EP2804759B1 - Machine for printing on three-dimensional articles and printing method - Google Patents

Machine for printing on three-dimensional articles and printing method Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2804759B1
EP2804759B1 EP13704144.8A EP13704144A EP2804759B1 EP 2804759 B1 EP2804759 B1 EP 2804759B1 EP 13704144 A EP13704144 A EP 13704144A EP 2804759 B1 EP2804759 B1 EP 2804759B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
printing
support plate
base
articles
receiving elements
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP13704144.8A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2804759A1 (en
Inventor
Jean Luc Perret
Jean Pierre Rousselet
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Individual
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Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of EP2804759A1 publication Critical patent/EP2804759A1/en
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Publication of EP2804759B1 publication Critical patent/EP2804759B1/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/407—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
    • B41J3/4073—Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects
    • B41J3/40733—Printing on cylindrical or rotationally symmetrical objects, e. g. on bottles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B13/00—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00
    • B05B13/02—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work
    • B05B13/0221—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work characterised by the means for moving or conveying the objects or other work, e.g. conveyor belts
    • B05B13/0235—Means for supporting work; Arrangement or mounting of spray heads; Adaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work characterised by the means for moving or conveying the objects or other work, e.g. conveyor belts the movement of the objects being a combination of rotation and linear displacement
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05D—PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05D1/00—Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials
    • B05D1/02—Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials performed by spraying
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F17/00—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
    • B41F17/08—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing on filamentary or elongated articles, or on articles with cylindrical surfaces
    • B41F17/14—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing on filamentary or elongated articles, or on articles with cylindrical surfaces on articles of finite length
    • B41F17/18—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing on filamentary or elongated articles, or on articles with cylindrical surfaces on articles of finite length on curved surfaces of articles of varying cross-section, e.g. bottles, lamp glasses
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F17/00—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
    • B41F17/28—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing on curved surfaces of conical or frusto-conical articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F17/00—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
    • B41F17/30—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing on curved surfaces of essentially spherical, or part-spherical, articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/407—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
    • B41J3/4073—Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M1/00—Inking and printing with a printer's forme
    • B41M1/40—Printing on bodies of particular shapes, e.g. golf balls, candles, wine corks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41P—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO PRINTING, LINING MACHINES, TYPEWRITERS, AND TO STAMPS
    • B41P2217/00—Printing machines of special types or for particular purposes
    • B41P2217/50—Printing presses for particular purposes
    • B41P2217/60—Means for supporting the articles
    • B41P2217/62—Means for supporting the articles externally, e.g. for bottles

Definitions

  • Bottles, tubes, jars used for inkjet printing are generally made of plastic, because they are particularly inexpensive, unbreakable, light, and colorable.
  • the bottles can also be formed of glass.
  • a treatment for example by corona, flame, plasma, or any other appropriate surface treatment, in order to confer on the surface a better adhesion of the ink.
  • a white background is then optionally printed which is dried, for example with ultraviolet radiation, before printing a four-color process (black, magenta, cyan, yellow).
  • the document WO2004 / 009360 discloses a printing device provided with a turntable equipped at its periphery with receiving elements 2 of articles to be printed.
  • a print station has several print heads distributed around the article to be printed. The height of the pattern to be printed is limited according to the size of the print head. Thus, this machine does not accept significant variations in the dimensions of items including their height.
  • a printing machine according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in the document BE 905 380 A1 .
  • the object of the invention is to provide a machine for obtaining a high print timing with good reproducibility, on articles whose length of the pattern to be printed may be greater than the print dimensions of the printing heads. .
  • each print station of the base is powered by a single color.
  • the movement system may comprise a helical connection, for example implemented by a screw.
  • the rotating system of the receiving elements comprises a single motor coupled to each receiving element via a single belt.
  • the rotational movement of the support plate, the translational movement, and the rotational movement of the receiving elements may overlap at least partially in time when the second printing position is moved to the first printing position after a pattern printing step.
  • the figure 1 is an embodiment of an article printing machine for providing high speed printing of three-dimensional articles whose length may vary in significant proportions.
  • Articles may be generally cylindrical in shape (eg bottles, bottles, jars, etc.).
  • the shape of an article may deviate slightly from that of a cylinder; it can be slightly conical (eg cups), concave, or convex. It can also have an elliptical or ovoid section.
  • cylinder we mean an object defined by a line called generatrix passing through a variable point describing a closed plane curve, called the guiding curve and keeping a fixed direction.
  • the printing machine comprises a support plate 1.
  • This support plate 1 can be rotated by rotation means such as a motor 2 (FIG. figure 3 ) coupled to the support plate 1.
  • the rotation of the support plate 1 can place the latter in different indexing for printing or catered items.
  • the support plate 1 is provided on its periphery with a plurality of elements 3 for receiving articles 4.
  • the receiving elements 3 can be angularly distributed homogeneously on the periphery of the support plate 1 which has the general shape preferential disc. In other words, as illustrated in figure 3 , the receiving elements 3 are distributed along a circle C 1 equidistant from the center of the support plate 1 coinciding with the center of the circle C 1 .
  • Each receiving element 3 is rotatably mounted on the support plate 1, for example by means of ball bearings. Of course, those skilled in the art may use other types of rotational editing of his knowledge.
  • the rotation of a receiving member 3 rotates an article 4 associated therewith.
  • the axis of rotation of the receiving elements 3 is substantially perpendicular, or exactly perpendicular, to the plane formed by the support plate 1. In the case of a disc-shaped support plate 1, this is of the plane of the disc (plane P perpendicular to the plane of the figure 4 , the plane of the corresponding disc, at the figure 3 at the level of said figure 3 ).
  • substantially perpendicular is meant perpendicular to plus or minus 10 degrees.
  • the receiving elements 3 are arranged to axially receive respective articles 4, an article 4 being associated with a receiving element 3 carrying it.
  • axially is meant that the articles are arranged on the receiving elements with their longitudinal axis (A1 on the figure 1 ) oriented perpendicularly, or substantially perpendicularly, to the plane P of the support plate 1.
  • the receiving elements 3 are provided to ensure a stable and sufficiently precise maintenance of the articles 4 during the various treatments.
  • the receiving elements 3 can have a shape that fits inside the pots, the pots being arranged on the receiving elements 3 with their opening facing the support tray 1.
  • the receiving elements 3 may have a cylindrical shape with the diameter of the inside of the necks of the bottles.
  • the receiving elements 3 may be provided with an expansion system that allows to marry the inner shape of the necks.
  • a tailstock (not shown) supported in the bottom of an article may be provided to complete the axial alignment of the article.
  • the means for rotating the support plate 1 are arranged so as to place two articles 4a, 4b, mounted on their associated receiving elements, respectively facing (or level of) two printing stations 5a, 5b separate from the machine typically each having a print head 6.
  • the two printing stations 5a, 5b are supported by the same base 101.
  • Each printing station of the base 101 is preferably fed by a single color, and preferably comprises a single print head.
  • level is meant that the receiving element 3 is proximal to the printing station 5a, 5b so that the surface of an associated article 4a, 4b can be printed by the print head 6.
  • the two printing stations 5a, 5b are supported by the same base 101.
  • the two printing stations 5a, 5b can be fixed in a total connection to the base 101.
  • Total connection means that once assembled the printing stations 5a, 5b and the base 101 behave as a single piece and are therefore located in the same frame of reference.
  • the example is not limited to a base associated with two printing stations, there may be more, each print station then being associated with a separate article.
  • the machine further comprises means for generating a relative translational movement between the base 101 and the support plate 1.
  • this movement can be constrained according to a vector between two points staggered along an axis substantially parallel to the axes A1 of rotation of the articles, to enable helical pattern printing on articles 4a, 4b, associated with stations 5a, 5b, during the rotation of the receiving elements 3.
  • the receiving elements 3 can be rotated by a setting system. rotation, for example a single motor.
  • the means for generating the translational movement cooperate with the rotation system so as to allow helical printing.
  • the axes of rotation of the articles are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the plane of the support plate 1.
  • the relative translational movement follows a direction parallel to, or substantially parallel (within plus or minus 10 degrees) to the axis of rotation 4.
  • the base 101 is preferably shifted laterally relative to the periphery of the support plate 1 to allow its passage.
  • the base 101 has a position in which it is disposed radially outside the disk.
  • the base 101 forms a perforated support plate so as to pass the support plate 1.
  • the plane of the support plate 1 and the plane of the support plate 101 are preferably parallel (or substantially parallel) in every respect relative translation movement between the base 101 and the support plate 1.
  • Helical printing allows a single print head to traverse the outer surface of an article to print a pattern.
  • a 70mm printhead can print a 140mm long pattern on an article in three rotations of the article on itself.
  • the print head will, for example, driven by software capable of decomposing an image in helical form to print the pattern on the article in three dimensions.
  • the software may, for example, take as input the image to be printed and a map of the outer surface of the article.
  • the base 101 may comprise four printing stations each associated with a separate article for a given position of the support plate 1.
  • Each of the four printing stations may be associated with a color respectively cyan, magenta, yellow, black.
  • a given article will therefore pass successively on the four printing stations, by different indexing of the support plate 1.
  • a printed pattern will be achieved by the superposition, mixing or juxtaposition of several colors, the reproducibility of the printing must be best done so that we have the feeling that a defined pattern has been printed in a single pass, when in fact it has been printed in several passes, at different printing stations.
  • the printing in several passes has advantages in terms of the cost of production of the machine, its ease of implementation, and the rate of printing, that is why a printing station is preferably equipped a single print head fed by a single color.
  • the machine comprises a speed controller capable of measuring the rotational speed of at least one or of the receiving element (s) so as to drive the printing stations in the event of variation of the speed of rotation and avoid distortions in the printed pattern.
  • the support plate 1 can be fixed, the base 101 is then equipped with a motor adapted to move it relative to the support plate 1.
  • the base 101 can be fixed, and c ' is the support plate 1 which is equipped with a motor adapted to move relative to the base 101. If the plate is fixed, it can be mounted by a total connection to the frame of the machine. If the base is fixed, it can be mounted by a total connection to the frame of the machine.
  • the Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a particular embodiment that it is the support plate 1 in its entirety that performs a translational movement with respect to printing stations (not shown).
  • the support plate 1 On the figure 6 , the support plate 1 is in a first position, and on the figure 7 the support plate 1 is in a second position.
  • the means for generating the translational movement may comprise a support base 102 and a guide system 103 of the translational movement of the support plate 1, said guide system 103 being mounted on the base of 102.
  • the means for generating the movement may comprise a a moving system 104 of the support plate 1 between a position of the support plate 1 proximal to the support base 102, and a position of the support plate 1 distal of the support base 102 along the guide system.
  • the proximal position corresponds to the first position
  • the distal position corresponds to the second position.
  • the printing stations can be supported by a same base and arranged near the assembly formed by the plate and the support base to allow a helical impression during the movement of the tray. support relative to its support base.
  • the guiding system 103 may comprise at least one guide rail in the form of an elongated rod fixed on the support base 102 and configured to slide in a complementary element of the support plate 1 , said complementary element advantageously comprising a ball bearing system in contact with said rod.
  • the bearing helps to limit the friction forces.
  • the guide system comprises four guide rails 103, 103a, 103b, 103c extending from the support base 102 to a plate 105, the travel of the support plate is then constrained between the support base 102 and the plate 105 which then act advantageously as stops.
  • the movement system 104 comprises a helical connection.
  • This helical connection can be implemented by a screw.
  • the rotating system of the receiving elements 3, 3a, 3b, 3c comprises a single motor (not shown) coupled to each receiving element via a single belt.
  • each receiving element may comprise a pinion geared by the belt.
  • a method of printing on three-dimensional articles uses a support plate 1, provided on its periphery with a plurality of elements 3 for receiving articles 4.
  • a support plate 1 can be of the type described above or in its variants described below.
  • the method may then comprise a step in which the support plate 1 and a base 101 provided with first and second printing stations 5a, 5b (or more) are placed in a first printing position so that two distinct articles are respectively positioned opposite the first and second printing stations 5a, 5b.
  • the reception elements 3 are rotated and the printing of the patterns, by the first and second printing stations 5a, 5b on the associated articles, is carried out as soon as the elements are rotated or rotated. 3.
  • the step of printing patterns on the articles 4 is carried out in a helical manner by applying, during the rotation of the receiving elements 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, a movement relative translation between the support plate 1 and the base 101 to a second printing position representative of the end of a printing cycle.
  • the first and second printing positions are preferably placed at two points offset along the axes of rotation of the articles, and may, where appropriate, correspond to the stops formed by the support base 102 and the plate 105. the screw or screws of the motion system at a precise angle imposed by a motor associated will induce a precise displacement and a return to the precise origin.
  • the first and second printing positions are illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 as well as Figures 6 and 7 , the purpose being to print, preferably, a pattern along the entire length l 1 of an article 4.
  • the support plate 1 performs a rotational movement during which a translation movement between the support plate 1 and the base 101 is initiated to that the relative level between the support plate 1 and the base 101 of the first printing position is resumed.
  • a single motor (not shown in FIG. Figures 1 and 2 but visible to the figure 3 under the reference 7) rotates all the receiving elements 3 so that they take up a position, with respect to the support plate 1, identical to that occupied in the first printing position.
  • the rotational movement of the support plate makes it possible to change its indexing to process the articles.
  • the rotational movement of the support plate 1, the translational movement, and the rotational movement of the receiving elements 3 intersect all three at least partially in time during the passage from the second position to the first position after a pattern printing step.
  • the reinitialization of the machine between two indexings of the support plate is performed in masked time during said indexing change. This improves the timing of printing.
  • the machine may comprise a control system configured to carry out the steps of the method (movement control).
  • This control system can also be connected to the speed controller described above to control printing.
  • a single motor 7 is arranged to drive all the receiving elements 3 in rotation.
  • the use of a single motor 7 makes it possible to obtain a reproducibility of the movement of the reception elements 3 each turn made by the latter, and a reproducibility of the patterns printed on each article.
  • articles 4 are processed by several printing heads, at different indexations of the support plate 1, of different colors (for example white, black, magenta, cyan, yellow) so that the colors are superimposed to reproduce a pattern.
  • the receiving element 3 During a complete rotation of the receiving element 3 at a print head, it is possible that some defects appear.
  • the motor may have certain defects causing a local and reproducible variation of the angular velocity of a receiving element 3.
  • the support plate 1 may comprise separate sets 8 staggered at the periphery of the support plate 1, and coupled to the single motor 7.
  • Each set 8 comprises a series of receiving elements 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, a first driving element 9 rotatably mounted on the support plate 1 and coupled to the single motor 7 ( figures 3 and 5 ).
  • the drive unit 9 preferably has an axis of rotation substantially or exactly perpendicular to the support plate 1.
  • Each assembly 8 further comprises an end transmission element 10 in the form of a closed loop.
  • the end transmission element 10 is integral with the receiving elements 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d of the series and the first driving element 9 of the assembly concerned, allowing the first element of the assembly to rotate simultaneously.
  • the division in the form of assemblies makes it possible in particular to facilitate coupling to the motor 7 by limiting the number of transmission elements required, while maintaining a high timing. In addition, the return to the first printing position of the receiving elements is much faster without having to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor 7.
  • the end transmission element 10 of each assembly 8 is arranged so that at each turn of the latter, the receiving elements 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d of the series, and the first driving element 9 associate, resume an identical position. This makes it possible to ensure for a given set the reproducibility of all the defects at each turn of the end transmission element 10.
  • all the end transmission elements 10 of the different sets 8 preferably have go around the loop In other words, at each turn of an end transmission element 10, the receiving elements 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d of each series and the first associated driving elements 9 take up an identical position.
  • the printing machine comprises a control system capable of positioning, before, during, or after each rotation of the support plate 1, the end transmission elements 10 at an identical position representative of the beginning of a turn of said end transmission elements 10.
  • each receiving element 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d preferably comprises a pinion 11 whose axis of rotation is preferably substantially or exactly perpendicular to the plane of the support plate 1.
  • the first driving element 9 is a toothed wheel
  • the end transmission element 10 is a toothed belt whose number of teeth is an integer multiple of the number of teeth of each associated pinion 11, and the number of teeth. the associated notched wheel.
  • the teeth of the toothed belt cooperate with the teeth of the toothed wheel and pinions 11.
  • a tooth of the belt comes into contact with the same tooth of the toothed wheel, and other teeth the toothed belt come into contact with the same teeth associated with the gears.
  • the assemblies 8 are connected in pairs to form separate unit elements 12.
  • the first driving elements 9 of two combined assemblies are connected to a second driving element 13, preferably rotatably mounted on the support plate 1, by an intermediate transmission element 14, in the form of closed loop, so that each turn of the intermediate transmission element 14 corresponds to a turn of the end transmission elements 10 of the two connected sets.
  • the second The driving element 13 is coupled to the motor 7.
  • the second driving element 13 resumes a position identical to each revolution of the intermediate transmission element 14.
  • the second driving element 13 comprises a toothed wheel associated with the intermediate transmission element 14 which may be a toothed belt.
  • the toothed wheel may comprise an axis of rotation substantially or exactly perpendicular to the plane of the support plate 1.
  • all the intermediate transmission elements 14 of the machine also do a loop tour.
  • the second drive element 13 preferably has an axis of rotation substantially, or exactly, perpendicular to the support plate 1.
  • the support plate 1 being preferably a disk, and the receiving elements 3 being disposed at the periphery of this disk in a first circle C 1
  • the first driving elements 9 are preferably arranged in a second circle C 2 concentric to the first circle, and of smaller diameter than the first circle C 1
  • the second drive elements 13 are preferably arranged in a third circle C 3 concentric with the second circle C 2 and of smaller diameter than the second circle C 2 .
  • the first, second and third circles C 1 , C 2 and C 3 each have their center coinciding with the center of the support plate disk 1. In other words, starting from the periphery of the support plate, one finds successively in the direction of center of the support plate 1 the receiving elements 3, the first driving elements 9, the second driving elements 13.
  • the coupling of the unit elements 12 to the motor 7 can be achieved by connecting the latter two by two by a main transmission element 15, in the form of a closed loop, coupled on the one hand to a third driving element 16 fixed to a central axis driven by the single motor 7, of preferably the central axis is a shaft of the single motor 7, and secondly the second drive elements 13 of the unit elements 12 connected so that each turn of the main transmission element 15 corresponds to a tower or a half-turn of the intermediate transmission elements 14 of the connected unit elements 12 (and preferably of all the intermediate transmission elements).
  • the third drive element 16 takes up a position identical to each revolution of the main transmission element 15.
  • each turn of an intermediate transmission element 14 corresponds to an integer multiple of revolutions of the main transmission element 15.
  • the third drive element 16 preferably has an axis of rotation substantially, or exactly, perpendicular to the support plate 1.
  • the main transmission element 15 may be formed by a toothed belt.
  • the driving element 16 may comprise a notched wheel whose axis of rotation is substantially, or exactly, perpendicular to the plane of the support plate 1.
  • the transmission elements (end, intermediate and main) being in the form of closed loop, by "turn” made by them, means a loop turn.
  • the transmission elements may be in the form of belts, preferably notched, or chains.
  • the transmission elements can start from a first position of the transmission elements (associated with the first position of impression), representative of the beginning of a revolution, to reach, according to the same first direction of rotation of the single motor 7, a second position of the transmission elements identical to the first position.
  • a first position of the transmission elements associated with the first position of impression
  • the machine is passed through the second printing position.
  • the receiving elements 3 have at least performed a complete turn on themselves.
  • all the driving elements 9, 13, 16 preferably have an identical position.
  • the control system is able to determine the current position of the transmission elements, preferably at least of the end transmission element 10. From the current position, and knowing the first position of the transmission elements, the control system determines the number of revolutions of the motor shaft necessary in the first direction of rotation of the single motor 7 to reach the second position of the transmission elements, it also determines the number of revolutions of the motor shaft to return to the first position of the transmission elements by reversing the direction of rotation of the single motor 7 in a second direction of rotation. The control system selects the least consuming solution in terms of revolutions of the motor shaft so that the receiving elements 3 resume an identical position. After printing, the rotational speed of the receiving elements no longer need to be compatible with a printing speed of the print head, the speed of the single motor 7 can increase (regardless of the direction of rotation) .
  • the printing machine comprises eight sets angularly distributed at the periphery of the plate 1, and four separate unit elements 12.
  • Each set comprises four receiving elements 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d.
  • Each receiving member 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d is provided with a pinion 11 of 25 teeth, and the first driving member 9 of an assembly is formed by a notched wheel of 25 teeth.
  • the associated end transmission element 10 is a toothed belt comprising as for it 150 teeth.
  • all the receiving elements 3, and all the first driving elements 9 do exactly six turns on themselves. This makes it possible, as mentioned previously, to avoid offsets, and to make up for any defects every six turns of the reception elements 3.
  • the first driving elements 9 of two adjacent assemblies are coupled to a second driving element 13 to form a unitary element 12.
  • the second drive element 13 comprises in fact two notched wheels whose axis of rotation is, preferably, perpendicular to the support plate 1. These two notched wheels are interconnected by a total connection, that is to say that is, they are fixed relative to each other, so they have the same angular velocity.
  • a first toothed wheel of the second drive member 13 is coupled to the intermediate transmission member 14 formed by a toothed toothed belt of 150 teeth. We then obtain a total of four unit elements 12.
  • each coupling can be made by a toothed belt-like main transmission element 15 coupled on the one hand to second 50-tooth wheels of the second driving elements 13 respectively of the two connected single elements, and to a third driving element 16 preferably arranged in the form of at least a toothed wheel with 50 teeth fixed to the central axis.
  • the toothed belts forming the main transmission elements are only two in number.
  • the toothed belts forming the intermediate, transmission and transmission end transmission elements are all identical.
  • the control system identifies a first position of the reception elements 3 representative of the beginning of a treatment of articles, for example an impression of articles. All the receiving elements 3 are rotated in a first direction of rotation of the single motor 7. When the treatment of the articles is completed for a given position / indexing of the support plate, the receiving elements are in a second position, the direction of rotation of the single motor is then reversed to return to the first position of the receiving elements. Return to the first position receiving elements can be done before, after or during the rotation of the support plate 1 to improve the timing.
  • control system described above can be implemented by an onboard electronics equipped with a program able to determine, from the state of the engine and the constituent components of the machine, a photograph at each moment of operation of said machine. According to this photograph, the control system can easily return to a position identical to the receiving elements.
  • the single motor 7 driving the rotation of the receiving elements 3 in this embodiment, or in the motor and single-belt mode is a brushless motor type ("brushless" in English).
  • a brushless motor type (“brushless" in English).
  • the brushless motor allows to know the exact position of the receiving elements 3 and transmission, facilitating the work of the control system mentioned above. Indeed, according to the particular example with the number of fixed teeth and the use of 150 tooth belts, we know that every six turns of the central axis, we find us in a known position from which all any offsets will be reproduced identically.
  • article processing stations for example printing heads
  • the printing heads can be staggered from each other at an angle to the center of the disk equal to the angle between two adjacent receiving elements 3 or a multiple of this separation angle. This allows, when one of the heads is at a receiving element with an associated article, to place the other heads respectively opposite other items, and the articles can be treated concomitantly to increase the timing of the printing machine.
  • the other processing stations are also facing an associated receiving element, to process an associated article.
  • An article can then undergo different treatments at different indexes of the support plate 1.
  • the support plate 1 can be arranged to transport each article of a loading station 17 to an unloading station 18.
  • the loading station 17 can be equipped with a gripping arm adapted to grip an article in a first working position, and nesting the grasped article with a proximal receiving element 3 of the loading station 17 in a second working position.
  • the unloading station 18 may be adjacent to the loading station 17, and may include a working position in which an associated gripping arm may retrieve the article attached to the receiving element disposed opposite the station discharge 18.
  • an anti-static treatment station 19 an anti-static treatment station 19
  • a surface treatment station 20 corona, buckling or plasma
  • a station printing apparatus 5a, 5b equipped with a white ink an ultraviolet radiation drying station 21, color printing stations, and another ultraviolet radiation drying station 23.
  • there are four color printing stations each comprising a print head 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d respectively associated with the colors black, cyan, magenta, yellow (regardless of the distribution).
  • the print heads are oriented towards the proximal article of the printing station concerned.
  • each head has an independent adjustment in inclination with respect to the vertical of the support plate so as to follow the profile of an article, especially when the latter is conical.
  • the nozzles of each print head are preferably perpendicular to the plane of the support plate 1.
  • the color printing stations are adjacent so that at each indexing of the support plate 1, an article passes successively from one printing station to another so that the mixture of inks is obtained under optimal conditions.
  • the white printing station 5 can be separated from the black, magenta, cyan and yellow printing stations 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d by a drying station 21.
  • the printing station 5 in white allows in fact cover the article with a white undercoat when the items are dark.
  • a drying station may be ultraviolet-based using light-emitting diodes as a source of ultraviolet light so as to freeze the ink droplets printed on the articles.
  • the other stations are also in working position.
  • the printing machine described above provides a high timing of printing.
  • each belt is preferably associated with at least one tensioner 24 adapted to adjust the tension of the associated belt.
  • the machine may have more than eight sets, the set number will preferably be a power of two greater than or equal to eight.
  • Two adjacent sets may form a separate unitary element, then the individual unit elements will be merged recursively two by two until four separate unit elements each have a drive element proximal to the central axis, and connected two by two to the third. driving element by an associated main transmission element.
  • the first printing position can be associated with a position in which the end transmission elements 10 are at a representative indexing beginning of a turn of the end transmission elements 10. Then, at least one complete rotation of each receiving element (3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) is performed, during this rotation the articles can all or at least partly to be treated. Then the end transmission elements 10 are returned to the indexing representative of the beginning of a turn of the latter (return to the first printing position).
  • the support plate 1 rotates on itself to move an article from a first processing station to a second processing station.
  • each receiving element 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d is performed according to a first direction of rotation of the single motor 7, and the indexing representative of the beginning of a revolution of the transmission elements of end 10 is taken up by the rotation of the single motor 7 in a second direction of rotation inverted with respect to the first direction.
  • the single motor 7 rotates the articles at a speed compatible with the printing speed of the printheads.
  • the single motor makes it possible to drive all the elements for receiving rotation at an identical angular speed. This allows in particular to improve the timing by ensuring that when a receiving element has a turn on itself, all the receiving elements have also made a turn on themselves.
  • all the receiving elements are preferably rotated simultaneously and are not releasable relative to each other to allow the same angular displacement at the same rotational speed.
  • the articles are not of circular section, they will be arranged in the same way on each reception element so that the evolution profile of the article relative to the rotating position is the same and is known from a print management software.
  • the single motor can be coupled to a ring gear at its outer periphery with each pinion of each receiving element.
  • the crown and the sprockets take up an identical position.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Manufacture Or Reproduction Of Printing Formes (AREA)
  • Printing Methods (AREA)
  • Feeding Of Articles By Means Other Than Belts Or Rollers (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Description

Domaine technique de l'inventionTechnical field of the invention

L'invention est relative à une machine à imprimer comportant :

  • un plateau de support muni sur sa périphérie d'une pluralité d'éléments de réception d'articles montés à rotation sur le plateau de support,
  • des moyens de mise en rotation du plateau de support pour placer deux articles, montés sur leurs éléments de réception associés, respectivement face à deux postes d'impression distincts de la machine,
  • un système de mise en rotation des éléments de réception.
The invention relates to a printing machine comprising:
  • a support plate provided on its periphery with a plurality of article receiving members rotatably mounted on the support plate,
  • means for rotating the support plate to place two articles, mounted on their associated receiving elements, respectively facing two printing stations separate from the machine,
  • a system for rotating the receiving elements.

État de la techniqueState of the art

Les flacons, tubes, pots utilisés pour l'impression par jet d'encre sont généralement en matière plastique, car ils sont notamment peu onéreux, incassables, légers, et coloriables. Les flacons peuvent aussi être formés en verre.Bottles, tubes, jars used for inkjet printing are generally made of plastic, because they are particularly inexpensive, unbreakable, light, and colorable. The bottles can also be formed of glass.

Afin d'imprimer un motif couleur sur un article en matière plastique, on commence, de préférence, par soumettre la surface à imprimer à un traitement, par exemple par effet corona, flammage, plasma, ou tout traitement de surface approprié, afin de conférer à la surface une meilleure adhérence de l'encre. On imprime éventuellement ensuite un fond blanc que l'on fait sécher, par exemple aux rayonnements ultraviolets, avant d'imprimer un motif en quadrichromie (noir, magenta, cyan, jaune).In order to print a color pattern on a plastic article, it is preferable to subject the surface to be printed to a treatment, for example by corona, flame, plasma, or any other appropriate surface treatment, in order to confer on the surface a better adhesion of the ink. A white background is then optionally printed which is dried, for example with ultraviolet radiation, before printing a four-color process (black, magenta, cyan, yellow).

Le document WO2004/009360 décrit un dispositif d'impression muni d'un plateau tournant équipé à sa périphérie d'éléments de réception 2 d'articles à imprimer. Un poste d'impression comporte plusieurs têtes d'impression réparties autour de l'article à imprimer. La hauteur du motif à imprimer est limitée en fonction de la dimension de la tête d'impression. Ainsi, cette machine n'accepte pas des variations importantes des dimensions des articles notamment dans leur hauteur.The document WO2004 / 009360 discloses a printing device provided with a turntable equipped at its periphery with receiving elements 2 of articles to be printed. A print station has several print heads distributed around the article to be printed. The height of the pattern to be printed is limited according to the size of the print head. Thus, this machine does not accept significant variations in the dimensions of items including their height.

Une machine à imprimer d'après la préambule de la revendication 1 est divulguée dans le document BE 905 380 A1 .A printing machine according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in the document BE 905 380 A1 .

Objet de l'inventionObject of the invention

L'objet de l'invention consiste à réaliser une machine permettant d'obtenir un haut cadencement d'impression avec une bonne reproductibilité, sur les articles dont la longueur du motif à imprimer peut être supérieure aux dimensions d'impression des têtes d'impression.The object of the invention is to provide a machine for obtaining a high print timing with good reproducibility, on articles whose length of the pattern to be printed may be greater than the print dimensions of the printing heads. .

Cet objet est atteint en ce que la machine comporte

  • un socle supportant les deux postes d'impression,
  • des moyens pour générer un mouvement de translation relatif entre le socle et le plateau de support, et coopérant avec le système de mise en rotation de sorte à permettre une impression hélicoïdale de motifs sur les articles associés aux deux postes d'impression.
This object is achieved in that the machine comprises
  • a base supporting the two printing stations,
  • means for generating a relative translation movement between the pedestal and the support plate, and cooperating with the rotational system so as to permit helical printing of patterns on articles associated with the two printing stations.

Selon une variante, chaque poste d'impression du socle est alimenté par une unique couleur.Alternatively, each print station of the base is powered by a single color.

Selon une mise en oeuvre particulière, les moyens pour générer le mouvement de translation comportent :

  • une base de support,
  • un système de guidage du mouvement de translation du plateau de support, ledit système de guidage étant monté sur la base de support,
  • un système de mise en mouvement du plateau de support entre une position du plateau de support proximale de la base de support, et une position du plateau de support distale de la base de support le long du système de guidage.
According to one particular embodiment, the means for generating the translational movement comprise:
  • a support base,
  • a system for guiding the translational movement of the support plate, said guide system being mounted on the support base,
  • a system for moving the support plate between a position of the proximal support plate of the support base, and a position of the support plate distal of the support base along the guide system.

Avantageusement, le système de guidage comporte :

  • au moins un rail de guidage se présentant sous la forme d'une tige allongée fixée sur la base de support et configurée pour coulisser dans un élément complémentaire du plateau de support, ledit élément complémentaire comportant un système de roulement à billes en contact avec ladite tige.
Advantageously, the guidance system comprises:
  • at least one guide rail in the form of an elongated rod fixed to the support base and configured to slide in a complementary element of the support plate, said complementary element comprising a ball bearing system in contact with said rod .

Le système de mise en mouvement peut comporter une liaison hélicoïdale, par exemple mise en oeuvre par une vis.The movement system may comprise a helical connection, for example implemented by a screw.

De manière avantageuse, le système de mise en rotation des éléments de réception comporte un moteur unique accouplé à chaque élément de réception par l'intermédiaire d'une unique courroie.Advantageously, the rotating system of the receiving elements comprises a single motor coupled to each receiving element via a single belt.

L'invention est aussi relative à un procédé d'impression sur des articles en trois dimensions mettant en oeuvre un plateau de support muni sur sa périphérie d'une pluralité d'éléments de réception d'articles, ledit procédé comportant les étapes suivantes :

  • placer le plateau de support, et un socle muni de premier et second postes d'impression, dans une première position d'impression pour que deux articles distincts soient respectivement placés face aux premier et second postes d'impression,
  • mettre en rotation les éléments de réception,
  • imprimer, par les premier et second postes d'impression, des motifs sur les articles associés,
l'étape d'impression de motifs sur les articles étant réalisée de manière hélicoïdale en appliquant, au cours de la rotation des éléments de réception, un mouvement de translation relatif entre le plateau de support et le socle jusqu'à une seconde position d'impression représentative de la fin d'un cycle d'impression. Avantageusement, les première et seconde positions sont placées selon deux points décalés le long des axes de rotation des articles.The invention also relates to a method of printing on three-dimensional articles using a support plate provided on its periphery with a plurality of article receiving elements, said method comprising the following steps:
  • placing the support plate, and a base provided with first and second printing stations, in a first printing position so that two separate articles are respectively placed facing the first and second printing stations,
  • rotate the receiving elements,
  • print, by the first and second printing stations, patterns on the associated articles,
the patterning step on the articles being helically performed by applying, during the rotation of the receiving elements, a relative translation movement between the support plate and the base to a second position of print representative of the end of a print cycle. Advantageously, the first and second positions are placed along two points offset along the axes of rotation of the articles.

Préférentiellement, après avoir atteint la seconde position d'impression, le plateau de support effectue un mouvement de rotation au cours duquel :

  • un mouvement de translation entre le plateau de support et socle est initié pour que le niveau relatif entre le plateau de support et le socle de la première position soit repris,
  • et un moteur unique entraîne en rotation tous les éléments de réception pour que ceux-ci reprennent une position, par rapport au plateau support, identique à celle occupée en première position d'impression.
Preferably, after reaching the second printing position, the support plate performs a rotational movement during which:
  • a translation movement between the support and base plate is initiated so that the relative level between the support plate and the base of the first position is resumed,
  • and a single motor rotates all the receiving elements so that they take up a position, with respect to the support plate, identical to that occupied in the first printing position.

Le mouvement de rotation du plateau de support, le mouvement de translation, et le mouvement de rotation des éléments de réception peuvent se recouper au moins partiellement dans le temps lors du passage de la seconde position d'impression à la première position d'impression après une étape d'impression de motifs.The rotational movement of the support plate, the translational movement, and the rotational movement of the receiving elements may overlap at least partially in time when the second printing position is moved to the first printing position after a pattern printing step.

Description sommaire des dessinsBrief description of the drawings

D'autres avantages et caractéristiques ressortiront plus clairement de la description qui va suivre de modes particuliers de réalisation de l'invention donnés à titre d'exemples non limitatifs et représentés aux dessins annexés, dans lesquels :

  • La figure 1 illustre une machine d'impression dans une première position d'impression,
  • La figure 2 illustre une machine d'impression dans une seconde position d'impression,
  • la figure 3 représente une vue de dessus d'une machine à imprimer,
  • la figure 4 illustre une vue partiel de côté de la machine à imprimer,
  • la figure 5 illustre une vue en perspective de la machine à imprimer,
  • la figure 6 illustre une variante de la machine d'impression dans une première position,
  • la figure 7 illustre une variante de la machine d'impression dans une seconde position.
Other advantages and features will emerge more clearly from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and represented in the accompanying drawings, in which:
  • The figure 1 illustrates a printing machine in a first printing position,
  • The figure 2 illustrates a printing machine in a second printing position,
  • the figure 3 represents a top view of a printing machine,
  • the figure 4 illustrates a partial side view of the printing machine,
  • the figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of the printing machine,
  • the figure 6 illustrates a variant of the printing machine in a first position,
  • the figure 7 illustrates a variant of the printing machine in a second position.

Description de modes préférentiels de réalisationDescription of preferred embodiments

La figure 1 représente, un mode de réalisation de machine à imprimer des articles, permettant d'assurer une impression à cadence élevée d'articles en trois dimensions dont la longueur peut varier dans des proportions importantes.The figure 1 is an embodiment of an article printing machine for providing high speed printing of three-dimensional articles whose length may vary in significant proportions.

Les articles peuvent être de forme générale cylindrique (ex. des flacons, des bouteilles, des pots, etc...). La forme d'un article peut dévier légèrement de celle d'un cylindre ; elle peut être légèrement conique (par exemple des gobelets), concave, ou convexe. Elle peut aussi avoir une section elliptique ou ovoïde.Articles may be generally cylindrical in shape (eg bottles, bottles, jars, etc.). The shape of an article may deviate slightly from that of a cylinder; it can be slightly conical (eg cups), concave, or convex. It can also have an elliptical or ovoid section.

Par cylindre, on entend un objet défini par une droite appelée génératrice passant par un point variable décrivant une courbe plane fermée, appelée courbe directrice et gardant une direction fixe.By cylinder, we mean an object defined by a line called generatrix passing through a variable point describing a closed plane curve, called the guiding curve and keeping a fixed direction.

Comme illustré aux figures 1 à 7, la machine à imprimer comporte un plateau de support 1. Ce plateau de support 1 peut être mis en rotation par des moyens de mise en rotation tels qu'un moteur 2 (figure 3) accouplé au plateau de support 1. La rotation du plateau de support 1 permet de placer ce dernier dans différentes indexations permettant d'imprimer ou de traiteur des articles. Le plateau de support 1 est muni sur sa périphérie d'une pluralité d'éléments de réception 3 d'articles 4. Les éléments de réception 3 peuvent être répartis angulairement de manière homogène sur la périphérie du plateau de support 1 qui a la forme générale préférentielle de disque. Autrement dit, comme illustré à la figure 3, les éléments de réception 3 sont répartis le long d'un cercle C1 à équidistance du centre du plateau de support 1 coïncidant avec le centre du cercle C1. Chaque élément de réception 3 est monté à rotation sur le plateau de support 1, par exemple par l'intermédiaire de roulements à billes. Bien entendu, l'homme du métier pourra utiliser d'autres types de montage à rotation de sa connaissance. La mise en rotation d'un élément de réception 3 permet d'entraîner en rotation un article 4 qui lui est associé. De préférence, l'axe de rotation des éléments de réception 3 est sensiblement perpendiculaire, ou exactement perpendiculaire, au plan formé par le plateau de support 1. Dans le cas d'un plateau de support 1 en forme de disque, il s'agit du plan du disque (plan P perpendiculaire au plan de la figure 4, le plan du disque correspondant, à la figure 3 au plan de ladite figure 3).As illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 , the printing machine comprises a support plate 1. This support plate 1 can be rotated by rotation means such as a motor 2 (FIG. figure 3 ) coupled to the support plate 1. The rotation of the support plate 1 can place the latter in different indexing for printing or catered items. The support plate 1 is provided on its periphery with a plurality of elements 3 for receiving articles 4. The receiving elements 3 can be angularly distributed homogeneously on the periphery of the support plate 1 which has the general shape preferential disc. In other words, as illustrated in figure 3 , the receiving elements 3 are distributed along a circle C 1 equidistant from the center of the support plate 1 coinciding with the center of the circle C 1 . Each receiving element 3 is rotatably mounted on the support plate 1, for example by means of ball bearings. Of course, those skilled in the art may use other types of rotational editing of his knowledge. The rotation of a receiving member 3 rotates an article 4 associated therewith. Preferably, the axis of rotation of the receiving elements 3 is substantially perpendicular, or exactly perpendicular, to the plane formed by the support plate 1. In the case of a disc-shaped support plate 1, this is of the plane of the disc (plane P perpendicular to the plane of the figure 4 , the plane of the corresponding disc, at the figure 3 at the level of said figure 3 ).

Dans la présente description, par sensiblement perpendiculaire, on entend perpendiculaire à plus ou moins 10 degrés.In the present description, by substantially perpendicular is meant perpendicular to plus or minus 10 degrees.

De préférence, les éléments de réception 3 sont agencés pour recevoir axialement des articles 4 respectifs, un article 4 étant associé à un élément de réception 3 le portant. Par « axialement » on entend que les articles sont disposés sur les éléments de réception avec leur axe longitudinal (A1 sur la figure 1) oriente perpendiculairement, ou sensiblement perpendiculairement, au plan P du plateau de support 1.Preferably, the receiving elements 3 are arranged to axially receive respective articles 4, an article 4 being associated with a receiving element 3 carrying it. By "axially" is meant that the articles are arranged on the receiving elements with their longitudinal axis (A1 on the figure 1 ) oriented perpendicularly, or substantially perpendicularly, to the plane P of the support plate 1.

Les éléments de réception 3 sont prévus pour assurer un maintien stable et suffisamment précis des articles 4 au cours des divers traitements. Par exemple, dans le cas où les articles 4 sont en forme de pot, les éléments de réception 3,peuvent avoir une forme qui épouse l'intérieur des pots, les pots étant disposés sur les éléments de réception 3 avec leur ouverture tournée vers le plateau de support 1. Dans le cas où les articles 4 sont des bouteilles, les éléments de réception 3 peuvent avoir une forme cylindrique au diamètre de l'intérieur des goulots des bouteilles. Les éléments de réception 3 peuvent être munis d'un système à expansion qui permet d'épouser la forme intérieure des goulots. Une contre-pointe (non représentée) prenant appui dans le fond d'un article peut être prévue pour parfaire l'alignement axial de l'article.The receiving elements 3 are provided to ensure a stable and sufficiently precise maintenance of the articles 4 during the various treatments. For example, in the case where the articles 4 are pot-shaped, the receiving elements 3 can have a shape that fits inside the pots, the pots being arranged on the receiving elements 3 with their opening facing the support tray 1. In the case where the articles 4 are bottles, the receiving elements 3 may have a cylindrical shape with the diameter of the inside of the necks of the bottles. The receiving elements 3 may be provided with an expansion system that allows to marry the inner shape of the necks. A tailstock (not shown) supported in the bottom of an article may be provided to complete the axial alignment of the article.

Sur les figures 1 et 2, et applicables aux différents modes de réalisation décrits ci-après, les moyens de mise en rotation du plateau de support 1 sont agencés de sorte à placer deux articles 4a, 4b, montés sur leurs éléments de réception associés, respectivement face à (ou au niveau de) deux postes d'impression 5a, 5b distincts de la machine comportant typiquement chacun une tête d'impression 6. Les deux postes d'impression 5a, 5b sont supportés par un même socle 101. Chaque poste d'impression du socle 101 est, de préférence, alimenté par une unique couleur, et comporte de préférence une unique tête d'impression. Par « au niveau », on entend que l'élément de réception 3 est proximal du poste d'impression 5a, 5b de sorte que la surface d'un article 4a, 4b associé peut être imprimée par la tête d'impression 6.On the Figures 1 and 2 , and applicable to the different embodiments described below, the means for rotating the support plate 1 are arranged so as to place two articles 4a, 4b, mounted on their associated receiving elements, respectively facing (or level of) two printing stations 5a, 5b separate from the machine typically each having a print head 6. The two printing stations 5a, 5b are supported by the same base 101. Each printing station of the base 101 is preferably fed by a single color, and preferably comprises a single print head. By "level" is meant that the receiving element 3 is proximal to the printing station 5a, 5b so that the surface of an associated article 4a, 4b can be printed by the print head 6.

Les deux postes d'impression 5a, 5b sont supportés par un même socle 101. Ainsi, les deux postes d'impression 5a, 5b peuvent être fixés selon une liaison totale au socle 101. Par liaison totale, on entend qu'une fois assemblés les postes d'impression 5a, 5b et le socle 101 se comportent comme une pièce monobloc et sont donc situés dans un même référentiel de mouvement. L'exemple ne se limite pas à un socle associé à deux postes d'impression, il peut y en avoir plus, chaque poste d'impression étant alors associé à un article distinct.The two printing stations 5a, 5b are supported by the same base 101. Thus, the two printing stations 5a, 5b can be fixed in a total connection to the base 101. Total connection means that once assembled the printing stations 5a, 5b and the base 101 behave as a single piece and are therefore located in the same frame of reference. The example is not limited to a base associated with two printing stations, there may be more, each print station then being associated with a separate article.

La machine comporte en outre des moyens pour générer un mouvement de translation relatif entre le socle 101 et le plateau de support 1. Avantageusement, ce mouvement peut être contraint selon un vecteur entre deux points échelonnés selon un axe sensiblement parallèle aux axes A1 de rotation des articles, pour permettre une impression hélicoïdale de motifs sur les articles 4a, 4b, associés aux postes 5a, 5b, au cours de la rotation des éléments de réception 3. Les éléments de réception 3 peuvent être entraînés en rotation par un système de mise en rotation, par exemple un moteur unique. Autrement dit, les moyens pour générer le mouvement de translation coopèrent avec le système de mise en rotation de sorte à permettre l'impression hélicoïdale.The machine further comprises means for generating a relative translational movement between the base 101 and the support plate 1. Advantageously, this movement can be constrained according to a vector between two points staggered along an axis substantially parallel to the axes A1 of rotation of the articles, to enable helical pattern printing on articles 4a, 4b, associated with stations 5a, 5b, during the rotation of the receiving elements 3. The receiving elements 3 can be rotated by a setting system. rotation, for example a single motor. In other words, the means for generating the translational movement cooperate with the rotation system so as to allow helical printing.

Dans l'exemple particulier des figures 1 et 2, les axes de rotation des articles sont perpendiculaires, ou sensiblement perpendiculaires, au plan du plateau de support 1. Le mouvement de translation relatif suit une direction parallèle, ou sensiblement parallèle (à plus ou moins 10 degrés), à l'axe de rotation des articles 4. Ainsi, le socle 101 est, de préférence, décalé latéralement par rapport à la périphérie du plateau de support 1 pour permettre son passage. Dans le cas d'un plateau de support 1 en forme de disque, le socle 101 a une position dans laquelle il est disposé radialement à l'extérieur du disque. Sur l'exemple des figures 1 et 2, le socle 101 forme une plaque de support trouée de manière à laisser passer le plateau de support 1. Le plan du plateau de support 1 et le plan de la plaque de support 101 sont, préférentiellement, parallèles (ou sensiblement parallèles) en tout point du mouvement de translation relatif entre le socle 101 et le plateau de support 1.In the particular example of Figures 1 and 2 the axes of rotation of the articles are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the plane of the support plate 1. The relative translational movement follows a direction parallel to, or substantially parallel (within plus or minus 10 degrees) to the axis of rotation 4. Thus, the base 101 is preferably shifted laterally relative to the periphery of the support plate 1 to allow its passage. In the case of a disk-shaped support plate 1, the base 101 has a position in which it is disposed radially outside the disk. On the example of Figures 1 and 2 , the base 101 forms a perforated support plate so as to pass the support plate 1. The plane of the support plate 1 and the plane of the support plate 101 are preferably parallel (or substantially parallel) in every respect relative translation movement between the base 101 and the support plate 1.

L'impression hélicoïdale permet à une seule tête d'impression de parcourir la surface extérieure d'un article de sorte à y imprimer un motif. À titre d'exemple, une tête d'impression de 70mm peut imprimer un motif de 140mm de long sur un article en trois rotations de l'article sur lui-même. Bien entendu, la tête d'impression sera, par exemple, pilotée par un logiciel apte à décomposer une image sous forme hélicoïdale afin d'imprimer le motif sur l'article en trois dimensions. Le logiciel pourra, par exemple, prendre en entrée l'image à imprimer et une cartographie de la surface extérieure de l'article.Helical printing allows a single print head to traverse the outer surface of an article to print a pattern. As an example, a 70mm printhead can print a 140mm long pattern on an article in three rotations of the article on itself. Of course, the print head will, for example, driven by software capable of decomposing an image in helical form to print the pattern on the article in three dimensions. The software may, for example, take as input the image to be printed and a map of the outer surface of the article.

Le fait de placer au moins deux postes d'impression 5a, 5b sur un même socle permet d'obtenir une meilleure reproductibilité et superposition des motifs imprimés de manière hélicoïdale sur deux postes, de préférence immédiatement adjacents. Notamment, le socle 101 peut comporter quatre postes d'impression chacun associé à un article distinct pour une position donnée du plateau de support 1. Chacun des quatre postes d'impression peut être associé à une couleur respectivement cyan, magenta, jaune, noir. Un article donné va donc passer successivement sur les quatre postes d'impression, par différentes indexations du plateau de support 1. Un motif imprimé sera réalisé par la superposition, le mélange ou la juxtaposition de plusieurs couleurs, la reproductibilité de l'impression doit être réalisée au mieux afin que l'on ait la sensation qu'un motif défini ait été imprimé en une seule passe, alors qu'en fait, il aura été imprimé en plusieurs passes, à des postes d'impression distincts. L'impression en plusieurs passes présente des avantages au niveau du coût de réalisation de la machine, de sa facilité de mise en oeuvre, et de la cadence d'impression, c'est pour cela qu'un poste d'impression est préférentiellement équipé d'une unique tête d'impression alimentée par une couleur unique.The fact of placing at least two printing stations 5a, 5b on the same base makes it possible to obtain better reproducibility and superimposition of the printed patterns helically on two stations, preferably immediately adjacent. In particular, the base 101 may comprise four printing stations each associated with a separate article for a given position of the support plate 1. Each of the four printing stations may be associated with a color respectively cyan, magenta, yellow, black. A given article will therefore pass successively on the four printing stations, by different indexing of the support plate 1. A printed pattern will be achieved by the superposition, mixing or juxtaposition of several colors, the reproducibility of the printing must be best done so that we have the feeling that a defined pattern has been printed in a single pass, when in fact it has been printed in several passes, at different printing stations. The printing in several passes has advantages in terms of the cost of production of the machine, its ease of implementation, and the rate of printing, that is why a printing station is preferably equipped a single print head fed by a single color.

Dès lors, en plaçant différents postes d'impression sur un même socle 101 apte à effectuer un même mouvement de translation à chaque indexation du plateau de support 1, et en contrôlant la vitesse de rotation des éléments de réception 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, il est possible d'avoir une reproductibilité parfaite de l'impression du motif sans décalage dans les couleurs d'un même motif. Avantageusement, la machine comporte un contrôleur de vitesse apte à mesurer la vitesse de rotation d'au moins un, ou des, élément(s) de réception de sorte à piloter les postes d'impression en cas de variation de la vitesse de rotation et éviter les distorsions dans le motif imprimé.Therefore, by placing different printing stations on the same base 101 able to perform the same translational movement at each indexing of the support plate 1, and by controlling the speed of rotation of the receiving elements 3, 3a, 3b, 3c , it is possible to have a perfect reproducibility of the printing of the pattern without offset in the colors of the same pattern. Advantageously, the machine comprises a speed controller capable of measuring the rotational speed of at least one or of the receiving element (s) so as to drive the printing stations in the event of variation of the speed of rotation and avoid distortions in the printed pattern.

Dans une telle machine, le plateau de support 1 peut être fixe, le socle 101 est alors équipé d'une motorisation apte à le déplacer par rapport au plateau de support 1. Selon une variante, le socle 101 peut être fixe, et c'est le plateau de support 1 qui est équipé d'une motorisation apte à le déplacer par rapport au socle 101. Si le plateau est fixe, il peut être monté par une liaison totale au châssis de la machine. Si le socle est fixe, il peut être monté par une liaison totale au châssis de la machine.In such a machine, the support plate 1 can be fixed, the base 101 is then equipped with a motor adapted to move it relative to the support plate 1. According to a variant, the base 101 can be fixed, and c ' is the support plate 1 which is equipped with a motor adapted to move relative to the base 101. If the plate is fixed, it can be mounted by a total connection to the frame of the machine. If the base is fixed, it can be mounted by a total connection to the frame of the machine.

Par liaison totale entre deux éléments, on entend que ces deux éléments se comportent dans leurs mouvements comme une pièce monobloc.By total connection between two elements, it is understood that these two elements behave in their movements as a single piece.

Les figures 6 et 7 illustrent une réalisation particulière selon laquelle c'est le plateau de support 1 dans sa globalité qui effectue un mouvement de translation par rapport aux postes d'impressions (non représentés). Sur la figure 6, le plateau de support 1 est dans une première position, et sur la figure 7 le plateau de support 1 est dans une seconde position. Afin de réaliser le mouvement de translation, les moyens pour générer le mouvement de translation peuvent comporter une base de support 102 et un système de guidage 103 du mouvement de translation du plateau de support 1, ledit système de guidage 103 étant monté sur la base de support 102. En outre, les moyens pour générer le mouvement peuvent comporter un système de mise en mouvement 104 du plateau de support 1 entre une position du plateau de support 1 proximale de la base de support 102, et une position du plateau de support 1 distale dé la base de support 102 le long du système de guidage. Sur la figure 6, la position proximale correspond à la première position, et sur la figure 7 la position distale correspond à la seconde position. Bien qu'ils ne soient pas représentés, les postes d'impression peuvent être supportés par un même socle et disposés à proximité de l'ensemble formé par le plateau et la base de support pour permettre une impression hélicoïdale au cours du déplacement du plateau de support par rapport à sa base de support.The Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a particular embodiment that it is the support plate 1 in its entirety that performs a translational movement with respect to printing stations (not shown). On the figure 6 , the support plate 1 is in a first position, and on the figure 7 the support plate 1 is in a second position. In order to achieve the translation movement, the means for generating the translational movement may comprise a support base 102 and a guide system 103 of the translational movement of the support plate 1, said guide system 103 being mounted on the base of 102. In addition, the means for generating the movement may comprise a a moving system 104 of the support plate 1 between a position of the support plate 1 proximal to the support base 102, and a position of the support plate 1 distal of the support base 102 along the guide system. On the figure 6 , the proximal position corresponds to the first position, and on the figure 7 the distal position corresponds to the second position. Although they are not shown, the printing stations can be supported by a same base and arranged near the assembly formed by the plate and the support base to allow a helical impression during the movement of the tray. support relative to its support base.

Selon une mise en oeuvre particulière, le système de guidage 103 peut comporter au moins un rail de guidage se présentant sous la forme d'une tige allongée fixée sur la base de support 102 et configurée pour coulisser dans un élément complémentaire du plateau de support 1, ledit élément complémentaire comportant avantageusement un système de roulement à billes en contact avec ladite tige. Le roulement permet de limiter les forces de friction. Sur l'exemple particulier des figures 6 et 7, le système de guidage comporte quatre rails de guidage 103, 103a, 103b, 103c s'étendant de la base de support 102 à une platine 105, la course du plateau de support est alors contrainte entre la base de support 102 et la platine 105 qui agissent alors avantageusement comme des butées.According to one particular embodiment, the guiding system 103 may comprise at least one guide rail in the form of an elongated rod fixed on the support base 102 and configured to slide in a complementary element of the support plate 1 , said complementary element advantageously comprising a ball bearing system in contact with said rod. The bearing helps to limit the friction forces. On the particular example of Figures 6 and 7 , the guide system comprises four guide rails 103, 103a, 103b, 103c extending from the support base 102 to a plate 105, the travel of the support plate is then constrained between the support base 102 and the plate 105 which then act advantageously as stops.

Selon une mise en oeuvre, le système de mise en mouvement 104 comporte une liaison hélicoïdale. Cette liaison hélicoïdale peut être mise en oeuvre par une vis. Sur la figure 7, on aperçoit un système de mise en movement à base de deux liaisons hélicoïdales 104a, 104b.According to one embodiment, the movement system 104 comprises a helical connection. This helical connection can be implemented by a screw. On the figure 7 , we see a movement system based on two helical links 104a, 104b.

Avantageusement, le système de mise en rotation des éléments de réception 3, 3a, 3b, 3c comporte un moteur unique (non représenté) accouplé à chaque élément de réception par l'intermédiaire d'une unique courroie. Ainsi, chaque élément de réception peut comporter un pignon engrené par la courroie.Advantageously, the rotating system of the receiving elements 3, 3a, 3b, 3c comprises a single motor (not shown) coupled to each receiving element via a single belt. So, each receiving element may comprise a pinion geared by the belt.

De manière générale, un procédé d'impression sur des articles en trois dimensions met en oeuvre un plateau de support 1, muni sur sa périphérie d'une pluralité d'éléments de réception 3 d'articles 4. Un tel plateau de support 1 peut être du type de celui décrit ci-dessus ou dans ses variantes décrites ci-après. Le procédé peut alors comporter une étape dans laquelle le plateau de support 1 et un socle 101 muni de premier et second postes d'impression 5a, 5b (ou plus) sont placés dans une première position d'impression pour que deux articles distincts soient respectivement placés face aux premier et second postes 5a, 5b d'impression. Les éléments de réception 3 sont mis en rotation et l'impression des motifs, par les premier et second postes d'impression 5a, 5b sur les articles associés, est réalisée dès la mise en rotation, ou au cours de la rotation, des éléments de réception 3. Comme indiqué ci-dessus, l'étape d'impression de motifs sur les articles 4 est réalisée de manière hélicoïdale en appliquant, au cours de la rotation des éléments de réception 3,a 3a, 3b, 3c, un mouvement relatif de translation entre le plateau de support 1 et le socle 101 jusqu'à une seconde position d'impression représentative de la fin d'un cycle d'impression. Les première et seconde positions d'impression sont placées préférentiellement selon deux points décalés le long des axes de rotation des articles, et peuvent, le cas échéant correspondre aux butées formées par la base de support 102 et la platine 105. La mise en rotation de la ou des vis du système de mise en mouvement suivant un angle précis imposé par un moteur associé induira un déplacement précis et un retour à l'origine précis.In general, a method of printing on three-dimensional articles uses a support plate 1, provided on its periphery with a plurality of elements 3 for receiving articles 4. Such a support plate 1 can be of the type described above or in its variants described below. The method may then comprise a step in which the support plate 1 and a base 101 provided with first and second printing stations 5a, 5b (or more) are placed in a first printing position so that two distinct articles are respectively positioned opposite the first and second printing stations 5a, 5b. The reception elements 3 are rotated and the printing of the patterns, by the first and second printing stations 5a, 5b on the associated articles, is carried out as soon as the elements are rotated or rotated. 3. As indicated above, the step of printing patterns on the articles 4 is carried out in a helical manner by applying, during the rotation of the receiving elements 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, a movement relative translation between the support plate 1 and the base 101 to a second printing position representative of the end of a printing cycle. The first and second printing positions are preferably placed at two points offset along the axes of rotation of the articles, and may, where appropriate, correspond to the stops formed by the support base 102 and the plate 105. the screw or screws of the motion system at a precise angle imposed by a motor associated will induce a precise displacement and a return to the precise origin.

Les première et seconde positions d'impression sont illustrées aux figures 1 et 2, ainsi qu'aux figures 6 et 7, le but étant d'imprimer, préférentiellement, un motif sur toute la longueur l1 d'un article 4.The first and second printing positions are illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 as well as Figures 6 and 7 , the purpose being to print, preferably, a pattern along the entire length l 1 of an article 4.

Pour améliorer le temps de traitement des articles 4, après avoir atteint la seconde position d'impression, le plateau de support 1 effectue un mouvement de rotation au cours duquel un mouvement de translation entre le plateau de support 1 et le socle 101 est initié pour que le niveau relatif entre le plateau de support 1 et le socle 101 de la première position d'impression soit repris. Toujours au cours du mouvement de rotation du plateau, un moteur unique (non représenté aux figures 1 et 2 mais visible à la figure 3 sous la référence 7) entraîne en rotation tous les éléments de réception 3 pour que ceux-ci reprennent une position, par rapport au plateau support 1, identique à celle occupée en première position d'impression. Le mouvement de rotation du plateau de support permet de changer son indexation pour traiter les articles.To improve the processing time of the articles 4, after having reached the second printing position, the support plate 1 performs a rotational movement during which a translation movement between the support plate 1 and the base 101 is initiated to that the relative level between the support plate 1 and the base 101 of the first printing position is resumed. Still during the rotational movement of the plate, a single motor (not shown in FIG. Figures 1 and 2 but visible to the figure 3 under the reference 7) rotates all the receiving elements 3 so that they take up a position, with respect to the support plate 1, identical to that occupied in the first printing position. The rotational movement of the support plate makes it possible to change its indexing to process the articles.

Il résulte de manière préférentielle que le mouvement de rotation du plateau de support 1, le mouvement de translation, et le mouvement de rotation des éléments de réception 3 se recoupent tous les trois au moins partiellement dans le temps lors du passage de la seconde position à la première position après une étape d'impression de motifs. Ainsi, la réinitialisation de la machine entre deux indexations du plateau de support est réalisée en temps masqué au cours dudit changement d'indexation. Ceci permet d'améliorer le cadencement de l'impression.It preferably results that the rotational movement of the support plate 1, the translational movement, and the rotational movement of the receiving elements 3 intersect all three at least partially in time during the passage from the second position to the first position after a pattern printing step. Thus, the reinitialization of the machine between two indexings of the support plate is performed in masked time during said indexing change. This improves the timing of printing.

Pour améliorer la reproductibilité, dans le cas d'une courroie unique engrenée d'une part à un moteur unique et d'autre part à chaque élément de réception, à chaque retour en première position la courroie unique reprend une position identique.To improve reproducibility, in the case of a single belt geared on the one hand to a single motor and on the other hand to each receiving element, at each return to first position the single belt returns to an identical position.

Avantageusement, la machine peut comporter un système de contrôle configuré pour réaliser les étapes du procédé (contrôle des mouvements). Ce système de contrôle peut aussi être relié au contrôleur de vitesse décrit ci-avant pour piloter l'impression.Advantageously, the machine may comprise a control system configured to carry out the steps of the method (movement control). This control system can also be connected to the speed controller described above to control printing.

Selon un mode de réalisation préférentiel illustré aux figures 3 à 5, et applicable aux figures 1 à 2, un moteur 7 unique est agencé pour entraîner tous les éléments de réception 3 en rotation. L'utilisation d'un moteur 7 unique permet d'obtenir une reproductibilité du mouvement des éléments de réception 3 à chaque tour effectué par ces derniers, et une reproductibilité des motifs imprimés sur chaque article.According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 to 5 , and applicable to Figures 1 to 2 a single motor 7 is arranged to drive all the receiving elements 3 in rotation. The use of a single motor 7 makes it possible to obtain a reproducibility of the movement of the reception elements 3 each turn made by the latter, and a reproducibility of the patterns printed on each article.

Cette reproductibilité permet d'assurer un traitement identique des articles 4. Dans certains cas visés ci-dessus, les articles 4 sont traités par plusieurs têtes d'impression, à différentes indexations du plateau de support 1, de couleurs différentes (par exemple blanc, noir, magenta, cyan, jaune) de sorte que les couleurs se superposent pour reproduire un motif. Lors d'une rotation complète de l'élément de réception 3 au niveau d'une tête d'impression, il est possible que certains défauts apparaissent. Par exemple, lors de sa rotation, le moteur peut avoir certains défauts entraînant une variation locale et reproductible de la vitesse angulaire d'un élément de réception 3. Il est préférable de reproduire cette variation au niveau de chaque élément de réception 3, et à chaque indexation du plateau de support 1, pour que les mêmes défauts se superposent lors de l'impression de sorte à ne pas être visibles au premier abord, et obtenir des articles imprimés sensiblement identiques, ceci est notamment rendu possible par l'utilisation du moteur unique 7.This reproducibility makes it possible to ensure identical treatment of articles 4. In certain cases referred to above, articles 4 are processed by several printing heads, at different indexations of the support plate 1, of different colors (for example white, black, magenta, cyan, yellow) so that the colors are superimposed to reproduce a pattern. During a complete rotation of the receiving element 3 at a print head, it is possible that some defects appear. For example, during its rotation, the motor may have certain defects causing a local and reproducible variation of the angular velocity of a receiving element 3. It is preferable to reproduce this variation at the level of each receiving element 3, and each indexing of the support plate 1, so that the same defects are superimposed during printing so as not to be visible at first, and to obtain substantially identical printed articles, this is notably made possible by the use of the motor unique 7.

Selon une réalisation particulière, le plateau de support 1 peut comporter des ensembles 8 distincts échelonnés à la périphérie du plateau de support 1, et couplés au moteur unique 7.According to a particular embodiment, the support plate 1 may comprise separate sets 8 staggered at the periphery of the support plate 1, and coupled to the single motor 7.

Chaque ensemble 8 comporte une série d'éléments de réception 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, un premier élément d'entraînement 9 monté à rotation sur le plateau de support 1 et couplé au moteur unique 7 (figures 3 et 5). Le premier élément d'entraînement 9 a, de préférence, un axe de rotation sensiblement, ou exactement, perpendiculaire au plateau de support 1. Chaque ensemble 8 comporte de plus un élément dé transmission d'extrémité 10, en forme de boucle fermée. L'élément de transmission d'extrémité 10 est solidaire des éléments de réception 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d de la série et du premier élément d'entraînement 9 de l'ensemble concerné, permettant la mise en rotation simultanée du premier élément d'entraînement 9, couplé au moteur unique 7, et de la série d'éléments de réception 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d.Each set 8 comprises a series of receiving elements 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, a first driving element 9 rotatably mounted on the support plate 1 and coupled to the single motor 7 ( figures 3 and 5 ). The first element The drive unit 9 preferably has an axis of rotation substantially or exactly perpendicular to the support plate 1. Each assembly 8 further comprises an end transmission element 10 in the form of a closed loop. The end transmission element 10 is integral with the receiving elements 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d of the series and the first driving element 9 of the assembly concerned, allowing the first element of the assembly to rotate simultaneously. drive 9, coupled to the single motor 7, and the series of receiving elements 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d.

La division sous forme d'ensembles permet en particulier de faciliter l'accouplement au moteur 7 en limitant le nombre d'éléments de transmission nécessaires, tout en conservant un haut cadencement. De plus, le retour à la première position d'impression des éléments de réception est beaucoup plus rapide sans avoir à inverser le sens de rotation du moteur 7.The division in the form of assemblies makes it possible in particular to facilitate coupling to the motor 7 by limiting the number of transmission elements required, while maintaining a high timing. In addition, the return to the first printing position of the receiving elements is much faster without having to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor 7.

De préférence, l'élément de transmission d'extrémité 10 de chaque ensemble 8 est agencé pour qu'à chaque tour de ce dernier, les éléments de réception 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d de la série, et le premier élément d'entraînement 9 associé, reprennent une position identique. Ceci permet d'assurer pour un ensemble donné la reproductibilité de tous les défauts à chaque tour de l'élément de transmission d'extrémité 10.Preferably, the end transmission element 10 of each assembly 8 is arranged so that at each turn of the latter, the receiving elements 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d of the series, and the first driving element 9 associate, resume an identical position. This makes it possible to ensure for a given set the reproducibility of all the defects at each turn of the end transmission element 10.

Pour améliorer la cohérence entre les ensembles et le cadencement, lorsqu'un élément de transmission d'extrémité 10 d'un ensemble 8 a fait un tour, tous les éléments de transmission d'extrémité 10 des différents ensembles 8 ont, de préférence, aussi fait un tour de boucle. Autrement dit, à chaque tour d'un élément de transmission d'extrémité 10, les éléments de réception 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d de chaque série et les premiers éléments d'entraînement 9 associés reprennent une position identique.To improve the coherence between the assemblies and the timing, when an end transmission element 10 of a set 8 has taken a turn, all the end transmission elements 10 of the different sets 8 preferably have go around the loop In other words, at each turn of an end transmission element 10, the receiving elements 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d of each series and the first associated driving elements 9 take up an identical position.

Par position identique, on entend que l'élément concerné (premier élément d'entraînement, élément de réception) a fait au moins un tour complet sur lui-même (ou un multiple entier de tours sur lui-même), et se retrouve selon la même indexation qu'avant de commencer son tour. Ainsi, de manière avantageuse, la machine à imprimer comporte un système de contrôle apte à positionner, avant, pendant ou après chaque rotation du plateau de support 1, les éléments de transmission d'extrémité 10 à une position identique représentative du début d'un tour desdits éléments de transmission d'extrémité 10.By identical position, it is meant that the element concerned (first training element, receiving element) has made at least one complete turn on itself (or an integer multiple of turns on itself), and is found according to the same indexing as before starting his turn. Thus, advantageously, the printing machine comprises a control system capable of positioning, before, during, or after each rotation of the support plate 1, the end transmission elements 10 at an identical position representative of the beginning of a turn of said end transmission elements 10.

Sur les figures 4 et 5, au niveau de chaque ensemble 8, chaque élément de réception 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d comporte, de préférence, un pignon 11 dont l'axe de rotation est, de préférence, sensiblement ou exactement perpendiculaire au plan du plateau de support 1. Le premier élément d'entraînement 9 est une roue crantée, et l'élément de transmission d'extrémité 10 est une courroie crantée dont le nombre de dents est un multiple entier du nombre de dents de chaque pignon 11 associé, et du nombre de dents de la roue crantée associée. Ainsi, les dents de la courroie crantée coopèrent avec les dents de la roue crantée et des pignons 11. À chaque tour de la courroie crantée une dent de la courroie revient en contact avec la même dent de la roue cranté, et d'autres dents de la courroie crantée reviennent en contact avec de mêmes dents associées des pignons.On the figures 4 and 5 at each set 8, each receiving element 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d preferably comprises a pinion 11 whose axis of rotation is preferably substantially or exactly perpendicular to the plane of the support plate 1. The first driving element 9 is a toothed wheel, and the end transmission element 10 is a toothed belt whose number of teeth is an integer multiple of the number of teeth of each associated pinion 11, and the number of teeth. the associated notched wheel. Thus, the teeth of the toothed belt cooperate with the teeth of the toothed wheel and pinions 11. At each turn of the toothed belt a tooth of the belt comes into contact with the same tooth of the toothed wheel, and other teeth the toothed belt come into contact with the same teeth associated with the gears.

De préférence, les ensembles 8 sont reliés deux à deux pour former des éléments unitaires 12 distincts. Dans chaque élément unitaire 12, les premiers éléments d'entraînement 9 de deux ensembles réunis sont reliés à un deuxième élément d'entraînement 13, préférentiellement monté à rotation sur le plateau de support 1, par un élément de transmission intermédiaire 14, en forme de boucle fermée, de sorte qu'à chaque tour de l'élément de transmission intermédiaire 14 corresponde un tour des éléments de transmission d'extrémité 10 des deux ensembles reliés. Le deuxième élément d'entraînement 13 est couplé au moteur 7. Le deuxième élément d'entraînement 13 reprend une position identique à chaque tour de l'élément de transmission intermédiaire 14. De préférence, le deuxième élément d'entraînement 13 comporte une roue crantée associée à l'élément de transmission intermédiaire 14 qui peut être une courroie crantée. La roue crantée peut comporter un axe de rotation sensiblement, ou exactement, perpendiculaire au plan du plateau de support 1. De préférence, lorsqu'un élément de transmission intermédiaire 14 fait un tour de boucle, tous les éléments de transmission intermédiaires 14 de la machine font aussi un tour de boucle. Le deuxième élément d'entraînement 13 a, de préférence, un axe de rotation sensiblement, ou exactement, perpendiculaire au plateau de support 1.Preferably, the assemblies 8 are connected in pairs to form separate unit elements 12. In each unit element 12, the first driving elements 9 of two combined assemblies are connected to a second driving element 13, preferably rotatably mounted on the support plate 1, by an intermediate transmission element 14, in the form of closed loop, so that each turn of the intermediate transmission element 14 corresponds to a turn of the end transmission elements 10 of the two connected sets. The second The driving element 13 is coupled to the motor 7. The second driving element 13 resumes a position identical to each revolution of the intermediate transmission element 14. Preferably, the second driving element 13 comprises a toothed wheel associated with the intermediate transmission element 14 which may be a toothed belt. The toothed wheel may comprise an axis of rotation substantially or exactly perpendicular to the plane of the support plate 1. Preferably, when an intermediate transmission element 14 makes a loop turn, all the intermediate transmission elements 14 of the machine also do a loop tour. The second drive element 13 preferably has an axis of rotation substantially, or exactly, perpendicular to the support plate 1.

Sur la figure 3, le plateau de support 1 étant de préférence un disque, et les éléments de réception 3 étant disposés à la périphérie de ce disque selon un premier cercle C1, les premiers éléments d'entraînement 9 sont, de préférence, disposés selon un deuxième cercle C2 concentrique au premier cercle, et de diamètre inférieur au premier cercle C1. De la même manière, les deuxièmes éléments d'entraînement 13 sont, de préférence, disposés selon un troisième cercle C3 concentrique au deuxième cercle C2, et de diamètre inférieur à celui du deuxième cercle C2. Les premier, deuxième et troisième cercles C1, C2, C3 ont chacun leur centre coïncidant avec le centre du disque formant plateau de support 1. Autrement dit, en partant de la périphérie du plateau de support, on retrouve successivement en direction du centre du plateau de support 1 les éléments de réception 3, les premiers éléments d'entraînement 9, les deuxièmes éléments d'entraînement 13.On the figure 3 , the support plate 1 being preferably a disk, and the receiving elements 3 being disposed at the periphery of this disk in a first circle C 1 , the first driving elements 9 are preferably arranged in a second circle C 2 concentric to the first circle, and of smaller diameter than the first circle C 1 . In the same way, the second drive elements 13 are preferably arranged in a third circle C 3 concentric with the second circle C 2 and of smaller diameter than the second circle C 2 . The first, second and third circles C 1 , C 2 and C 3 each have their center coinciding with the center of the support plate disk 1. In other words, starting from the periphery of the support plate, one finds successively in the direction of center of the support plate 1 the receiving elements 3, the first driving elements 9, the second driving elements 13.

L'accouplement des éléments unitaires 12 au moteur 7 peut être réalisé en reliant deux à deux ces derniers par un élément de transmission principal 15, en forme de boucle fermée, accouplé d'une part à un troisième élément d'entraînement 16 fixé à un axe central entraîné par le moteur unique 7, de préférence l'axe central est un arbre du moteur unique 7, et d'autre part aux deuxièmes éléments d'entraînement 13 des éléments unitaires 12 reliés de sorte qu'à chaque tour de l'élément de transmission principal 15 corresponde un tour ou un demi-tour des éléments de transmission intermédiaires 14 des l'éléments unitaires 12 reliés (et de préférence de tous les éléments de transmission intermédiaires). Le troisième élément d'entraînement 16 reprend une position identique à chaque tour de l'élément de transmission principal 15. Bien que l'exemple concerné vise un tour ou un demi-tour, de préférence à chaque tour d'un élément de transmission intermédiaire 14 correspond un multiple entier de tours de l'élément de transmission principal 15. Le troisième élément d'entraînement 16 a, de préférence, un axe de rotation sensiblement, ou exactement, perpendiculaire au plateau de support 1.The coupling of the unit elements 12 to the motor 7 can be achieved by connecting the latter two by two by a main transmission element 15, in the form of a closed loop, coupled on the one hand to a third driving element 16 fixed to a central axis driven by the single motor 7, of preferably the central axis is a shaft of the single motor 7, and secondly the second drive elements 13 of the unit elements 12 connected so that each turn of the main transmission element 15 corresponds to a tower or a half-turn of the intermediate transmission elements 14 of the connected unit elements 12 (and preferably of all the intermediate transmission elements). The third drive element 16 takes up a position identical to each revolution of the main transmission element 15. Although the example concerned aims at a turn or a half-turn, preferably at each turn of an intermediate transmission element 14 corresponds to an integer multiple of revolutions of the main transmission element 15. The third drive element 16 preferably has an axis of rotation substantially, or exactly, perpendicular to the support plate 1.

L'élément de transmission principal 15 peut être formé par une courroie crantée. L'élément d'entraînement 16 peut comporter une roue crantée dont l'axe de rotation est sensiblement, ou exactement, perpendiculaire au plan du plateau de support 1.The main transmission element 15 may be formed by a toothed belt. The driving element 16 may comprise a notched wheel whose axis of rotation is substantially, or exactly, perpendicular to the plane of the support plate 1.

Les éléments de transmission (d'extrémité, intermédiaire et principal) étant sous forme de boucle fermée, par « tour » réalisé par ces derniers, on entend un tour de boucle. Les éléments de transmission peuvent se présenter sous la forme de courroies, de préférence crantées, ou de chaînes.The transmission elements (end, intermediate and main) being in the form of closed loop, by "turn" made by them, means a loop turn. The transmission elements may be in the form of belts, preferably notched, or chains.

Pour favoriser la reproductibilité des mouvements effectués par les éléments de réception 3, il est préférable que les éléments de transmission (d'extrémité, intermédiaire et principal) puissent partir d'une première position des éléments de transmission (associée à la première position d'impression), représentative du début d'un tour, pour atteindre, selon un même premier sens de rotation du moteur unique 7, une seconde position des éléments de transmission identique à la première position. De préférence, entre la première et la seconde position des éléments de transmission, la machine est passée par la seconde position d'impression. Entre la première et la seconde position, les éléments de réception 3 ont au moins effectué un tour complet sur eux-mêmes. À la première et à la seconde position, outre les éléments de transmission 10, 14, 15, tous les éléments d'entraînement 9, 13, 16 ont, de préférence, une position identique.To promote the reproducibility of the movements made by the receiving elements 3, it is preferable that the transmission elements (end, intermediate and main) can start from a first position of the transmission elements (associated with the first position of impression), representative of the beginning of a revolution, to reach, according to the same first direction of rotation of the single motor 7, a second position of the transmission elements identical to the first position. Preferably, between first and second position of the transmission elements, the machine is passed through the second printing position. Between the first and second positions, the receiving elements 3 have at least performed a complete turn on themselves. In the first and second positions, in addition to the transmission elements 10, 14, 15, all the driving elements 9, 13, 16 preferably have an identical position.

Selon un perfectionnement augmentant le cadencement, après impression d'un article, le système de contrôle est apte à déterminer la position courante des éléments de transmission, de préférence d'au moins de l'élément de transmission d'extrémité 10. À partir de la position courante, et connaissant la première position des éléments de transmission, le système de contrôle détermine le nombre de tours de l'arbre moteur nécessaires selon le premier sens de rotation du moteur unique 7 pour atteindre la seconde position des éléments de transmission, il détermine aussi le nombre de tours de l'arbre moteur pour retourner en première position des éléments de transmission en inversant le sens de rotation du moteur unique 7 selon un second sens de rotation. Le système de contrôle choisit la solution la moins consommatrice en terme de tours de l'arbre moteur pour que les éléments de réception 3 reprennent une position identique. Après impression, la vitesse de rotation des éléments de réception n'ayant plus besoin d'être compatible avec une vitesse d'impression de la tête d'impression, la vitesse du moteur unique 7 peut augmenter (quel que soit le sens de rotation).According to an improvement increasing the timing, after printing an article, the control system is able to determine the current position of the transmission elements, preferably at least of the end transmission element 10. From the current position, and knowing the first position of the transmission elements, the control system determines the number of revolutions of the motor shaft necessary in the first direction of rotation of the single motor 7 to reach the second position of the transmission elements, it also determines the number of revolutions of the motor shaft to return to the first position of the transmission elements by reversing the direction of rotation of the single motor 7 in a second direction of rotation. The control system selects the least consuming solution in terms of revolutions of the motor shaft so that the receiving elements 3 resume an identical position. After printing, the rotational speed of the receiving elements no longer need to be compatible with a printing speed of the print head, the speed of the single motor 7 can increase (regardless of the direction of rotation) .

Selon l'exemple particulier des figures 3 à 5, la machine à imprimer comporte huit ensembles répartis angulairement à la périphérie du plateau 1, et quatre éléments unitaires 12 distincts. Chaque ensemble comporte quatre éléments de réception 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d. Chaque élément de réception 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d est muni d'un pignon 11 de 25 dents, et le premier élément d'entraînement 9 d'un ensemble est formé par une roue crantée de 25 dents. L'élément de transmission d'extrémité 10 associé est une courroie crantée comportant quant à elle 150 dents. Autrement dit, lorsque la courroie crantée d'un ensemble fait un tour, tous les éléments de réception 3, et tous les premiers éléments d'entraînement 9, font exactement six tours sur eux-mêmes. Ceci permet, comme évoqué précédemment, d'éviter les décalages, et de rattraper les éventuels défauts tous les six tours des éléments de réception 3.According to the particular example of Figures 3 to 5 , the printing machine comprises eight sets angularly distributed at the periphery of the plate 1, and four separate unit elements 12. Each set comprises four receiving elements 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d. Each receiving member 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d is provided with a pinion 11 of 25 teeth, and the first driving member 9 of an assembly is formed by a notched wheel of 25 teeth. The associated end transmission element 10 is a toothed belt comprising as for it 150 teeth. In other words, when the toothed belt of a set makes a turn, all the receiving elements 3, and all the first driving elements 9, do exactly six turns on themselves. This makes it possible, as mentioned previously, to avoid offsets, and to make up for any defects every six turns of the reception elements 3.

Les premiers éléments d'entraînement 9 de deux ensembles adjacents sont accouplés à un deuxième élément d'entraînement 13 pour former un élément unitaire 12. Sur la figure 5, le deuxième élément d'entraînement 13 comporte en fait deux roues crantées dont l'axe de rotation est, de préférence, perpendiculaire au plateau de support 1. Ces deux roues crantées sont liées entre elles par une liaison totale, c'est-à-dire qu'elles sont fixes l'une par rapport à l'autre, elles ont donc une même vitesse angulaire. Une première roue de 25 dents du deuxième élément d'entraînement 13 est accouplée à l'élément de transmission intermédiaire 14 formé par une courroie crantée de 150 dents. On obtient alors au total quatre éléments unitaires 12.The first driving elements 9 of two adjacent assemblies are coupled to a second driving element 13 to form a unitary element 12. On the figure 5 , the second drive element 13 comprises in fact two notched wheels whose axis of rotation is, preferably, perpendicular to the support plate 1. These two notched wheels are interconnected by a total connection, that is to say that is, they are fixed relative to each other, so they have the same angular velocity. A first toothed wheel of the second drive member 13 is coupled to the intermediate transmission member 14 formed by a toothed toothed belt of 150 teeth. We then obtain a total of four unit elements 12.

Enfin, les quatre éléments unitaires sont accouplés deux à deux à l'axe central. Chaque accouplement peut être réalisé par un élément de transmission principal 15 en forme de courroie crantée de 150 dents accouplé d'une part à des secondes roues de 50 dents des deuxièmes éléments d'entraînement 13 respectivement des deux éléments unitaires reliés, et à un troisième élément d'entraînement 16 agencé, de préférence, sous la forme d'au moins une roue crantée de 50 dents fixée à l'axe central. Sur la figure 5, les courroies crantées formant les éléments de transmission principaux 15 sont uniquement au nombre de deux.Finally, the four unitary elements are coupled two by two to the central axis. Each coupling can be made by a toothed belt-like main transmission element 15 coupled on the one hand to second 50-tooth wheels of the second driving elements 13 respectively of the two connected single elements, and to a third driving element 16 preferably arranged in the form of at least a toothed wheel with 50 teeth fixed to the central axis. On the figure 5 the toothed belts forming the main transmission elements are only two in number.

Selon l'exemple, les courroies crantées formant les éléments de transmission d'extrémité, de transmission intermédiaires et principaux sont toutes identiques.According to the example, the toothed belts forming the intermediate, transmission and transmission end transmission elements are all identical.

En fait, dans l'exemple de la figure 5, lorsque les courroies formant les éléments de transmission d'extrémité 10 font un tour, les courroies formant les éléments de transmission intermédiaires 14 font un tour, et les courroies formant les éléments de transmission 15 principaux font deux tours. Dans l'exemple, on utilise des roues de 50 dents (secondes roues et troisième élément d'entraînement) pour utiliser un axe, ou un arbre moteur, de diamètre important. Dans l'application, si l'axe, ou l'arbre moteur, le permet, l'homme du métier pourra aussi utiliser, au niveau du deuxième élément d'entraînement 13, des secondes roues de 25 dents (qui pourraient être confondues avec les premières roues) et un troisième élément d'entraînement 16 de 25 dents, dès lors un tour de l'élément de transmission principal 15 engendrera un tour de l'élément de transmission intermédiaire 14.In fact, in the example of figure 5 when the belts forming the end transmission elements 10 rotate, the belts forming the intermediate transmission elements 14 turn around, and the belts forming the main transmission elements make two turns. In the example, 50-tooth wheels (second wheels and third drive element) are used to use a shaft, or a motor shaft, of large diameter. In the application, if the axis, or the motor shaft, allows it, the skilled person can also use, at the second drive element 13, second wheels of 25 teeth (which could be confused with the first wheels) and a third drive element 16 of 25 teeth, then one revolution of the main transmission element 15 will generate a revolution of the intermediate transmission element 14.

Ceci permet d'assurer au mieux la reproductibilité des mouvements de rotation d'un article sur son élément de réception à chaque indexation du plateau de support.This ensures the best reproducibility of rotational movements of an article on its receiving element at each indexing of the support plate.

Selon une variante, il est possible de s'affranchir des conditions sur le nombre de dents dès lors que le moteur unique 7 est apte à entraîner tous les éléments de réception 3 en rotation. Pour cela, le système de contrôle repère une première position des éléments de réception 3 représentative du début d'un traitement d'articles, par exemple une impression des articles. Tous les éléments de réception 3 sont entraînés en rotation dans un premier sens de rotation du moteur unique 7. Lorsque le traitement des articles est terminé pour une position/indexation donnée du plateau de support, les éléments de réception se retrouvent dans une seconde position, le sens de rotation du moteur unique est alors inversé pour retourner à la première position des éléments de réception. Le retour à la première position des éléments de réception peut se faire avant, après ou au cours de la rotation du plateau de support 1 pour améliorer le cadencement.According to one variant, it is possible to dispense with the conditions on the number of teeth since the single motor 7 is capable of driving all the receiving elements 3 in rotation. For this, the control system identifies a first position of the reception elements 3 representative of the beginning of a treatment of articles, for example an impression of articles. All the receiving elements 3 are rotated in a first direction of rotation of the single motor 7. When the treatment of the articles is completed for a given position / indexing of the support plate, the receiving elements are in a second position, the direction of rotation of the single motor is then reversed to return to the first position of the receiving elements. Return to the first position receiving elements can be done before, after or during the rotation of the support plate 1 to improve the timing.

De manière générale, le système de contrôle décrit ci-avant peut être mis en oeuvre par une électronique embarquée équipée d'un programme apte à déterminer, à partir de l'état du moteur et des composants constitutifs de la machine, une photographie à chaque instant du fonctionnement de ladite machine. En fonction de cette photographie, le système de contrôle peut facilement faire reprendre une position identique aux éléments de réception.In general, the control system described above can be implemented by an onboard electronics equipped with a program able to determine, from the state of the engine and the constituent components of the machine, a photograph at each moment of operation of said machine. According to this photograph, the control system can easily return to a position identical to the receiving elements.

De préférence, le moteur unique 7 entraînant la rotation des éléments de réception 3 dans ce mode de réalisation, ou dans le mode à moteur et à courroie unique, est un moteur de type moteur sans balais (« brushless » en anglais). Un tel moteur évite les fluctuations des pertes électriques et mécaniques liées aux autres types de moteurs qui auraient pour conséquences d'introduire des décalages non-reproductibles à chaque tour des éléments de transmission d'extrémité, de transmission intermédiaires et de transmission principaux. De plus, le moteur sans balais permet de connaître la position exacte des éléments de réception 3 et de transmission, facilitant le travail du système de contrôle évoqué précédemment. En effet, selon l'exemple particulier avec le nombre de dents fixé et l'utilisation de courroies de 150 dents, on sait que tous les six tours de l'axe central, on se retrouve dans une position connue à partir de laquelle tous les éventuels décalages seront reproduits à l'identique.Preferably, the single motor 7 driving the rotation of the receiving elements 3 in this embodiment, or in the motor and single-belt mode, is a brushless motor type ("brushless" in English). Such an engine avoids fluctuations in the electrical and mechanical losses associated with other types of engines which would have the consequence of introducing non-reproducible offsets at each turn of the main end transmission, intermediate transmission and transmission elements. In addition, the brushless motor allows to know the exact position of the receiving elements 3 and transmission, facilitating the work of the control system mentioned above. Indeed, according to the particular example with the number of fixed teeth and the use of 150 tooth belts, we know that every six turns of the central axis, we find ourselves in a known position from which all any offsets will be reproduced identically.

De manière générale, selon une mise en oeuvre particulière de la machine à imprimer dont le plateau de support 1 est préférentiellement un disque, des postes de traitement des articles, par exemple des têtes d'impression, sont répartis radialement autour du plateau de support 1, de préférence de manière régulière et préférentiellement fixés sur un même socle 101. Les têtes d'impression, équipant les postes d'impression, peuvent être échelonnées les unes des autres selon un angle par rapport au centre du disque égal à l'angle séparant deux éléments de réception 3 adjacents ou un multiple de cet angle dé séparation. Ceci permet, lorsqu'une des têtes est au niveau d'un élément de réception muni d'un article associé, de placer les autres têtes respectivement en regard d'autres articles, ainsi les articles peuvent être traités concomitamment pour augmenter le cadencement de la machine à imprimer. Autrement dit, lorsqu'un élément de réception est en regard d'un poste de traitement, les autres postes de traitement sont aussi en regard d'un élément de réception associé, pour y traiter un article associé. Un article peut alors subir des traitements différents à différentes indexations du plateau de support 1.In a general manner, according to a particular embodiment of the printing machine whose support plate 1 is preferably a disc, article processing stations, for example printing heads, are distributed radially around the support plate 1 , preferably in a regular manner and preferentially fixed on the same base 101. The printing heads, equipping the printing stations, can be staggered from each other at an angle to the center of the disk equal to the angle between two adjacent receiving elements 3 or a multiple of this separation angle. This allows, when one of the heads is at a receiving element with an associated article, to place the other heads respectively opposite other items, and the articles can be treated concomitantly to increase the timing of the printing machine. In other words, when a receiving element is opposite a processing station, the other processing stations are also facing an associated receiving element, to process an associated article. An article can then undergo different treatments at different indexes of the support plate 1.

Comme sur l'exemple des figures 1 à 3, le plateau de support 1 peut être agencé de sorte à transporter chaque article d'un poste de chargement 17 vers un poste de déchargement 18. Le poste de chargement 17 peut être équipé d'un bras de préhension apte à saisir un article dans une première position de travail, et emboîter l'article saisi avec un élément de réception 3 proximal du poste de chargement 17 dans une seconde position de travail. De la même manière, le poste de déchargement 18 peut être adjacent au poste de chargement 17, et peut comporter une position de travail dans laquelle un bras de préhension associé peut récupérer l'article fixé sur l'élément de réception disposé en regard du poste de déchargement 18. Sur le chemin effectué par un article fixé au plateau de support 1 par son élément de réception 3 associé, dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre selon l'exemple, entre le poste de chargement 17 et le poste de déchargement 18, sont disposés différents postes de traitement répartis radialement autour du plateau de support 1 :As on the example of Figures 1 to 3 , the support plate 1 can be arranged to transport each article of a loading station 17 to an unloading station 18. The loading station 17 can be equipped with a gripping arm adapted to grip an article in a first working position, and nesting the grasped article with a proximal receiving element 3 of the loading station 17 in a second working position. Similarly, the unloading station 18 may be adjacent to the loading station 17, and may include a working position in which an associated gripping arm may retrieve the article attached to the receiving element disposed opposite the station discharge 18. On the path made by an article fixed to the support plate 1 by its associated receiving element 3, in the clockwise direction according to the example, between the loading station 17 and the unloading station 18, are arranged different processing stations distributed radially around the support plate 1:

Parmi les postes de traitement, on peut trouver successivement à partir du poste de chargement un poste de traitement anti-statique 19, un poste de traitement de surface 20 (de type corona, flambage ou plasma), un poste d'impression 5, 5a, 5b équipé d'une encré blanche, un poste de séchage par rayonnements ultraviolet 21, des postes d'impression couleur, et un autre poste de séchage 23 par rayonnements ultraviolet. De préférence, les postes d'impression couleur sont au nombre de 4 comprenant chacun une tête d'impression 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d associée respectivement aux couleurs noir, cyan, magenta, jaune (peu importe la répartition).Among the treatment stations, one can find successively from the loading station an anti-static treatment station 19, a surface treatment station 20 (corona, buckling or plasma), a station printing apparatus 5, 5a, 5b equipped with a white ink, an ultraviolet radiation drying station 21, color printing stations, and another ultraviolet radiation drying station 23. Preferably, there are four color printing stations each comprising a print head 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d respectively associated with the colors black, cyan, magenta, yellow (regardless of the distribution).

En fonctionnement de la machine à imprimer, les têtes d'impression sont orientées en direction de l'article proximal du poste d'impression concerné. De préférence, chaque tête a un réglage indépendant en inclinaison par rapport à la verticale du plateau de support de manière à suivre le profil d'un article, notamment lorsque ce dernier est conique. Les buses de chaque tête d'impression sont, de préférence, perpendiculaires au plan du plateau de support 1. De préférence, les postes d'impression de couleurs sont adjacents de sorte qu'à chaque indexation du plateau de support 1, un article passe successivement d'un poste d'impression à un autre pour que le mélange des encres soit obtenu dans des conditions optimales. Le poste d'impression en blanc 5 peut être séparé des postes d'impression de noir, magenta, cyan et jaune 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d par un poste de séchage 21. Le poste d'impression en blanc 5 permet en fait de recouvrir l'article d'une sous-couche blanche lorsque les articles sont foncés. Bien que cela ne soit pas représenté, entre chaque poste d'impression couleur, il est possible d'intercaler un poste de séchage de l'encre imprimée.In operation of the printing machine, the print heads are oriented towards the proximal article of the printing station concerned. Preferably, each head has an independent adjustment in inclination with respect to the vertical of the support plate so as to follow the profile of an article, especially when the latter is conical. The nozzles of each print head are preferably perpendicular to the plane of the support plate 1. Preferably, the color printing stations are adjacent so that at each indexing of the support plate 1, an article passes successively from one printing station to another so that the mixture of inks is obtained under optimal conditions. The white printing station 5 can be separated from the black, magenta, cyan and yellow printing stations 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d by a drying station 21. The printing station 5 in white allows in fact cover the article with a white undercoat when the items are dark. Although not shown, between each color printing station, it is possible to insert a station for drying the printed ink.

Un poste de séchage peut être à base d'ultraviolets utilisant des diodes électroluminescente comme source d'ultraviolets de façon à figer les gouttelettes d'encre imprimées sur les articles.A drying station may be ultraviolet-based using light-emitting diodes as a source of ultraviolet light so as to freeze the ink droplets printed on the articles.

De préférence, lorsqu'un poste de traitement est en position de travail dans laquelle il est apte à traiter un article, les autres postes sont aussi en position de travail.Preferably, when a treatment station is in the working position in which it is able to process an article, the other stations are also in working position.

La machine à imprimer décrite ci-dessus permet d'obtenir un haut cadencement des impressions.The printing machine described above provides a high timing of printing.

Sur la figure 5, chaque courroie est, de préférence, associée à au moins un tendeur 24 apte à régler la tension de la courroie associée.On the figure 5 each belt is preferably associated with at least one tensioner 24 adapted to adjust the tension of the associated belt.

Un des exemples particuliers décrit ci-dessus vise une machine à huit ensembles, cependant, l'homme du métier sera capable d'adapter la machine en fonction du diamètre du disque formant le plateau de support. Ainsi, la machine pourra comporter plus de huit ensembles, le nombre d'ensemble sera, de préférence, une puissance de deux supérieure ou égale à huit. Deux ensembles adjacents pourront former un élément unitaire distinct, puis les éléments unitaires distincts seront fusionnés récursivement deux à deux jusqu'à obtenir quatre éléments unitaires distincts ayant chacun un élément d'entraînement proximal de l'axe central, et reliés deux à deux au troisième élément d'entraînement par un élément de transmission principal associé.One of the particular examples described above is an eight-set machine, however, one skilled in the art will be able to adapt the machine to the diameter of the disk forming the support plate. Thus, the machine may have more than eight sets, the set number will preferably be a power of two greater than or equal to eight. Two adjacent sets may form a separate unitary element, then the individual unit elements will be merged recursively two by two until four separate unit elements each have a drive element proximal to the central axis, and connected two by two to the third. driving element by an associated main transmission element.

Selon le mode de réalisation du plateau de support des figures 3 et 5, au cours du procédé d'impression mettant en oeuvre une machine d'impression telle que décrite ci-dessus, la première position d'impression peut être associée à une position dans laquelle les éléments de transmission d'extrémité 10 sont à une indexation représentative du début d'un tour des éléments de transmission d'extrémité 10. Ensuite, au moins une rotation complète de chaque élément de réception (3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) est effectuée, au cours de cette rotation les articles peuvent tous ou au moins en partie être traités. Puis les éléments de transmission d'extrémité 10 sont remis à l'indexation représentative du début d'un tour de ces derniers (retour à la première position d'impression). Ceci permet d'assurer que tous les défauts reproductibles seront reproduits à l'identique à chaque indexation du plateau de support 1. Ainsi, avant, après ou préférentiellement pendant l'étape dans laquelle les éléments de transmission d'extrémité 10 reprennent l'indexation représentative du début d'un tour des éléments de transmission d'extrémité 10, le plateau de support 1 effectue un mouvement de rotation sur lui-même pour déplacer un article d'un premier poste de traitement à un second poste de traitement.According to the embodiment of the support plate of the figures 3 and 5 during the printing process using a printing machine as described above, the first printing position can be associated with a position in which the end transmission elements 10 are at a representative indexing beginning of a turn of the end transmission elements 10. Then, at least one complete rotation of each receiving element (3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) is performed, during this rotation the articles can all or at least partly to be treated. Then the end transmission elements 10 are returned to the indexing representative of the beginning of a turn of the latter (return to the first printing position). This ensures that all reproducible defects will be reproduced identically at each indexing of the plateau Thus, before, after or preferably during the step in which the end transmission elements 10 take up the indexing representative of the start of a turn of the end transmission elements 10, the support plate 1 rotates on itself to move an article from a first processing station to a second processing station.

De préférence, la rotation complète de chaque élément de réception 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d est effectuée selon un premier sens de rotation du moteur unique 7, et l'indexation représentative du début d'un tour des éléments de transmission d'extrémité 10 est reprise par la mise en rotation du moteur unique 7 selon un second sens de rotation inversé par rapport au premier sens.Preferably, the complete rotation of each receiving element 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d is performed according to a first direction of rotation of the single motor 7, and the indexing representative of the beginning of a revolution of the transmission elements of end 10 is taken up by the rotation of the single motor 7 in a second direction of rotation inverted with respect to the first direction.

En fait, lorsque la rotation du moteur unique est inversée, l'arbre du moteur entraînant les éléments de réception inverse son sens de rotation, cette inversion est alors transmise aux éléments de réception.In fact, when the rotation of the single motor is reversed, the motor shaft driving the receiving elements reverses its direction of rotation, this inversion is then transmitted to the receiving elements.

Le moteur unique 7 permet d'entraîner en rotation les articles à une vitesse compatible avec la vitesse d'impression des têtes d'impression. De préférence, le moteur unique permet d'entraîner tous les éléments de réception en rotation à une vitesse angulaire identique. Ceci permet en particulier d'améliorer le cadencement en assurant que lorsqu'un élément de réception a fait un tour sur lui-même, tous les éléments de réception ont aussi fait un tour sur eux-mêmes. Ainsi, tous les éléments de réception sont, de préférence, entraînés en rotation de manière simultanée, et ne sont pas débrayables les uns par rapport aux autres pour permettre un même déplacement angulaire à la même vitesse de rotation.The single motor 7 rotates the articles at a speed compatible with the printing speed of the printheads. Preferably, the single motor makes it possible to drive all the elements for receiving rotation at an identical angular speed. This allows in particular to improve the timing by ensuring that when a receiving element has a turn on itself, all the receiving elements have also made a turn on themselves. Thus, all the receiving elements are preferably rotated simultaneously and are not releasable relative to each other to allow the same angular displacement at the same rotational speed.

Dans le cas où les articles ne sont pas de section circulaire, ils seront disposés de la même manière sur chaque élément de réception pour que le profil d'évolution de l'article par rapport à la position en rotation soit le même et soit connu d'un logiciel de gestion de l'impression.In the case where the articles are not of circular section, they will be arranged in the same way on each reception element so that the evolution profile of the article relative to the rotating position is the same and is known from a print management software.

Selon une variante non représentée, le moteur unique peut être accouplé à une couronne dentée à sa périphérie extérieure avec chaque pignon de chaque élément de réception. Dans ce cas, à chaque mise en première position d'impression, la couronne et les pignons reprennent une position identique.According to a variant not shown, the single motor can be coupled to a ring gear at its outer periphery with each pinion of each receiving element. In this case, at each setting in the first printing position, the crown and the sprockets take up an identical position.

Claims (10)

  1. Printing machine comprising:
    - a support plate (1) provided on its periphery with a plurality of receiving elements (3, 3a, 3b, 3c) for articles (4) rotatably mounted on the support plate (1),
    - means for rotating (2) the support plate (1) in order that two articles (4a, 4b), mounted on their associated receiving elements (3, 3a, 3b, 3c), respectively face two separate printing stations (5a, 5b) of the machine,
    - a system for rotating the receiving elements (3, 3a, 3b, 3c),
    - a base (101) supporting the two printing stations (5a, 5b),
    - means for generating a relative translational movement between the base (101) and the support plate (1), characterized in that said means for generating a translational movement cooperate with the system for rotating so that patterns are helically printed on articles (4a, 4b) associated with the two printing stations (5a, 5b).
  2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that each printing station (5a, 5b) of the base (101) is supplied with a single colour.
  3. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for generating the translational movement comprise:
    - a support base (102),
    - a system for guiding (103) the translational movement of the support plate (1), said system for guiding (103) being mounted on the support base (102),
    - a system for moving (104) the support plate (1) between a position of the support plate (1) proximal to the support base (102), and a position of the support plate (1) distal to the base support (102) along the system for guiding (103).
  4. Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the system for guiding comprises:
    - at least one guidance rail in the form of an elongate rod fixed to the support base (102) and configured to slide in a complementary member of the support plate (1), said complementary member comprising a ball bearing system in contact with said rod.
  5. Machine according to one of the claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the system for moving (104) includes a helical connection.
  6. Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the helical connection is implemented by a screw.
  7. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system for rotating the receiving elements (3, 3a, 3b, 3c) comprises a single motor coupled to each receiving element (3, 3a, 3b, 3c) via a single belt.
  8. Method for printing on three-dimensional articles implementing a support plate (1) provided on its periphery with a plurality of receiving elements (3, 3a, 3b, 3c) for articles (4), said method comprising the following steps of:
    - placing the support plate (1), and a base (101) provided with first and second printing stations (5a, 5b), into a first printing position so that two different articles respectively face the first and second printing stations (5a, 5b),
    - rotating the receiving elements (3, 3a, 3b, 3c),
    - printing, by means of the first and second printing stations (5a, 5b), patterns on the associated articles,
    characterized in that the step of printing patterns on the articles is helically performed by applying, during the rotation of the receiving elements (3, 3a, 3b, 3c), a relative translational movement between the support plate (1) and the base (101) up to a second printing position representative of the end of a print cycle.
  9. Method for printing according to claim 8, characterized in that, once the second printing position is reached, the support plate (1) carries out a rotational movement during which:
    - a translational movement between the support plate (1) and the base (101) is initiated so as to take up again the relative level between the support plate (1) and the base (101) in the first position,
    - and a single motor (7) rotates all the receiving elements (3, 3a, 3b, 3c) so that they take up again a position, relative to the support plate (1), identical to that in the first printing position.
  10. Method for printing according to claim 9, characterized in that the rotational movement of the support plate (1), the translational movement and rotational movement of the receiving elements (3, 3a, 3b, 3c) overlap at least partially over time during the passage from the second printing position to the first printing position after a step of printing patterns.
EP13704144.8A 2012-01-16 2013-01-02 Machine for printing on three-dimensional articles and printing method Not-in-force EP2804759B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1200126A FR2985683B1 (en) 2012-01-16 2012-01-16 PRINTING MACHINE ON THREE-DIMENSIONAL ARTICLES AND PRINTING METHOD
PCT/FR2013/000005 WO2013107958A1 (en) 2012-01-16 2013-01-02 Machine for printing on three-dimensional articles and printing method

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EP2804759A1 EP2804759A1 (en) 2014-11-26
EP2804759B1 true EP2804759B1 (en) 2016-04-27

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US (1) US9399236B2 (en)
EP (1) EP2804759B1 (en)
CN (1) CN104203583A (en)
BR (1) BR112014017030A8 (en)
CA (1) CA2862825A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2985683B1 (en)
MX (1) MX2014008578A (en)
WO (1) WO2013107958A1 (en)

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JP6330294B2 (en) * 2013-11-20 2018-05-30 セイコーエプソン株式会社 Recording device
EP3215425B1 (en) * 2015-03-04 2019-01-09 Kosme S.r.l. Unipersonale Labelling machine
DE102015114172A1 (en) * 2015-08-26 2017-03-02 Khs Gmbh Method and system for printing on containers
ITUA20162528A1 (en) * 2016-04-12 2017-10-12 Projecta Eng S R L Machine for the decoration of three-dimensional artefacts
US10034132B2 (en) 2016-06-16 2018-07-24 International Business Machines Corporation System and method for defining zones for location-based services
US20190263146A1 (en) * 2016-11-02 2019-08-29 Tonejet Limited Printing apparatus
CN106585083B (en) * 2016-11-16 2018-07-06 北华航天工业学院 A kind of four stations automation float for fishing scribing line line drawing device
US10913995B2 (en) * 2017-07-14 2021-02-09 Stolle Machinery Company, Llc Pretreatment assembly and method for treating work pieces
DE102017215446A1 (en) * 2017-09-04 2019-03-07 Krones Ag Printing machine for direct printing on containers
EP3473446B1 (en) * 2017-10-17 2020-08-26 HINTERKOPF GmbH Roundtable digital printing machine and printing unit
EP3765300A1 (en) 2018-03-16 2021-01-20 Vinventions USA, LLC Tiltable mounting device, printing system and method for printing on cylindrical objects
WO2020004032A1 (en) * 2018-06-26 2020-01-02 東洋製罐株式会社 Continuous printing system
JP7166114B2 (en) * 2018-09-12 2022-11-07 アルテミラ株式会社 printer
JP2020152086A (en) * 2019-03-22 2020-09-24 昭和アルミニウム缶株式会社 Printing system
CN110465424A (en) * 2019-08-05 2019-11-19 苏州奥曼恩自动化科技有限公司 A kind of non-stick pan spray-painting production line
CN113085399B (en) * 2021-05-20 2022-04-19 深圳市富彩包装有限公司 Color package printing method
CN115583102B (en) * 2022-11-02 2023-07-14 广东赛肯户外运动器械有限公司 Automatic double-sided printing machine for fishing reel

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BR112014017030A2 (en) 2017-06-13
MX2014008578A (en) 2015-03-03
CN104203583A (en) 2014-12-10
BR112014017030A8 (en) 2017-07-04
FR2985683B1 (en) 2014-02-28
US20150004320A1 (en) 2015-01-01
US9399236B2 (en) 2016-07-26
CA2862825A1 (en) 2013-07-25
WO2013107958A1 (en) 2013-07-25
EP2804759A1 (en) 2014-11-26
FR2985683A1 (en) 2013-07-19

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