US 12,227,016 B2
Digital decoration on non-absorbent surfaces with thermally assisted curing
Adam P. S. Stowitts, Arvada, CO (US)
Assigned to BALL COPORATION, Westminster, CO (US)
Appl. No. 17/795,665
Filed by Ball Corporation, Westminster, CO (US)
PCT Filed Jan. 26, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/015125
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 27, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/154751, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 5, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/966,340, filed on Jan. 27, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0091725 A1, Mar. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. B41J 3/407 (2006.01); B41J 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 3/40733 (2020.08) [B41J 3/407 (2013.01); B41J 3/4071 (2013.01); B41J 3/4073 (2013.01); B41J 3/40731 (2020.08); B41J 11/002 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A container component decorating apparatus, the decorating apparatus delivering one or more art graphics to a plurality of container components in a manufacturing queue, the decorating apparatus comprising:
a container component handling module comprising one or more holders which retain the container components to the apparatus, wherein the source of thermal energy is thermally couplable to the container component via the one or more holders, wherein each of the one or more holders has at least one of a magnet or a vacuum chuck which retains the container component to the decorator;
a supply of one or more fluids to be deposited onto the container components;
a print site where the one or more fluids are deposited onto the container components; and
a source of thermal energy thermally couplable to the container component upstream from the print site, wherein a thermal energy is transferred from the source of thermal energy to the container component prior to one or more fluid droplets from the source of one or more fluids being deposited on a non-absorbent surface of the container component.