Patent ID: 6619196
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: B41F,B41J

Abstract:
An apparatus for printing conical shaped objects, each object having a head portion with a wide diameter, a pointed tail portion with a narrow diameter and a length, said apparatus comprising:a rack for holding a row of objects, said rack having two rails that are selectively spaced apart a sufficient distance so that object heads rest on said rails and the object tails extend downward from said rails; a conveying means including an endless carrying device and a plurality of pairs of entrainers, each pair of entrainers being disposed side-by-side, and said pairs of entrainers being longitudinally spaced apart from each other on said carrying device a distance greater then the length of the objects, said conveying means also having a horizontally oriented upper run and a turning end; and a printing apparatus positioned to print said objects when said objects are on the upper run of said conveying means carrying device, wherein said conveying means is positioned so that the turning end of said conveying means is positioned so that, when each said pair of entrainers is at the turning end and moves vertically from a bottom position to the upper run, said pair of entrainers engage under the head of a lead object in the row of objects to place the lead object on the upper run of said conveying means to transport the lead object to said printing apparatus.