Abstract: An apparatus for printing on containers includes a transporter transports containers that are to be printed upon along a transport track to a container inlet of a printing station. An inspector inspects containers upstream of where transfer of the containers to the container inlet occurs. The inspector includes a light and camera that face each other. The light illuminates a first side of a container and the camera views an opposed second side thereof. Illumination of the first side scatters light from the container, thereby rendering its material distribution visible to the camera. The camera collects data that represents this distribution as different brightness values or gray scale values. A controller uses this data to identify a defective container, the defective container having brightness values or gray scale values that differ from standard values thereof.

Abstract: A measurement puck traverses a treatment path of a container-treatment device that includes plural treatment modules. As it does so, a sensor system within the puck makes contact-free measurements during transfer of the measurement puck between two treatment modules of a container-treatment device. These measurements provide a basis for calibrating the container-treatment device.

Abstract: An ink container comprises a tank and a measurement unit. The tank accommodates printing ink. The measurement unit has a sensor arrangement, a memory, an energy store, and a first interface. The sensor arrangement captures measurement values that are relevant to the printing ink. The memory stores at least some of these measurement values. The interface provides a way to communicate the measurement values to a printing machine.

Abstract: Using an acoustic signal to monitor a transfer of a puck that is holding and centering a container as it is being transferred from a first to a second transport-element includes using a sensor to capture an acoustic signal generated by the transfer. This acoustic signal indicates that the puck has been received at a treatment station associated with said second transport-element.

Abstract: A method comprising printing multicolored images on containers includes providing overall-image data, extracting partial-image data from the overall-image data, print-head-specific calibration-data for the print heads, using the partial-image data and the first print-head-specific calibration-data for calculating print-head image-data for each print head, and causing the print heads to print corresponding partial images on containers, each partial image corresponding to one of the colors in the multicolored images.

Abstract: Using an acoustic signal to monitor a transfer of a puck that is holding and centering a container as it is being transferred from a first to a second transport-element includes using a sensor to capture an acoustic signal generated by the transfer. This acoustic signal indicates that the puck has been received at a treatment station associated with said second transport-element.

Abstract: A measuring device includes a receiving device that detects measurement information indicative of a position and/or orientation of a position-modifiable component of a printing station having a print head whose position and/or orientation is adjustable by a motor and that transfers measurement information via a link. A receiving holder then introduces this receiving device into a structure that holds it at a defined position relative to the position-modifiable component. Suitable structures in which the receiving device can be introduced include a container-holding device and a receiving element for a container-holding device.

Abstract: A method comprising printing multicolored images on containers includes providing overall-image data, extracting partial-image data from the overall-image data, print-head-specific calibration-data for the print heads, using the partial-image data and the first print-head-specific calibration-data for calculating print-head image-data for each print head, and causing the print heads to print corresponding partial images on containers, each partial image corresponding to one of the colors in the multicolored images.

Abstract: A measurement system includes a measurement device to detect measurement information relating to a position-modifiable component of a printing station during movement thereof. A calculation unit receives the measurement information from the measurement device. The calculation unit determines actual-position data of the position-modifiable component from the measurement data received and compares it with predetermined reference-position data to determine calibration information based on the actual-position data and the reference-position data. An interface permits then permits transfer of this calibration information.

Abstract: A printing machine includes printing stations that each print a different color. The images printed by each printing station are superimposed on each other. Each printing station has a wireless interface for passing data to a successive printing station indicating where on the bottle the printing is to occur.

Abstract: A detection segment for use in a device for printing on containers includes an image-capturing device that optically detects a container feature and a sensor interface that interfaces with a sensor that uses a code provided on a retaining-and-centering unit that holds a container to determine a rotational position of that container. A computer connects to the image-capturing device and the sensor unit. The computer determines an alignment variable based on the code and the detected container feature and then forwards this alignment variable to a printer segment on a printer module.

Abstract: A measuring device includes a receiving device that detects measurement information indicative of a position and/or orientation of a position-modifiable component of a printing station having a print head whose position and/or orientation is adjustable by a motor and that transfers measurement information via a link. A receiving holder then introduces this receiving device into a structure that holds it at a defined position relative to the position-modifiable component. Suitable structures in which the receiving device can be introduced include a container-holding device and a receiving element for a container-holding device.

Abstract: A printing machine includes printing stations that each print a different color. The images printed by each printing station are superimposed on each other. Each printing station has a wireless interface for passing data to a successive printing station indicating where on the bottle the printing is to occur.

Abstract: A measurement system includes a measurement device to detect measurement information relating to a position-modifiable component of a printing station during movement thereof. A calculation unit receives the measurement information from the measurement device. The calculation unit determines actual-position data of the position-modifiable component from the measurement data received and compares it with predetermined reference-position data to determine calibration information based on the actual-position data and the reference-position data. An interface permits then permits transfer of this calibration information.

Abstract: A detection segment for use in a device for printing on containers includes an image-capturing device that optically detects a container feature and a sensor interface that interfaces with a sensor that uses a code provided on a retaining-and-centering unit that holds a container to determine a rotational position of that container. A computer connects to the image-capturing device and the sensor unit. The computer determines an alignment variable based on the code and the detected container feature and then forwards this alignment variable to a printer segment on a printer module.

Abstract: A container-handling station includes a drying-and-curing device that dries a printed region on a container. A sensor is configured detects heat energy from this reaction during a sensing interval that is between 50 milliseconds and 1 millisecond per angular degree of the container surface.

Abstract: A container-handling station includes a drying-and-curing device that dries a printed region on a container. A sensor is configured detects heat energy from this reaction during a sensing interval that is between 50 milliseconds and 1 millisecond per angular degree of the container surface.