The Solver's proposed novel online label method to print label directly onto containers is pad printing with the "Rotary Pad Printing Machine with UV Curing".
Pad Printing is used for decorating products in many industries including medical, automotive, promotional, apparel, electronics, appliances, sports equipment and toys. Pad Printing is not suited for photo-quality image applications, but is highly effective for single-colour or multi-colour graphics typical for beverage containers.
The Rotary Pad Printing Machine is mainly used for continuous printing or printing 360-degree wrap-around cylindrical parts, as shown in the diagram below for printing on bowling pins.
Pad Printing is an established technology, so the Rotary Pad Printing Machine can easily be integrated in an automated system. UV-curable pad-printing inks are readily available on the market.
High-Speed Pad Printing requires combined infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) curing process with high-intensity emitter and light source for virtually instantaneous curing or polymerisation of the ink film, as shown in the diagram below. However, such IR emitters and UV light sources are readily available on the market at a reasonable cost. The curing systems are typically mounted over a conveyor.
Unlike the Roll-On technology or Cut-and-Stack technology or Shrink-Wrap Label method, Pad Printing is environmentally friendly because it requires only the supply of ink with no extra plastic material which is typically not economically recyclable. Moreover, there is no need for rolls or large boxes which take up large space.
Since the labels are not pre-printed like the Roll-On technology or Cut-and-Stack technology or Shrink-Wrap Label method, it is quite easy for Pad Printing to change from one print to another. The change-over to a different print label requires a simple swap of the pad, requiring only a few minutes or less.
Each of the Seeker's Technical Requirements is addressed as follows.
Rotary Pad Printing Machine allows to print label directly on the bottle and achieve:
high-speed rotary pad printing with rates of labelling possibly > 600 bottles / minute, which may be achieved by parallel printing process.
graphic quality comparable to conventional methods such as Roll-On technology or Cut-and-Stack technology or Shrink-Wrap Label method.
a fast change over to a different print label definitely < 15 minutes.
Capital cost and maintenance cost of the Rotary Pad Printing Machine are comparable to or lower than those of the conventional technology.
References and Notes
There is no patent art preventing the use of specific material for their commercial application.
Conclusion
The Solver believes that the novel Rotary Pad Printing Machine with UV Curing will meet all of the Seeker's Technical Requirements and Desirable Properties.
