Patent ID: 6578476
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: B29C,B41F,B41M,B43K,B44C

Abstract:
A process for placing printed color images on a series of objects, each object having a curved exterior surface, the process comprising the steps of:generating digital data for printing onto a print medium to form a plurality of color images, wherein the data represents a plurality of color images and a location where the colors may be printed to form the images; providing a print medium, said medium having first and second sides, with the first carrying a coating which is releasable from the medium and is formulated to retain printing inks, wherein the print medium is constituted by an elongated web which is in the form of a roll; providing a digitally controlled color printer having a plurality of print heads for dispensing printing inks of respectively different colors; supplying the generated digital data to the printer; feeding the print medium through the printer and past the print heads such that the web is unwound from the roll for feeding through the printer and operating the print heads under control of the generated data to print the color images on the coating; arranging the images to be printed onto the coating of the print medium to form at least one column of images; providing a transfer positioning conveyor for placing the objects to be printed at a desired location relative to the print medium; moving a succession of the objects to be printed by the conveyor to a position adjacent to the print medium; placing a portion of the coating on which an image has been printed in contact with the object; and applying heat by means of a heater to the print medium, wherein the conveyor is disposed adjacent to the first side of the print medium and the heater is disposed adjacent to the second side of the print medium; and transferring the image to the curved exterior surface of the object by rotating the object such that (i) the curved exterior surface of the object comes into contact along a portion of the coating on which an image has been printed; (ii) printing of the object begins and ends at predetermined times; and (iii) the object and coating are maintained in a non-sliding contact with one another.