Patent Description:
Patent Document <NUM> discloses a technique related to a component monitoring device that detects use of a component other than regular components and then restricts operations of an operating machine. Conventional can body printing systems are known from Patent Documents <NUM> and <NUM>.

With recent advances in printing technology for can bodies, performing printing on can bodies on the user side, which has conventionally been impossible, is under consideration.

Here, the can body is usually subjected to processing of partial deformation, but there are some cases in which printing is desired even on a portion where the deformation processing is applied.

However, it is generally difficult for the user side to perform the processing of deformation of part of the can body. Consequently, in the case in which the user side performs printing on the portion where the deformation processing is applied, the printing is performed after deformation. In such cases, it is sometimes impossible to obtain the intended print quality because part of the print surface of the can body is bent.

An object of the present invention is to provide a can body in which print quality is kept better as compared to the case where printing is only performed after processing of deforming part of a print surface of a can body. Solution to Problem.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a can body in which print quality is kept better as compared to the case where printing is only performed after processing of deforming part of a print surface of a can body.

Hereinafter, with reference to attached drawings, a can body printing system, to which an exemplary embodiment is applied, will be described in detail.

<FIG> is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a can body printing system <NUM> to which the exemplary embodiments are applied. The can body printing system <NUM> includes devices on the can body manufacturer side, and devices on the user side.

The devices on the can body manufacturer side include a host device <NUM>, which is an information processing device forming the basis of the can body printing system <NUM>. In addition, the can body manufacturer includes a manufacturer-side device <NUM> as a first printing unit that performs printing and processing onto a predetermined location of a can body before being provided to a user. Note that, in the exemplary embodiment, a diameter decreased portion is adopted as the "predetermined location" of a can body. The "diameter decreased portion" is a portion near the opening portion of the can body, to which the so-called necking processing is applied to decrease the diameter of the opening portion.

The devices on the user side include a printing device <NUM> as a second printing unit that performs printing onto a provided can body for a user who has been provided with the can body from the can body manufacturer. A user PC <NUM>, which is a computer device operated by the user, is also included. The host device <NUM>, the manufacturer-side device <NUM>, the printing device <NUM>, and the user PC <NUM> are connected via a network <NUM>, such as the Internet.

Note that there is a mode in which the can body manufacturer also serves as a printing device manufacturer who provides the printing device <NUM> to a user, and a mode in which the can body manufacturer does not serve as the printing device manufacturer.

In the exemplary embodiment, the host device <NUM> is a computer device provided by a can body manufacturer who provides can bodies to a user. To the host device <NUM>, a database (DB) <NUM> that stores the various pieces of information used by the can body printing system <NUM> is connected directly or via the network <NUM>.

The host device <NUM> includes a control part <NUM>, which is a central processing unit (CPU) controlling the entire device, and a memory <NUM>, such as a random access memory (RAM) used as a working area for computing. In addition, a storage part <NUM> used for storing programs and various kinds of setting data is also included. As the storage part <NUM>, for example, a storage device, such as a semiconductor memory or a hard disk drive (HDD) is used. Further, a communication part <NUM> that transmits and receives data via the network <NUM> is also included.

Moreover, the host device <NUM> also includes an operation part <NUM>, such as a keyboard, a pointing device, and a touch panel, to accept input operations from an administrator managing the can body printing system <NUM>. In addition, a display part <NUM> including a liquid crystal display, etc., which displays images and text information necessary for administrative work conducted by the administrator, and a display control part <NUM> controlling the display part <NUM> are also included. Note that each piece of hardware does not necessarily have a common housing.

The manufacturer-side device <NUM> includes a control part <NUM> controlling the entire device, and a communication part <NUM> that transmits and receives various kinds of data via the network <NUM>. The manufacturer-side device <NUM> also includes a printing part <NUM> that performs printing on a can body, and a processing part <NUM> that performs processing on the printed can body. Moreover, a user interface <NUM> that performs display to an operator of the manufacturer-side device <NUM> and accepts input operations from the operator, and a storage part <NUM> that stores print image information or the like, which has been obtained, are also included. The can body as a medium, on which printing is performed by the manufacturer-side device <NUM>, is a straight-shaped can body before the necking processing is applied, for example.

There is a mode in which the host device <NUM> on the can body manufacturer side is directly connected to the manufacturer-side device <NUM> via an interface cable, or a mode in which the host device <NUM> and the manufacturer-side device <NUM> are connected to each other via a local area network (LAN) such as Ethernet (registered trademark).

The printing device <NUM> includes a control part <NUM> controlling the entire device, and a communication part <NUM> that transmits and receives various kinds of data via the network <NUM>. The printing device <NUM> also includes a reading part <NUM> configured by a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor and the like for reading identification information in the case of the mode in which the identification information is printed on the diameter decreased portion on the can body manufacturer side. The printing device <NUM> also includes a support part <NUM> as one of support units that support a can body on which printing is to be performed, and a printing part <NUM> that performs printing on the barrel portion of the can body supported by the support part <NUM>. Moreover, the printing device <NUM> includes a user interface <NUM> that performs display to the user who operates the printing device <NUM> and accepts input operations from the user. In addition, a storage part <NUM> that stores print image information and so on obtained from the can body manufacturer side or generated on the user side is included.

Here, the can body as a medium on which printing is performed by the printing device <NUM> is a can body whose diameter decreased portion is subjected to printing and thereafter subjected to necking processing on the can body manufacturer side. Note that the medium on which printing is performed can be the can body before being filled with beer or other beverages, or the can body after being filled with the beverage.

The printing device <NUM> itself can be grasped as the "can body printing device" in some cases, but it is also possible to inclusively grasp the printing device <NUM> and the user PC <NUM> as the "can body printing device.

For the can body, for example, to be conveyed to the support part <NUM> for printing by the printing part <NUM>, the reading part <NUM> rotates the can body, for example, around the axial direction thereof during the conveyance to read the identification information formed on the surface of the can body. Examples of the identification information read by the reading part <NUM> include various kinds of bar code information, serial numbers, and various kinds of image information that can be identified. Note that there is also a mode in which the reading part <NUM> adopts a configuration that emits ultraviolet light, which is light rays with predetermined wavelength, and then visualizes and reads the identification information drawn with fluorescent paint, to thereby make a user who bought the can body be not aware of existence of the identification information on the can body.

When the can body that was subjected to printing and processing on the diameter decreased portion thereof is conveyed, the support part <NUM> supports the can body so that printing by the printing part <NUM> is available. Specifically, since it is necessary to support the can body with the diameter decreased portion subjected to the necking processing, for example, a cylindrical mandrel is inserted from the opening portion toward the inside of the can body, and the mandrel swells inside the can body to support thereof from the inside. Then, the mandrel is rotated in the circumferential direction, to thereby rotate the can body in the circumferential direction at the nozzle position of the inkjet. In addition, there is also a mode in which, for example, the can body is supported by holding a top and bottom portions of the can body by the mandrel and a pressing part, and the can body is rotated in the circumferential direction at the nozzle position of the inkjet. When printing is performed onto a can body filled with a beverage, the can body cannot be supported from the inside thereof; accordingly, there is a mode in which, for example, the can body is supported by holding the top and bottom portions of the can body by plural pressing parts.

The printing part <NUM> is capable of performing digital printing on the barrel portion of the can body supported by the support part <NUM>, and is also capable of printing with different print contents for each can body. This is very different from printing on the can body by the normal mechanical printing, increases convenience for the person performing printing on the can body, and reduces the weight of the device. In the printing part <NUM>, the ink is injected as droplets from a nozzle and adheres to an outer circumferential surface of the can body to form an image on the outer circumferential surface of the can body, and further, the paint is applied onto the image to form a protection layer. The printing part <NUM> uses, for example, inks of four colors: cyan (C); magenta (M); yellow (Y); and black (K) as the basic inks, and special color inks (special-color inks) prepared for each brand as needed. In addition, in this case, the inkjet head is prepared for each color, to thereby perform image formation onto the can body by use of the plural inkjet heads. Moreover, as the ink to be used, an actinic radiation cure ink is desirable. Here, examples of the actinic radiation cure ink include an ultraviolet (UV) cure ink. After the image formation by the inkjet heads, a paint is applied to the outer circumferential surface of the can body to form the protection layer (overcoat layer).

The user PC <NUM> includes a control part <NUM> controlling the entire device, and a memory <NUM>, such as a RAM used as a working area for computing. In addition, a storage part <NUM> used for storing programs and various kinds of setting data is also included, the storage part <NUM> including a storage device, such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD. Further, a communication part <NUM> that transmits and receives data via the network <NUM> or transmits and receives data by connecting to the printing device <NUM> is included. Moreover, an operation part <NUM>, such as a keyboard, a pointing device, and a touch panel, to accept input operations from a user who operates the printing device <NUM> is also included. In addition, a display part <NUM> configured with a liquid crystal display, etc., that displays images and text information necessary for print work conducted by the user by use of the printing device <NUM>, and a display control part <NUM> controlling the display part <NUM> are also included.

The user PC <NUM> obtains various kinds of information from the host device <NUM>. For this reason, in addition to the mode of communicating directly with the host device <NUM>, the communication part <NUM> of the printing device <NUM> has a mode to communicate with the host device <NUM> via the user PC <NUM>. Moreover, there is also a mode to selectively use the above modes in accordance with information.

There is a mode in which the printing device <NUM> on the user side is directly connected to the user PC <NUM> via an interface cable, or a mode in which the printing device <NUM> and the user PC <NUM> are connected to each other via a LAN such as Ethernet (registered trademark).

Next, a description will be given of the functions in the exemplary embodiment performed by the host device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the host device <NUM> in the exemplary embodiment. The host device <NUM> includes a printing device information obtaining part <NUM> that obtains, for example, printing device information from other computer devices via the network <NUM>. In addition, since there is also a mode to print the identification information on the can body, the host device <NUM> includes an identification information obtaining part <NUM> that obtains, for example, the identification information from other computer devices via the network <NUM>. In addition, an identification information storage part <NUM> that stores can body identification information associating the obtained printing device information and identification information with each other in the storage part <NUM> or the database <NUM> is also included.

Other than the case where the printing device information and the identification information are obtained via the network <NUM> and the communication part <NUM>, there is a mode in which, for example, the printing device information and the identification information are inputted through the operation part <NUM> by an administrator of the host device <NUM>.

The host device <NUM> also includes an obtaining request acceptance part <NUM> that accepts an obtaining request when the printing device <NUM> issues the obtaining request for the identification information. In addition, the host device <NUM> includes an obtaining request confirmation part <NUM> that, based on the printing device information stored in the identification information storage part <NUM>, confirms whether or not the accepted obtaining request is made by the printing device <NUM> that has been registered. Further, an identification information reading part <NUM> that reads the identification information out of the identification information storage part <NUM>, and an identification information output part <NUM> that outputs the read identification information to the printing device <NUM> side (the printing device <NUM>, or the printing device <NUM> and the user PC <NUM>) are also included.

In addition, a printing result obtaining part <NUM> that obtains the printing result from the printing device <NUM>, and an output identification information processing part <NUM> that recognizes the identification information in the case where the identification information is used for printing processing onto the can body are also included.

Note that examples of the identification information, which is stored in the identification information storage part <NUM>, to be adopted, include a serial number made up of plural digits, such as more than ten digits, as well as a two-dimensional code and a one-dimensional bar code. In addition, it is also possible to regard an unnumbered dot image as the identification information. A Different piece of identification information can be printed onto each can body, and the piece of identification information can be treated as information capable of uniquely identifying a can body.

The printing device information stored in the identification information storage part <NUM> is information that can uniquely identify the printing device <NUM> provided to the user. Examples of the printing device information include the serial number of the printing device <NUM>. For example, a user ID, which is the information that uniquely identifies a user using the printing device <NUM>, can be used.

Note that, instead of printing the different piece of identification information onto each can body, it is also possible to add the same pieces of identification information to the plural can bodies. In other words, this is a mode in which a single piece of identification information includes a predetermined quantity of can bodies. For example, the same identification information is printed for each unit of lot manufactured by the can body manufacturer. It is also possible to use the information such as the manufacturing date as the identification information.

In addition, here, the identification information of the can body is associated with the printing device information to be stored; however, there is also a mode in which the identification information of the can body is stored without being associated with the printing device information. For example, only the identification information that can uniquely identify a can body is stored without administrating the printing device information in some modes.

Next, a description will be given of the functions in the exemplary embodiment performed by the manufacturer-side device <NUM>. The exemplary embodiment is characterized by the point that the manufacturer-side device <NUM> performs first printing and processing on the diameter decreased portion of the can body before being provided to the user.

<FIG> is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the manufacturer-side device <NUM> in the exemplary embodiment. The manufacturer-side device <NUM> includes: a print image information obtaining part <NUM> that obtains the print image information of an image to be printed onto the can body; and a print image information storage part <NUM> that stores the obtained print image information in the storage part <NUM>, the database <NUM>, or the like. The print image information obtained by the print image information obtaining part <NUM> is obtained from the host device <NUM> in some cases, and is, for example, created on the user side in other cases. There is also a mode to obtain the print image information, which was generated on the host side and then subjected to changing processing on the user side. In addition, the manufacturer-side device <NUM> includes a print image information reading part <NUM> that reads the print image information stored in the print image information storage part <NUM>.

Moreover, the manufacturer-side device <NUM> has a mode to print the identification information onto the diameter decreased portion or the other parts of the can body. For this reason, the manufacturer-side device <NUM> includes: an identification information obtaining part <NUM> that obtains the identification information; and an identification information storage part <NUM> that stores the obtained identification information in the storage part <NUM>. In addition, an identification information reading part <NUM> that reads the stored identification information is also included.

Moreover, the manufacturer-side device <NUM> includes a print processing part <NUM> that prints an image based on the read print image information onto the diameter decreased portion before diameter decreasing processing is applied. The print processing part <NUM> prints the identification information onto the diameter decreased portion or the other parts of the can body. The print processing part <NUM> prints the image or the identification information onto the diameter decreased portion before being subjected to the diameter decreasing processing by the digital printing using inkjet, relief offset printing, or the like. In addition, a processing part <NUM> applies the necking processing to the diameter decreased portion subjected to printing.

Next, a description will be given of the functions in the exemplary embodiment performed on the printing device <NUM> side (the printing device <NUM>, or the printing device <NUM> and the user PC <NUM>). The exemplary embodiment is characterized by the point that the printing device <NUM> performs second printing on the barrel portion of the can body in which the first printing and the processing was performed on the diameter decreased portion by the can body manufacturer side.

<FIG> is a diagram showing a functional configuration on the printing device <NUM> side in the exemplary embodiment. The printing device <NUM> side includes: a print image information obtaining part <NUM> that obtains the print image information; and a print image information storage part <NUM> that stores the obtained print image information in the storage part <NUM> of the user PC <NUM> or the storage part <NUM> of the printing device <NUM>. The print image information obtained by the print image information obtaining part <NUM> is obtained from the host device <NUM> via the network <NUM> in some cases, and is, for example, created in the user PC <NUM> in other cases. In addition, there is also a mode in which the user PC <NUM> performs changing processing on the image obtained from the host device <NUM>, to thereby obtain thereof as the print image information.

Further, in the case where the identification information is printed on the diameter decreased portion or other parts of the can body, the printing device <NUM> includes: an identification information obtaining part <NUM> that obtains the identification information from the host device <NUM> via the network <NUM>; and an identification information storage part <NUM> that stores the obtained identification information in the storage part <NUM> of the user PC <NUM> or the storage part <NUM> of the printing device <NUM>. In addition, an identification information reading part <NUM> that reads the identification information attached to the can body by the reading part <NUM> is also included. Moreover, the printing device <NUM> side also includes a matching part <NUM> that matches the identification information read by the identification information reading part <NUM> against the identification information stored in the identification information storage part <NUM>. Also, a matching result output part <NUM> that outputs the matching result to the display part <NUM> of the user PC <NUM> or an external device, such as the host device <NUM>, via the network <NUM> is included.

In addition, the printing device <NUM> side includes a print processing part <NUM> that reads the print image information out of the print image information storage part <NUM>, and performs processing for causing the printing part <NUM> to perform printing onto the barrel portion of the can body. Moreover, in the case where matching by the matching part <NUM> is performed, upon the matching result, the print processing part <NUM> performs processing for causing the printing part <NUM> to perform printing onto the barrel portion of the can body. In addition, the printing device <NUM> includes a printing result output part <NUM> for outputting the printing results by the print processing part <NUM> to the host device <NUM>, the display part <NUM> of the user PC <NUM>, or the like.

Next, a description will be given of the processing performed by the host device <NUM> with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>.

<FIG> are flowcharts each showing the processing performed by the host device <NUM>. <FIG> shows the processing in the host device <NUM> before the can body is provided to the user from the can body manufacturer. <FIG> shows the processing in the host device <NUM> from the time when the can body is provided to the user from the can body manufacturer to the time when the printing onto the can body is started on the user side. <FIG> shows the processing in the host device <NUM> after the printing on the can body is finished on the user side.

Here, the flowcharts shown in <FIG> will be described assuming a specific example. In other words, it is assumed that the user in the example is a community-based brewery that produces so-called local beer. The user has collaborated with a local government of the region where the head office is located to provide a can product of local beer (beverage can) as a campaign product for regional revitalization. Then, as a result of consultation between the user and the local government, it has been decided that the user will produce <NUM> cans of beer in which an image associated with the characteristics of the region is printed on the entire print surface of the can body (the print surface includes the bent surface of the diameter decreased portion). The image to be printed on the can body has been decided to be an image of the urban landscape of the region. Thereafter, the user consulted the company A, which is a can body manufacturer, for the image, and the company A has become responsible for the creation of the image. The company A created the image using the other computer device owned by oneself (not shown), and obtained the approval from the user and the local government with respect to the details thereof.

Under these assumptions, first, as shown in <FIG>, the printing device information obtaining part <NUM> of the host device <NUM> obtains the printing device information from, for example, another computer device (not shown) owned by a printing device manufacturer (step <NUM>). The identification information obtaining part <NUM> obtains the identification information (step <NUM>). Specifically, in this example, code information configured with bar codes is obtained as the identification information. In addition, the identification information storage part <NUM> stores the information associating the obtained printing device information and the obtained identification information with each other, as identification information of the can body provided to the user, in the storage part <NUM> or the database <NUM> (step <NUM>). Then, the obtaining request acceptance part <NUM> accepts the obtaining request for the identification information from the manufacturer-side device <NUM> (step <NUM>), and the identification information reading part <NUM> reads the identification information from the identification information storage part <NUM> (step <NUM>). The identification information output part <NUM> outputs the read identification information toward the manufacturer-side device <NUM> (step <NUM>), and the processing is finished. Thereafter, on the can body manufacturer side, printing by the manufacturer-side device <NUM> is performed on the diameter decreased portion, which is the target of the necking processing, of the straight-shaped can body. Specifically, of the image created by the company A (an image depicting an urban landscape in the target region), an image that is located on the diameter decreased portion (an image depicting clouds floating in the sky) is printed. Further, code information composed of bar codes is printed on the barrel portion of the can body. In addition, the necking processing is applied to the diameter decreased portion on which the printing has been performed. Thereafter, <NUM> can bodies (actually, a quantity that takes the yield into account), on which printing and processing have partially been performed, are provided from the can body manufacturer to the user.

When the can bodies are provided from the can body manufacturer to the user, as shown in <FIG>, the obtaining request acceptance part <NUM> of the host device <NUM> accepts the obtaining request for the identification information from the printing device <NUM> side (step <NUM>). In addition, the obtaining request confirmation part <NUM> confirms whether or not the obtaining request from the printing device <NUM> is the obtaining request from the registered printing device <NUM> based on the printing device information stored in the identification information storage part <NUM> (step <NUM>). Then, if it is confirmed that the obtaining request is issued from the registered printing device <NUM>, the identification information reading part <NUM> reads the identification information from the identification information storage part <NUM> (step <NUM>). The identification information output part <NUM> outputs the read identification information toward the printing device <NUM> side (step <NUM>), and the processing is finished. Thereafter, the printing onto the barrel portion of the can body is started on the user side.

When the printing onto the barrel portion of the can body on the user side is finished, as shown in <FIG>, the printing result obtaining part <NUM> of the host device <NUM> obtains the information indicating the printing result from the printing device <NUM> side (step <NUM>). In addition, the output identification information processing part <NUM> recognizes the identification information used for the print processing onto the can body (step <NUM>). Thereafter, the output identification information processing part <NUM> reflects the information indicating the printing result in the stored contents of the identification information storage part <NUM> (step <NUM>), and the processing is finished. Note that the reflection in the stored contents performed here is to associate the printing device information of the printing device <NUM> and the identification information with each other and store thereof with respect to the fact that the printing onto the barrel portion of the can body in the printing device <NUM> has been finished.

Next, a description will be given of the processing performed by the manufacturer-side device <NUM> with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>.

<FIG> is a flowchart showing the processing in the exemplary embodiment, which is performed on the manufacturer-side device <NUM>. First, in this example, part of the image created by the company A is printed on the diameter decreased portion of the can body. For this reason, the print image information obtaining part <NUM> of the manufacturer-side device <NUM> obtains the print image information of the image to be printed on the diameter decreased portion of the can body from the host device <NUM> via the network <NUM> (step <NUM>). In addition, the identification information storage part <NUM> stores the obtained print image information in the storage part <NUM> or the database <NUM> (step <NUM>). The print image information reading part <NUM> reads the print image information stored by the print image information storage part <NUM> (step <NUM>).

Moreover, in this example, as the identification information, code information configured with bar codes is printed on the barrel portion of the can body. Consequently, the identification information obtaining part <NUM> of the manufacturer-side device <NUM> obtains the identification information from the host device <NUM> via the network <NUM> (step <NUM>). Then, the identification information storage part <NUM> stores the obtained identification information in the storage part <NUM> (step <NUM>). Thereafter, the identification information reading part <NUM> reads the identification information that has been stored (step <NUM>). The print processing part <NUM> prints the image by the read print image information on the diameter decreased portion of the can body, and prints the read identification information on the barrel portion of the can body (step <NUM>). Then, the processing part <NUM> applies the necking processing to the diameter decreased portion of the can body (step <NUM>), and the processing is finished.

Next, a description will be given of the processing performed by the printing device <NUM> side using <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>.

<FIG> is a flowchart showing processing in the exemplary embodiment, which is performed on the printing device <NUM> side. First, the print image information obtaining part <NUM> obtains the print image information from the host device <NUM> via the network <NUM> (step <NUM>). Then, the print image information storage part <NUM> stores the obtained print image information in the storage part <NUM> of the printer device <NUM> or the storage part <NUM> of the user PC <NUM> (step <NUM>). In addition, the identification information obtaining part <NUM> obtains the identification information of the can body from the host device <NUM> via the network <NUM> (step <NUM>). Next, the identification information storage part <NUM> stores the obtained identification information in the storage part <NUM> of the user PC <NUM> or the storage part <NUM> of the printing device <NUM> (step <NUM>). The identification information reading part <NUM> reads the identification information, which has been formed by the printing on the can body, by the reading part <NUM> (step <NUM>). Moreover, the matching part <NUM> matches the identification information that has been read by the identification information reading part <NUM> against the identification information stored in the identification information storage part <NUM> (step <NUM>). The matching result output part <NUM> outputs the matching result by the matching part <NUM> to the display part <NUM> of the user PC <NUM> or an external device, such as the host device <NUM>, via the network <NUM> (step <NUM>). The print processing part <NUM> reads the print image information from the print image information storage part <NUM>, and performs printing by the printing part <NUM> (step <NUM>). Specifically, of the image created by the company A, part (for example, part of the buildings) other than the part printed on the diameter decreased portion (the image depicting clouds floating in the sky) is printed on the barrel portion of the can body. Thereafter, the printing result output part <NUM> outputs the printing results to the host device <NUM> via the communication part <NUM> and the network <NUM> (step <NUM>), and the processing is finished.

Next, the can body used in the exemplary embodiment, and the can body after the printing is performed will be described based on the above-described example.

<FIG> are diagrams each showing an example of the can body to which the exemplary embodiment is applied. <FIG> shows an example of the straight-shaped can body after the printing onto the diameter decreased portion <NUM> by the manufacturer-side device <NUM> and before the necking processing. <FIG> shows an example of the can body after the necking processing by the manufacturer-side device <NUM> and before the printing by the printing device <NUM> on the user side. <FIG> shows an example of the beverage can as a product, which is filled with a beverage after the printing by the printing device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, there are the diameter decreased portion <NUM>, the barrel portion <NUM>, the opening portion <NUM>, and the bottom portion <NUM> in the can body before being completed as a product of the beverage can. Among these, the diameter decreased portion <NUM> is located closer to the opening portion <NUM> of the can body, which is subjected to the necking processing.

In the can body shown in <FIG>, the image <NUM> depicting clouds floating in the sky, as an example of the first printing, is printed on the diameter decreased portion <NUM> by the manufacturer-side device <NUM>. In addition, in the can body shown in <FIG>, code information <NUM> configured with a bar code is printed by the manufacturer-side device <NUM> on a side, which is closer to the bottom portion <NUM>, in the barrel portion <NUM> on the outer circumferential surface <NUM> to be longitudinal in the axial direction. The code information <NUM> can be printed at the same time as the image <NUM> is printed on the diameter decreased portion <NUM> by the printing part <NUM> of the manufacturer-side device <NUM>. The code information <NUM> formed in this way is read by the reading part <NUM> of the printing device <NUM> as one of the pieces of identification information. The diameter decreased portion <NUM> of the can body shown in <FIG> has the same diameter as the outer diameter of the barrel portion <NUM>, and the surface thereof has not yet been bent; accordingly, the entire can body has a straight shape. In the exemplary embodiment, in the manufacturer-side device <NUM>, the image <NUM> is formed on the diameter decreased portion <NUM> as well as the code information <NUM> to be distinguished from others is formed.

The can body shown in <FIG> is a can body in which the first printing as shown in <FIG> has been printed by the manufacturer-side device <NUM> on the diameter decreased portion <NUM> before applying the deformation processing, and thereafter, the portion has been deformed and subjected to the necking processing by the manufacturer-side device <NUM>. Due to the necking processing, the diameter decreased portion <NUM> is deformed so that the outer diameter gradually decreases as approaching the opening portion <NUM>, and thereby the surface of the diameter decreased portion <NUM> is bent. On the other hand, the barrel portion <NUM> of the can body is formed cylindrically to constitute the main part of the outer circumferential surface <NUM> of the can body, and therefore it is possible to perform the second printing by digital printing on the user side. In the exemplary embodiment, the can body in the state shown in <FIG> is provided, for example, from the can body manufacturer side where the manufacturer-side device <NUM> is installed to the user side where the printing device <NUM> is installed.

The can body as the product shown in <FIG> has been subjected to the second printing by the printing device <NUM> on the barrel portion <NUM> of the can body shown in <FIG> on the user side, and thereafter, filled with alcoholic beverages such as beer or Chuhai, or soft drinks (non-alcoholic beverages) from the opening portion <NUM> of the can body shown in <FIG>. After the beverage is filled, the lid member is attached to the opening portion <NUM> of the can body by flanging processing (processing of forming a flange for attaching the lid member). This completes a beverage can shown in <FIG> filled with the beverage. Note that the can body as the product shown in <FIG> also has a mode in which the second printing is performed by the printer device <NUM> on the barrel portion of the can body shown in <FIG> to be described later.

In the can body as the product of the beverage can shown in <FIG>, the image <NUM> depicting buildings, as an example of the second printing, is printed on the barrel portion <NUM> by the printing device <NUM> on the user side as described above. In the example shown in <FIG>, the image <NUM> (the image depicting clouds floating in the sky) printed on the diameter decreased portion on the manufacturer side is associated with the image <NUM> (the image depicting buildings) printed on the barrel portion <NUM> on the user side to constitute a series of images <NUM> making sense. In other words, regarding the can body finally subjected to the second printing on the user side to be productized, in light of the difficulty of performing the deformation processing on the user side, it is possible to perform the first printing on the portion to be deformed on the manufacturer side, not the user side, and integrate the first printing and the second printing as a design.

Note that, in the example shown in <FIG>, the printing device <NUM> prints part of the image <NUM> on the can body before being filled with the beverage, but there is also a mode in which part of the image <NUM> is printed on the can body that has been filled with the beverage.

<FIG> is a diagram showing an example in which printing is performed onto a can body after being filled with a beverage. The can body shown in <FIG> has already been filled with the beverage, and the lid member <NUM> has been attached thereto by the flanging processing. The image <NUM> is printed on part of the diameter decreased portion of the can body shown in <FIG>. In addition, the code information <NUM> as the identification information is printed on part of the barrel portion of the can body.

The example of the can body shown in <FIG> is, for example, the case where the user is other than a beverage manufacturer, such as a beer company. In this case, the image printing (the first printing) and the necking processing are performed onto the diameter decreased portion <NUM> of the can body on the can body manufacturer side, and thereafter, the can body is provided to the beverage manufacturer. Then, the can body is filled with the beverage by the beverage manufacturer, and provided to the user side. Thereafter, by use of the inkjet digital printing device, etc., the second printing is performed on the barrel portion <NUM> on the user side. Examples of the user who receive the can bodies in such forms (the can bodies filled with the beverage, but with imperfect printed images) include event companies, hotels, retailers such as major supermarkets, department stores, or convenience stores, and platformers that provide services over the Internet.

Note that, in the examples shown in <FIG>, and <FIG>, the image <NUM> is printed on the diameter decreased portion <NUM>, and the code information <NUM> is printed on part of the barrel portion of the can body; however, there is also a mode in which both the image <NUM> and the code information <NUM>, or only the code information <NUM> is printed on the diameter decreased portion <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A can body printing system (<NUM>) comprising:
a first printing unit (<NUM>) performing first printing to form an image or an identification information on a predetermined area of a can body;
a deformation unit deforming the area after the first printing; and
a second printing unit (<NUM>), after the deformation of the area, performing second printing by digital printing on a barrel portion provided contiguous to the area subjected to the first printing and the deformation.