Printing – Inkers – Roller
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-31
2001-01-30
Colilla, Daniel J. (Department: 2854)
Printing
Inkers
Roller
C101S040000, C101SDIG029
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178886
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to can decorating apparatus, to inking arrangements for such apparatus, and particularly to replacing one inking arrangement with another, primarily for facilitating reconfiguring each inking arrangement while the other one is in use for causing minimal down time of the can decorator.
An inking arrangement for a can decorating apparatus includes several individual inkers which are mounted around a rotatable blanket cylinder for applying various color ink patterns to respective blankets on the blanket cylinder. That cylinder in turn transfers the ink color patterns to individual cans presented for decoration by a can handling apparatus. Examples of a continuous motion can printing apparatus of this type are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,766,851 and 5,111,742, incorporated herein by reference. A typical can decorating apparatus is operated to decorate one plurality of cans with one set of ink patterns and to then decorate a succeeding plurality of cans with a different set of ink patterns. As different can decorating patterns may use different ink colors and different ink patterns, the inkers and the blanket cylinder must be reconfigured, i.e. cleaned and/or changed to accommodate the new decorative pattern for the succeeding plurality of cans.
A typical can decorating apparatus includes a single array of inkers inking a single blanket cylinder. When a second plurality of cans is to be printed with a different pattern than was printed on a first plurality of cans, the can decorating apparatus is halted, the individual inkers are cleaned, new or different inks and colors are applied, and the blankets on the blanket cylinder are replaced with new blankets for receiving the new inking patterns. The inking arrangement is then ready for decorating the second plurality of cans. Reconfiguring an inking arrangement in a can decorating apparatus for such a labeling change takes about 22 minutes. During this down time, no cans are being decorated. Changeovers for different can colors and decorations may occur several times during a work day, each with the above noted down time.
An attempt was made in the art to replace an inking arrangement that had been in use with a spare inking arrangement adjacent to the decorating apparatus. Upon conclusion of decoration of one plurality of cans, the first inking arrangement with the blanket cylinder and the inkers was moved out of the operating position and away from the can handling apparatus and another inking arrangement was moved into the operating position at the can handling apparatus for enabling rapid restart of the inking. In particular, the inventor hereof is aware of one prior apparatus that moved inking arrangements in and out of position at the can handling apparatus along a system of tracks with a turntable near the can handling apparatus for positioning each arrangement for inking. It is believed that this prior apparatus was found unacceptable in practice primarily because of the complexity of the track system and the exchange of inkers, and this track system for inking arrangement substitution has been discontinued.
A can decorating installation often includes several can decorating apparatus arranged near to each other. To ease servicing and minimize use of floor space, the apparatus are placed as close together as practicable. An installation using several can decorating apparatus, each with more than one inking arrangement, will take up considerable space. Space is needed between neighboring apparatus so that each inking arrangement can be easily reconfigured for another decorating job. Reducing the space required for several apparatus is desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to reduce the inking pattern changeover time for a can decorating apparatus.
Another object of the invention is to provide an operator of a can decorating apparatus with ease of access to one inking arrangement to be reconfigured after a second inking arrangement has been substituted at a can decorating apparatus.
A further object is to minimize the floor space needed for an installation using several can decorating apparatus and each associated with several inking arrangements.
Another object of the invention is to provide a system which may be installed as a retrofit on existing can decorating apparatus or may be installed in new can decorating apparatus.
According to preferred embodiments of the invention, one inking installation for a can decorating installation includes a first and a second inking arrangement, each including a blanket cylinder and a plurality of inkers supported on the blanket cylinder. In one embodiment, both inking arrangements are supported on a rotatable plate at angularly spaced apart locations, e.g., offset 180° apart in one embodiment or 90° apart in a second embodiment. The inking arrangements are both placed so that their blanket cylinders face radially outward. A single conventional can handling apparatus, including a can supporting mandrel, is arranged opposed in the usual way to the blanket cylinder of the inking arrangement.
Either the 180° or the 90° angular offset or perhaps another angular offset between the inking arrangements is selected for convenience, providing sufficient space for an operator to work between the inking arrangements for cleaning and ink changing, etc. which is needed at each printing reconfiguration. A shorter angular spacing might reduce plate rotation time, which is a desirable benefit.
The second inking arrangement is angularly offset to and therefore is to the side of the first inking arrangement, so that the second inking arrangement is accessible to a machine operator who can reconfigure the then out of use inking arrangement for the next plurality of cans to be decorated. At the conclusion of a decorating run of one plurality of cans and when it is desired to change to the next can decorating program, the then operative inking arrangement, comprised of a blanket cylinder and inkers, is shifted radially inwardly on the rotatable plate a short distance away from the can handling apparatus. The inking arrangement is shifted radially far enough to clear the can handling apparatus of the decorator. Then the plate can be moved, and particularly rotated, without endangering or permitting contact with the can handling apparatus or the inking arrangements. For example, the inking arrangement may be shifted by being retracted laterally about two feet (about 60 cm), which disengages the inking arrangement and clears any possible contact with the can handling apparatus. The plate is then rotated, e.g. by 180° or 90°, to bring the second, now reconfigured, inking arrangement to the can handling apparatus. When the second inking arrangement is at the can handling apparatus, plate rotation is halted. The second inking arrangement including the blanket cylinder and the inkers is shifted laterally outward on the plate to the operative position at the can handling apparatus.
The present invention contemplates other techniques for moving the first and second inking arrangements into and out of the operating position at the can handling apparatus and for reconfiguration and servicing.
In one of these alternative embodiments, each of the inking arrangements or apparatus is movable along a respective track. The tracks merge the paths of the inking arrangements when they are at the can handling apparatus. After the inking arrangements are retracted slightly from the can handling apparatus, the tracks diverge, producing a Y-shaped configuration wherein each inking arrangement is moved out along its respective leg of the Y for reconfiguration and each inking arrangement is moved in along its leg of the Y to the can handling apparatus when a change in inking configuration is needed.
In yet another embodiment, both of the inking arrangements are mounted on a laterally movable or reciprocable plate which is selectively movable when both individual inking arrangements are retracted back from the can han
Padilla Mario Gary
Williams Robert
Bittman Mitchell D.
Colilla Daniel J.
Sequa Corporation
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