CPC B41J 3/4073 (2013.01) [B41F 17/22 (2013.01); B41J 2/0057 (2013.01); B41J 2/01 (2013.01); B41J 3/40731 (2020.08); B41J 3/40733 (2020.08); B41J 3/445 (2013.01); B41J 11/0085 (2013.01); B65B 43/50 (2013.01); B65B 61/025 (2013.01); B41J 2002/012 (2013.01)] | 21 Claims |
1. A container body decorator (10) comprising;
a controller (300) having a software routine stored on memory;
a segmented image transfer blanket having a plurality of blanket segments (118) affixed to a rigid carousel (120), each blanket segment (118) having a printing surface opposite an inner surface, and each blanket segment (118) separated from an adjacent blanket segment (118) by a gap (121);
a plurality of ink-jet printing heads (108) mounted along a circumference of the segmented image transfer blanket (116) and configured to deposit an ink pattern onto each printing surface of the segmented image transfer blanket (116), the plurality of ink-jet printing heads (108) responsive to a signal received from the controller (300) corresponding to a desired shape and color the ink pattern;
an impression roll (204) located opposite the carousel (120) such that each blanket segment (118) of the segmented image transfer blanket (116) passes therebetween defining a printing site (124); and
a container body handling module (200) comprising a rotational indexer (212) configured to sequentially transport a plurality of container bodies to and from the printing site (124).
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