Ball has been granted a patent for a system that decorates multiple containers in a single manufacturing run. The system features a decorator with an ink source, an inspection station for quality evaluation, and a closed-loop feedback mechanism for automatic adjustments based on inspection results. GlobalData’s report on Ball gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.

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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Ball, Packaging cans with tearing tabs was a key innovation area identified from patents. Ball's grant share as of June 2024 was 63%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

Container decoration system with automatic quality feedback adjustment

Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Credit: Ball Corp

The patent US11999178B2 describes a sophisticated system designed for the efficient decoration of multiple containers during a single manufacturing run. Central to this system is a decorator that includes a source of ink and a print site where ink graphics are applied to a series of containers in a manufacturing queue. An inspection station is positioned upstream from the decorator to evaluate various manufacturing variables associated with the containers. This evaluation triggers a closed-loop feedback mechanism that allows for automatic adjustments to the decorator's parameters based on the inspection results. The system is equipped with processors that analyze the evaluation against predetermined manufacturing tolerances, ensuring that the decoration process is both precise and responsive.

Further enhancing its functionality, the system allows for automatic adjustments to the ink graphics applied to subsequent containers without requiring user intervention. This includes the ability to modify manufacturing processes both upstream and downstream of the decorator based on the inspection findings. The system can also adapt print quality attributes in response to optical evaluations, ensuring uninterrupted processing of each container. Additionally, it supports the application of multiple unique graphics across different subsets of containers within the same manufacturing run. The decorator is designed to respond dynamically to changes in atmospheric conditions, further optimizing the decoration process through its closed-loop feedback system. Overall, this patent outlines a comprehensive approach to container decoration that emphasizes automation, adaptability, and quality control.

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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.