Patent ID: 9409433
Filing Date: 2016-08-09
CPC Classification: B41F,B41M,B41N

Claim Text:
1. A method of using a decorator in a printing process to decorate an exterior surface of a plurality of metallic containers with different images, comprising: providing a first printing plate positioned on a first plate cylinder of the decorator which includes a first ink receiving region and a relief area that will not receive ink; providing a second printing plate positioned on a second plate cylinder of the decorator which includes a second ink receiving region that aligns with the relief area of the first printing plate; providing a first transfer plate positioned on a blanket cylinder of the decorator with a face portion defining a first plane, the first transfer plate including a first image in a first predetermined portion of the face portion, wherein at least a portion of the first image has a depth that is lower than the first plane and no portion of the first image projects above the first plane; providing a second transfer plate positioned on the blanket cylinder with a face portion defining a second plane, the second transfer plate including a second image in a second predetermined portion of the face portion, wherein at least a portion of the second image has a depth that is lower than the second plane and no portion of the second image projects above the second plane, and wherein the first predetermined portion of the first transfer plate and the second predetermined portion of the second transfer plate each align with the relief area of the first printing plate and the second ink receiving region of the second printing plate during a transfer of ink from the first and second printing plates to the first and second transfer plates; applying a first ink to the first ink receiving region of the first printing plate; transferring the first ink from the first printing plate to other predetermined portions of the face portions of each of the first and second transfer plates; applying a second ink to the second ink receiving region of the second printing plate; transferring the second ink from the second ink receiving region of the second printing plate to the first image of the first transfer plate and to the second image of the second transfer plate; transferring the first and second inks from the first transfer plate to an exterior surface of a first metallic container, wherein the first metallic container is decorated with the first ink and with the first image formed of the second ink; and transferring the first and second inks from the second transfer plate to an exterior surface of a second metallic container, wherein the second metallic container is decorated with the first ink and with the second image formed of the second ink.