Patent GB-731649-A (GB)
Title: Method of printing blown plastic bottles having flexible walls
IPC: B41F19/06
Filed: 1953-09-21
Abstract: 731,649. Printing on flexible containers. PEERLESS ROLL LEAF CO., Inc. Sept. 21, 1953 [May 4, 1953], No. 26003/53. Classes 100 (2) and 100 (4). A method of printing on containers having flexible walls comprises the steps of positioning the container between die-holding members having cavities closely fitting the outside contour of the container, feeding at least one pigment ribbon between the container and the wall of the die-holding members, closing the dieholding members on the container and applying air pressure within the container to expand it against the walls of the die-holding members and the ribbon covered die so that the surface of the container is marked, separating the dieholding members and removing the container. In the machine shown in Fig. 4 a series of containers 46 are presented in turn at the printing station by a member 39 rotatably mounted on a shaft 37 and supporting the containers on a series of hollow arms 40. Printed containers are removed and fresh ones are mounted on the arms at a point remote from the printing station. The shaft 37 is rotated intermittently by a Geneva gear comprising a slotted plate 36 and a co-operating arm 35 and locking segment 34 mounted on a shaft 24. Shaft 24 is rotated by an electric motor through gearing and a clutch 25, Fig. 3, adapted to be coupled by actuation of a foot pedal. Bores 41 in the member 39 connect the hollow arm 40 supporting the container in the printing position with a source of air pressure through the bore 42 in a stationary member 43 and pipe 45. The air supply to pipe 45 is controlled by a valve 50 actuated at the correct instant by a cam 47 on the shaft 24. The die holding members comprise recessed blocks 81, Fig. 9, adapted to fit the containers and having die parts 80 mounted in openings therein. The main body parts of the blocks 81 are cooled by a liquid circulation through connections 82 at top and bottom. The dies are heated by heaters 76 thermally connected thereto through parts 79b and dove-tail section sliders 79 retained in dove-tail slots in heaters 76. The heaters are attached to moving members 75, Figs. 2 and 3, and insulated therefrom by insulating plates 77. Each moving member 75 is mounted for rectilinear motion by guide rods 78 slidably mounted in a box-shaped frame 69. Toggle links 63, 64 connected at one end to an ear 74 on the member 75 and to an adjust. able lug 67 at the other are actuated to move the die holding members towards or away from each other by pistons mounted in cylinders 56 and connected to the common pivot 65 of the links by a rod 60 and yoke 62. Valves controlling the supply of air to the cylinders 56 are governed by solenoids energized at the proper instant by switches 54, 55 actuated by cams 52, 53 on shaft 24. In a modification each moving member 75 is actuated as shown in Fig. 11 by a toggle joint 63, 64 the centre point of which is connected through a link 116 and a bell-crank lever 114 to the piston rod 62. The member 75 is guided for rectilinear motion by a guide plate 78 the edges of which are received in slots in fixed parts of the machine. Pigment ribbon feed.-As shown in Fig. 2, pigment ribbons are fed from rolls 86 over bars 87, through slots in the blocks 81 under bars 88, and through feed rollers 89, 90. An eccentric circular cam slot in a member 91, Fig. 3, on shaft 24 causes horizontal reciprocation of a cam follower 92, the end 94, Fig. 2, of which is connected to an arm 95 to cause oscillation of a shaft 96. A bevel gear 98 on this shaft meshes with a pair of bevel gears 99, Fig. 7, and 100 Fig. 2, mounted on a shaft 101. The gear 100 is connected to an arm 103 coupled by a link 104 to a similar arm 103 mounted on a shaft 106 which is thereby moved in synchronism with shaft 101. The shafts 101 and 106 carry slotted arms as at 102, Fig. 7. This arm carries an adjustable rack bar 108 meshing with a pinion 109 connected through a pawl and ratchet with the upper feed roller 89. By this means the ribbon is advanced in adjustable steps. Slots 81a, Fig. 9, in the die-holding block 81 allow the ribbon to pass between the surface of the container and the die. The heat and pressure causes the pigment of the ribbon to be softened and transferred to the surface of the container.