It is well known to print images onto objects such as packaging or consumer durables to decorate or personalise them. The normal process is to print a series of images onto a single use disposable transfer film (or label stock). The film is then fed into a transfer station which transfers each image on the film to an object.

A problem with this is that the scrapped film is quite costly. Whilst a different image can be printed on each object if each image printed on the film is different, once the film has been printed with different images, it is not possible to change the sequence of different images or the images themselves. Also the printing of the images on the film is a separate process to the transfer of images from the film to objects. This can lead to delays in production times. It is also known to print images directly onto the surface of objects, but this leads to difficulties in image registration whilst the object is transported to different colour print stations.

The invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for printing onto objects comprising:

a) a continuous belt,

b) a printer station for printing an image onto the belt, and

c) a transfer station for transferring an image from the belt to a surface of an object. In use the belt circulates through or past the printer station and transfer station allowing the continuous and/or intermittent transfer of images onto objects.

Preferably, an adjustment means is provided to pass the belt at different speeds through or past the printer and/or transfer stations.

Preferably, the adjustment means comprises variable lengths of one or more loops in the belt.

The provision of variable lengths of one or more loops in the belt is particularly advantageous because it surprisingly provides a dual function of not only allowing the belt to pass at different speeds through the printer and transfer stations but also prevents tensioning of the belt through the printer station. This means that images can be printed onto the belt at the printer station and transferred to an object at the transfer station without any distortion in the image which may otherwise be caused by tensioning of the belt.

Preferably, the loop length is controlled by optical switches.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a pair of loops.

Preferably, a pair of loops are provided either side of the printer station. In this respect, as shown in Figure 1, a first loop is positioned at one side of the printer station and a second loop of the pair is positioned at the other side of the printer station.

Preferably, the transfer station is configured for supporting an object and transferring an image from the belt to a surface of the object.

Preferably the apparatus comprises a restoration station to clean and/or restore the belt after printing.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises means for applying a release coating to the belt. Preferably, the restoration station comprises means for applying a release coating to the belt. Preferably the restoration station comprises a mechanical cleaner.

Preferably, the mechanical cleaner comprises a scraper and/or a brush to remove excess print (bleed) from the belt.

Preferably, the mechanical cleaner comprises a vacuum cleaner to suck away brushed or scraped excess ink.

Preferably, the restoration station comprises a preheater and/or an ink removal roller. Preferably, the restoration station comprises means to re-surface and/or flatten the belt.

Preferably the image is formed of a printing medium. Preferably, the medium comprises an ink or powder.

Preferably, the printer station comprises an electro-photographic printer.

Preferably, the printer station comprises an inkjet, gravure, flexographic, or letter press printer.

Preferably, the printer is driven by digital information. Preferably, the printer is driven through a computer.

Preferably, the transfer station uses heat transfer techniques.

Preferably, the transfer station uses a wet adhesive label technique, or pressure sensitive label technique. Preferably, the transfer station is for transferring an image onto flat or curved surfaces, preferably using a flat bed or roller respectively.

Preferably, the apparatus is configured such that an image printed at the printer station and then moved to the transfer station is not touched by any part of the apparatus.

Preferably, the belt is rotatable for printing images on both sides of the belt. Preferably, the belt is rotatable every time it performs a revolution.

Preferably, the apparatus is configured for rotating the belt about its longitudinal axis. Preferably, the belt comprises a Mobius strip of material.

This means that an image may be printed on both sides of the belt to increase belt life. Preferably, the belt comprises a polyimide core.

Preferably, the belt comprises a release coating on one or both faces, preferably on both faces.

Preferably, the release coating comprises a fluorinated polyolefin, e.g. FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene).

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a belt for use in an apparatus as described herein.

Preferably, the belt comprises a release coating on one or both faces, preferably on both faces. Preferably, the release coating comprises a fluorinated polyolefin, e.g. FEP. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for printing onto objects comprising:

a) a continuous belt to rotate through the apparatus,

b) a printer station adjacent the belt to transfer an image onto the belt,

c) a transfer station adjacent the belt but remote from the printer station adapted to support an object and transfer an image on the belt to a surface of the object,

in use the belt circulating through the printer station and transfer station allowing the continuous transfer of images onto objects.

Within this specification embodiments have been described in a way which enables a clear and concise specification to be written, but it is intended and will be appreciated that embodiments may be variously combined or separated without parting from the invention. For example, it will be appreciated that all preferred features described herein are applicable to all aspects of the invention described herein and vice versa.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figure 1 which shows a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to the present invention

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown an apparatus 1 for printing onto objects such as pens X.

Apparatus 1 has a continuous belt 10 which rotates through the apparatus 1 around drive and guide rollers 11 A, 11B, 12, 13A, 13B, 14A, 14B, 15A and 15B. The belt 10 has a polyimide core with a release coating (not shown) on each face. The release coating may be a fluorinated polyolefin, e.g. FEP.

A printer station 20 is provided adjacent the belt 10 to print an image (not shown) onto the belt 10. The printer station 20 can sequentially print the same or different images onto the belt 10 as the belt 10 passes through the printer station 20. The printer station 20 may comprise a known type of printer such as an electro-photographic printer, which may be a five colour printer as shown, delivering ink or powder. Alternatively, the printer station 20 may include an inkjet, gravure, flexographic, or letter press printer.

Preferably the printer station 20 is driven by digital information. For example, the printer station 20 may receive information from a computer (not shown).

The image may be made to adhere to the object surface by any method known in the art. Examples include reactive or non-reactive methods, including but not exclusively, hot melt, dye sublimation pressure sensitive, solvent drying, UV (ultra-violet) or other actinic curing, water or two-part reaction methods.

A transfer station 30 is provided adjacent the belt 10 but remote from the printer station 20. The transfer station 30 is adapted to support an object such as a pen X on a rubber plate 31, and transfer an image from the belt 10 to a surface of the object using a heat applicator head 32. The transfer station 30 may include a pre-heater 33. The transfer station 30 may also include an object loader 34 to load objects to be printed onto the plate 31 and a product unloader 35 to remove objects from the plate 31. Preferably, the transfer station 30 uses heat transfer techniques. Alternatively, the transfer station 30 uses a wet adhesive label technique, or pressure sensitive label technique.

The transfer station 30 may transfer images from the belt 10 onto flat or round object surfaces using a flat bed, such as plate 31 shown, or a flat, round or complex curved surface using a roller (not shown).

The apparatus 1 further includes a restoration station 40 to clean and restore the belt 10 after printing. The restoration station 40 includes a mechanical cleaner 41 such as a scraper or brush to remove excess print (bleed) from the belt 10. The mechanical cleaner 41 includes a vacuum cleaner 42 to suck away brushed or scraped excess ink. The restoration station 40 may include a preheater 43 and ink removal roller 44. The restoration station 40 may also include means to flatten and/or re-surface the belt, and this could, for example be done using rollers 13 A and 13B.

In use, the belt 10 circulates through the printer station 20 and an image is printed onto the belt 10. As the belt 10 circulates around the apparatus, the image reaches the transfer station 30 where the image is transferred onto an object such as a pen X. The part of the belt 10 on which the image was printed and from which the image was removed then passes through the restoration station 40 where the belt 10 is cleaned and so made ready for receiving another image as it passes through the printer station 20.

The apparatus 1 allows for the continuous transfer of images onto objects such as pens over an extended period of time. It will be appreciated that the belt 10 could pass around the apparatus 1 without stopping in a continuous motion. Alternatively, the progress of the belt 10 around the apparatus 1 could be intermittent with movement of the belt 10 pausing to allow images to be printed onto the belt 10 at the printing station 20 and/or transferred onto objects at the transfer station 30. This could, for example be particularly useful when objects are positioned one at a time at the transfer station 30 with an intermittent movement of the belt allowing for a delay in movement of objects into position.

Adjustment means 50, 60 are provided to pass the belt 10 at different speeds through the printer and transfer stations 20, 30. The adjustment means may be provided by variable lengths of loops 50, 60 either side of the printer station 20. The loop length may be controlled by optical switches 51A, 51B and 61A, 61B.

It will be appreciated that an image printed on an upper side of the belt 10 at the printer station 20 and moved to the transfer station 30 is not touched by any part of the apparatus 1 such as a roller. This ensures the image is not damaged before being transferred to an object such as a pen X, and allows for the potential use of a wet or tacky adhesive layer if required. It will also be appreciated that the image printed at the printer station 20 can be changed at each printing operation so that a different image could be printed on each object.

The belt 10 may be rotated every time it performs a revolution through the apparatus 1 so that an image may be printed on both sides of the belt 10 to increase belt life. The belt 10 may be formed in a Mobius strip to facilitate this feature.

The belt 10 may be positioned in any orientation by the support rollers 11B, 12, such as in horizontal or vertical planes so as to transfer an image at the transfer station 30 from the belt 10 to an object X in any orientation or plane suitable to the transport system used to carry the object.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above. The invention includes the following embodiments.

1. An apparatus for printing onto objects comprising:

a) a continuous belt to rotate through the apparatus,

b) a printer station adjacent the belt to transfer an image onto the belt,

c) a transfer station adjacent the belt but remote from the printer station adapted to support an object and transfer an image on the belt to a surface of the object,

in use the belt circulating through the printer station and transfer station allowing the continuous transfer of images onto objects.

2. An apparatus according to embodiment 1, wherein the apparatus further includes a restoration station to clean and restore the belt after printing.

3. An apparatus according to embodiment 2, wherein the restoration station includes a mechanical cleaner such as a scraper or brush to remove excess print from the belt. 4. An apparatus according to embodiment 3, wherein the mechanical cleaner includes a vacuum cleaner to suck away brushed or scraped excess ink.

5. An apparatus according to embodiment 2, 3, or 4, wherein the restoration station includes a preheater and ink removal roller.

6. An apparatus according to embodiment 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the restoration station includes means to flatten and/or re-surface the belt.

7. An apparatus according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the image is formed of a printing medium.

8. An apparatus according to any preceding embodiment wherein the printer station includes an electro photographic printer, inkjet printer, gravure printer, flexographic printer, or letter press printer.

9. An apparatus according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the printer station is driven by digital information.

10. An apparatus according to embodiment 9, wherein the printer is driven through a computer.

11. An apparatus according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the transfer station uses a heat transfer techniques, a wet adhesive label technique, or pressure sensitive label technique to transfer the print image from the belt to the object.

12. An apparatus according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the transfer station transfers the print image onto flat surfaces using a flat bed, or a flat, round or complex curved surface using a roller. 13. An apparatus according to any preceding embodiment, wherein adjustment means are provided to pass the belt at different speeds through the printer and transfer stations.

14. An apparatus according to embodiment 13, wherein the adjustment means is provided by variable lengths of one or more loops in the belt.

15. An apparatus according to embodiment 14, wherein the loop length may be controlled by optical switches.

16. An apparatus according to embodiment 14 or 15, wherein a pair of loops may be provided either side of the printer station.

17. An apparatus according to any preceding embodiment, wherein an image printed at the printer station and moved to the transfer station is not touched by part of the apparatus.

18. An apparatus according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the belt is rotated every time it performs a revolution through the apparatus whereby an image may be printed on both sides of the belt to increase belt life.

19. An apparatus according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the belt has a polyimide core with a release coating on opposed faces.

20. An apparatus according to embodiment 19, wherein the release coating is a fluorinated polyolefin, e.g. FEP.

21. An apparatus for printing onto objects substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications are covered by the appended claims.