Patent attributes
A printing apparatus is adapted for printing on a printing surface of a three-dimensional object 12. The apparatus comprises an inkjet printhead 14 having a plurality of nozzles, and being operative to effect relative movement of the printhead and the object, during printing, with a rotational component about an axis of rotation and with a linear component, in which the linear component is at least partially in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of rotation and wherein the nozzle pitch of the printhead is greater than the grid pitch to be printed onto the printing surface in the nozzle row direction. In preferred examples, a substantially helical path is printed on the surface and improved ink jet printing of three dimensional objects can be achieved.
