MANDREL FOR PRINTING NECKED CANS

A mandrel (80) wherein a portion of the mandrel body outer surface (84) is conical; i.e., flared outwardly, is provided. In this configuration, the necked can (1) is drawn against the conical portion (100) of the mandrel body outer surface (84) while a generally cylindrical portion (102) of the mandrel body (82) extends into the can (1). Further, the space between the cylindrical portion (100) of the mandrel body (82) and the can (1) is pressurized so as to resist deformations in the can (1) during the decorating process. In an exemplary embodiment, the mandrel (80) includes an elongated mandrel body (82) with an outer surface (84), a proximal, first end (86), a proximal medial portion (88), a distal medial portion (90), and a distal, second end (92) and having an axis of rotation (52). The mandrel body outer surface (84) includes an elongated conical portion (100); the mandrel body outer surface conical portion (100) is disposed adjacently about the mandrel body first end (86).