Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Todd Skakal

William B Elliott

Daniel Destino

Eric Steinwachs

Doug Samuel

An image application system includes an articulator assembly and an applicator device. The articulator assembly holds a target object on which one or more images are to be applied from a web containing the one or more images. The target object includes an exterior surface having planar surface(s) and non-planar surface(s). The applicator device is configured to contact the web to engage the web with the exterior surface of the target object at an application interface between the web and the exterior surface. The one or more images are applied to the exterior surface from the web at the application interface. The articulator assembly is configured to move the target object in one or more linear directions and one or more rotary directions relative to the applicator device to apply the images to at least one of the one or more planar surfaces or the one or more non-planar surfaces.

System for applying images to planar surfaces of a target object

A support assembly includes a lid, a plug body, and a conduit. The lid engages a target object having an exterior surface on which an image is to be printed. The plug body is disposed in an interior volume of the target object when the lid is engaged with the target object. The plug body engages an interior surface of the target object to form a sealed chamber inside the target object. The conduit extends through the lid to an orifice disposed between the lid and the plug body. The conduit delivers a pressurizing fluid into the sealed chamber in order to increase a pressure inside the sealed chamber in the target object. The pressure inside the sealed chamber provides a resistive force that prevents the exterior surface of the target object from changing shape when the image is printed on the exterior surface of the target object.

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Lancaster, NY, United States of America

Todd Skakal