PLASTIC CONTAINER FOR DIGITAL PRINTING, SYSTEM, AND METHOD

Abstract

A plastic container includes a base, an opening, and a plurality of panels. In embodiments, the plurality of panels are configured for digital printing. Systems and methods for digital printing on plastic containers with a plurality of panels are also disclosed.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to plastic containers for digital printing, and systems and methods for printing on plastic containers.

BACKGROUND

Digital printing on plastic containers involves a number of variables and challenges. Among other things, it can be a challenge to digitally print text and/or images on a container surface. Moreover, containers with unique contours and/or sizes (particularly those with large panels) may provide further issues or challenges with digital printing.

For instance, it can be desirable, such as with large panel plastic containers, for digital offset printing (DOP) to provide a surface for printing that print quality and/or container rigidity or strength.

Among other things, the current disclosure discloses features and/or aspects that may help to address or overcome associated restrictions or limitations.

SUMMARY

A plastic container including a base, an opening, and a plurality of panels, wherein the plurality of panels may be configured for digital printing. Methods and systems for digital printing on plastic containers with a plurality of panels are also disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1 to 10 generally illustrate perspective (left side-rear-top), perspective (front-left side-top), perspective (rear-right side-top), perspective (right side-front-top), left side elevation, right side elevation, front, rear, top, and bottom views, respectively, of an embodiment of a plastic container according to aspects or teachings of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 11 to 20 generally illustrate perspective (front-left side-top), perspective (left side-rear-top), perspective (right side-front-top), perspective (rear-right side-top), right side elevation, left side elevation, front, rear, top, and bottom views, respectively, of another embodiment of a plastic container according to aspects or teachings of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 21 generally illustrates a section view of the outline of the surfaces, including panel surfaces, associated with a (left) print side of a plastic container such as shown in FIGS. 1-10; and

FIG. 22 generally illustrates a system/apparatus with print heads for interaction with (e.g., digitally printing) on a side of a plastic container, such as the multi-panel container generally illustrated in FIGS. 1-10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure involves a plastic container 10 having a plurality of panels 20 on one or more surfaces, the panels being suitable for digital printing. Embodiments of the disclosure involve plastic containers with various contoured surfaces. Such plastic containers may have one or more surfaces (which may include all or portions of panel surfaces) with flat or substantially flat surfaces, and/or may include one or more surfaces with curved or other non-flat surfaces (which may include all or portions of panel surfaces). Moreover, the present disclosure allows for the inclusion of one or more panels that may be tiered or contoured, and/or may have portions that are elevated and/or recessed with respect to other portions of the panel. The panels may thus be imbued with multi-dimensional effects or features.

Some aspects of digital printing are known in the art from other digital printing disclosures including, for instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,579,402, 9,032,872, 9,272,815, 9,302,506, which are owned by applicant and are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Plastic containers associated with the present disclosure may be comprised of various suitable plastic materials. For example and without limitation, such plastic materials may include, but are not limited to polypropylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high density polyethylene (HDPE), and low density polyethylene (LDPE), and may comprise virgin and/or recycled content.

An embodiment of a plastic container 10 with a plurality of panels 20 (separately referenced as 20a, 20b, 20c in FIG. 2) is generally illustrated in FIGS. 1-10. As generally illustrated in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-10, one or more of the plurality of panels (and even all of the panels) may have curved, curvilinear, and/or substantially non-rectilinear shapes or outlines. Further, as generally illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, the plurality of panels 20a, 20b, 20c may be spaced—for example, having lands 30 (spaces) or ribs or projections 40 (whether inwardly and/or outwardly projecting) disposed between adjacent panels.

Another embodiment of a plastic container 110 with a plurality of panels 120 (separately referenced as 120a, 120b, 120c in FIG. 2) is generally illustrated in FIGS. 11-20. As generally illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 16, the plurality of panels 120a, 120b, 120c may be substantially rectilinear in shape and/or may be separated or spaced—for example, there may be lands 130 provided or disposed between adjacent panels. Among other things, providing a plurality of panels, rather than single, larger panel portions, can provide comparatively improved sidewall strength, while still making a significant or large surface area available for printing and/or labeling.

Embodiments of plastic containers may include an opening (e.g., 50, 150) for filling and/or dispensing contents, a base (e.g., 60, 160) for supporting the container on a surface, and may include one or more handles (e.g., 70, 170). In embodiments, such as generally illustrated in FIG. 5, at least one of the plurality of panels (e.g., 20b) may include a curvilinear portion or segment adjacent to or in proximity of a handle surface that forms a portion of a handle opening.

With respect to containers, such as an F-style container, of the type generally shown in FIGS. 11-20, in contrast, some conventional plastic containers (not shown) include a single large or significant panel area—which may take up a significant amount of the area of such a side of the container (e.g., greater than 50%, greater than 60%, greater than 75%, or even greater than 80% of the surface area of such side of the body of such container (e.g., the area of H by W in FIG. 16). However, larger size conventional plastic containers with one large continuous label panel for digital printing may be susceptible to some measure of flexing or warpage (e.g., bowing or paneling), such as during blow molding and flame treatment with respect to digital printing surface preparation. Such distortions can, inter alia, complicate maintenance of set or desired standoff or offset distances from print heads in connection with digital printing.

In contrast, the present concept and disclosure, among other things, provides plastic containers that, by providing a plurality of panels, divide up what otherwise might comprise a single large panel into a plurality of smaller panels. Moreover, such plurality of panels may include lands, ribs, or projections, and such multi-panel configurations may provide added structural support for panels for digitally printing, including providing added support in connection with digital printing processes and helping to prevent standoff distances from print heads from being negatively affected. In embodiments, the collective surface area of the plurality of panels may comprise at least 70% of the total surface area of a side of a body of a plastic container. For example, viewed from a side view, there may be two opposing sides—at least one of which includes a plurality of panels, and a collective surface area of the at least one of the two opposing sides with the plurality of panels comprises at least 0.70 (or 70%) of a total surface area of the such side. In some embodiments, the collective surface area of the plurality of panels may comprise at least 0.90 (or 90%) of the total surface area of a side of a body of a plastic container (as viewed in a side elevation view).

Moreover, embodiments of the present disclosure may provide one or more panels that are tiered or contoured—see, e.g., FIGS. 2 and 7. By way of example and without limitation, a plastic container may include a plurality of panels (e.g., 20a, 20b, 20c) that are not necessarily flat, but may be tiered or contoured, and may each involve comparatively elevated and/or recessed portions with respect to other panels or other portions of the same panel. Such panels may be configured to provide multi-dimensional effects or features that may provide improved or optimized structural support and/or aesthetic benefits.

For example and without limitation, FIG. 21 generally illustrates a section view of the outline of the surfaces, including a plurality of panels and related surfaces, associated with a (left) print side of a plastic container similar to the container shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. For example, as generally shown in FIG. 21, one or more panels may include surface portions that extend outwardly or inwardly to different radial extents. The panels may have different extents with respect to other panels (e.g., the difference between 20b and 20c) and/or may have different extents within the same panel (e.g., the differences within or with respect to 20a). Radial extents (e.g., associated with presented surfaces) may, among other things, change—increase or decrease—an offset distance (e.g., a horizontal radial offset distance) with respect to printing on a panel or other portions of a plastic container.

FIG. 22 generally illustrates a system/apparatus 200 with a set of print heads PH for interaction with (e.g., digitally printing) on a side of a plastic container 10 (such as the multi-panel container of the type generally illustrated in FIGS. 1-10). As generally illustrated, the system/apparatus 200 may be configured to have a plurality of print heads PH that may be configured to digitally “side” print to one or more panels (e.g., 20a, 20b, 20c) on a plastic container 10. Such systems/apparatus may be configured to have individual print heads move to achieve or maintain controllably variable set off or offset distances from the surface(s) associated with one or more (or even all) of a plurality of panels associated with a plastic container. By way of example and without limitation, the set off or offset distances may be controlled or maintained as disclosed in connection with U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,579,402, 9,032,872, 9,272,815, 9,302,506, which are owned by applicant and are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Various embodiments are described herein for various apparatuses, systems, and/or methods. Numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and use of the embodiments as described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known operations, components, and elements have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described in the specification. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the embodiments described and illustrated herein are non-limiting examples, and thus it can be appreciated that the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein may be representative and do not necessarily limit the scope of the embodiments.

Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “with embodiments,” “in embodiments,” or “an embodiment,” or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “with embodiments,” “in embodiments,” or “an embodiment,” or the like, in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Thus, the particular features, structures, or characteristics illustrated or described in connection with one embodiment/example may be combined, in whole or in part, with the features, structures, functions, and/or characteristics of one or more other embodiments/examples without limitation given that such combination is not illogical or non-functional. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope thereof.

It should be understood that references to a single element are not necessarily so limited and may include one or more of such elements. Any directional references (e.g., plus, minus, upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of embodiments.

Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily imply that two elements are directly connected/coupled and in fixed relation to each other. The use of “e.g.” in the specification is to be construed broadly and is used to provide non-limiting examples of embodiments of the disclosure, and the disclosure is not limited to such examples. Uses of “and” and “or” are to be construed broadly (e.g., to be treated as “and/or”). For example and without limitation, uses of “and” do not necessarily require all elements or features listed, and uses of “or” are intended to be inclusive unless such a construction would be illogical.

While examples of dimensions of certain components may be described herein, such dimensions are provided as non-limiting examples and the components may have other dimensions.

While processes, systems, and methods may be described herein in connection with one or more steps in a particular sequence, it should be understood that such methods may be practiced with the steps in a different order, with certain steps performed simultaneously, with additional steps, and/or with certain described steps omitted.

It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A plastic container, comprising: a base;a body having two opposing sides, at least one of the two opposing sides including a plurality of panels; andan opening for filling and/or dispensing;wherein, viewed from a side view, a collective surface area of the at least one of the two opposing sides with the plurality of panels comprises at least 0.70 of a total surface area of the at least one of the two opposing sides with the plurality of panels.

2. The plastic container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of panels comprises at least 0.90 of the total surface area of the at least one of the two opposing sides with the plurality of panels.

3. The plastic container of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of panels include surface portions that extend inwardly or outwardly to different radial extents or offset distances.

4. The plastic container of claim 1, including a land or a projection disposed between adjacent panels of the plurality of panels.

5. The plastic container of claim 4, wherein the land or the projection projects inwardly or outwardly.

6. The plastic container of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of panels extends radially outwardly to a different radial extent or offset distance than another of the plurality of panels.

7. The plastic container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of panels includes a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion extends to a different radial extent or offset distance than the second portion.

8. The plastic container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of panels comprise at least three panels.

9. The plastic container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of panels is curvilinear in shape.

10. The plastic container of claim 1, wherein all of the plurality of panels are curvilinear in shape.

11. The plastic container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of panels is rectilinear in shape.

12. The plastic container of claim 1, wherein all of the plurality of panels are rectilinear in shape.

13. The plastic container of claim 1, wherein each of the opposing sides includes a plurality of panels.

14. The plastic container of claim 13, wherein the opposing sides are mirror images of each other.

15. The plastic container of claim 1, including a handle.

16. The plastic container of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of panels includes a curvilinear portion or segment adjacent a portion of the plastic container that forms a portion of a handle opening.

17. The plastic container of claim 1, wherein the plastic container is comprised of one or more of the following: polypropylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high density polyethylene (HDPE), and low density polyethylene (LDPE).

18. A plastic container, comprising: a base;a body including a plurality of panels; andan opening for filling and/or dispensing;wherein, one or more of the plurality of panels include surface portions that extend inwardly or outwardly to different radial extents or offset distances; a land or a projection is disposed between adjacent panels of the plurality of panels; one of the plurality of panels extends radially outwardly to a different radial extent or offset distance than another of the plurality of panels.

19. The plastic container of claim 18, wherein the land or the projection projects inwardly or outwardly.

20. The plastic container of claim 18, wherein at least one of the plurality of panels includes a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion extends to a different radial extent or offset distance than the second portion.