheads in the transport direction. ___ __ _ 6.
6. The bearing printing system according to claim 5, wherein the digital printer includes a plurality of series of multiple printheads, wherein each series of printheads is configured to discharge ink respectively into one of the four basic colors. ? .
7. The bearing printing system according to claim 1, wherein the transfer bearing moves to make contact with the release substrate and the object to be printed with respective stamping movements.
8. The bearing printing system according to claim 1, wherein the transfer bearing moves to contact the release device substrate and the object to be printed with respective rolling movements.
9. 9. The bearing printing system according to claim 1, further including a plurality of transfer bearings. • A printing system with bearing for applying multicolored images to an object comprising: a digital printer with a plurality of printing heads for discharging ink in a plurality of colors, an essentially flat release conveyor having an ink receiving surface , where the transfer to era is to the printheads and thus receive a multicolor image on the ink receiving surface and transport the multicolor image to a transfer position before turning again next to the printheads, a deformable ink transfer bearing that can be moved to press contact with the release conveyor in the transfer position, to receive a multicolored ink image that can be moved to press contact with an object to be printed , to transfer a multicolor ink image from the transfer bearing to the object.