Eidos S.r.l.

Eidos Plc

Mauro Casetta

Giovanni Tabasso

The printing machine () comprises: a supporting structure (); a thermal transfer assembly () movable in a predetermined horizontal direction () and comprising a rotatable motorized transfer roller () and heating means () associated to the transfer roller (), wherein the transfer roller () and the associated heating means () are movable vertically towards and away from a path of the articles (A) to be printed; and supply means (--) arranged to advance a printing ribbon (N) which on a side facing the articles (A) carries at predetermined intervals images formed of a thermally transferable ink. The thermal transfer assembly () further comprises first and second deviation rollers () whose axes of rotation are horizontal and substantially parallel to one another and to the axis of rotation (x) of the transfer roller (). The deviation rollers () are arranged one upstream and the other downstream of the transfer roller () on the path of the printing ribbon (N) and are displaceable vertically towards and away from said path of the articles (A). The printing machine () further comprises first and second motor means () associated each with a respective deviation roller (), said first and second motor means () being controllable independently of one another, whereby each of the deviation rollers () is selectively displaceable vertically independently of the other one.

Machine for printing images on articles by means of a thermal transfer roller

A thermal transfer printing machine with stationary support elements for supporting an article and a thermal transfer assembly vertically movable above the support elements, between a raised rest position and a lowered working position is disclosed. The machine has a surface heated transfer pad, supply and guide devices, a flexible printing ribbon which carries thermally transferable ink images, a position sensor providing electrical signals indicative of the vertical position of the transfer pad and a control unit with a learning phase, said control unit causes a descent run of the thermal transfer assembly, until the transfer pad engages with an article of a predetermined type. The position sensor detects and stores reference data characterizing descent run and the control unit initiates a subsequent descent run towards an article of the same type, comparing the reference data to the current descent run data, and stopping printing when an anomaly is discovered.

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Cuneo, Italy

Mauro Casetta