Automatic registration and color adjustment device, system, and method based on mechanical elements and ambient parameters

Abstract

The automatic registration and color adjustment system includes a can decorator comprising at least several plate cylinders and several inking stations, several sensors, and an automatic registration and color adjustment device communicatively coupled to the can decorator, the several sensors, and the several temperature control elements. The automatic registration and color adjustment device is configured to receive outputs from at least several sensors, determine that adjustments should be made to the can decorator based on those outputs and previous adjustment information, and control the can decorator to make the determined adjustments.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] <Cross-reference to Related Applications> This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 237,447, filed on August 24, 2023, titled "Apparatus, System And Method Of Automatic Registration And Color Adjustment Based Upon Machine Elements And Ambient Parameters".

[0002] The disclosed concepts generally relate to an apparatus, system, and method for decorating cans using a can decorator, and more specifically, to an automatic registration and color adjustment device, system, and method based on machine elements and ambient parameters of a can decoration device.

Background Art

[0003] High-speed continuous operating machines for decorating cans (commonly referred to as "can decoration devices" or simply "can decorators") are generally well known. FIG. 1 shows a can decorator 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the can decorator 2 includes a supply conveyor 15. The supply conveyor 15 receives cans 16 from a can supply section (not shown), is fixed to a pocket wheel 12, and guides them to arcuate cradles or pockets 17 along the periphery of spaced parallel rings. The pocket wheel 12 is fixed to a continuously rotating mandrel carrier wheel 18, and the mandrel carrier wheel 18 is keyed to a continuously rotating horizontal drive shaft 19. Horizontal spindles or mandrels (not shown), each of which is pivotable about its own axis, are attached adjacent to the periphery of the mandrel carrier wheel 18. Downstream of the supply conveyor 15, each spindle or mandrel is axially aligned in close proximity to an individual pocket 17, and the undecorated cans 16 are sent from the pockets 17 to the mandrels. A suction force applied through the axial passage of the mandrel draws the can 16 to its final seating position on the mandrel.

[0004] While mounted on the mandrel, each can 16 is decorated by engaging with a blanket (e.g., a replaceable adhesive rubber piece) positioned on the blanket wheel of a multicolor printing unit, collectively indicated by reference numeral 22. Then, while still mounted on the mandrel, the outside of each decorated can 16 is coated with a protective varnish film applied by engaging with the periphery of a varnish application roll (not shown) rotating on the shaft 23 of an over-varnish unit, collectively indicated by reference numeral 24. The decorated and protectively coated cans 16 are then transferred from the mandrel to a suction cup (not shown) mounted adjacent to the periphery of a transfer wheel (not shown) rotating around the shaft 28 of a transfer unit 27. From the transfer unit 27, the cans 16 are placed on a nearly horizontal pin 29, which is carried by a chain-type discharge conveyor 30, which transports the cans 16 through a curing oven (not shown).

[0005] As the blanket wheel moves toward engagement with the undecorated can 16, it engages with multiple plate cylinders 31. Each plate cylinder is associated with an individual inking station 32 (figure 1 shows eight exemplary inking stations 32). The multiple plate cylinders 31 and inking stations 32 label the can 16 based on specifications from the vendor. Typically, each inking station 32 provides a different color of ink, and each plate cylinder 31 applies a different ink image segment to the blanket. All of the “ink image” segments combine to produce a “main image” (i.e., label) configured to be applied to the can body. The “main image” is then transferred to the undecorated can 16 to become the “can body applied image” as used herein.

[0006] Each inking station 32 includes multiple rollers, or "rolls" as defined herein, which are configured to transfer a certain amount of ink from a reservoir, or "ink fountain" as defined herein, to a blanket. The path through which the ink travels is identified as the "ink train" as defined herein. That is, the rolls through which the ink travels define the "ink train". Furthermore, in this specification, the "ink train" has direction, with the ink fountain 33 (shown in Figure 3) at the "upstream" end of the ink train and the plate cylinder 31 at the "downstream" end of the ink train.

[0007] The ink train extends across several rolls, each serving a specific purpose. As illustrated, the ink train begins in an ink reservoir and is initially applied as a film to the fountain roll. The ductor roll intermittently engages with the fountain roll. When the ductor roll engages with the fountain roll, a certain amount of ink is transferred to the ductor roll. The ductor roll also intermittently engages with downstream rolls, transferring ink to them. The ductor roll has a "duty cycle." In this specification, this means the ratio of the duration the ductor roll is in contact with the fountain roll to the duration of a complete cycle (the ductor roller contacting the fountain roll, moving to the first downstream roller, contacting the first steel roller, and returning to the fountain roll).

[0008] Other rolls include, but are not limited to, distribution rolls, oscillator rolls, and transfer rolls. Generally, these rolls are configured to distribute ink so that the appropriate amount of ink is applied to the plate cylinder 31 in a generally uniform manner. For example, an oscillator roll is configured to reciprocate longitudinally around its axis of rotation so that the ink is spread when it is applied to the next downstream roll. The final roll is the plate cylinder 31, which applies the ink to the blanket. It is understood that each inking station 32 applies a selected single-color "ink image" to the blanket, and that each inking station 32 must apply its ink image to the appropriate position relative to other ink images so that there is no offset of the ink image in the main image.

[0009] Therefore, in this specification, “ink image” means an image of a single ink color that is part of the “main image.” In this specification, “main image” means an image made up of several ink images and is applied to a can body as a “can body application image.” It is understood that the “main image” includes several, typically multiple, ink images. For example, if the main image is the French flag (a tricolor flag characterized by three vertical stripes of blue (hoist side), white, and red), then an inking station 32 with blue ink provides a blue rectangular ink image, an inking station 32 with white ink provides a white rectangular ink image, and an inking station 32 with red ink provides a red rectangular ink image. Furthermore, assuming the main image is the French flag with the hoist on the left, the inking station 32 with blue ink provides a blue rectangular ink image on the left side of the blanket, the inking station 32 with white ink provides a white rectangular ink image in the center of the blanket immediately next to the blue rectangular ink image, and the inking station 32 with red ink provides a red rectangular ink image on the right side of the blanket immediately next to the white rectangular ink image. Once all the ink images are applied to the blanket, the main image is formed and then applied to the can body.

[0010] Image misalignment, printing defects, or inappropriate ink application at the required optimal temperature for applying the image to the container can all occur. In some cases, overlapping print layers can lead to ink contamination or unintended colors being printed on the can. Such situations may necessitate discarding hundreds or thousands of cans and shutting down the decorator. This can lead to a complete shutdown of the can line, affecting a line that typically produces 400 to 6,000 cans per minute. This shutdown results in increased operating costs and a large amount of spoilage. Furthermore, if the air surrounding the decorator is unstable or difficult to control, the ink application can become uneven due to the influence of ambient temperature on material properties and the ink's ability to adhere to the can surface while maintaining the thinnest possible film weight. The ink's coloring strength is directly related to the ink's film thickness. Higher coloring strength allows for thinner films. If the ink's coloring strength is not optimized, the required film weight must be increased, resulting in the decorator having to operate at a lower speed. A typical temperature range recommended by ink manufacturers is not limited, but is, for example, 95°F to 105°F. If the ink is too cold, it will appear pinhole-like on the surface of the container. If the ink temperature is too high, the ink may begin to atomize or be applied too thinly, resulting in an unintended image and increased spoilage. In either case, if the temperature cannot be controlled, the operator may increase the ink flow rate to increase the ink coverage, resulting in over-application of ink. A typical decorator ink reservoir can hold 50 ounces of ink and can be refilled every hour. If the operator is trying to compensate for insufficient ink concentration or an inappropriate temperature, ink usage can easily double.

[0011] Furthermore, as the can decorator 2 operates, temperature changes (but not limited to, ambient temperature, temperature of decorator components, etc.) can cause the can decorator components to expand or contract. Such temperature changes (e.g., heating or cooling) can cause label drift, skew, or even overlap when printed on the undecorated can 16. In addition, as the temperature changes, the moisture level around the can decorator 2 also changes, leading to, but not limited to, dilution of ink concentration, etc. Currently, the operator of the can decorator 2 inspects the printed cans 16 manually or visually via camera for image registration, including color registration. However, such inspections may not detect defects in the printed labels (i.e., drift, skew, overlap, color dilution, etc.) until a considerable period of time (but not limited to, several minutes) has passed since they occurred on the can, resulting in thousands of defective cans. Furthermore, because data on adjustments made to correct image registration defects is neither collected nor saved, error detection and correction must rely heavily on trial and error and operator guesswork each time. Such an ad-hoc error detection and correction process results in significant waste of manufacturing time and cost.

[0012] There is room for improvement in correcting defects in label printing during the can manufacturing process. [Overview of the project]

[0013] These and other requirements are met by an automatic registration and color adjustment system. The automatic registration and color adjustment system includes a plurality of plate cylinders and a plurality of inking stations, each plate cylinder comprising a can decorator associated with an individual inking station, a plurality of sensors including an ambient temperature sensor configured to detect the ambient temperature of the can decorator and a component temperature sensor configured to detect the component temperature of one or more components of the can decorator, and an automatic registration and color adjustment device communicatively coupled to the can decorator and the plurality of sensors and configured to store previous adjustment information about the can decorator, the automatic registration and color adjustment device receiving the outputs of the plurality of sensors, determining adjustments to one or more components of the can decorator based on the outputs of the plurality of sensors and the previous adjustment information, and controlling the can decorator to perform the determined adjustments.

[0014] Another exemplary embodiment of the disclosed concept provides a method for automatic registration and color adjustment. The method provides an automatic registration and color adjustment system comprising: (i) a can decorator comprising a plurality of plate cylinders and a plurality of inking stations, each plate cylinder being associated with an individual inking station; (ii) a plurality of sensors including an ambient temperature sensor configured to detect the ambient temperature of the can decorator and a component temperature sensor configured to detect the component temperature of one or more components of the can decorator; and (iii) an automatic registration and color adjustment device communicatively coupled to the can decorator and the plurality of sensors and including a memory configured to store previous adjustment information regarding the can decorator; the automatic registration and color adjustment device receiving the outputs of the plurality of sensors; the automatic registration and color adjustment device determining an adjustment for one or more components of the can decorator based on the outputs of the plurality of sensors and the previous adjustment information; and controlling the can decorator to perform the determined adjustment. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] A full understanding of the present invention can be obtained by reading the following description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0016] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an example of a can decorator.

[0017] [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows an exemplary automated registration and color adjustment system according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the disclosed concept.

[0018] [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a plate cylinder with an associated inking station having an ink reservoir and roller assembly with temperature sensing and regulating functions, according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the disclosed concept.

[0019] [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a flowchart of an automated registration and color adjustment method according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the disclosed concept. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0020] It will be understood that certain elements shown in the figures and described herein are merely illustrative embodiments of the disclosed concept and are provided as examples for illustrative purposes only and not as limiting examples. Accordingly, specific dimensions, orientations, assemblies, the number of components used, the configuration of the embodiments, and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein should not be considered to limit the scope of the disclosed concept.

[0021] For example, the terms used herein to indicate direction, such as clockwise, counterclockwise, left, right, up, down, upward, downward, and their derivatives, relate to the orientation of elements shown in the drawings and are not limited unless expressly stated in the claims.

[0022] As used herein, the singular forms of "a", "an", and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0023] As used herein, "structured to [verb]" means that a specified element or assembly has a structure that is shaped, sized, positioned, joined, and / or configured to perform a specified verb. For example, a member "structured to move" is movably joined to another element and includes an element that moves the member, or is otherwise configured to move in response to another element or assembly. Thus, "structured to [verb]" as used herein describes structure rather than function. Further, as used herein, "structured to [verb]" means that a specified element or assembly is intended and designed to perform a specified verb. Thus, an element that can simply perform a specified verb but is not intended and designed to do so is not "structured to [verb]".

[0024] As used herein, "associated" means that elements are part of the same assembly and / or operate or act together in some manner. For example, an automobile has four tires and four hubcaps. All elements are joined as part of the automobile, but each hubcap is understood to be "associated" with a particular tire.

[0025] As used herein, the statement that two or more parts or components are “joined” means that the parts are joined directly or indirectly (i.e., through one or more intermediate parts or components) or operate together, insofar as a link occurs. As used herein, “directly coupled” means that two elements are in direct contact with each other. As used herein, “fixedly coupled” or “fixed” means that two components are coupled so that they move as a unit while maintaining a constant orientation relative to each other. As used herein, “adjustably fixed” means that two components are coupled so that they move as a unit while maintaining a generally constant orientation or position relative to each other, although they are movable within a limited range or around a single axis. For example, a doorknob is “adjustably fixed” to a door in that it is rotatable, but generally, a doorknob remains in a single position relative to the door. Furthermore, the cartridge (nib and ink reservoir) of a retractable pen is "adjustably fixed" to the casing in the sense that the cartridge moves between a retracted position and an extended position, but generally maintains its orientation relative to the casing. Thus, when two elements are joined, all parts of those elements are joined. However, the statement that a particular part of the first element is joined to the second element (for example, the first end of an axle is joined to the first wheel) means that the particular part of the first element is positioned closer to the second element than the other parts. Moreover, an object that rests on another object and is held in place by gravity alone cannot be said to be "joined" to the object below unless the object above is otherwise substantially held in place. That is, for example, a book on a table is not joined to the table, but a book glued to a table is joined to the table.

[0026] As used herein, the recitation that two or more parts or components “engage” with each other means that those elements exert a force or bias against each other, either directly or through one or more intermediate elements or components. Further, as used herein with respect to a movable part, the movable part may “engage” another element during movement from one position to another position and / or may “engage” another element when it reaches the described position. Thus, the recitations “when element A moves to its first position, element A engages element B” and “when element A is in its first position, element A engages element B” are equivalent recitations, understood to mean that element A engages element B while element A moves to its first position and / or while element A is in its first position.

[0027] As used herein, “correspond” means that two structural components are sized and shaped to be similar to each other and can be joined with minimal friction. Thus, an aperture “corresponding” to a member is sized slightly larger than the member so that the member can pass through the aperture with minimal friction. This definition is modified when two components “snugly” fit. In that situation, the difference in size of the components is further reduced and the amount of friction increases. If the element defining the aperture and / or the component inserted into the aperture is made of a deformable or compressible material, the aperture may be slightly smaller than the component inserted into the aperture. With respect to surfaces, shapes, and lines, two or more “corresponding” surfaces, shapes, or lines have generally the same size, shape, and contour.

[0028] As used herein, “a number” means one or an integer greater than one (i.e., a plurality). That is, for example, the phrase “a number of elements” means one element or a plurality of elements. It is particularly noted that the recitation “a number of [X]” includes a single [X].

[0029] As used herein, "around" in phrases such as "[arranged around]", "[extending around]", or "[X] degrees around]" means to surround, extend around, or be measured around. When used in relation to measurement or a similar method, "about" means "approximately," i.e., within an approximate range related to the measurement as understood by those skilled in the art.

[0030] As used herein, an “elongated” element essentially includes a longitudinal axis and / or longitudinal line extending in the direction of elongation.

[0031] As used herein, “generally” means “in a general manner” in relation to the term being modified, as would be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0032] As used herein, “substantially” means “for the most part” as understood by those skilled in the art in relation to the term it modifies.

[0033] As used herein, “at” means, as understood by those skilled in the art, above and / or near the term being modified.

[0034] Exemplary embodiments of the disclosed concept provide an automated registration and color adjustment device, system, and method for printing labels on undecorated cans during the can manufacturing process. The automated registration and color adjustment device receives outputs from a plurality of sensors, including ambient temperature sensors and component temperature sensors, and, based on those outputs and previous adjustment information regarding the can decorator that has been made to one or more can decorator components, determines an adjustment to one or more components of the can decorator in response to a specific temperature change with respect to the adjusted can decorator components, and controls the can decorator to make the determined adjustment. Such automated registration and color adjustment is advantageous in that it pre-adjusts the can decorator as soon as a temperature change requiring adjustment is detected, rather than waiting until defects in the printed label are detected later, as required by conventional registration and color adjustment systems and methods, thereby significantly reducing the number of defective cans and saving time. The automatic registration and color adjustment device instantly determines the type and / or degree of adjustment required for a corresponding current temperature change based on collected and stored data, including at least previously performed adjustments and corresponding sensor information (which is usually discarded), and instantly controls the can decorator to make the necessary adjustments, thereby significantly reducing the number of defective cans that would occur if conventional registration and color adjustment systems that rely on guesswork and ad-hoc manual adjustments were applied.

[0035] Figure 2 shows an automatic registration and color adjustment system 10 according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the disclosed concept. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a plate cylinder 31 with an associated inking station 32 having an ink reservoir 33 and a roller assembly 34 with temperature sensing and adjustment functions, according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the disclosed concept. The automatic registration and color adjustment system 10 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. The automatic registration and color adjustment system 10 includes a can decorator 2, a plurality of sensors 200, 202, 204, 210, 212, 220, a plurality of temperature control elements 300, 302, and an automatic registration and color adjustment device 1. The plurality of sensors include, but are not limited to, an ambient temperature sensor 204 configured to detect the ambient temperature with respect to the can decorator 2, and component temperature sensors such as ink temperature sensors 200, 202 configured to detect the component temperature with respect to one or more components of the can decorator 2. The multiple sensors may also include humidity sensors 210, 212 and a vision sensor 220.

[0036] The ink temperature sensors 200, 202 may be, for example, a contact-type ink temperature sensor 200 that detects temperature through direct contact with the ink, or a non-contact-type ink temperature sensor 202 that detects temperature without direct contact. The ink temperature sensors 200, 202 may be placed at any suitable location in each inking station 32 (but not limited to, for example, on the blanket wheel, on the mandrel, at various points in the roller assembly, or in the ink reservoir 33). Humidity sensors 210, 212 may be placed adjacent to or near one or more ink temperature sensors 200, 202 and may be configured to measure humidity related to each component of the inking station 32. The ambient temperature sensor 204 may be placed at any suitable location (for example, on or near the can decorator 2). If the ambient temperature sensor 204 is placed in the immediate vicinity of a can decorator component (for example, the plate cylinder), it may detect the temperature of that can decorator component. The visual sensor 220 may be a camera, which is positioned at any suitable location in the can manufacturing process (but is not limited to, for example, the chain-type discharge conveyor 30, the transfer wheel, inside the curing oven, or any other suitable location) and is configured to capture an image of the can 16 as it passes through the inspection window.

[0037] The temperature control elements 300 and 302 may be placed in any suitable location. For example, the temperature control element may be, but is not limited to, a heating element 300 located in the ink reservoir 33 of each inking station 32. In another example, the temperature control element 302 may be, but is not limited to, a cooling port provided on one or more rolls of the roller assembly and / or the plate cylinder 31.

[0038] In general, ink properties can change with ambient and component temperatures, and optimal and efficient ink application to the printing blanket and can 16 for each ink type is affected by such properties. As a result of temperature changes, the printed can 16 may contain, but are not limited to, errors in image registration, ink density, ink color, ink bleeding, and other image defects. To eliminate or reduce such defects, adjustments must be made to one or more can decorator components in response to the detection of temperature changes. Traditionally, can decorator operators have manually adjusted the can decorator components after inspecting the can for defects. However, thousands of cans have already been spoiled by the time a defect is detected. Furthermore, such manual adjustments are based on the operator's guesswork and are repeated until the defect is corrected, resulting in further spoiled cans and wasted manufacturing time. Moreover, since no information used to make manual adjustments, nor the adjustments themselves, is saved, useful information that could be used for future adjustments is wasted. The disclosed automatic registration and color adjustment device 1 advantageously reduces the number of defective cans by collecting and storing such previous adjustment information and automatically making appropriate adjustments to the can decorator components based on the previous adjustment information.

[0039] The automatic registration and color adjustment device 1 is coupled to at least the can decorator 2, sensors 200, 202, 204, 210, 212, 220, and ink temperature control elements 300, 302. The automatic registration and color adjustment device 1 may be located within a control station 100 configured to control the operation of the can decorator 2 and its components. The control station 100 may, but is not limited to, a computer, workstation, etc., located near the can decorator 2. Figures 2 and 3 show the automatic registration and color adjustment device 1 located within the control station 100, but it will be understood that, without departing from the scope of the disclosed concept, the automatic registration and color adjustment device 1 may also be a standalone device (for example, a PC or workstation configured solely for automatically generating labels). The automatic registration and color adjustment device 1 may, but is not limited to, a microprocessor, microcontroller, or other suitable processing device or circuit. It may include memory, which may be, but is not limited to, one or more of various types of storage media, such as RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, and internal and / or external memory. The memory may provide storage registers, i.e., machine-readable media, for data storage in a manner similar to the internal storage area of ​​a computer, and may be volatile or non-volatile memory. The memory includes instructions or code for performing automatic registration and color adjustment operations. It is also configured to store current and previous adjustment information. The memory may also include machine learning algorithms configured to be trained on the stored data and to execute instructions based on the training.

[0040] The automatic registration and color adjustment device 1 is communicatively coupled to the can decorator 2 via a wired or wireless connection and is configured to receive outputs from multiple sensors 200, 202, 204, 210, 212, 220, determine adjustments to one or more components of the can decorator 2 based on those outputs and previous adjustment information, and control the can decorator 2 to perform the determined adjustments. The previous adjustment information is collected and stored over a predetermined period (not limited to, but e.g., at least one day) and is continuously updated by the automatic registration and color adjustment device 1. The previous adjustment information includes a specific temperature change, the date and time associated with the specific temperature change, the effect of the specific temperature change on one or more specific can decorator components, the specific type and / or degree of adjustments made to one or more specific can decorator components in response to the specific temperature change, and correlation data between the specific temperature change, the date and time associated with the specific temperature change, the effect, and the specific type and / or degree of adjustments made. Since temperature changes may be accompanied by corresponding humidity changes, it should be understood that previous adjustment information may be based on both temperature changes and the associated humidity changes, even if not specifically stated. To determine the adjustment for one or more components of the can decorator 2, the automatic registration and color adjustment device 1 is further configured to compare the current temperature change with a previous temperature change in the correlated data to determine the type and / or degree of adjustment. The automatic registration and color adjustment device 1 controls the can decorator 2 to make adjustments based on the determined type and / or degree.

[0041] For example, the ink temperature sensor 200 outputs temperature information for each ink reservoir 33 to the automatic registration and color adjustment device 1. The automatic registration and color adjustment device 1 receives and analyzes the output of the ink temperature sensor 200 and determines whether or not adjustments should be made to each ink reservoir 33 based on the output and correlation data. For example, if the automatic registration and color adjustment device 1 detects that the temperature change in each ink reservoir 33 is outside a threshold (not limited, but for example, an optimal ink temperature in the range of 95°F to 105°F), it causes the temperature control element 300 located in each ink reservoir 33 to control its temperature. That is, the automatic registration and color adjustment device 1 activates the temperature control element 300 to raise the temperature in the ink reservoir 33 to within the threshold, so that further defects are immediately prevented. In another example, the ink temperature sensor 202 outputs temperature information related to adjacent ink rollers, fountain blades, and / or plate cylinders 31. The automatic registration and color adjustment device 1 receives and analyzes the output of at least the ink temperature sensor 202, and based on the output and correlation data, determines whether or not adjustments (e.g., axial, circumferential, and / or plate pressure adjustments) should be made to the relevant rollers, fountain blades, and / or plate cylinders 31. That is, when the automatic registration and color adjustment device 1 detects that the temperature change in one or more ink rollers has fallen outside the threshold, it causes the temperature control element 302, which is positioned adjacent to one or more ink rollers, to control their temperature. For example, but not limited to, if the temperature of one or more ink rollers rises due to overheating of the ink rollers as a result of continuous operation, the automatic registration and color adjustment device 1 activates the temperature control element 302 to cool the overheated ink rollers to within the threshold, thereby immediately preventing further defects.

[0042] In yet another example, an ink temperature sensor 202, or an ambient temperature sensor 204 located near the plate cylinder 31, outputs temperature information about the plate cylinder 31 to the automatic registration and color adjustment device 1. The automatic registration and color adjustment device 1 receives and analyzes the output of the ink temperature sensor 202 or ambient temperature sensor 204 and determines adjustments to the plate cylinder 31. For example, if it detects a temperature change (but not limited to, e.g., axial adjustment assembly, circumferential adjustment assembly of individual plate cylinder shafts, and / or plate pressure) that correlated data indicates will cause expansion or contraction of the plate cylinder 31, the automatic registration and color adjustment device 1 may move, but not limited to, the affected can decorator components (but not limited to, e.g., axial adjustment assembly, circumferential adjustment assembly, and / or plate pressure) to ensure that image registration and ink printing on the can 16 are as specified by the label specification, and / or activate the temperature control element 302 until the temperature returns to a threshold. In some cases, affected can decorator components include, but are not limited to, the plate cylinder and / or can decorator components around the plate cylinder (e.g., axial adjustment assemblies of the plate, circumferential assemblies of the plate, plate pressure (e.g., plate pressure springs), fountain blades, rollers, and / or any other can decorator components that may be affected by temperature changes).

[0043] In yet another example, the automatic registration and color adjustment device 1 receives the output of ink temperature sensors 200, 202 and, based on correlation data, detects a temperature change in one or more elements within the relevant inking station 32 that requires color adjustment, determines the type of color adjustment to be performed, and immediately performs the color adjustment automatically. For example, if the automatic registration and color adjustment device 1 detects a temperature change that, based on correlation data, indicates will change the ink density, the device automatically controls various components of the can decorator 2, such as plate pressure and the spacing of pneumatic ducts, to adjust the ink density to a desired level or a level specified by the label specification.

[0044] These examples are for illustrative purposes only, and it will be understood that other types and / or degrees of adjustments to the can decorator 2 may be made as appropriate without deviating from the scope of the disclosed concepts. For example, the automatic registration and color adjustment device may determine that the affected plate cylinder 31 or ink reservoir 33 should be replaced.

[0045] Figure 4 is a flowchart of Method 4000 of automatic registration and color adjustment using an automatic registration and color adjustment system, according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the disclosed concept. This automatic registration and color adjustment system is similar to the automatic registration and color adjustment system 10 described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Method 4000 can be performed by the automatic registration and color adjustment system 10 or its components.

[0046] In step 4010, an automatic registration and color adjustment system is provided. The automatic registration and color adjustment system includes (i) a plurality of plate cylinders and a plurality of inking stations, each plate cylinder having a can decorator associated with an individual inking station, (ii) a plurality of sensors including an ambient temperature sensor configured to detect the ambient temperature of the can decorator and a component temperature sensor configured to detect the component temperature of one or more components of the can decorator, and (iii) an automatic registration and color adjustment device that is communicatively coupled to the can decorator and the plurality of sensors and includes a memory configured to store previous adjustment information about the can decorator.

[0047] In step 4020, the automatic registration and color adjustment device receives outputs from multiple sensors.

[0048] In step 4030, the automatic registration and color adjustment device determines adjustments to one or more components of the can decorator based on the outputs of multiple sensors and previous adjustment information.

[0049] In step 4040, the automatic registration and color adjustment device controls the can decorator to perform the determined adjustments.

[0050] While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that, in light of the overall teachings of this disclosure, various modifications and alternatives to those details may be developed. Accordingly, the specific mechanisms disclosed are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the scope of the disclosed concept to which the entire scope of the appended claims and all their equivalents should be given.

Claims

1. An automatic registration and color adjustment system, It includes multiple printing cylinders and multiple inking stations, with each printing cylinder having a can decorator associated with its individual inking station. A plurality of sensors, including an ambient temperature sensor configured to detect the ambient temperature of the can decorator and a component temperature sensor configured to detect the component temperature of one or more components of the can decorator, An automatic registration and color adjustment device comprising a memory configured to be communicatively coupled to the can decorator and the plurality of sensors, and to store previous adjustment information relating to the can decorator, It is equipped with, The aforementioned automatic registration and color adjustment device is Receiving the outputs of the aforementioned multiple sensors, Based on the outputs of the multiple sensors and the previous adjustment information, the adjustment to one or more components of the can decorator is determined. The can decorator is controlled to perform the determined adjustments, A system configured to perform the following actions.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the prior adjustment information includes a specific temperature change, the time and date associated with the specific temperature change, the effect of the specific temperature change on one or more specific can decorator components, the specific type and / or degree of adjustment made to the one or more specific can decorator components in response to the specific temperature change, and correlation data between the specific temperature change, the time and date associated with the specific temperature change, the effect of the specific temperature change, and the specific type and / or degree of adjustment made.

3. In order to determine the adjustment to one or more components of the can decorator, the automatic registration and color adjustment device further: Comparing the current temperature change with the previous temperature change in the aforementioned correlation data, Determining the type and / or degree of the adjustment based on the correlation data, The system according to claim 2, configured to perform the following:

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of temperature control elements located in each plate cylinder and / or associated inking station, wherein the plurality of temperature control elements are configured to control the ink temperature and / or plate cylinder temperature, and the temperature control elements include a heating element or a cooling element.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the determined adjustment includes activating a temperature control element located in or adjacent to the can decorator component to control its temperature based on the output and the correlation data.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the output includes temperature information in the ink reservoir of the inking station, and when the automatic registration and color adjustment device detects that the temperature change in the ink reservoir is outside a threshold, it causes the temperature control element located in the ink reservoir to control the temperature.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the output includes temperature information relating to a plurality of adjacent ink rollers of the inking station, and based on the detection that a temperature change in one or more adjacent ink rollers is outside a threshold, the automatic registration and color adjustment device causes the temperature control element positioned adjacent to the one or more adjacent ink rollers to control its temperature.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the determined adjustment includes moving the affected can decorator component based on the output and the correlation data.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the output includes temperature information related to the plate cylinder, and based on the detection of a temperature change that is shown to cause expansion or contraction of the plate cylinder based on the correlation data, the automatic registration and color adjustment device moves the affected plate cylinder component so that the image registration and ink printing on the can are as specified by the label specification.

10. The system according to claim 3, wherein the determined adjustment includes adjusting the ink color based on the output and the correlation data.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein, based on the detection of a temperature change that is indicated to change the ink density based on the correlation data, the automatic registration and color adjustment device adjusts the ink density to a level specified by the label specification.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the automatic registration and color adjustment device is further configured to continuously collect and store current adjustment information and to update the correlation data using the current adjustment information.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the automatic registration and color adjustment device comprises a machine learning algorithm configured to learn based on the updated correlation data.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises humidity sensors arranged adjacent to the component temperature sensors.

15. In the method of automatic registration and color adjustment, To provide an automatic registration and color adjustment system comprising: (i) a can decorator including a plurality of plate cylinders and a plurality of inking stations, each plate cylinder associated with an individual inking station; (ii) a plurality of sensors including an ambient temperature sensor configured to detect the ambient temperature of the can decorator and a component temperature sensor configured to detect the component temperature of one or more components of the can decorator; and (iii) an automatic registration and color adjustment device communicatively coupled to the can decorator and the plurality of sensors, and including a memory configured to store previous adjustment information regarding the can decorator. The automatic registration and color adjustment device receives the outputs of the multiple sensors, Based on the outputs of the multiple sensors and the previous adjustment information, the automatic registration and color adjustment device determines the adjustment to one or more components of the can decorator. The can decorator is controlled to perform the determined adjustments, A method that includes this.

16. The aforementioned prior adjustment information includes, at a minimum, a specific temperature change, the time and date associated with the specific temperature change, the effect of the specific temperature change on one or more specific can decorator components, the specific type and / or degree of adjustment made to the one or more specific can decorator components in response to the specific temperature change, and correlation data between the specific temperature change, the time and date associated with the specific temperature change, the effect of the specific temperature change, and the specific type and / or degree of adjustment made. The above method further, To collect and store current adjustment information, The correlation data is updated using the current adjustment information, Learning based on the updated correlation data, The method according to claim 15, including the method described in claim 15.

17. Determining adjustments to one or more components of the can decorator is Comparing the current temperature change with the previous temperature change in the aforementioned correlation data, Determining the type and / or degree of the adjustment based on the correlation data, The method according to claim 15, including the method described in claim 15.

18. The adjustments determined above are Based on the output and the correlation data, activate temperature control elements located in or adjacent to the can decorator component to control its temperature. Moving the affected can decorator components based on the output and the correlation data, and The ink color is adjusted based on the output and the correlation data. The method according to claim 15, comprising one or more of the above.

19. Activating the temperature control element is Based on temperature information related to adjacent ink rollers in the inking station, it is possible to detect when a temperature change in one or more adjacent ink rollers falls outside a threshold, The temperature of one or more adjacent ink rollers is controlled by the temperature control element positioned adjacent to them, The method according to claim 18, including the method described in claim 18.

20. Moving the affected can decorator components based on the output and the correlation data is, Based on temperature information related to the printing cylinder, the system detects temperature changes that, based on the correlation data, cause at least expansion or contraction of the printing cylinder, To ensure that the image registration and ink printing on the can are performed as specified by the label specifications, the affected plate cylinder components are moved. The method according to claim 18, including the method described in claim 18.

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