Abstract

According to the invention there is an apparatus for printing onto cylindrical structures comprising: a plurality of inker devices each comprising a print cylinder and one or more servomotors for adjustably controlling the position or orientation of a print cylinder; a blanket device comprising a plurality of print blankets, in which the blanket device is configured to bring each print blanket into contact with the print cylinders to transfer ink from the print cylinders to the print blanket, and to bring each print blanket into contact with a cylindrical structure to achieve printing thereon; a transporter for transporting the cylindrical structures into and out of contact with the print blankets; and an automatic print correction system comprising a print inspection device for detecting a misregistration of ink transferred from one or more of the print cylinders onto a print blanket, and a controller for controlling the servomotors of the print cylinders to correct the misregistration in response to data received from the print inspection device.

IPC Classes  ?

• B41F 13/14 - Registering devices with means for displacing the cylinders
• B41F 17/22 - Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing on filamentary or elongated articles or material, or on articles with cylindrical surfaces on articles of finite length on articles of uniform cross-section, e.g. pencils, rulers, resistors by rolling contact