Russell, Edward J. (Gladwin, MI)
Brown, Gaylord W. (Beaverton, MI)
Dorman, Dennis J. (Coleman, MI)

04/708690

10/19/1971

02/27/1968

Download PDF 3613571       PDF help

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Brown Machine Company of Michigan, Inc. (Beaverton, MI)

101/40

198/471.100, 414/728, 101/247, 198/487.100, 118/233, 279/3, 118/46, 414/737, 118/230

B41F17/00; B41F17/22; B41F17/08; B41F17/22; B65G47/86

101/38-40,35,247 118/46,230,500,232,233 198/22,25,179,210,23,20,21 214/1B,1BS 279/3 271/56

3496863	CONTAINER PRINTING APPARATUS AND METHOD	February 1970	Cvacho et al.
2198565	Tumbler decorating apparatus	April 1940	Schutz et al.
2345870	Variable speed can feed	April 1944	Guenther
2764933	Multicolor printing press for round objects	October 1956	Hargrave
2770347	Collapsible tube transfer mechanism	November 1956	Porterfield
2796164	Apparatus for printing the circumferential surface of hollow cylindrical articles	June 1957	Hakogi
2843264	Automatic, vacuo-pneumatic object sorting machine	July 1958	Pfister
2878620	Transfer tube mechanism	March 1959	Calehuff et al.
2936059	All-automatic apparatus for handling curved-surface articles	May 1960	Hakogi
2936701	Apparatus for printing on the exterior of can bodies	May 1960	Stuchbery
3018726	Valve for effecting automatic double inking of the printing plate in a vertical press	January 1962	Ethier
3195451	Decorating means	July 1965	Horekamp et al.
3227070	High speed can printing press	April 1966	Brigham et al.
3231061	Can handling and transferring apparatus	January 1966	Borkmann
3250213	High speed tube decorating machines	May 1966	Brigham et al.
3251298	Method and apparatus for decorating generally cylindrical workpieces	May 1966	Rudolph et al.
3261281	Continous printer and transfer unit	July 1966	Hartmeister
3279360	Machine for printing on cylindrical articles	October 1966	Smith et al.
3300019	Transfer assembly for use with high speed can decorating machines	January 1967	Brigham et al.
3356019	Apparatus for continuous can printing	December 1967	Zurick
3386558	Feeder mechanism	June 1968	Benatar
3388686	Dual finishing apparatus for cylindrical containers	June 1968	Cohan

Pulfrey, Robert E.

Crowder, Clifford D.

What is claimed is

1. High speed printing or decorating apparatus for container part sidewalls and the like comprising: a rotary mandrel drum having a series of circumferentially spaced, laterally projecting container part receiving mandrels thereon movable in a circular path of travel about an axis when the drum is rotated; means presenting offset printing blanket means at a printing station past which said mandrels move when the drum is rotated; mandrel loader means to which container parts are supplied mounted adjacent the circular path of travel of the mandrels; control means for the mandrel loader means causing the loader means to follow only a portion of the circular path of the mandrels and at the same time move toward the mandrel drum to push container parts endwisely onto the mandrels upstream of the printing station; mandrel unloader means mounted adjacent another portion of the circular path of travel of the mandrels downstream of the printing station; and control means for the mandrel unloader means causing the unloader means to follow only a portion of the circular path of the mandrels while pulling container parts endwisely off the ends of the mandrels.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said loader means comprises an endless transfer conveyor mounted for movement in a path toward and away from the ends of the mandrels and pusher means mounted on said endless transfer conveyor for movement laterally to the travel of said endless transfer conveyor; and means for moving the pusher means laterally to the travel of said endless transfer conveyor so that the pusher means, as it moves, accommodates to a portion of the circular path taken by the mandrels.

3. Apparatus as set in claim 2 wherein said transfer conveyor is endless and travels in a plane which is parallel to the rotational axis of said drum.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 39 wherein said endless transfer conveyor comprises a pair of spread apart, endless members; pusher support means carried by and spanning said endless members; and at least one pusher member carried by said pusher support means.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 in which said pusher support means comprises telescoping members, one of which supports said pusher; cam track means extending between said endless members and generally parallel thereto; and follower means moving with the pusher and engaging said cam track means to position said pusher transversely relative to the travel of said endless members so it can follow the circular path of a mandrel on the mandrel drum.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said loader means includes means include means for driving the mandrel drum an said endless members in timed relation to correlate the linear speed of the pusher member to the linear speed of the mandrels so that the pusher member moves at substantially the same linear speed as the mandrels move when the mandrels are axially opposite thereto to permit the container parts to be received on the mandrels.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the endless transfer conveyor includes opposed runs; at last one of said runs and said mandrel drum being mounted in converging relation in the direction of approach to the printing station so that the pusher means gradually pushes a container endwisely onto a mandrel.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said unloader means comprises an endless transfer conveyor mounted for movement in a path toward and sway from the mandrels and the container thereon and transfer means mounted on said endless transfer conveyor for movement laterally to the travel of said endless transfer conveyor; and control means for moving the transfer means laterally to the travel of said endless transfer conveyor so that the transfer means, as it moves, accommodates to a portion of the circular path taken by the mandrels and at the same time moves axially relative to the mandrels.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said transfer conveyor is endless and travels in a plane which is parallel to the rotational axis of said drum.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said loader means and said unloader means comprises an endless transfer conveyor and transfer means is mounted on said endless transfer conveyor for movement between positions axially aligned wit the mandrels to axially nonaligned positions; and means for moving the transfer means between said axially aligned positions and said axially nonaligned positions.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said endless transfer conveyor comprises a pair of spaced apart endless members; support means carried by and spanning said endless members; and at least one transfer member carried by said support means.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said one means comprises means for driving the mandrel drum and said endless members in timed relation to correlate the linear speed of the transfer member with the linear speed of the mandrels so that the transfer member moves along, axially opposite a mandrel to permit transfer of a container part to occur.

13. The combination defined in claim 12 in which the pair of endless members have an inclined path with respect to the mandrel drum and move away from the side of the drum in the direction of leaving the printing station so that an unloading member gradually pulls a container endwisely off a mandrel.

14. The combination defined in claim 12 in which said support means comprises telescoping members and said unloading member comprises a suction cup assembly mounted on one of said telescoping members for pivotal movement about an axis generally normal to the direction of extent of said endless members.

15. The combination defined in claim 14 in which cam track means extends between said endless members and generally parallel thereto; and follower means is provided for the suction cup assembly for engaging said cam track means to position said suction cup assembly transversely relative to the travel of said endless members so it can follow the peripheral path of a mandrel on the mandrel drum.

16. The combination defined in claim 15 in which additional cam track means extends between said endless members; and follower means is provided for the suction cup assembly for engaging said additional cam track means to pivot said suction cup assembly and maintain it in parallel alignment with the end of a mandrel being unloaded.

17. The combination defined in claim 16 in which discharge conveyor means is disposed under the unloader means on which said container parts are deposited and cam means is provided to pivot said suction cup assembly and maintain it in parallel alignment with said discharge conveyor means.

18. The apparatus defined in claim 1 in which said mandrels have ports therein, opening through their surfaces, and are movable between radially outer positions in which containers parts supported thereon are printed at said printing station and radially inner positions in which containers parts supported thereon are not printed; vacuum source means in communication with said ports as the mandrels move to the printing station; and means connected with said ports for sensing the pressure in the ports and causing the mandrels with no container parts thereon to be moved to said radially inner positions as they are moved past the printing station.

19. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said unloader means comprises suction cups and control means is provided for maintaining the cups parallel with the ends of the container parts while pulling them endwisely off the ends of the mandrels.

20. The combination defined in claim 19 in which a stationary vacuum manifold having a slot therein is provided on said unloader means and connected with a vacuum source; and a timing belt with openings connected to said suction cups runs on said manifold.

21. High speed printing or decorating apparatus for container part sidewalls and the like comprising: printing means movable in an endless path of travel and having a series of spaced, blanket means which it successively presents to a printing station as the printing means moves in said endless path; mandrel support means having a series of rotatable mandrels which are adapted to receive container parts thereon and are movable in a path toward and away from the printing station; means for applying printing ink to the leading section of each blanket means and for applying a transparent overcoating material, which dries faster than the printing ink, to the trailing section of each blanket means; said trailing and leading sections being aligned for movement in a common path of travel; means for loading container parts to the mandrels; means for maintaining each container part on a mandrel in engagement with one of said blanket means at the printing station to rotate each container part supporting mandrel through more than one revolution as the container part mounted thereon passes over both the leading and trailing sections of the blanket means; and means for unloading the container parts after they are printed.

22. The combination defined in claim 21 in which a container drive strip of greater thickness than the blanket means is mounted on the drum means alongside and coextensive with each blanket means for engaging said containers and revolving said mandrels to successively print and lacquer them.

23. The combination defined in claim 22 in which said mandrels are mounted to extend laterally from both sides of a mandrel drum mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the printing drum means and constituting said mandrel support means; and means for driving said mandrel drum and drum means in timed relation in the same direction of rotation so that the mandrels and blanket means move oppositely at the printing station.

24. The combination defined in claim 21 in which said mandrels are mounted by lever assemblies for movement to an operative position in which container parts mounted thereon are printed at the printing station and a removed position in which container parts mounted thereon are not printed at the printing station as the mandrels move past the printing station; each mandrel having port means opening to the surface thereof; vacuum source means being communicable with each of said port means; and pressure sensitive means at each mandrel assembly for sensing the pressure in said port means and being operable to position the mandrels in said removed position at the printing station if no container parts are disposed on the mandrels as they are moved past said printing station.

25. The combination defined in claim 24 in which mandrel approach sensing means is provided at the printing station and operates to actuate a follower on each lever assembly approaching the printing station.

26. The combination defined in claim 25 in which endless transfer means is provided for loading container parts individually to the mandrels and removing them therefrom.

27. The combination defined in claim 52 in which said mandrels are mounted by lever assemblies for movement to a radially outer position in which they are printed at the printing station and a removed position in which they are not; each mandrel has a port opening to the surface thereof; vacuum source means is communicable with each port; and pressure sensitive means at each mandrel assembly is operable to position the mandrel in removed position at the printing station if no container part is disposed on the mandrel.

28. High speed printing or decorating apparatus for printing container part sidewalls and the like including: a rotary mandrel drum having a series of circumferentially spaced; laterally projecting mandrels thereon movable in a circular path of travel when the drum is rotated; means presenting offset printing blanket means at a printing station past which said mandrels move when the drum is rotated; means for loading container parts to the mandrels upstream of the printing station; mandrel unloader means mounted adjacent the circular path of travel of the mandrels downstream of the printing station and having gripper means for engaging the container parts supported on the mandrels; and control means for causing the gripper means to follow only a portion of the circular path of the mandrels and to gradually move away from the mandrel drum and pull container parts endwisely off the mandrels as the drum rotates in said circular path of travel.

29. The combination defined in claim 28 in which said unloader means comprises endless conveyor means with a first run extending from a position adjacent the circular path of travel of the mandrels downwardly along the path of travel of the mandrels but gradually outwardly away therefrom to pull container parts off the mandrels; the unloader means also having a run extending laterally away from said first run; and discharge conveyor means disposed under said laterally extending run on which container parts are deposited by said unloader means.

30. The combination defined in claim 28 in which a valve collar is mounted by said mandrel drum and includes a disk mounted for rotation with the drum and having an opening for each mandrel disposed around its periphery; line means connecting each opening with a different mandrel; each mandrel having port means therein opening to the surface thereof; and means associated with said collar for selectively connecting each opening with a vacuum source and a source of compressed air to aid in drawing a container part onto a mandrel and removing it therefrom, respectively.

31. High speed printing apparatus as set forth in claim 28 wherein said unloader means comprises an endless conveyor mounted for movement in a path transverse to said circular path of travel, said gripper means being mounted on said endless conveyor for movement laterally to the travel of said endless conveyor; and means for moving the gripper means laterally to the travel of said endless conveyor so that the gripper means, as it moves, follows a portion of the circular path taken by the mandrels.

32. High speed printing or decorating apparatus for container part sidewalls and the like comprising: a frame; a mandrel carrier mounted mounted thereon for movement in an endless path of travel, at least a portion of which is curvilinear, said carrier having a series of spaced, container part supporting mandrel assemblies with laterally projecting mandrels thereon; means presenting offset printing blanket means at a printing station past which said mandrels move when the carrier is moved; each mandrel having a port opening to the outer surface thereof; value means selectively communicating a vacuum source with said ports to assist in drawing container parts onto said mandrels; pressure sensitive means connected with said ports and being operative to sense the presence or absence of a container part on each of the mandrels when said valve means is communicating the vacuum source with the associated port; means incorporated with said mandrel assemblies mounted said mandrels for movement from an operative position in which container parts thereon are printed by engaging the blanket means as the mandrels move past the printing station to a removed position in which container parts supported thereon do not engage the printing blanket means as the mandrels move past the printing station; means responsive to said pressure sensitive means for determining in which position each mandrel is disposed at the printing station; stationary cam track mans disposed adjacent the printing station for actuating the mandrel assemblies as the mandrel assemblies move past the printing station; each mandrel being normally biased to a radially outer position and each mandrel assembly having a lost motion mechanism capable of absorbing the movement imparted by said cam track means; and said means for determining in which position each mandrel is disposed at the printing station including means for disabling said lost motion mechanism so that said cam track means actuates the mandrels to removed position.

33. The combination defined in claim 32 in which each mandrel assembly includes a rock shaft generally parallel to the axis of said mandrel drum and a lever rotatably supporting a mandrel is fixed thereon; spring means biasing each rock shaft and lever to hold the mandrel in normally radially outer position; a follower arm journaled on each rock shaft and engaging said cam track means at the printing station; a member fixed on each rock shaft and having a portion spaced therefrom in the path of movement of said follower arm to normally permit movement of the follower arm relative thereto; and diaphragm means communicating with said port means in each mandrel and having a part movable between each follower arm and fixed member to transmit movement of the follower arm to the fixed member and thereby pivot the rock shaft and the lever and move the mandrel to said removed position.

34. High speed printing or decorating apparatus for printing container part side walls and the like including: a rotary mandrel drum having a series of circumferentially spaced, laterally projecting mandrels thereon movable in a circumferential path of travel when the drum is rotated; means presenting offset printing blanket means at a printing station past which said mandrels move when the drum is rotated; means for lading container parts to the mandrels upstream of the printing station; mandrel unloader means mounted adjacent the circumferential path of travel of the mandrels downstream of the printing station and having a carrier movable in a chordal path of travel relative to said circumferential path of travel; gripper means mounted on said carrier means for engaging the end walls of the container parts supported on said mandrels; and control means causing said gripper means to gradually move away from the mandrel drum and pull container parts endwisely off the mandrels.

35. High sped printing or decorating apparatus for container part sidewalls and the like including: a rotary mandrel drum having a series of circumferentially spaced, laterally projecting mandrels thereon movable in a circular path of travel about an axis as the drum is rotated; means presenting offset printing blanket means at a printing station past which said mandrels move as the drum is rotated; means for supporting the container parts; transfer means mounted adjacent the circular path of travel of the mandrels including a carrier means movable an endless path and conveying means on said carrier means for transferring container parts between the mandrels and said support means; and control means for the transfer means causing the conveying means, when moving in said endless path, to follow only a portion of the circular path of the mandrels and to also move axially relative to the mandrels.

36. High speed printing or decorating apparatus for container part sidewalls and the like including: a rotary mandrel drum having a series of circumferentially spaced, laterally projecting mandrels thereon movable in a circumferential path of travel about an axis; means mounted adjacent the drum presenting offset printing blanket means at a printing station past which said mandrels move as the drum is rotated; means for supporting the container parts; transfer means mounted adjacent the circumferential path of travel of the mandrels for transferring container parts between the mandrels and said support means; said transfer means including an endless member mounted for movement in a path transverse to the circumferential path of travel, and at least one transfer member mounted on said endless member for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said drum; and control means for pivotally moving said transfer member about its axis while it moves in said endless path to transfer a container part axially between one of said mandrels and said support means.

37. High speed or decorating apparatus for container part sidewalls and the like including: a movable carrier having a series of spaced, laterally projecting container part receiving mandrels thereon movable in a curvilinear path of travel; mean mounted adjacent the carrier presenting offset printing blanket means at a printing station past which said mandrels move; means for supporting the container parts; transfer means mounted adjacent the curvilinear path of travel of the mandrels for transferring container parts between the mandrels and said support means and including carrier means movable in a chordal path of travel relative to said curvilinear path of travel; and also including conveying means mounted on said carrier means for conveying the container parts between the mandrels and the support means; and control means for causing the conveying means to follow a portion of the curvilinear path of the mandrels and to also move the conveying means axially relative to the mandrels.

38. High speed printing or decorating apparatus for container part sidewalls and the like comprising: a rotary mandrel drum having a series of spaced, laterally projecting container part receiving mandrels thereon movable in a circumferential path of travel when the drum is rotated; means mounted adjacent the drum and presenting offset printing blanket means at a printing station past which said mandrels move when the drum is rotated; mandrel loader means to which container parts are supplied mounted adjacent the circumferential path of travel of the mandrels and including a carrier movable in a generally chordal path of travel relative to said circumferential path and pusher means mounted on said carrier for engaging the end of a container part and moving it endwisely onto a mandrel; control means for the mandrel loader means causing the pusher means to follow a portion of the circumferential path of the mandrels and at the same time move toward the mandrel drum to push container parts endwisely onto the mandrels upstream of the printing station; mandrel unloader means mounted adjacent the path of travel of the mandrels downstream of the printing station and including a second carrier movable in a generally chordal path of travel relative to said curvilinear path of travel and gripping means mounted on said second carrier for gripping the printed container part; and control means for the mandrel unloader means causing the gripping means to follow a portion of the path of the mandrels while pulling container parts endwisely off the ends of the mandrels.

39. High speed printing or decorating apparatus for container part sidewalls and the like comprising: movable printing carrier means having a series of spaced peripherally disposed blanket means which it successively presents to a printing station as the carrier means is moved; mandrel support means having a series of rotatable mandrels which are adapted to receive container parts thereon and are movable in a path toward and away from the printing station; means for applying printing ink to the leading section of each blanket means and for applying a transparent overcoating material, which dries faster than the printing ink, to the trailing section of each blanket means; said trailing and leading sections being aligned for movement in a common path of travel; means for loading container parts to the mandrels; means for maintaining each container part on a mandrel in engagement with one of said blanket means at the printing station to rotate each container part supporting mandrel through more than one revolution as the container mounted thereon passes over both leading and trailing sections of the blanket means; and means for unloading the container parts after they are printed.

40. High speed printing or decorating apparatus for printing container part side walls and the like including: a rotary mandrel drum having a series of circumferentially spaced, laterally projecting container part receiving mandrels thereon movable in a circumferential path when the drum is rotated; means presenting offset printing blanket means at a printing station past which said mandrels move as the drum is rotated; mandrel loader means mounted opposite the circumferential path of travel of the mandrels and at a spaced distance therefrom including a carrier member and transfer means mounted on said carrier member for movement between a position axially aligned with at least one of the mandrels and a position axially nonaligned with said mandrels; container supply means for moving container parts to positions between said transfer means and said mandrel drum opposite the circumferential path traveled by the mandrels on the mandrel drum; control means for the mandrel loader means causing the transfer means to move between said nonaligned and aligned positions and at the same time move toward the mandrel drum to push container parts endwisely onto the mandrels upstream of the printing station; and mandrel unloader means for unloading container parts from the mandrels downstream of the printing station; said container part supply means including star wheel mechanism having spaced pockets into which container parts are individually transferred, conveyor means supplying said container parts in side-by-side relation, and endless transfer belt means disposed between said supply conveyor means and said star wheel mechanism and traveling at a rate of speed to separate a container part from am adjacent container part and load it to a pocket in the star wheel mechanism; the transfer belt means revolving the container part in the same direction as the star wheel mechanism is revolved.

One of the prime objects of the present invention is to design a continuous motion printing machine capable of printing containers at speeds which will permit the printing machines to be positioned in factory production lines with other machines for forming the containers and filling them with product.

Another object of the invention is to provide a high speed machine of the character described wherein transfer mechanism is provided for generally horizontally supplying and removing containers from mandrels which extend laterally from both sides of the mandrel drum so that two lines of containers may be simultaneously printed or decorated by the same printing drum in a continuous manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide printing machines capable of running at speeds which may print containers at the rate of much as 400 per minute on each side of a mandrel drum having circumferentially spaced, laterally extending mandrels on each side, and wherein control of the containers is maintained at these speeds without touching the container sidewalls once they have been printed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a highly reliable and efficient printing machine and method wherein a faster drying protective lacquer is immediately applied over ink printed on a container sidewall, after which removal of the containers from the mandrels is effected by gripping the bottom walls thereof.

Still a further object of the invention is to design a machine which can be economically manufactured and sold, considering the production which is obtained from it.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out specifically or will become apparent from the following description when it is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of one side of our printing machine, some of the parts being broken away or omitted in order to more clearly illustrate the mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and again omitting some parts in the interest of clarity;

FIG. 3 is an opposite side elevational view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, top plan view taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 1 and illustrating mechanism for insuring a proper feeding of containers to star wheel mechanism which is used to supply the containers to a mandrel drum, the containers being omitted in the interest of better illustrating the mechanism;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of a loading assembly illustrating the manner in which containers are loaded individually to support mandrels;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view taken on the line 6--6 of FIG. 5 and illustrating push-on mechanism for positioning the container on the mandrels;

FIG. 7 is a still more enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational view of one end of the push-on mechanism taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, side elevational view illustrating the manner of mounting the container supporting mandrels, taken on the line 8--8 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 9 is a sectional end view through one of the container supporting mandrel assemblies, taken on the line 9--9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, opposite, side elevational view taken on the line 10--10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, partly sectional, inverse plan view taken on the line 11--11 of FIG. 9, illustrating mechanism for preventing the mandrel from reaching the printing drum if a container is not on the mandrel; FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, side elevational view taken on the line 12--12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary, end elevational view of the printing drum assembly, taken on the line 13--13 of FIG. 2; FIG. 14 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 14--14 of FIG. 13, with parts omitted in the interest of clarity;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged, top plan view illustrating the printing blanket and mandrel drive strip; FIG. 16 is an enlarged, side elevational view of the container removing mechanism for pulling the containers individually off the mandrel, taken on the line 16--16 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 17 is a sectional, front elevational view taken on the line 17--17 of FIG. 16; FIG. 18 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional side view taken on the line 18--18 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged, transverse sectional view taken on the line 19--19 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 20 is a still more enlarged, sectional side elevational view taken on the line 20--20 of FIG. 19; FIG. 21 is a similar view taken on the line 21--21 of FIG. 19; FIG. 22 is a similar view taken on the line 22--22 of FIG. 19.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, and in the first instance to FIGS. 1-3 thereof, the high speed, multicolor printing machine disclosed and to be described includes: a frame F; a pair of container supplying conveyor assemblies, each generally designated 10; a double star wheel container pickup train leading from each conveyor assembly 10 and generally designated 11; a mandrel loading assembly 12 on each side of the machine for transferring containers supplied by each star wheel train 11 to laterally extending individual mandrels on each side of a revolving mandrel drum assembly 13; a printing drum assembly generally designated 14 disposed "in line" with the mandrel drum assembly and revolving in timed relation therewith to print the containers at a printing station S downstream of the mandrel loading assembly 12; a pair of mandrel unloading assemblies 15 (see FIG. 2) located on opposite sides of the mandrel drum assembly downstream of the printing station S; and a pair of laterally extending discharge conveyor assemblies, each generally designated 16. It is to be understood that a double line of containers is being supplied to and treated in the machine, which typically has a capacity in the neighborhood of 600 containers per minute. The machine is of the type which prints continuously such containers as vacuum formed oil cans, blown plastic bottles, and container halves which may be later joined by spin welding. While generally speaking the printing apparatus well adapted to the printing of synthetic plastic containers such as polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene containers, it is to be understood that containers of other material may also be readily printed by the machine. Also, while the machine is shown particularly as printing containers with cylindrical walls, by properly inclining or configuring the sides of the mandrel supports on which the containers are received it is possible also to print containers and like objects having tapering sidewalls or those which are oval in shape.

THE CONTAINER SUPPLY CONVEYOR ASSEMBLIES

As particularly indicated in FIGS. 1-3, each supply conveyor assembly 10 includes inner and outer side frame members 17 and 18, respectively, connected by braces 19. At its upper end each conveyor assembly 10 is adjustably supported by a bracket 20 from the machine base member 21. At its opposite end each downwardly inclined conveyor 10 is supported on baseplate 21. Since a pair of side-by-side supply conveyor assemblies 10 are employed, identical numerals are utilized to identify the identical parts thereof. Supported between the side frame members 17 and 18 are upper and lower roller members 23 and 24, respectively (see FIGS. 1 and 4), around which is trained an endless belt 25 moving in the direction of the arrow a in FIG. 1. Guide rail members 26 are secured to the side frame members 17 and 18 to guide the containers C in their path of travel downwardly from a suitable source of supply to the double star wheel mechanisms generally designated 11.

Provided forwardly of each belt 25 is a pair of transfer belts 27 traveling at a high rate of speed in the same direction of travel as belts 25 for the purpose of picking up containers C individually and moving them to the star wheel trains generally designated 11. The belts 27 are trained around pulleys 28 and 29 (see FIG. 4) mounted on a pair of shafts 30 and 31, respectively, which are journaled in bearings 32 provided on support arms 33 extending from the conveyor side rail members 17 and 18.

THE DOUBLE STAR WHEEL MECHANISMS

The transfer belts 27, which are driven in a manner to be later described, spin the containers C in a counterclockwise direction, as shown at b in FIG. 1, up into the pockets 34 provided in the lower pairs of star wheel members 35, which, as FIG. 1 indicates, are being continuously revolved counterclockwisely in the direction d. Each pair of star wheel members 35 is mounted on a drive shaft 36 journaled in bearings 37 and 38 provided on opposite sides of a central frame member 39 disposed between the pairs of double star wheel assemblies 11.

Mounted above the pairs of star wheel members 35 and slightly forwardly thereof to receive containers C from the star wheel members 35 are pairs of star wheel members 40 which are similarly supported by a single shaft 41. The shaft 41 is journaled by bearings 42 and 43 on opposite sides of the frame member 39 and supports and pairs of star wheel members 40 on each side of the machine. An S-shaped guard rail 44 cooperates with a lower guard rail 45 and an upper guard rail 46 to maintain the containers C in proper position as they are moved along. Each of the guard rails 44-46 for each assembly 11 may be supported from the central plate 39 on cross rail members 46a from which extend support rods 46b. The lower and upper guard rails 45 and 46 maintain the containers C in the pockets 34 and 40a, respectively and the pairs of guard rails 44 on opposite sides of each assembly 11 maintain the endwise position of the containers C.

THE MANDREL LOADING MECHANISMS

As FIG. 1 particularly indicates, the upper star wheel members 40 deliver the cans or containers C to a position in endwise alignment with the path of a series of circumferentially spaced container support mandrels 47 provided on each side of the mandrel drum assembly generally designated 13. In FIG. 5 a container C is shown as having been moved to a position of alignment at e opposite a container support mandrel 47 to which it is to be transferred. As FIG. 1 indicates, the mandrels 47 are mounted on circumferentially spaced support arm assemblies 48 on the drum assembly 13, which is continuously revolved in the direction f shown in FIG. 1. To assist in moving the containers C continuously to the mandrels 47, identical pusher assemblies 12 are provided on each side of the machine which include upper and lower support plates 49 and 50, respectively (see FIG. 6), which are connected by shafts 51 journaled in bearings 52 provided on the members 49 and 50. Arm members 53, extending from tubular frame members 54, support the assemblies 12, there being arms 55 extending inwardly from the arms 54 to which adjustable clamp assemblies 56 mounted on the lower plates 50 are clamped.

As FIGS. 5 and 6 indicate, the pusher disk members 57, which are employed to push the containers C axially a part of the way in an endwise direction onto the mandrels 47, must move in a direction laterally inwardly toward the mandrels 47 at the same time they are following peripheral path of mandrels 47. Each pusher 57 is fixed on a threaded rod 58 adjustably received within a threaded opening in a block 59. The blocks 59 are mounted on vertical slide rods 60 which are supported for vertical sliding movement in slide bearing blocks 61 extending from Vertically extending U-shaped support frames 62 carried by upper and lower chains 63a and 63b. Angle straps 64 may be employed to secure the frame members 62 to the chains 63a and 63b as FIG. 5 indicates, the chains 63a and 63b are trained around sprockets 65 and 66 on shaft members 51. The chains are guided by endless guide members 67 which preferably are suitable constructed of a hard-wearing plastic material such as nylon and are fixed to the plates 49 and 50.

As FIG. 5 indicates, the inclination of the runs of chains 63a and 63b is such that the disks 57 move endwisely the distance required to push the containers or cans C the required distance onto mandrels 47. As shown in FIG. 7, each of the rod members 60 is bored at one end, as at 68, to receive a coil spring 69 supported by a spring mount 70, and slide bushings 71 are mounted by the blocks 61 and 59 so that each rod 60 is slideable downwardly to the extent required. The normal upward position of each disk 57 is maintained by the spring 69, which urges each rod 60 upwardly against a stop or abutment 72 provided on each support frame 62.

Provided to move each disk 57 downwardly is a follower roller 73 mounted revolvably on a support rod 74 which extends into a bored opening 75 provide in the disk mount block 59 and an opening 60a in rod 60, and which is pinned to the rod 60 as at 76. To permit movement of each support rod 74 downwardly each support frame 62 is slotted as at 77. Each follower roller 73 follows the cam surface of an elongate, linear cam 79 supported from the top plate 49 by a brace 80.

THE MANDREL DRUM ASSEMBLY

The drum assembly 13 includes a circular disk 81 fixed on a drive shaft 82 supported at its ends by bearing blocks 83 mounted on a frame member 84. The shaft 82 is driven by a pulley 85 by means of a belt 86 in a manner which will be later described in the direction of rotation f. As shown particularly in FIGS. 8 and 9, each arm assembly 47a includes a pair of arms 87 fixed on opposite sides of the disk 81 and extending generally radially outwardly beyond the periphery of the disk 81. At their outer ends the arms 87 mount a pivot pin 88 on which each mandrel support arm 89 is pivotally received, as shown. Springs 90 secured to an eyebolt member 91 on the arm 87 of each arm assembly 47a and to a pin 92 on a clamp block 93 which is fixed to the pivot pin 88 normally maintain the arms 89 in the generally tangential position in which they are shown, a stop block 94 being provided to engage each block 93, as shown and thereby limit outward travel of the arms 89 which, like arms 93, are fixed to the pins 88. Each arm 89 supports a shaft 95 which, it will be observed, extends laterally from each side of an arm 89.

Pairs of inner and outer roller bearing 96 and 97, respectively, rotatably support and mandrel sleeve assemblies generally designated 98 which each include a pair of mandrels 47. The mandrels 47 may comprise aluminum blocks 99 on which resilient plastic liner sleeves 100 may be provided. The sleeves 100 are preferably constructed of synthetic rubber material of about 45-55 durometer rating and possess a certain desired resilience. To move the containers C the final increment onto the mandrels 47, vacuum is employed and a port 101 extending through the shaft 95 communicates with a vacuum passage 102 in each arm 89, as shown.

THE "NO PRINT" ASSEMBLY

Normally, the mandrel drum assembly 13 is revolved in the direction f so that each mandrel assembly 98 is successively presented to the printing station S'. The position of mandrel assemblies 98 is so adjusted that containers C on the mandrels 47 are engaged by the printing elements of the drum assembly 14 with adequate printing pressure and are revolved thereby so that the entire periphery of each container C may be printed. When inadvertently no container C is loaded to a particular mandrel 47, it is desirable to move the mandrel 47 inwardly toward the mandrel disk 81 away from "print" position so as to be certain to avoid printing the particular sleeve 100. To accomplish this, a "no print" assembly is provided which moves the arm 89 in the direction necessary.

The "no print" assembly includes a sensing diaphragm assembly generally designated 103 having a diaphragm 104, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, dividing the device 103 into separate compartments 105 and 106. The compartment 105 connects, via a line 107, with the vacuum port 102 and is in turn connected via a line 107, with the vacuum port 102 and is in turn connected with a source of vacuum in a manner which will be described. The diaphragm 104 is connected to a rod 109 mounting a hardened bushing 110 which is receivable between a block 111 fixed to each pivot pin 88, and a follower arm 112 which is pivotally received on each pin 88. Last motion mechanism is provided including a follower arm 112 having a portion 112a with an opening 113 accommodating a return spring 114 which has is other end retained by a spring mount member 115 on the block 111. At its opposite end the follower arm 112 mounts a follower roller 116 adapted to engage a stationary cam 117 (see FIG. 10) supported on an arm 118 on the frame member 84 adjacent the peripheral path of the printing drum assembly 14.

As each arm assembly 48 including each "no print" assembly is revolved in the direction f in FIG. 1, follower roller 116 on follower arm 112 will engage behind the cam 117, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, and will pivot the follower arm 112 about pivot pin 88. If the machine is operating normally and containers C are mounted on each of the pair of mandrels 47 of a particular arm assembly 48, the vacuum condition will be maintained in line 107 and the diaphragm 104 will be in a position in which the diaphragm rod 109 is disposed in the position shown in FIG. 11. In this situation the follower arm 112 will pivot slightly relative to block 111 and when the roller 116 passes beyond cam 117 the spring 114 will return the follower arm 112 to position. Since the follower arm 112 is free to pivot wit respect to block 111 about shaft 88, the position of the support arm 89 and the mandrels 47 thereon will be unchanged and printing of the containers will proceed in the normal manner. However, if for some reason no container C is disposed on one of the mandrels 47, line 107 will be open to the atmosphere and the diaphragm 104 and rod 109 will be moved to the right in FIG. 11 to a position between block 111 and follower arm portion 112a. When the vacuum condition in diaphragm chamber 105 is relieved, the spring 119 forces the rod 109 to the right in FIGS. 9 and 11 to position and bushing 110 between the block portion 112a and the block 111. Thus, when cam 117 pivots the follower arm 112, the bushing 110 on rod 109 prevents relative movement between the parts 111 and 112 and both parts 111 and 112 are pivoted. Since block 111 is fixed to the pin 88 by setscrew 120 (see FIG. 12), the pin 88 is pivoted, thus pivoting and moving the arm 89 and mandrels 47 in a direction i, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, away from the peripheral path of the printing drum assembly 14.

THE PRINTING DRUM ASSEMBLY

The drum assembly 14 is particularly illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, 13, 14, and 15 and includes a pair of offset printing drums 121 rotatably supported on a shaft 122 journaled in bearings 123 on side frame members 124 for rotation in the direction j. Shaft 122 is driven by a pulley 125 by means of a belt 126 in a manner which will be later described.

Mounted on the drums 121 are circumferentially spaced, offset printing blankets generally designated 127, each of which includes a leading ink-applying blanket portion 128 and a trailing lacquer-applying blanket portion 129. Provided adjacent each blanket 127 is a coextensive drive strip 130 (see FIG. 15) fabricated of the same blanket material but thicker so that it engages and drives the confronting mandrels 47. The blankets 127 are of such length relative to the peripheral speeds of the drums 121 and mandrel assembly 13 that each mandrel 47 preferably makes two revolutions as it passes a blanket 127. During the first revolution, the mandrel assembly 98 and the pair of containers thereon will move through one complete revolution and the containers will be printed over their entire circumferential surface by the blanket portion 128 in each color which is being used. As the printing drum assembly 14 and mandrel assembly 13 continue to move in the same direction of rotation about their axes (counterclockwisely in FIG. 1), lacquer is applied by the trailing blanket portions 129. The engaging surfaces of the blanket portions 128 are preferably so configured in the usual manner that one color never is in contact with another color and there is no mixing of the ink. In the machine shown, four colors are being applied and the polyethylene ink printed on the containers is being covered with a fast-drying clear, protective, polyethylene lacquer coating. Other compatible inks and lacquers may be used, dependent on the material from which the containers being printed are formed. The resilient blanket material employed (typically natural or synthetic rubber) is one which the ink and lacquer used do not attack.

Ink-supplying and blanket-coating assemblies generally designated 131-134 for applying different colors of ink to each blanket portion 128 are depicted in FIG. 1 and the numeral 135 generally designates a similar assembly which is employed, however, to apply the protective lacquer to the portion 129 of each blanket 127. Because the lacquer can be dried of flash dried much faster than the ink, it is possible by coating the ink printing with lacquer to cut the drying time very considerably and thus greatly increase the number of containers which can be handled in a given period of time. The lacquer and ink used are immiscible in the sense that they do not mix with, dissolve in, or attack one another. The ink is in the form of a paste with a relatively high tack number (typically 12-30), while the lacquer is a free flowing liquid which, when applied, does not move or disturb the ink because of this difference in viscosity. Such inks are typically obtainable from Interchemical Corporation of New York City, N.Y., U.S.A. Each blanket 127 prints all four colors and applies a coat of lacquer, and the number of blanket assemblies 127 on a given drum assembly 14 will be gauged to the relative speeds of rotation of mandrel assemblies 13, drum assembly 14, and the number of mandrel arm assemblies 48 carrying the containers which are to be printed.

As FIG. 14 indicates, the applying blankets 131b-135b on the colored ink-applying rolls 131a, 132 a, 133a and 134 a and the lacquer-applying roll 135a extend only part way around the circumference of each roll and are so positioned that as the rolls 131a-135a are driven in timed relation to drums 121, the blanket 135b misses the printing drum blanket portions 128 and applies a lacquer coating only to the lacquer-applying blanket portions 129 while the blankets 131b-134b miss the printing drum blanket portions 129 and apply ink only to the portions 128. It is to be understood that applying assemblies 131-135 may be of the type mentioned in Jackson et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,718,847, Munn U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,754, or Hovekamp U.S. Pat. No. 3,195,451, and since they form no part of he present invention will not be described in detail. The rolls 131a-135a are driven in a manner which will be described, in timed relation with the shaft 122 and at the same speed.

The printing pressure employed to print the colors on the containers during the first revolution thereof is the so-called "kiss touch" well known in the trade and during the second revolution of each container C a lacquer coating is wiper on by the blanket portions 129, which are identical in length with the blanket portions 128. Because the strips 130, while engaging mandrels 47, hold the containers C away from the surface of the blankets 127, smearing is avoided, each container C removing about one-half of the thickness of the lacquer coating on any given blanket portion 129.

THE CONTAINER UNLOADING MECHANISM

As FIGS. 1 and 3 particularly indicate, mounted diametrically opposite each side of the printing drum assembly 14 is a container takeoff or unloading assembly generally indicated 15. As will later be explained, air under pressure is supplied through the mandrel ports 101 (FIG. 9) at about the time the containers reach an end stop and guide member 137 (FIG. 2) supported by braces 138 from a vertical portion 139 of the frame F. The stop members 137 maintain the containers C on the mandrels 47 until such time as the containers C are brought opposite the takeoff assemblies 15, as indicated in FIG. 2, which then progressively remove them to the discharge conveyors 16.

Each takeoff assembly 15, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and 16-18 particular, includes a pair of end frame members 140 supported by brace members 141 from the frame F. End frame members 140 journal a trio of shafts 142, 143 and 144 arranged in generally triangular disposition as shown in FIG. 17, and journaled by bearings 145 provided on the end frame members 140. The shaft 142 mounts a pair of space apart sprockets 146 and 147, the shaft 143 mounts a pair of sprockets 148 and 149, and the shaft 144 mounts a pair of sprockets 150 and 151. Trained around the sprockets 146, 148, and 150 is a chain 151a and trained around the sprockets 147, 149 and 151 is a chain 152. Mounted at spaced apart intervals on the chain 151a are special support links 153 and mounted on the chain 152 at spaced apart intervals are opposite support links 154.

A suction takeoff assembly generally designated 155 is supported between each pair of links 153 and 154 and, as FIG. 18 indicates, includes a series of connecting strap members 156. Each strap 156 supports a pair of slide bearing blocks 158 with slide bushings 159. Mounted by the bushings 159 is a slide shaft 160 having an opening 161 at one end accommodating a return spring 162 which at its other end is secured by a spring mount member 163 on the strap 156. The spring 162 normally urges the slide shaft 160 to the right in FIG. 18 to a position in engagement with a stop member 164 provided on the strap 156. Rotatably mounted on each shaft 160 by bushings 165 and 166 are a follower arm 167 and a block 168 to which it is fixed, and it will be observed that the block 168 mounts a suction cup support block 169 to which a suction cup support block 169 to which a suction cup 170 is fixed as shown.

The follower arm 167 carries a follower roller 171, disposed to engage cam 172, which adjusts its position and that of suction cup 170 relative to the path of the container ends to keep it squared therewith for the time required for the suction cup to grip the container end. Because it is also necessary that the suction cups 170 remain aligned with the peripheral path of the containers C, an arm 173 carries a follower roller 173a which engages an elongate cam 174, as shown particularly in FIG. 16, which causes the shaft 160 to move axially in FIG. 18 to maintain this alignment. Adjacent the lower sprockets 148, 149 and 150, 151 is a lower cam 175 which is engaged by follower roller 171 to maintain the suction cup 170 squared with the traveling surface of the takeoff conveyor 16, the arm 167 and block 168 pivoting on shaft 160 as necessary to achieve an aligned position. A torsion spring 176 connected between the arm 173 and block 168 maintains the block 168 and arm 167 in a particular position in which the follower roller 171 engages cams 172 and 175 (FIG. 17). A slot 156a in each strap 156 and a slot 168a in each block 168 permit pivoting movement of the arms 167 and blocks 168 about shafts 160 relative to the straps 156 and arms 173, respectively.

Utilized in conjunction with each suction cup assembly 155 to selectively communicate with a vacuum source is a suction tube 177 leading to a suction cup 177a sealed over an opening 177b provided in a belt 177c which is trained around upper and lower pulleys 178 and 179 mounted on shafts 142 and 143. Pulleys 178 and 179 are toothed to receive the timing belt 177c which has similar projections engaging between the teeth of the pulleys 178 and 179 so that no slippage of the vacuum belt 177c occurs. The vertically inclined run of the belt 177c extending between pulleys 178 and 179 travels along a vacuum manifold 180 having a continuous slot 181 extending between the pulleys 178 and 179. The vacuum source communicates with the cups 177a only along this run of belt 177c so that the cups 170 engage the ends of the containers C as they move around the pulley 178 and release the containers C as they move around the pulley 179. As FIG. 17 particularly indicates, the suction is released at the time each container C is deposited on a discharge conveyor 16 and thereafter the cups 170 act to prevent the containers C from tipping as they proceed outwardly on the discharge conveyors 16. As FIG. 2 particularly indicates, each discharge conveyor 16 includes an endless belt member 182 trained around inner and outer roller members 183 and 184 on shafts 185 supported by conveyor side frame members 186. The vacuum chambers 180 are connected to the tubular frame members 54 by hose members 187.

MANDREL AIR AND VACUUM SUPPLY SYSTEM

Provided to alternately and selectively apply air under pressure and suction forces to the mandrel ports 101 is an air-vacuum valve assembly generally indicated by the numeral 188 (see FIGS. 1 and 19). The assembly 188 comprises a series of three disks 189, 190 and 191 which are respectively shown facially in FIGS. 20, 21 and 22. The tubular frame members 54 are connected with continuously operating vacuum pumps 192 (FIG. 1) via lines 193 (FIG. 2), and a line 194 leads from the frame member 54 to the plate 189 which is stationarily mounted by a bracket 195 connected to support 84. The bracket 195 also stationarily supports the disk 190. The disk 191, is, however, keyed as at 196 on the mandrel drum shaft 82.

Provided in the disk 189 is an opening 197 communicating with the vacuum line 194 and an opening 198 communicating with an air supply line 199. The opening 198 communicates with a slot 200 provided in the disk 190 and the opening 197 with a slightly longer slot 201 provided in the disk 190. Provided in the rotary disk 191 are a series of circumferentially spaced openings 202 which are peripherally disposed to rotate past the slots 200 and 201. Lines 108 (FIG. 9) connect each of the openings 202 with the line 107 leading to a particular mandrel shaft port 101.

THE DRIVE MECHANISM

Mounted by a subframe assembly generally designated 203 is a drive motor gear box assembly 204 for driving the various operating elements of the machine. As FIG. 1 indicates, the motor 204 has an armature shaft 205 mounting a gear 206 which drives a gear 207 on a jack shaft 208 journaled by bearings 209 from a support block 210. At its opposite end, shaft 208 is connnected to a gear box 211 supported in any convenient fashion from the machine frame F. The gear box 211 has a vertically extending drive shaft 212 extending to a second gear box 213 having a pair of lateral output shafts 214 and 215 (see FIG. 2). Shaft 215 extends to another gear box 216 having an output shaft 217. A second output shaft 216a extending from gear box 216 is coupled to shaft 144 driving the one container takeoff assembly 15. The shaft 217 extends through a gear box 218 having a downwardly extending output shaft 219 leading to a gear box 220 which has a lateral output shaft 221 driving one of the discharge conveyors 16, as shown in FIG. 2. A sprocket provided on the output shaft 221 drives the outer shaft 185 by means of a chain 222.

The output shaft 214 extends across to the gear box 223 which has the output shaft 218 coupled to and driving the shaft 144 of the left takeoff assembly 15 in FIG. 2. The gear box 223 also has an output shaft 224 extending outwardly to a gear box 225. Extending downwardly from the gear box 225 is a drive shaft 226 which extends to a gear box 227 having an output shaft 228 driving the outboard discharge conveyor shaft 185 through a similar chain and sprocket assembly 222.

The motor gear box assembly 204 also has an output shaft 229 with a pulley 230 mounted thereon driving a pulley 231 mounted on a shaft 232 via a belt 233. The shaft 232 is coupled to the input shaft of a gear box 234 which has an output shaft 234a with a pulley 235 thereon driving a pulley 236 through a belt 237. The pulley 236 is mounted on a shaft 238 having a sprocket 239 thereon which drives a jack shaft 240 through a chain 241 trained around a sprocket 240a. The jack shaft 240 is coupled to the input shafts 242 of gear boxes 242a which have vertical output shafts coupled to the shafts 51 drive the loader mechanisms 12. Bearings 242b on mounts 242c journal the shafts 242 as shown.

The shaft 240 is also responsible for driving the star wheel assemblies 11. The shaft 240 is centrally supported by an elongate bearing member 243 mounted by vertical frame member 39, and a takeoff sprocket 244 is fixed on shaft 240 to furnish the drive for the star wheel assembly 11. Trained around sprocket 244 is a chain 245 which also is trained around an upper sprocket member 36 fixed on shaft 41 and a lower sprocket 247 fixed on shaft 241, and a lower sprocket 247 fixed on shaft 241, to drive the upper and lower star wheel members 40 and 35, respectively.

The accelerating belts 27 are driven by a motor 248 which is connected with a gear box 249 having an output shaft 250 driving a jack shaft 251. A pulley 252 is fixed to the shaft 250 and drives a pulley 253 on the shaft 251 via a drive belt 254. The shaft 251 is journaled in bearings 255 provided on the support members 33 and mounts a drive pulley 256 on each of its outboard ends for driving a drive pulley 257 fixed on shaft 30 via a belt 258.

The belt 86 driving the mandrel drum shaft 82 is driven by the shaft 238 (see FIG. 1), there being a drive pulley 259 provided on shaft 238 around which the belt 86 is trained.

Each of the color printing rolls 131a -134a and the lacquer-applying roll 135a is driven by the printing drum drive shaft 122 through a gear 260 (see FIG. 13) which meshes with drive gears 261 for each of the assemblies 131-135. The gears 261, along with ink-transferring wheels 131a-134 a and the lacquer-transferring wheel 135a, are fixed on shafts 262 which are journaled in bearings 263 provided on the side plates 264 of each of the transfer assemblies 131-135. The side plates 264 are connected to the printing drum side frame members 124 by straps 265 which are anchored to the frame members 124 as at 266. Bolts 267 also secure the assemblies 131-135 to the plates 124.

OPERATION

In operation, two lines of containers C are supplied by the pair of downwardly inclined container supplying conveyor assemblies shown in FIG. 1 at 10 to the star wheel mechanisms 11. As FIGS. 1 and 4 particularly indicate, the slightly upwardly inclined belts 27 receive the containers C and, since they are moving at a considerably faster rate of speed than belts 25, operate to separate the leading containers C and spin them in the counterclockwise direction b so that they are, in effect, spun up into the pockets 34 provided in the lower star wheel members 35 which as FIG. 1 indicates, are being continuously revolved counterclockwisely in the direction d.

From the upper star wheel members 40 the containers C are individually delivered to a location between the loader or transfer assembly 12 and the mandrel drum 13 directly opposite the peripheral path of travel of the container support mandrels 47. Because the various mechanisms are driven in timed relation and continuously, a pusher plate 57 is in position to push a container C onto a mandrel 47 at the instant time the container C arrives opposite a mandrel 47. This method of operation, of course, requires that the mandrel drum 13 also be driven in timed relation with the other mechanisms so that a mandrel 47 is in position at this instant to receive a container C. As shown in FIG. 5, as the mandrel 47, with a container C barely fitting over the end thereof, continues to move along, the pusher member 57 moves along in time therewith and gradually pushes the container C onto the mandrel 47. Thus, the chains 63a and 63b must move at a slightly greater rate of speed than the mandrels 47.

The mechanism 12 is assisted in loading the containers C to the mandrels 47 by suction forces applied to the containers C through the mandrel port means 101 in each mandrel 47. At this time an opening 202 in the rotary disk 191 representing a particular mandrel is generally radially aligned with the loader assembly 12 and is commmunicating with the vacuum opening 197 in the fixed disk 189 through the vacuum slot 201 in disk 190. Thus, the suction forces operate to assist the loader plates 57 and to draw the containers C the rest of the way onto the mandrel 47. The suction forces are maintained (note the length of slot 201) to hold the containers C securely in place until after the containers C have been printed and moved away from the printing station.

As previously noted, the pusher plates 57 are caused by the cam 79 to compress springs 69 and follow the peripheral path of the mandrels 47. As a particular mandrel 47 approaches the printing station, the roller 116 on the follower arm 112 of the mandrel's arm or lever assembly 48 engages the frame supported, stationary cam 117 and is pivoted thereby about the pivot pin 88. If the machine is operating normally and containers C are mounted on each of the pair of mandrels 47 of a particular arm assembly 48, the vacuum condition will be maintained in line 107, and the diaphragm 104 will be in a position in which the diaphragm stem part 110 is disposed in FIG. 11, permitting the follower arm 112 to pivot slightly relative to the block 111. In this situation the pair of mandrels 47 will remain in "out" position and will not be moved to a removed position. However, if, for instance, the supply of containers C to the conveyors 10 was not adequate to insure that every mandrel 47 was loaded, and no container C was disposed on one of the mandrels 47, the line 107 would be opened to the pressure of the air in the room in which the printing machine is operating at a time when the vacuum slot 201 is still communicating with the vacuum line 197. When the vacuum condition in diaphragm chamber 105 is relieved, the rod 109 is forced to the right in FIGS. 9 and 11 to position the bushing 110 between the block portion 112a and the block 111. Thus, when cam 117 pivots the follower arm 112, the pin 88 will be pivoted by the block 111 and the arm 89 and mandrels 47 thereon will be moved in the direction i to a removed position in which the bare mandrel does not contact a printing drum blanket 127.

As indicated previously, each mandrel 47 is caused to make more than one and preferably two revolutions as it passes a blanket 127. During the first revolution the container is revolved relative to the blanket portion 128 and will be printed. During the second revolution the container is in engagement with the lacquer-applying blanket portion 129, and a protective, fast drying lacquer will be applied over the ink. Revolution of the mandrels 47 and accordingly the containers C held thereto by the suction forces is assured by the coextensive drive strips 130 which are, like the blanket material, resilient and may be termed friction drive surfaces. The springs 90 are adjustable to provide the desired printing pressure and, of course, normally maintain the mandrels 47 in the "out" position. The mandrels "float" in the sense that the springs 90 permit them to adapt to the printing drum which acts as a cam. The drum 14 travels in timed relation with but much faster than drum 13.

The container unloading mechanism 15 is assisted by air under pressure supplied through the mandrel ports 101 via the stationary slots 200 in the disk 190 which communicate with a source of air pressure 198. As previously indicated, each of the openings 202 in the rotary disk 191 represents a mandrel assembly and aligns with the slot 200 when the containers on the particular mandrel assembly have been printed and are opposite the unloading mechanism 15. Thus, air under pressure first moves the container C part way off the mandrels 47 but the stop members 137 maintain the containers C on the particular pair of mandrels 47 until such time as they are ready to be removed by the suction cups 170. As previously noted, the cups 170 travel a path which maintains them aligned with the peripheral path of the mandrels 47 under the influence of cam track 174. At the same time, the cam 172 adjusts the position of the cups 170 relative to the path of the container ends so that the suction cups do not tend to be displaced as the move along with the containers and draws them endwisely off the mandrels 47. When the suction cups 170 near the discharge or takeoff conveyors 16, cams 175 maintain the suction cups 170 squared with the traveling surface of the conveyors 16 so that the containers deposited in upright position are not tipped over. Once a container C is firmly seated on a discharge conveyor 16, the particular opening 177b for a suction cup moves beyond the vacuum slot 181 in the manifold 180 and the vacuum is released from the suction cup 170 so that it, in effect, releases the container C it has been carrying to the discharge conveyor 16.

It is to be understood that the drawings and descriptive matter are in all cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, rather than as limiting the same in any way, since it is contemplated that various changes may be made in the various elements to achieve like results without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

In the claims, where the term "printing" is employed, it is to be understood that it broadly refers to anything which is transferred by the blankets to the containers and may be understood to means actual printed words, coatings, or purely ornamental designs.