Apparatus and method for decorating articles of non-circular cross-section

Claim 2

Apparatus for decorating the surface of an article having a non-circular cross-sectional configuration, the apparatus including an applicator having a surface for applying a decorating medium to the article surface at a given location in the apparatus, at which given location the applicator surface and the article surface are maintained in proper relative position and appropriate relative velocity for the application of the decorating medium throughout a decorating cycle of operation, the apparatus comprising: positioning means for positioning the article and the applicator at successive positions relative to one another during the decorating cycle such that successive portions of the article surface will be placed in the proper relative position and at the appropriate relative velocity with corresponding successive portions of the applicator surface, at the given location, throughout the decorating cycle, the positioning means including article drive means for advancing the successive portions of the article surface through the given location, and applicator drive means for advancing successive portions of the applicator surface through the given location, during the decorating cycle; detecting means for detecting the successive positions of the article at which the successive portions of the article surface are placed in the proper relative position at the given location, based upon the cross-sectional configuration of the article, and for determining the condition of the positioning means when the article is at each of said successive positions so as to provide article-configuration information pertaining to the condition of the positioning means as determined by the surface contour of the cross-sectional configuration of the article; information processing means for receiving said article-configuration information from the detecting means, and for providing operating information for actuation of the positioning means; and actuating means for actuating the positioning means in accordance with the operating information provided by the information processing means to actuate the article drive means and the applicator drive means such that the proper relative position and the appropriate relative velocity are maintained between the article surface and the applicator surface, at the given location, throughout the decorating cycle; the article drive means including rotating means for rotating the article about a longitudinal first axis, relative to a corresponding home position; and translating means for translating the first axis laterally in directions perpendicular to the first axis, relative to a further corresponding home position; such that the condition of the positioning means when the article is at each of the successive positions is determined at least partly by the angular position of the article about the first axis and the location of the first axis, relative to the corresponding home positions; and the translating means including first moving means for moving the first axis along directions parallel to a second axis; and second moving means for moving the first axis along directions parallel to a third axis; the first, second and third axes being mutually perpendicular such that the condition of the positioning means when the article is at each of the successive positions is determined at least partly by the location of the first axis relative to the second and third axes.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein: the rotating means includes first incremental drive means for rotating the article in fixed increments of rotation; the first moving means includes second incremental drive means for moving the first axis in fixed increments of movement; and the second moving means includes third incremental drive means for moving the first axis in fixed increments of movement; the increments of rotation being related to the successive positions of the article such that for each successive position of the article, the condition of the positioning means is identified by the number of increments of rotation and the number of increments of movement of the first axis relative to the second and third axes.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 or 2 wherein the given location is a point of transfer at which the applicator surface and the article surface are tangent and are at essentially zero relative velocity, and the detecting means includes a tangent detector located at the point of transfer for detecting tangency of the successive portions of the article surface relative to the applicator surface at the point of transfer.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3 wherein the tangent detector is a switch.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 4 wherein the information processing means is a microprocessor.

Claim 7

Apparatus for decorating the surface of an article having a non-circular cross-sectional configuration, the apparatus including an applicator having a surface for applying a decorating medium to the article surface at a given location in the apparatus, at which given location the applicator surface and the article surface are maintained in proper relative position and appropriate relative velocity for the application of the decorating medium throughout a decorating cycle of operation, the apparatus comprising: positioning means for positioning the article and the applicator at successive positions relative to one another during the decorating cycle such that successive portions of the article surface will be placed in the proper relative position and at the appropriate relative velocity with corresponding successive portions of the applicator surface, at the given location, throughout the decorating cycle, the positioning means including article drive means for advancing the successive portions of the article surface through the given location, and applicator drive means for advancing the successive portions of the applicator surface through the given location, during the decorating cycle; article-configuration information means for providing information pertaining to the successive positions of the article at which the successive portions of the article surface are placed in the proper relative position at the given location, based upon the cross-sectional configuration of the article, and for identifying the condition of the positioning means when the article is at each of said successive positions so as to provide article-configuration information pertaining to the condition of the positioning means as determined by the cross-sectional configuration of the article; information processing means for receiving the article-configuration information from the article-configuration information means and for providing operating information for actuation of the positioning means; and actuating means for actuating the positioning means in accordance with the operating information provided by the information processing means to actuate the article drive means and the applicator drive means such that the proper relative position and the appropriate relative velocity are maintained between the article surface and the applicator surface, at the given location, throughout the decorating cycle; the article drive means including rotating means for rotating the article about a longitudinal first axis, relative to a corresponding home position; and translating means for translating the first axis laterally in directions perpendicular to the first axis, relative to a further corresponding home position; such that the condition of the positioning means when the article is at each of the successive positions is determined at least partly by the angular position of the article about the first axis and the location of the first axis, relative to the corresponding home positions; and the translating means including first moving means for moving the first axis along directions parallel to a second axis; and second moving means for moving the first axis along directions parallel to a third axis; the first, second and third axes being mutually perpendicular such that the condition of the positioning means when the article is at each of the successive positions is determined at least partly by the location of the first axis relative to the second and third axes.

Claim 8

Apparatus for decorating the surface of an article having a non-circular cross-sectional configuration, the apparatus including an applicator having a surface for applying a decorating medium to the article surface at a given location in the apparatus, at which given location the applicator surface and the article surface are maintained in proper relative position and appropriate relative velocity for the application of the decorating medium throughout a decorating cycle of operation, the apparatus comprising: positioning means for positioning the article and the applicator at successive positions relative to one another during the decorating cycle such that successive portions of the article surface will be placed in the proper relative position and at the appropriate relative velocity with corresponding successive portions of the applicator surface, at the given location, throughout the decorating cycle, the positioning means including article drive means for advancing the successive portions of the article surface through the given location, and applicator drive means for advancing the successive portions of the applicator surface through the given location, during the decorating cycle; article-configuration information means for providing information pertaining to the successive positions of the article at which the successive portions of the article surface are placed in the proper relative position at the given location, based upon the cross-sectional configuration of the article, and for identifying the condition of the positioning means when the article is at each of said successive positions so as to provide article-configuration information pertaining to the condition of the positioning means as determined by the cross-sectional configuration of the article; information processing means for receiving the article-configuration information from the article-configuration information means and for providing operating information for actuation of the positioning means; and actuating means for actuating the positioning means in accordance with the operating information provided by the information processing means to actuate the article drive means and the applicator drive means such that the proper relative position and the appropriate relative velocity are maintained between the article surface and the applicator surface, at the given location, throughout the decorating cycle; the article drive means including rotating means for rotating the article about a longitudinal first axis, relative to a corresponding home position; and translating means for translating the first axis laterally in directions perpendicular to the first axis, relative to a further corresponding home position; such that the condition of the positioning means when the article is at each of the successive positions is determined at least partly by the angular position of the article about the first axis and the location of the first axis, relative to the corresponding home positions; and the translating means including first moving means for moving the first axis along directions parallel to a second axis; and second moving means for moving the first axis along directions parallel to a third axis; the first, second and third axes being mutually perpendicular such that the condition of the positioning means when the article is at each of the successive positions is determined at least partly by the location of the first axis relative to the second and third axes.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 6 wherein: the rotating means includes first incremental drive means for rotating the article in fixed increments of rotation; the first moving means includes second incremental drive means for moving the first axis in fixed increments of movement; and the second moving means includes third incremental drive means for moving the first axis in fixed increments of movement; the increments of rotation being related to the successive positions of the article such that for each successive position of the article the condition of the positioning means is identified by the number of increments of rotation and the number of increments of movement of the first axis relative to the second and third axes.

Claim 10

The invention of claims 6 or 7 wherein the article-configuration information means includes a program storage means for storing the article-configuration information for selective use by the information processing means.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 8 wherein the information processing means is a microprocessor.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 10 wherein: the article is rotated in fixed increments of rotation; the first axis is translated along the directions parallel to the second axis in fixed increments of translation; the first axis is translated along the further directions parallel to the third axis in fixed increments of translation; the increments of rotation being related to the successive positions of the article such that each successive position is defined by the number of increments of rotation, and the number of increments of translation relative to the second and third axes.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 10 or 11 wherein the given location is a point of transfer at which the applicator surface and the article surface are tangent and are at essentially zero relative velocity and the step of detecting the successive positions of the article includes detecting the tangency of the successive portions of the article surface relative to the applicator surface at the point of transfer.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 12 including the step of storing the article-configuration information for selective subsequent use in the advancing step.

Claim 17

In the method of decorating the surface of an article having a non-circular cross-sectional configuration and utilizing an apparatus which includes an applicator having a surface for applying a decorating medium to the article surface at a given location in the apparatus, at which given location the applicator surface and the article surface are maintained in proper relative position and appropriate relative velocity for the application of the decorating medium throughout a decorating cycle of operation, the steps of: positioning the article and the applicator at successive positions relative to one another such that successive portions of the article surface will be placed in the proper relative position with corresponding successive portions of the applicator surface, at the given location, for the decorating cycle; detecting the successive positions of the article at which the successive portions of the article surface are placed in the proper relative position at the given location, based upon the cross-sectional configuration of the article, to provide article-configuration information determined by the cross-sectional configuration of the article; and storing the article-configuration information for selective subsequent use in advancing the successive portions of the article surface and the successive portions of the applicator surface throughout the decorating cycle; the step of positioning the article and the applicator at successive positions including rotating the article about a longitudinal first axis relative to a corresponding home position; and translating the first axis laterally in directions perpendicular to the first axis relative to a further home position; such that each said successive position of the article is defined at least partly by the angular position of the article about the first axis, and the location of the first axis, relative to the corresponding home positions; and the first axis is translated along directions parallel to a second axis; the first axis is translated along further directions parallel to a third axis; the first, second and third axes being mutually perpendicular such that each successive position of the article is defined at least partly by the location of the first axis relative to the second and third axes.

Claim 18

In the method of decorating the surface of an article having a non-circular cross-sectional configuration and utilizing an apparatus which includes an applicator having a surface for applying a decorating medium to the article surface at a given location in the apparatus, at which given location the applicator surface and the article surface are maintained in proper relative position and appropriate relative velocity for the application of the decorating medium throughout a decorating cycle of operation, the steps of: positioning the article and the applicator at successive positions relative to one another such that successive portions of the article surface will be placed in the proper relative position with corresponding successive portions of the applicator surface, at the given location, for the decorating cycle; detecting the successive positions of the article at which the successive portions of the article surface are placed in the proper relative position at the given location, based upon the cross-sectional configuration of the article, to provide article-configuration information determined by the cross-sectional configuration of the article; and storing the article-configuration information for selective subsequent use in advancing the successive portions of the article surface and the successive portions of the applicator surface throughout the decorating cycle; the step of positioning the article and the applicator at successive positions including rotating the article about a longitudinal first axis relative to a corresponding home position; and translating the first axis laterally in directions perpendicular to the first axis relative to a further home position; such that each said successive position of the article is defined at least partly by the angular position of the article about the first axis, and the location of the first axis, relative to the corresponding home positions; and the first axis is translated along directions parallel to a second axis; the first axis is translated along further directions parallel to a third axis; the first, second and third axes being mutually perpendicular such that each successive position of the article is defined at least partly by the location of the first axis relative to the second and third axes.

Claim 19

The invention of claim 14 wherein: the article is rotated in fixed increments of rotation; the first axis is translated along the directions parallel to the second axis in fixed increments of translation; the first axis is translated along the further directions parallel to the third axis in fixed increments of translation; the increments of rotation being related to the successive positions of the article such that each successive position is defined by the number of increments of rotation, and the number of increments of translation relative to the second and third axes.

Claim 20

The invention of claim 14 or 15 wherein the given location is a point of transfer at which the applicator surface and the article surface are tangent and are at essentially zero relative velocity and the step of detecting the successive positions of the article includes detecting the tangency of the successive portions of the article surface relative to the applicator surface at the point of transfer.