Abstract: An apparatus (30, 40, 50) and a method of ink jet printing are disclosed that use a system for feeding a substrate longitudinally relative to a support area and a system for moving a printhead parallel to the direction of substrate feed. Indexing between transverse scan rows of a printhead (20) is carried out initially by the substrate feed system (16) and the actual feed distance is measured using an encoder or other substrate position measurement device (26). A controller (25) determines the amount of any error that occurs between the actual and the desired feed distances. The controller (25) then sends signals to move the printhead (20) to compensate for any error in the feed system feed. Compensating adjustments are then made to the next subsequent substrate indexing step so that the printhead tends to move back toward its home or zeroed position with its next correction and does not walk away from this home position as a result of cumulative movements.

Abstract: A printing mandrel (1) for receiving a substantially cylindrical hollow body comprises a coupling part (2) with which the printing mandrel is insertable in a printing machine. Attached to the coupling part (2) is a receiving part (3) comprising a substantially cylindrical surface (4), onto which receiving part the body is able to be pushed and from which receiving part the body is able to be removed. Made in the end region (5) of the mandrel (1) remote from the coupling part (2) are openings disposed in the surface (4) in a way distributed over the periphery, which openings are connected to an air supply disposed in the mandrel (1). By means of the compressed air exiting the openings (7) a body to be pushed onto the printing mandrel is expanded, which facilitates an easy pushing on; with a cutting off of the compressed air supply an optimal seating between the body and the printing mandrel (1) results, which facilitates an optimal processing of the body.

Abstract: A linear printing machine with exchangeable printing modules for printing on hollow bodies. The machine includes a transport system including a drive, using which the hollow bodies to be printed on are transported through the linear printing machine and at least a first printing station and a second printing station which is arranged downstream of the first printing station in the conveying direction of the hollow bodies. At least one drying station dries the ink on the hollow bodies which have been printed on.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process and to a device for printing a multicolor image composed of at least two varicolored partial images on a surface. A first partial image is transferred onto the surface in an ink transfer position and at least a second partial image is transferred onto the surface in the same ink transfer position and is superimposed to the first partial image. The partial images transferred onto the surface are dried at least partially or hardened at least partially between the ink transfer steps. The drying step is carried out according to the present invention in the ink transfer position. High print quality can be achieved according to the present invention in a simple manner because the first partial image set and dried partially or also the respective additional, partially dried partial images always have well-defined surface properties. Essentially cylindrical bodies are preferably printed in multiple colors according to the present invention.

Abstract: During the fastening of a cap (2) on a container (1), the container (1) and the cap (2) are positioned in a starting position in relation to one another and subsequently connected to one another in a positive-locking and preferably also non-positive manner. The cap (2) is held during the positioning by a clamping grip. The positioned cap (2) is taken over by a non-clamping holding mechanism (5), and the clamping grip of the cap (2) is released before the positive-locking and preferably also non-positive connection.

Abstract: A device for transferring objects, especially hollow bodies, such as cans, tubes and the like, from an arriving conveying device to an exiting conveying device. At least one rotatingly driven rotor is provided. At least one holding device, for the objects, is provided which is articulated with the rotor for common drive. At least one control device is provided connected to the holding device and is restrictedly guided along a cam to generate a nonuniform conveying velocity of the holding device. The holding device is mounted on the rotor pivotably around a pivot axis located at a spaced location from a rotor axis.