HK1018033B - Process and machine for decorating containers or similar articles - Google Patents

Description

Method and machine for decorating bottles or similar articles

Background

In order to decorate glass articles, such as bottles, cans and the like, with a coating, they must be loaded into a loading station of a decorating machine where the articles are gripped and transported to one or two decorating stations and finally, once decorated, transported to a lehr where the coating is heated to adhere to the newly decorated articles.

A well-known technique for bottle or can decoration is die-stamping. In this process, the bottles or cans are fed by their ends to a decorator, which includes a paint container with a stamp or template in its lower portion. Each stamp includes a decorative pattern that is printed onto the bottle or jar according to design requirements.

With this process, once the bottle is set in a horizontal position at the first printing station of the decorator, it is rotated on supports at its top and bottom ends and moved towards a printing frame with a decorative impression. The supports are arranged one opposite the other with a distance between them to receive the bottles. A rubber roller or applicator in the upper portion of the printing frame presses against the decorative stamp to ensure that paint is accurately applied to the sides or desired portions of the bottle as it rotates over the stamp.

One of the main prior art decorators is generally constituted by a supporting structure between which a drive shaft is horizontally arranged, which has an integrated set of delivery stations which receive only one bottle to be decorated and transfer it intermittently to the decorating station. A decorative impression is disposed horizontally above a transfer station and is brought into contact with the surface of the bottle while decorating. When the bottle is rotated about its own axis, the stamp has a sliding movement from front to back, which decorates the desired portion of the bottle by means of this movement.

In the case of decorating two bottles, the decorating machine has two impressions, arranged parallel to the surface of the bottle, which are separated by a certain distance in tandem. The decorator has at least six transport stations, each of which carries a single article to be decorated. However, since the transfer stations have a rotary movement about their own axis, in the sequence of station movements, a first article is decorated with a front impression (second impression) and a second article is brought into contact with a rear impression (first impression). Such a way of operation allows two stations to decorate two bottles simultaneously with the same decorative pattern.

Despite the foregoing, one major drawback of the above-described type of decorator is that the article is decorated with only a single color. Thus, in the event that the bottle or article requires two or more colors, the newly decorated bottle must be sent to a decorator to be printed with the next decorative color or colors.

To avoid the disadvantages of the prior art, U.S. patent No. 3,735,688 to Werner Kammann describes a multicolor offset printing press for producing multicolor images on an article using a known screen printing process, wherein there are a plurality of screen printing stamps, each having its own decorative pattern, the number of stamps being equal to the number of colors used. Decorative printing is the application of a contact blade to an associated screen. An intermediate color conveyor, such as a belt or a plurality of rollers, receives the pigmented image from each stamp and applies the pigmented image to the article in sequence between the article and the intermediate belt or roller through rolling contact.

However, even though the decorator of Kammann has the ability to decorate two or more colors in one processing sequence, one disadvantage of such decorators is that the decorative articles are produced in an individual manner, i.e., only one article per station, and thus the process is slow, as is now the fact that a large number of glass or similar articles are being manufactured and require a large amount of decoration.

Another device for printing articles is described in patent DE 1571842; US 3783777; and FR 2239344. For example, patent DE 1571842 relates to a decorating machine for decorating bottles or similar articles, comprising: a support structure; a rotatable shaft connected within the support structure and rotating in an intermittent motion about its own axis; a plurality of transport stations connected to the shaft and rotating with the drive shaft; for each transport station there is a support, each support being arranged for transporting cylindrical articles, for example from a loading position to an unloading position of a decorator; drive means connected to a rotatable shaft which rotates together with said transfer stations by means of the drive means, there being one stamp for each two transfer stations, which stamp is positioned towards and coincides with the surface of the bottle to be decorated, wherein the support comprises means for supporting a cylindrical article at each transfer station. The support is placed in position on each stamp so as to print at least two bottles simultaneously, one for each transfer station, with one colour and a single stamp.

However, DE 1571842 relates to a machine for decorating bottles, arranged to feed a cylindrical article per station and to use a stamp per two feed stations. With this arrangement, it is possible to decorate two bottles simultaneously with a single impression, but it is not possible to decorate two articles or bottles simultaneously at each station. Neither at least two bottles can be decorated with three different decorative impressions, nor at least two bottles can be decorated with four different decorative impressions.

In us patent 3783777 to Richard j. killen, issued on 8.1.1974, there is also disclosed an apparatus for imprinting objects such as bottles or the like. The apparatus comprises: a conveyor comprising a drive shaft, a group of product conveyors connected to the conveyor so as to follow a path towards the printing station. The straight opposite sides of the conveyor are first and second assemblies that can be guided separately along opposite sides of the bottle conveyor. Each of these assemblies supports the same rubber roller conveyor. Each carrying the same tiltable stencil printing plate together with a rubber roller conveyor. Thus, each movable assembly includes an inner tiltable stencil and an outer color container having a color slot, and rubber roller conveyors for transferring color from its color slot to its stencil, each rubber roller conveyor being adjustably mounted on its carriage.

However, a first disadvantage of this apparatus is that printing three or more colors on bottles or the like requires the addition of more rubber roller conveyors by lengthening the length of the apparatus.

Finally, patent FR-A-2239344 discloses an arrangement or device for printing hats or similar articles. The first part of the patent specification describes that the printed hat is on top of it (see figures 1-3). In the first embodiment, it is necessary to keep the cap or caps fixed and holding one end thereof.

In a second embodiment of this french patent, a device for decorating bottles is described. However, only one bottle can be printed at a single printing station. In this case, the bottles are fed one after the other through the transport station to each printing station.

Object of the Invention

A first object of the present invention is to provide a machine and a method for decorating bottles or similar articles, which are able to decorate at least two bottles with the same decorative pattern at each station.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a decorating machine and method for decorating bottles or similar articles that is capable of decorating at least two articles simultaneously with two, three or four decorative impressions in one process.

Other object of the present invention is to provide a machine and a method for decorating bottles or similar articles, which allow to increase the productivity of the machine.

Summary of The Invention

In view of the above, the present invention proposes a method and a decorating machine for decorating bottles or similar articles, comprising: a support structure; a rotatable shaft connected within the support structure for rotation about its own axis in intermittent motion; a plurality of transfer stations connected to the shaft and rotating with the rotatable shaft, each transfer station having a first support and a second support arranged in tandem with a distance left between them to support the neck and bottom of a bottle or similar article, respectively, for transferring the bottle or similar article from a loading position to an unloading position of the decorator; a drive means connected to a rotatable shaft, the rotatable shaft and the delivery station being rotatable together by the drive means; and, for each transfer station, a stamp positioned towards and coinciding with the surface of the bottle or similar article to be decorated, characterized in that the machine further comprises: at least two gripping means for each first support for gripping the bottom of at least two bottles or similar articles; at least two gripping means for each second support for gripping the necks of at least two bottles or similar articles, the gripping means being symmetrically arranged so as to be able to print said two bottles or similar articles with a single stamp at each printing station, each printing station being adjusted parallel or at an angle to the surface of the bottles or similar articles in order to decorate at least two bottles or similar articles simultaneously at each printing stage.

These and other objects and further advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention, which is to be understood as illustrative and not restrictive, with reference to the various embodiments thereof.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1A is a side view of a stamp decorating machine showing the position of a bottle relative to a decorating stamp in a schematic configuration;

FIG. 1B is a top view of FIG. 1A showing the gripping device gripping at least two bottles at each transfer station;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic views of a first embodiment of the decorator according to the invention for decorating two bottles in two different colors;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic views of a second embodiment of the decorator according to the invention for decorating two bottles simultaneously in three different colors;

FIGS. 4A, 4B are schematic views of a third embodiment according to FIGS. 2A, 2B for decorating two bottles simultaneously in four different colors;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic views of a fourth embodiment of the decorator according to the invention for decorating a bottle in four different colors;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the stamp decorating machine showing the decorative stamp divided into two or more sections; and the number of the first and second groups,

fig. 7A, 7B and fig. 7C, 7D are schematic views of a die decorating machine for decorating bottles of different structures and different decorative patterns at the same time.

Detailed description of the invention

Referring to various embodiments of the present invention, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and like numerals being applied to like parts, fig. 1 shows a cross-section in a schematic configuration of a die decorator 10. The decorator includes a support structure (not shown). The support structure has a rotatable shaft 12 in a horizontal position which performs intermittent rotational movement about its own axis. A plurality of transfer stations 14, 14' are connected to and rotate with the rotating shaft 12. The transfer stations 14, 14' have a first support 16 and a second support 18, arranged in tandem, with a certain distance between them to support the bottom and the top of the bottles, respectively. Each support 16, 18 is arranged to convey two or more bottles for decoration from a loading position to an unloading position (see figures 2 to 5). The two gripping members 17, 17a of each first support 16 grip the bottom of at least two bottles A, B; while the two gripping members 19, 19a of each second support element 18 grip the necks of at least the two bottles A, B, which act as gripping means for gripping and releasing the bottles during the decorating process. A drive means (not shown) is connected to the rotary shaft 12 to rotate the shaft 12 and by rotation to the different transport stations 14. Each transfer station 14 has at least one decorative impression PD. The stamp PD is parallel or at an angle with respect to the surface of the bottle to be decorated and it decorates at least two articles simultaneously with at least two different decorative stamps by moving it longitudinally (forwards and backwards). The stamp PD is also moved laterally relative to the decorated bottle (forward to position the stamp in the decorated bottle position or backward to remove the stamp from the decorated bottle position). The decorator has at least one free transport station 14a for loading articles and another free transport station 14f for unloading articles from the decorator.

As shown in fig. 2A-5B, decorator 10 illustrates six feed stations 14(14a, 14B, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f) coupled to rotating shaft 12 and rotating together at variable and intermittent speeds. Each of the four decorative impressions 20, 22, 24, and 26 is simultaneously positioned above each of the transfer stations 14b, 14c, 14d, and 14 e. These stamps 20, 22, 24 and 26 are placed in a position parallel to the surface of the bottle a (fig. 1A) to be decorated, between the supports 16, 18. According to the schematic illustrations shown in fig. 2A to 5B, the transport station 14a receives the bottles a and B from the conveyor belt 28 by means of a loading device (not shown), and may also receive only one bottle a (see fig. 5A, 5B). The bottles A, B are decorated simultaneously in one or more patterns through the various decorative impressions 20, 22, 24, and 26 and are eventually discharged at the transfer station 14 f. The just decorated article is sent by an unloading conveyor to a packaging area (not shown).

Referring to fig. 2A and 2B separately, a first embodiment illustrates a decorator 10 for simultaneously decorating two bottles a and B with two different pattern stamps. As can be seen in this arrangement, the stamps 20 and 26 are arranged at an angle (approximately 30 ° of tilt) to the position of the transfer stations 14b and 14 e. The stamp 20 is shown tilted outward (to avoid contact with the bottle B) and the stamp 26 is shown at an inward angle (to avoid contact with the bottle a). The stamps 22 and 24 are arranged in a horizontal position relative to the path of revolution of the stations 14c and 14 d. These stamps 20, 22, 24 and 26 have a sliding movement forwards and backwards, while the bottles a and B rotate around the supports 16, 18, by means of which the desired parts of the bottles are decorated.

In the embodiment described above, the decoration of two bottles a and B with two different decorative impressions is done: two bottles are received from conveyor 28 and loaded in position at transfer station 14 a. Bottles a and B move in an intermittent motion to station 14B where the decorating impression is decorated for the first time (bottle a only), while bottle B continues to move to the station below without being decorated. At station 14c and in place of the stamp 22, the decoration of the bottles a is completed, while the bottles B continue to be un-decorated. In position at station 14d and at the decorating impression 24, the bottles B are decorated starting with the first stage of decoration and ending with the second decorative pattern in position at stations 14e and 26. In these last two positions 14d and 14e, the bottle a moves only the same way as the bottle B without any further decoration. Finally, the two newly decorated bottles a and B are discharged onto the discharge conveyor 30 in the appropriate position of the transfer station 14 f.

In a second embodiment of the invention (fig. 3A, 3B), the arrangement of decorator 10 shows the simultaneous decoration of two bottles a and B with three different colours. As can be seen in this arrangement, the stamps 20, 26 are now disposed in a parallel position to the tracks of the two bottles a and B. That is, the stamps 20 and 26 are in direct contact with both bottles A and B at the same time. In this embodiment, the stamps 22 and 24 are held in a horizontal position relative to the tracks of the stations 14c and 14 d. These stamps 20, 22, 24 and 26 have a backward and forward movement, while the bottles a and B are rotated around the supports 16 and 18, by means of which the desired parts of the bottles are decorated.

This is done to decorate two bottles a and B simultaneously with three colors. Bottles a and B are received from conveyor 28 and loaded in place at transfer station 14 a. The bottles a and B are intermittently moved to the position 14B where the decorating stamp 20 is decorated for a first time while decorating the surfaces of the two bottles a and B. The bottles a are individually decorated a second time at the position corresponding to the station 14c and the stamp 22, while the bottles B remain undecorated. The bottles B are decorated a second time (at this station the bottles a are not decorated at all) in a position corresponding to the station 14d and to the decorating stamp 24. In a position corresponding to the 14e stage, the two bottles a and B are decorated a third time simultaneously by using the stamp 26. Finally, the two bottles a and B, which are newly decorated with three colors, are discharged onto the conveyor 30 at the appropriate position of the transfer station 14 f.

Referring now to fig. 4A, 4B, there is shown a schematic view of a third embodiment of a decorator 10 for simultaneously decorating two bottles a and B with four different colors. In this embodiment, the stamps 20, 22, 24 and 26 are arranged parallel or coincident with the decorated surfaces of the two bottles a and B at different stations of the decorator. That is, stations 20, 22, 24 and 26 are now in direct contact with the two bottles a and B, printing a different color (four different colors) at each of stations 14B, 14c, 14d and 14 e.

The decoration of two bottles a and B with four decorative impressions is done: bottles a and B are received from conveyor 28 and loaded at a location corresponding to transfer station 14 a. Bottles a and B are intermittently moved to position 14B where the decorative impression 20 is applied to the bottles a and B directly in a first color. The bottles a and B are applied a second color at locations corresponding to the station 14c and the stamp 22. The bottles a and B are applied in a third colour at the position corresponding to station 14d and to the decorating stamp 24, and finally, the two bottles a and B are given a fourth colour by the printing film 26 at the position corresponding to stage 14 e. Finally, the two bottles a and B, newly decorated with four colors, are discharged onto the conveyor 30 at a position corresponding to the transfer station 14 f. However, as in this embodiment of the invention, the decorator can then decorate up to eight bottles simultaneously in its continuous motion, considerably increasing the productivity of the decorator.

Finally, in a fourth embodiment of the invention, fig. 5A, 5B show views similar to those of fig. 3A, 3B, but with a single bottle a decorated with four patterns or designs. In this embodiment, decorator 10 is able to feed only one bottle a and decorate it with stamps 20, 22, 24 and 26 in four different colors, even when supports 16 and 18 are ready to deliver two bottles. To accomplish this, it is only necessary to give the phase of the stamp 24 relative to the stamp 22. The operation of the decorator is similar to that described above.

Although a decorating machine has been described which can decorate two bottles simultaneously in each station with at least two colors, it is also possible, under the same concept, to apply two or three colors per impression in different portions of the body of the bottle. That is, the stamps PD (stamps 20, 22, 24 and 26) can be divided into two or more paint containers I and II (FIG. 6), each applied to each portion of the bottle in a different decorative pattern or design and color. It is thus possible to print a figure or pattern requiring several colours very close to the bottom of the bottle, while printing another series of patterns of different colours in the middle of the bottle. By way of example, we can refer to the embodiment shown in fig. 4A, 4B, with this arrangement of the containers, it is possible to operate with up to eight colours (four prints at a time) for the bottle with two decorative stamps.

Also, by traversing the stamp (forward contact with the decorated surface and backward out of contact with the decorated surface), two different types of bottles are fed in an alternating fashion, so that the bottles can be decorated with two different colors at a time. As an example, the decorator of the present invention shown in fig. 7A, 7B and 7C, 7D simultaneously decorates two different types of bottles (two or more per station) by alternating the position of the stamps 20, 22, 24 and 26. For example, the stamps 20 and 24 are used to decorate a first pair of bottles A and B with a first decorative motif or pattern; while the other two bottles C and D are decorated with stamps 22 and 26 simultaneously with another different graphic and pattern.

According to the above mentioned arrangement, the processing steps of the decorator are as follows: bottles a and B are received from conveyor 28 and loaded at a location corresponding to transfer station 14 a. The bottles a and B are moved to position 14B in an intermittent motion and the stamps 20 and 24 are moved laterally (into contact with the bottles) for decoration, while the stamps 22 and 26 remain stationary and out of contact with the bottles a and B. At station 14B, the bottles a and B are simultaneously applied with a first color and a second color is applied at station 14d (fig. 7A, 7B). When a second pair of bottles C and D (of different configuration and size) is fed, the stamps 20 and 24 have a lateral outward movement avoiding contact with the bottles C and D, while the stamps 22 and 26 arranged at the stations 14C and 14e are moved laterally inward, applying a different decoration to the surface of the bottles C and D (fig. 7C, 7D). Such alternating movement of the stamp serves to change the number of colors required by the bottle.

In a continuous decorating process, two or more bottles A and B will be decorated at stations 14B and 14D simultaneously, and two or more bottles C and D of different configurations or with different decorative patterns will be decorated at stations 14C and 14 e. All bottles will be removed at the position of station 14 f.

Although a decorator has been described for decorating bottles in a horizontal position, it is also possible to change the structure of the decorator in such a way that bottles a and B are fed in a vertical direction, i.e. the rotatable shaft will be in a vertical position and the transfer station 14 will be moving the bottles in a vertical position. In this case the first support 16 will support the bottom of the bottle and the second support 18 will support the neck or mouth of this bottle with its upper part. Stations 20, 22, 24 and 26 will coincide in a vertical position with the surface of each bottle being decorated.

From the above, the method for decorating bottles or similar articles comprises the steps of:

a) feeding a plurality of decorated bottles or similar articles from a conveyor belt of a decorating machine to a transfer station;

b) simultaneously loading each transfer station 14, 14 'of the decorator with at least two bottles or similar articles, the transfer station 14, 14' comprising: first supports 16, each first support 16 having at least two gripping devices 17, 17a for gripping the bottom of at least two bottles or similar articles; second supports 18, each second support 18 having at least two gripping means 19, 19a for gripping the necks of at least two bottles A, B or similar articles, the gripping means being symmetrically arranged in order to be able to print at least two of said bottles or similar articles;

c) rotating the transfer station in an intermittent motion and bringing the bottles or similar articles into registration with the decorative impressions located at each printing station of the decorator;

d) decorating at least two bottles or similar articles with a printing die PD at each transfer station, each die PD being adjusted to be parallel or at an angle to the surface of a bottle A, B or similar article, so as to decorate at least the two bottles or similar articles simultaneously at each printing stage, while, for decoration with each decorative die, each bottle or similar article is rotated about its own axis;

e) the at least two bottles or similar articles decorated last are discharged from the transfer station onto the aforesaid conveyor belt.

In the process of simultaneously decorating bottles, a method of decorating bottles or similar articles comprises: at least two bottles are decorated with three different decorative impressions.

In the process of simultaneously decorating bottles, a method of decorating bottles or similar articles comprises: at least two bottles are decorated with four different decorative impressions.

In the process of decorating bottles simultaneously, the method of decorating bottles or similar articles further comprises: at least one bottle is decorated with four different decorative impressions.

In the process of decorating at least two bottles simultaneously, a method of decorating bottles or similar articles comprising: the stamp is moved alternately in a lateral motion, forwardly to contact the surface of the bottle and rearwardly out of range of contact with the bottle, in order to change the number of colors required by the bottle.

As can be seen from the above described embodiments, a method and a decorator for decorating bottles or similar articles have been described and illustrated, increasing the productivity and the number of colours to be printed in the decorator. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and that it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other arrangements, such as a greater number of stations and alternative implementations, may be implemented on the decorator within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed below.

Claims (3)

1. A decorating machine for decorating bottles or similar articles, comprising: a support structure; a rotatable shaft (12) connected to the support structure to rotate about its own axis in intermittent motion; a plurality of transfer stations (14, 14 ') connected to said shaft and rotating with said rotatable shaft (12), each transfer station (14, 14') having a first support (16) and a second support (18) arranged one behind the other, with a distance left between them to support the neck and the bottom of a bottle, respectively, for transferring bottles or similar articles from a loading position to an unloading position of the decorator; a drive device connected to a rotatable shaft (12), the rotatable shaft (12) and the transport station (14) being rotated together by means of the drive device; and a stamp (PD) for each transfer station (14b, 14c, 14d and 14e), said stamp (PD) being placed opposite and overlapping a surface of the bottle or similar article to be decorated, characterized in that it further comprises:

-at least two gripping means (17, 17a) for each first support (16) to grip the bottom of at least said two bottles (A, B) or similar articles; and

-at least two gripping means (19, 19a) for each second support (18) to grip the necks of at least said two bottles (A, B) or similar articles, said gripping means being arranged symmetrically so as to be able to print the two bottles or similar articles mentioned above with a single stamp at each printing station, each stamp (PD) being adjusted parallel or at an angle to the surface of the bottle (A, B) or similar article in order to decorate said two bottles or similar articles at least simultaneously in each printing stage.

2. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two decorative impressions are placed in an angular position with respect to at least two bottles or similar articles to be decorated; furthermore, at least two further stamps are placed in a position parallel to the same surface of the bottle or similar article to be decorated, so that at least two decorative motifs or patterns can be applied to the bottle or similar article during the decoration process.

3. Method for decorating bottles or similar articles, comprising the steps of:

a) feeding a plurality of bottles or similar articles to be decorated from a conveyor belt of a decorating machine to a transfer station;

b) simultaneously loading each transfer station (14, 14 ') of the decorator with at least two bottles or similar articles, the transfer station (14, 14') comprising: -first supports (16), each first support (16) having at least two gripping devices (17, 17a) for gripping the bottom of at least two bottles or similar articles; -second supports (18), each second support (18) having at least two gripping means (19, 19a) for gripping the necks of at least two bottles (A, B) or similar articles, the gripping means being symmetrically arranged in order to be able to print at least two of said bottles or similar articles;

c) rotating the transfer stations in an intermittent motion and causing the bottles to coincide with the decorative impressions located at each printing station of the decorator;

d) decorating at least two bottles or similar articles with stamps (PD) at each transfer station, each stamp (PD) being adjusted parallel or at an angle to the surface of a bottle (A, B) or similar article, so as to decorate at least the two bottles or similar articles simultaneously at each printing stage, while, for decoration with each decorated stamp, each bottle or similar article is rotated about its own axis;

e) the at least two bottles or similar articles decorated last are discharged from the transfer station onto the aforesaid conveyor belt.