Patent ID: 8851592
Filing Date: 2014-10-07
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A system for printing indicia on latex, comprising: a latex surface supported by a mold, said mold comprising a substantially cylindrical body extending lengthwise about a longitudinal axis and further comprising a distal bulbous end, wherein said mold is supported at its proximal end by a rotary mold mount that allows rotation about said longitudinal axis; a printer comprising one or more print heads and a printer engine; a base plate sized and shaped to extend along said latex surface, said base plate defining a plurality of ports therethrough, each sized and shaped to receive one of said one or more print heads; and a rotational drive system for selectively rotating said mold about its longitudinal axis, said rotational drive system comprising a stepper motor in communication with said printer engine, wherein said printer engine is configured to activate said one or more print heads, in coordination with said rotational drive system, such that indicia is printed onto a substantially contiguous area of said latex surface, said area defined by a circumferential border around said cylindrical body at a proximal plane and by said distal bulbous end, wherein said base plate is substantially planar and comprises a linear portion extending along at least a portion of said substantially cylindrical body, and an angled portion extending from a distal end of said linear portion, and angled toward and extending along said distal bulbous end of said mold, wherein said linear portion defines at least a first port for receiving a first print head and a second port for receiving a second print head, and wherein said angled portion defines at least a third port for receiving a third print head, and wherein said first print head is vertically oriented at a first acute angle relative to a vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, and wherein said second print head is vertically oriented at a second acute angle relative to said vertical axis.