Patent Publication Number: US-9415607-B2

Title: Device for applying decorations to containers

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the national stage entry under 35 USC 371 of PCT application PCT/EP2012/004360, filed on Oct. 18, 2012, which claims the benefit of the Nov. 23, 2011 priority date of German application DE 10 2011 119 169.4, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention relates to application of decorations onto a container, and in particular, to an apparatus for digitally printing decorations onto a container. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Methods and devices for generating decorations or decorative features by printing on an outer surface of a container are known. It is also known to apply multicolored prints to a container by contact-free printing, for example, by inkjet printing, with each print head having a plurality of jets for the application of the different colors of ink. The jets are controlled electrically and individually. 
     Although the direct printing of containers offers considerable advantages, inter alia in terms of flexibility of the printed image and its design and/or alteration and also with regard to costs, the problem persists that when recycling containers of this kind, container material and printing ink both make their way into the recycling material. This leads to an unwanted contamination of the recycled material. 
     To resolve this problem, WO 2010/048119 suggests that an additional intermediate or base coat be applied on the outer surface of the particular container. Then, in one or more further processing steps, a multi-colored print is applied to the base coat. A known method for applying the material forming the base coat is spraying. However, spraying is time-consuming for large-area printing. In addition, some of the sprayed or squirted base coat material inevitably escapes into the environment. 
     The particular decoration thus comprises, in the end, the base coat and the print. With the base coat, not only is an improvement of the adhesion of the print achieved, but there is then also the possibility of selecting the material for the base coat and the printing colors or printing inks taking account of the material of the container so that the adhesion between the print and the base coat is greater than the corresponding adhesion between the base coat and the container. 
     The adhesion between the base coat and the container is selected so that during the entire container cycle and also in the event of any re-use of the containers, the base coat, with the print imprinted thereon, does not detach from the particular container. But in the event of recycling, the base coat together with the print that still adheres to it, can be detached from the containers or from their walls. The process of detaching the base coat from the container can be carried out, for example mechanically and/or with a suitable liquid medium etc. Examples of materials suitable as a base coat material include polyolefins or other monomers, and plastics or polymers that can be cross-linked by processing with UV radiation. 
     A difficulty that arises with known solutions is that the fluids used for base coats, coatings, finishing etc. tend to have low viscosity. As a result, it has not been possible to handle them at high machine speeds because of the risk of misting and detachment. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of the invention is to provide a simple way to apply base coat material that forms a base coat on a container so that a particular decoration can be printed onto containers in an environmentally friendly way, over a large area of the container, and with high container throughput. 
     The particular advantage of the invention relies on the use of a transfer element or pad, in particular of a transfer element or pad with an inflow from the rear, for application of the base coat material. This completely resolves the aforesaid contamination problems. 
     Moreover, the use of a transfer element is clearly more economical than, for example, the use of additional print heads. 
     Furthermore, the fluid to be applied is transferred from the coating installation by rotating transfer elements carrying the transfer coat. In doing so, the particular container, e.g. the bottle, is rolled, preferably slip-free, for the application of the base coat or of the base coat material forming this base coat. This rolling takes place, as a rule, by the transfer element and the particular container rolling against each other. Ideally, there is no direct touching contact of the elements of the container and the transfer coat. Instead, the fluid adhering in the area of the greatest proximity of the container and transfer coat or transfer surface forms a fluidic bridge. 
     The transfer coat is bent in a convex manner, preferably in a circular cylindrical convex manner, around an axis, for example around an axis of rotation or pivot axis of the transfer element. Moreover, the transfer element is a roller-like or ring-like element forming the transfer coat on its preferably circular-cylindrical outer surface. 
     As used herein, the term “containers” means cans, bottles, tubes, pouches, in each case made of metal, glass and/or plastic, and also other packaging means that are suitable for filling with liquid or viscous products. 
     As used herein, the term “containers” refers to containers made of plastic, for example PET (polyethylene terephthalate). 
     As used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately” mean deviations from exact values in each case by +/−10%, and preferably by +/−5% and/or deviations in the form of changes not significant for functioning. 
     In one aspect, the invention features an apparatus for use in connection with application of decoration to a container by printing thereon. Such an apparatus includes a container transport system having a first processing position configured to receive a first container, a first coating installation that is part of the first transfer element and that is disposed at the first processing position, and a first transfer element. The first transfer element is configured to apply a base coat to the first container by either rolling on the container or rolling off the first container. 
     In some embodiments, the first transfer element is a rotating transfer element that includes a transfer coat. In these embodiments, the first container rolls in a slip-free or substantially slip-free manner on an outer surface of the first transfer element to receive the base coat. Among these embodiments are those in which the first transfer element is configured such that, in operation, the first transfer element avoids contact with the first container. Also among these embodiments are those in which, in an area of greatest proximity between the first container and the first transfer element, an adjustable perpendicular surface distance separates the first container and the first transfer element. 
     In some embodiments, the first transfer element includes a transfer coat that is permeable by a coating material that can flow. Among these embodiments are those in which the transfer coat includes a sponge-like buffer coat, an elastic coat, a soft coat, or an absorbent coat. In some cases, there is also a porous wall. In these cases, the first transfer element includes the porous wall in the transfer coat. The porous wall includes a carrier-and-distribution coat and a plurality of openings. The openings, which can be micro-openings or micro-pores, enable the base coat material to be transported under pressure and to be evenly distributed onto the transfer coat. The base coat material is transported in an axial direction that is radial to either a circulation of the first transfer element, an axis of rotation of the first transfer element, or an axis of rotation of a carrier of the first transfer element. 
     In additional embodiments, the first transfer element includes a rotating transfer element. In these embodiments, the first coating installation includes a station, and the rotating transfer element is moved past the station to apply base coat material onto the transfer coat before the rotating transfer element, in its further circulation, reaches a transfer position at which the first container is rolled on the transfer coat. 
     Other embodiments include a sensor disposed at the transfer position. This sensor is configured to measure a distance between the first container and a structure selected from the group consisting of the first transfer element and the transfer coat. 
     Yet other embodiments include a supply-or-buffer chamber in which the porous wall separates an inside of the supply-or-buffer chamber from either the transfer coat or a damping-and-buffer coat, and in which the inside of the supply-or-buffer chamber is connected by a pipe to a source that supplies the base coat material under pressure to the supply-or-buffer chamber. In such embodiments, the supply-or-buffer chamber is connected to a further pipe that is disposed to return base coat material from the supply-or-buffer chamber to the source. 
     Also within the scope of the invention are embodiments that have a carrier that can be driven for rotation around a carrier axis. In these embodiments, the first transfer element is disposed on the carrier. In such cases, the apparatus also has a second transfer element that has the same structure as the first transfer element, and that is also disposed on a carrier. 
     Additional embodiments include those having a draining installation to collect excess base coat material from either a transfer area between the first container and the first transfer element, a damping-and-buffer coat that forms a transfer coat, or a porous wall that acts as a carrier-and-distribution coat. 
     Other embodiments have a heating installation for tempering the base coat material. The heating installation is arranged in the supply-or-buffer chamber. 
     Other embodiments have a sensor disposed at the transfer position. The sensor is configured to monitor application of the base coat on the first container. 
     Some embodiments also have a first rotor that can be driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis. The first processing position is disposed on this first rotor. The apparatus also has a second processing position disposed on the first rotor the second processing position being configured to receive a second container. The second processing position includes a second coating installation that includes a second transfer element. The second transfer element is configured to apply a base coat to the second container by either rolling on the second container or rolling off the second container. Some of these embodiments have a second rotor disposed to receive containers from the first rotor. The second rotor includes processing positions for printing onto the base coat provided at the first rotor. In these embodiments, the first and second rotors define at least part of a transport stretch. 
     Some embodiments also have a closing element provided on the first transfer element. The closing element is a one-part closing element or a multi-part closing element that is either pivotable or movable. The closing element can be a closure cap or a cover. 
     Among the foregoing embodiments are those in which the first transfer element includes a transfer coat, and in which the closure element, when brought to a position at which the closure element is to be used, cooperates with the transfer coat to form an outlet space or a gap. The fluid is either a cleaning agent, a solvent, or a mixture thereof that flows in a circuit that passes through the outlet space or gap. 
     Some embodiments also include an inkjet print head disposed to direct ink toward the base coat on the first container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is explained in more detail below by means of the figures using examples of embodiments in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic representation and in cross-section of a container wall of a container and a decoration applied onto the outer surface of the container wall, consisting of a separating or base coat and a print; 
         FIG. 2  is a simplified schematic and perspective representation of a device or installation for the application of the decoration in the form of a multiple or multi-colored print onto the containers; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of the device or installation of  FIG. 2  in plan view; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic representation and in a plan view of a transport or conveyance path of the containers through the device or installation in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a simplified schematic representation of a coating installation of a processing station for the application of the base coat onto the containers; and 
         FIGS. 6, 7 and 8  are simplified perspective representations of a coating installation of a processing station for the application of the base coat onto the containers in the case of different embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the figures, an installation  2  receives a container  1  and prints a decoration  4  the outside of the container&#39;s wall  3 . These containers  1  are generally bottles, preferably plastic bottles, such as PET bottles. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the container decoration  4  consists of a base coat  5 , or “print carrier coat.” The base coat  5  is applied directly onto the container wall  3 . A multicolor print  6  is then applied onto the base coat  5 . 
     Among the functions of the base coat  5  is to improve the adhesion of the print  6  on the container wall  3 , and to assure a consistent printing surface, thereby avoiding the need to consider the container or bottle material when formulating an ink. 
     Also among the functions of the base coat  5  is to take on the recycling characteristics of the ink. For example, when recycling a particular container  1 , it becomes possible to easily detach the decoration, i.e. the base coat  5  together with the print  6 , from the container  1 . This detachment can be carried out by a drive-sink process in which the components of the shredded or chopped container  1  are introduced into a separating liquid that separates the components of the container decoration  4  from the material of the container wall  3  and at the same time, separates the shredded components by floating them either in the separating liquid or in a further liquid. 
     The selection of a material for the base coat  5  and the print  6  or for the printing colors or printing inks used for this print  6  takes into account the material from which the containers  1  are made. Among other advantages, this enables the adhesion between the print  6  and the base coat  5  to be greater than the adhesion between the base coat  5  and the container wall  3 . It also enables the total thickness of the decoration  4  to be less than the thickness of the material of the container wall  3 . 
     Additionally, the materials are selected such that the adhesion of the print  6  on the base coat  5  and the adhesion of the base coat  5  on the container wall  3  are sufficiently great so that, during the entire container cycle, and in particular also in the event of any re-use of the containers  1 , no separation occurs. Furthermore, the material for the base coat  5  is also selected so that the base coat  5  is flexible enough to follow deformations of the particular container  1 . 
     Polyolefins or other monomers are suitable as a material for the base coat  5 . The print  6  is preferably made by contact-free printing. Such contact-free printing can be carried out with print heads, each of which generates one color set of the multicolored print  6 . The print heads are inkjet print heads that have electrically controlled jets to apply the printing color or printing ink. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , an installation  2  comprises modules  7 . 1 - 7 . 8  adjacent to each other in a container transport direction A. Each module has an base unit  8 . The base units  8  of the different modules  7 . 1 - 7 . 8  are identical. 
     Each base unit  8  has a rotor  9  that is driven to rotate around a vertical module or machine axis MA. The rotor  9  is fitted on its circumference with a plurality of container holding positions or processing positions  10 . The processing positions  10  are designed according to the function of the particular module  7 . 1 - 7 . 8  that they inhabit. 
     During the operation of the installation  2 , the rotors  9  are driven synchronously, but in opposite directions. As a result, whenever a processing position  10  of a rotor  9  has reached a connection or transfer area of an adjacent rotor  9 , a processing position  10  on the rotor  9  is ready to receive a container  1  from or transfer a container  1  to its adjacent rotor  9 . 
     The rotors  9  are connected to each other for transport purposes. Collectively, the rotors  9  form a meandering container transport stretch  11 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The containers  1  are moved along the transport stretch  11  in the container transport direction A from a container infeed  2 . 1  to a container release  2 . 2 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, a first module  7 . 1  forms an inlet module by means of which the containers  1  are supplied to the container transport stretch  11 . There is however the possibility that, even in this first module  7 . 1 , a pre-processing of the containers  1  to promote printing takes place. 
     In a base-coating module  7 . 2 , transfer elements  14  apply a base coat  5  onto the outer surface of the container wall  3 . The transfer elements  14  rotate together with the containers  1 . 
     The third through seventh modules  7 . 3 - 7 . 7  following in container transport direction A are print modules. In each print module  7 . 3 - 7 . 7 , or at the processing positions  10  of their rotors  9 , one color set of the multi-colored print  6  is applied onto the containers  1  or onto the base coat  5 . Some of the print modules  7 . 3 - 7 . 7  or the processing positions  10  on the rotors  9  also include facilities for drying or cross linking the printing color or printing ink that forms the particular print  6 . 
     The eighth module  7 . 8  forms an outlet module that moves the printed containers onto the container outlet  2 . 1  and onto the adjacent transport stretch. 
     In some embodiments, the transport installations for supplying and removing the containers in and out of the installation  2  and also the rotors  9  and their processing positions  10  are made such that the containers  1  are suspended from an area near their upper container openings. Alternatively, a centering bell can hold containers  1  standing on a bearing plate. 
     The printing of the containers  1  in the printer modules  7 . 3 - 7 . 7  takes place in a contact-free free manner using inkjet print heads. At least one print head is provided at each processing position  10 . 
     The particularity of the invention lies in the design of the base-coating module  7 . 2  or of the processing positions  10  at which the application of the base coat  5  takes place by rolling. 
     The seventh module  7 . 7  can be a finish-coat module that is designed in a manner similar to the base-coating module  7 . 2 . At the finish-coat module, a similar method is used for subsequent sealing, lacquering, or otherwise coating of the printed image. Such a finish-coat module is not described or named separately as it is basically built and operated in a manner similar to the base-coating module  7 . 2 . In effect, in such a module, the “base coat” just becomes the union of the base coat  5  and the print  6 . 
       FIG. 4  shows, in a schematic detail and in plan view, an application or coating installation  12  of a processing position  10  of the base-coating module  7 . 2 , together with a partial illustration of a container  1  during the application of the liquid or pourable base coat material forming the base coat  5 . Each processing position  10  of the coating module  7 . 2  is designed with an independent coating installation  12 . 
     The coating installation  12  includes a rotating carrier  13  that can be driven around a carrier axis TA of the coating module  7 . 2  (arrow B) synchronously with the rotation of the rotor  9 . The carrier axis TA is oriented parallel to the machine axis MA. 
     Distributed around the carrier axis TA at regular angular distances and at the same radial distance from the carrier axis TA are segment-like transfer elements  14 . Each transfer element  14  is mounted on the rotating carrier  13  such that it can pivot around its pivot axis PA, which is parallel to both the machine axis MA and to the carrier axis TA. 
     Each transfer element  14  has a side that is a radially outer side relative to the carrier axis TA. Each transfer element  14  has a transfer coat  15  on this radially outer side. The transfer coat  15  is part of a circular cylinder surface around an axis running parallel to the machine axis MA, the carrier axis TA and the pivot axis PA. 
     With rotating carriers  13  driven in rotation in the direction of arrow B, each transfer element  14  is first moved past a station  16  at which the base coat material that forms the base coat  5  is applied onto the transfer coat  15  at a defined coat thickness, a defined width, with the width direction being the direction along the pivot axis PA, and with a defined length, with the length direction being along the direction of rotation B. To apply this base coat material, the station  16  has a drum  17  driven to rotate around an axis parallel to the machine axis MA. At a station  16 , which is not illustrated, the drum  17  is given an even application of the base coat material of the necessary coat thickness. 
     The transfer elements  14  roll with their transfer coat  15  in a slip-free or in a substantially slip-free manner on the drum  17 . The rolling is carried out by controlling pivotal movement around the pivot axes PA. 
     The rotating carrier  13  then takes the transfer elements  14 , which have been provided with the base coat material on their respective transfer coats  15 , to a transfer position  18 . At the transfer position  18 , the base coat material is transferred from the transfer coat  15  onto the outer surface of the container wall  3  of a container  1  that is standing ready to receive it. This is achieved by rolling the transfer coat  15  onto the container. 
     To achieve this with the rotating carrier  13  rotating continuously in the direction of the arrow B, the container  1  is rotated about its vertical container axis in the direction of the arrow C. Meanwhile, the relevant transfer element  14  is pivoted or rotated in a controlled manner around its pivot axis PA in such a way that the container  1 , and in particular, the outer surface of its container wall  3 , rolls in a slip-free or substantially slip-free manner on the transfer coat  15 . As a result, the base coat material is applied onto the container wall  3  at the thickness needed for the base coat  5 . 
     The coating installation  12  also has a finishing station  19  for drying, hardening, or cross-linking the base coat  5 . The finishing station  19  carries this out by, for example heating the base coat  5  or illuminating the base coat  5  with UV light. Heating the base coat  5  can be carried out by illuminating the base coat  5  with infrared heat radiation. 
     If a liquid material is used as the base coat material, the transfer elements  14  are designed in each case with a soft and absorbent material, for example with a sponge-like material, on their transfer coats  15 . In such cases, the application of the base coat material takes place by lightly brushing over the outer surface of the container wall  3  with the transfer coat  15 . This is carried out by rolling the transfer coat  15  without exerting any significant force on the container  1 . 
     In a preferred embodiment of the coating installation  12 , the transfer coats  15  are segments of a circular cylinder that concentrically encloses the carrier axis TA. As a result, controlled pivoting movement of the transfer elements  14  around the pivot axes PA is not necessary. 
       FIG. 6  shows a first alternative coating installation  12   a  that is provided at each processing position  10  of the coating module  7 . 2  instead of the coating installation  12 . 
     The first alternative coating installation  12   a  comprises a carrier  20  driven around the carrier axis TA synchronously with the rotary movement of the rotor  9  in the direction of the arrow B. On the carrier  20  are segment-like application and transfer elements  21  disposed around the axis TA and offset at regular angular distances. The transfer elements  21  form a transfer coat  22 , in each case in a radially outer position in relation to the axis TA, for transferring the base coat material onto a container  1  as it rolls on this transfer coat  21 . 
     The transfer elements  21  are arranged in a radially outer position on a damping-and-buffer coat  23  made of a soft, elastic, absorbent, and permeable material. The buffer coat  23  is provided on a transfer coat carrier  24  that forms, at least on its radially outer side in relation to the axis TA, a partial circular cylinder surface bent around the axis TA so that the transfer coat  22  is also correspondingly bent. 
     The transfer coat carrier  24  is made of a material with sufficient solidity, for example of metal (sintered metal) or ceramic (sintered ceramic). The material is porous or made with a plurality of openings or micro-openings such that, inside the transfer coat carrier  24 , an even pressure distribution arises for the base coat material fed under pressure through the transfer coat carrier  24 , and, in particular, there is also an even distribution of the base coat material in the damping-and-buffer coat  23 . This results in the coat being saturated as evenly as possible with the liquid base coat material. 
     On the side of the transfer coat carrier  24  turned away from the damping-and-buffer coat  23 , or the wall of ring-segment shape forming this carrier, the transfer element  21  is provided with a supply-or-buffer chamber  25 . The supply-or-buffer chamber  25  receives a buffer volume of the liquid base coat material. The interior of the supply-or-buffer chamber  25 , which lies in a radially outer position in relation to the axis TA, is bounded by the transfer coat carrier  24  so that the base coat material can be transported from the supply-or-buffer chamber  25  under pressure through the transfer coat carrier  24  into the damping-and-buffer coat  23 . Furthermore, the interior of the supply-or-buffer chamber  25  is connected by a pipe  26  to a source for the supply of the base coat material under pressure and to a pipe  27  to return excess base coat material to this source, of which only a pressure or feed pump  28  is shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     An electric heating system  29  is also provided within the supply-or-buffer chamber  25 . The electric heating system  29  holds the base coat material at an optimum temperature for the coating so that conditions or parameters remain unchanged. The heating system  29  can also be used, if appropriately designed, to pyrolytically clean the transfer element  21  at the end of a production phase. The electrical connections of the heating system  29 , and likewise the pipes  26  and  27 , are routed via a rotary distributor  30  so that the source for the base coat material and installations for controlling and/or adjusting the heating system  29  for all the processing positions  10  of the coating module  7 . 2  can be housed jointly in the associated base unit  8 . 
     The application of the base coat takes place on the first alternative coating installation  12   a  by rolling the container  1 . This is achieved by suspending the container  1  on a container carrier  31  and using the container carrier  31  to rotate the container  1  around the vertical container axis in a slip-free or substantially slip-free manner on the particular transfer coat  22  in the direction of the arrow B. This is one by lightly brushing-over the outer surface of the container wall  3  with the transfer coat  22  without or substantially without the exertion of force by the transfer coat  22  on the container  1 . The first alternative coating installation  12   a  also has a station, not illustrated, for drying or hardening the applied base coat  5 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a second alternative coating installation  12   b  that is provided for the application of the base coat  5  in each case at the processing positions  10  of the module  7 . 1 . Many of the elements in second alternative coating installation  12   b  match those in first alternative coating installation  12   a . These elements will not be described in detail in connection with  FIGS. 7 and 8 . For these elements, the same reference numbers are used as in  FIG. 5 . 
     The second alternative coating installation  12   b  differs from the first alternative coating installation  12   a  however because on the transfer element  21 , the lower edge of the damping-and-buffer coat  23  and the ring segment-shaped wall forming the transfer coat carrier  24  lie against a ring segment  32  that is made of a porous material, for example metal or ceramic, with a plurality of micro-pores or micro-openings. 
     The ring segment  32  forms the inlet of a collection chamber  33  and, with the latter, a drainage unit for collecting and returning base coat material from the damping-and-buffer coat  23  and from the transfer coat carrier  24  during the operation of the installation  2 , and also upon switching off the installation. 
     The collection chamber  33  is connected via a pipe  34  and a feed pump  35  to a chamber  36  to which the pump  28  is also connected and that is the source for the base coat material. This source is housed in the base unit  8  or an interim store for this material that is provided on the rotor  5 . The pipe  34  is likewise routed by one or more rotary distributors. 
     The second alternative coating installation  12   b  is furthermore designed with a sensor  37 , for example a laser sensor, for distance or occupation measurement. The sensor  37  supplies a signal that depends on the distance between the container outer surface and the transfer coat  22  and/or that depends on the elastic deformation of the damping-and-buffer coat  23  by the container  1 . Such a signal provides a basis for controlling the delivery of the coating installation  12   a  to a particular container  1  to achieve the force-free or substantially force-free application of the coating material and/or a basis for monitoring the correct application of the base coat  5 . 
       FIG. 8  shows, in a partial representation, the transfer element  21  of a third alternative coating installation  12   c  that differs from the second alternative coating installation  12   b  substantially only in that the ring segment  32  that forms the inlet into the collection chamber  33  is provided underneath the damping-and-buffer coat  23 . Thus, with this embodiment, only excess or unnecessary base coat material is removed from the damping-and-buffer coat  23  by the ring segment  32  and the collection chamber  33 , i.e. the ring segment  32  and the collection chamber  33  form a drainage system for the damping-and-buffer coat  23 . In  FIG. 7 , the base coat material provided by the transfer coat  22  is indicated schematically by  38 . 
     In a further development, a closure cap or cover is provided on or for the transfer element  21  for cleaning cycles, by means of which a closed drain space or gap can be created before the transfer coat  21 . A cleaning agent or solvent can be flushed through the coats  24  and  23  after the application or sealing of the transfer coat  21 . The cleaning agent or solvent is passed through a pipe  27  and is circulated or drained through the thus formed drainage space or gap and subsequently the collection chamber  33  by the pumps  28  and  35 . This closure cap or cover is ideally designed as an automatically dispensing or moveable element. 
     The use of the vacuum pump  35  is not necessary. But its use reduces the loss of solvent or cleaning agent as pressure below atmospheric can be set intentionally in the outlet pipe thereby further reducing the structural cost for the sealing of the closure cap or cover. 
     The invention has been described above using examples of embodiments. It is clear that numerous variations and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive idea underlying the invention. Thus, above it is assumed that the transfer coats  15  and  24  are designed in each case on transfer elements  14  or  21  in the form of segments. It is of course also possible for the particular coating installation  12 ,  12   a ,  12   b  and  12   c  to have a continuous annular transfer coat, enclosing, for example, the carrier axis TA of the particular carrier  13  or  20 , this being in particular where the application of the base coat material takes place in such a way that the base coat completely encloses the particular container on a container outer area. 
     It is also possible to design the base layer  5  in a multi-coat manner with a plurality of individual coats, whereby then each individual coat is generated on different modules with device  2 . As stated above, a sealing or coating can be applied in a similar way so that the term the “base coat” is here not to be understood in a limiting manner, but must be understood generally as “coating.” 
     REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST 
     
         
           1  Container 
           2  Device or installation 
           2 , 1  Container inlet 
           2 . 2  Container outlet 
           3  Container wall 
           4  Container decoration 
           5  Base coat, coating 
           6  Print 
           7 . 1 - 7 . 8  Module 
           8  Base unit 
           9  Rotor 
           10  Processing position 
           11  Container transport stretch through the installation  2   
           12 , 12   a , 12   b , 12   c  Coating installation for applying the base coat material 
           13  Carrier 
           14  Transfer element 
           15  Transfer coat 
           16  Station 
           17  Drum 
           18  Transfer position 
           19  Station for hardening and/or crosslinking the base coat 
           20  Carrier 
           21  Transfer element 
           22  Transfer coat 
           23  Buffer coat 
           24  Transfer coat carrier 
           25  supply-or-buffer chamber 
           26 , 27  Pipe 
           28  Pump 
           29  Electric heating 
           30  Rotary distributor 
           31  Container carrier 
           32  Ring segment 
           33  Collection chamber 
           34  Pipe 
           35  Pump 
           36  Chamber 
           37  Sensor 
           38  Base coat material 
         A Container transport direction 
         B Direction of rotation of the carrier  13  or  20   
         C Direction of rotation of the container 
         A Axis of rotation of the carrier  13  or  20   
         TA Axis of rotation of the carrier  13  or  20   
         PA Pivot axis of the transfer elements  14   
         MA Machine or rotor axis