BG66572B1 - A printing method and a printing press for it - Google Patents

Abstract

The method and the machine are employed for printed products by using all existing printing inks and combinations thereof on one and the same machine. It allows for continuous or discrete printing and free choice of material and format. The method comprises of feeding the material for printing (1) by a transport device (2) to the working place (3) for printing of images. Screen (4) and doctor’s blades are used. Screens are movable and they are fed in succession to the working place by tables (7) located on both sides. After each print the image is fixed by a fixing bar (17) mounted transversally on the transporting device (2) with the option for longitudinal movement. It comprises a conventional heat source (8) and at least one UV-lamp (9) employed alternatively in accordance with the ink applied. Movement of the screens is realized by installing them in the tables (7) with the option for group vertical displacement and each one of them is moveable horizontally. A support for the printed product(13) made of non-magnetic and antistatic material, is envisaged in the working place (3).

Description

Field of technology

The invention relates to a printing method and a printing machine implementing the method, which will find application for the production of printed products, mainly large format for a wide range of applications, including advertising, decorative design of facades and products of various materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A printing method is known which comprises feeding a printing material through a conveying device to a working position and sequentially printing images using sieves and squeegees, after which the printed material enters a dryer for final drying and from there is fed into a receiving device. . In this method, inks of the same type are always used, combined with a dryer for this type of ink. The method does not allow meeting the modern requirements for high-speed and continuous printing on different surfaces and formats, as well as the use of different types of inks, such as conventional and UV, individually or in combination.

A printing machine is also known, comprising a main frame on which a stand with a feeder for a printing material, a conveying device carrying the printing material and connected to a driving means, as well as screens and squeegees for applying ink, a dryer and receiving device for the printed material. The sieves are equipped with positioning passers with a 4θ base system for adjusting the passers. The sieves are arranged consecutively along the length of the printing machine, and can be of the type of screen frames or screen cylinders. Accordingly, their squeegees can be mechanical or electromagnetically driven [1]. 45

The disadvantages of the known printing press are that it is suitable for use only for a certain type of ink, as well as for a certain type of work surface, and there are restrictions on the size of the printed image.

Technical essence of the invention

The present invention solves the problem of enabling full color printing with different types of inks, including UV, on the same machine, as well as the use of a combination of them, allowing free choice of format - print size - of the final product, as well as free choice of material on which to print.

The problem is solved by a printing method involving feeding the printing material through a conveying device to a working position, where images are sequentially printed on the printing material using sieves and squeegees, followed by receipt of the printed material in a dryer for final drying. and feeding it from there to a receiving device. According to the invention, the sieves are movable and fed successively to the working position from stores located on both sides. In this case, after each printing, the corresponding movable screen is returned to its store, and the image is fixed by alternative use of a heat source and a UV lamp depending on the type of ink used.

The problem is also solved with a printing machine, including a main frame, on which are mounted in series a stand with a feeder for the printing material, a transport device connected to the drive means and having a working position for printing, as well as screens and squeegees, dryer and receiving device . The sieves are equipped with positioning strainers with a basic strainer adjustment system. According to the invention, on both sides of the working position of the conveying device are sieve stores, which sieves are movable. The mobility of the sieves is ensured by the fact that they are installed in the shops with the possibility of group vertical movement, and each of them is also installed with the possibility of horizontal movement in the working position above the transport device in the direction to and from it. In the working position there is a support for the printing material, made of non-magnetic and antistatic material. A positioning system is also provided, including position sensors and actuators, saswawfw ** “·

66572 Bl connected to the drive means. Transversely above the conveying device is a fixing beam mounted with the possibility of moving along the length of the conveying device and including a heat source and at least one UV lamp.

UV lamps should be mounted so that the UV rays have a range equal to the entire printed image in the appropriate working position.

UV lamps, as an option, can be mounted with the ability to move along the length of the fixing beam.

It is appropriate for the movable sieves to be sieve frames.

Alternatively, the movable sieves are sieve linders.

A suitable option for ensuring the mobility of the sieves is for each store to have a supporting structure, on the inside of which are vertically movable guides fixed with supports for the movable sieves.

According to another variant, each store has 25 supporting structures mounted on a vertically movable mechanism, and the sieve frames are fixed on horizontally movable but sachi on the inside.

A preferred option is for the squeegees to be electromagnetically driven and carried by / placed in movable sieves

It is also possible for the squeegees to be mechanically driven and mounted on the main frame. 3 5

It is suitable for the transport device to be provided with spiked guides.

A suitable option is for the studded guides to be arranged in a longitudinal guide strip.

Another option is for the spike guides to be located on guide rollers.

Usually, after the working position, a print quality control system is located.

The invention allows the use of any of the known types of inks for printing on the same machine, as well as the use of a combination thereof, due to the use of a movable fixing beam for intermediate fixing of the ink included in the machine. In addition, it is possible to realize continuous or intermittent printing, depending on the specific technological conditions and choice, as well as the desire to make connections with other machines and equipment. This is due to the specific location and vertical mobility of the shops for horizontal movable screens on both sides of the working position, which reduces the printing time. This allows for a free choice of format (print size) of the final product, which is limited only by the specific dimensions of the material used on which the printing is performed. The material to be printed on can be freely selected depending on the specific application of the printed product. In this way, it is possible to use the printing machine, in addition to advertising and decoration, in a whole group of additional areas of technology in which no printed materials have been used so far. These are, for example, decorative coatings on building panels, decorative coatings on waterproofing materials, automotive and communications panels, protective surfaces of various materials and more.

Explanation of the attached figures

The invention is illustrated by exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying figures, where:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a schematic diagram of a printing machine according to the invention;

figure 2 is a section along AA from fig. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section along B-B of FIG. 1;

Figure 4 is a partial vertical section along GG of FIG. 1;

Figure 5 is a partial section on GG of Figure 1; 1 variant with strip-spike guide;

Figure 6 is a partial section on GG of FIG. 1 embodiment with roller-spike guide;

FIG. 7 is a cross-section through the fixing beam EE of FIG. 1, embodiment with broadband air duct and UV lamp;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view through the fixing beam according to EE of FIG. 1, embodiment with heaters and UV lamp;

Figure 9 is a top view of the printing machine in a working position according to the invention, with a partial horizontal section through the dryer;

66572 Bl figure 10 - vertical section along DD from fig. 9;

Figure 11 is a vertical section along DD of FIG.

- variant of execution.

Examples of the invention

The invention relates to a printing method and to a printing machine intended for printing on articles. In principle, an exemplary embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying figures.

The printing method involves feeding the printing material 1 through a conveying device 2 to a working position 3, where images are sequentially printed on the printing material 1 using sieves 4 and squeegees 42, after which the printed material enters the dryer 5 for final drying and from there is fed to a receiving device 6. According to the invention, the sequential printing of images is performed by sieves 4, which are movable and sequentially fed to the working position 3 from stores located on both sides 7.

After each printing, the respective movable screen 4 is returned to its store 7, and the image is fixed by alternatively using a heat source 8 and a UV lamp 9, depending on the type of ink used.

In FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a top view of a machine according to the invention. The printing machine includes a main frame 10 on which a stand with a feeder 11 for the printing material 1, a conveying device 2 carrying the printing material 1 and connected to a drive means 12, as indicated in FIG. 2, working position 3 for printing, as well as screens 4 and up to squeegees 42, dryer 5 and receiving device 6 for the finished product - the printed material. The sieves 4 are provided with positioning passers 14 with a base system 15 for adjusting the passers 14. The base system 15 centers each sieve 4 when it is in the working position 3 45 and adjusts the positioning passers 14 relative to each other to coincide.

Depending on the specific choice of printing material 1 - tape or format sheets, the stand 11 with feeder for printing material 1 and the receiving device 25 for the printed material are selected of the corresponding type - for tape or sheet material, as known from the state of the art and depending on the specific type of this material, such as a roller feeder tray or a feeder tray for format sheets (not shown) and corresponding receiving devices of the same type. On both sides of the working position 3 of the conveyor device 2 there are stores 7 for the screens 4, which are movable. The movable sieves 4 can optionally be sieve frames 41 (Fig. 9) and / or sieve cylinders depending on the particular embodiment. Both types of sieves 4 are known in the art and are therefore not illustrated in detail in the present examples. For clarity, the figures show screen frames 41. In the working position 3, a support 13 for the printing material 1 is provided, made of non-magnetic and antistatic material. The movable sieves 4 are mounted in the shops 7 with the possibility of group vertical movement, and each of them is mounted with the possibility of horizontal movement in the working position 3 above the conveying device 2 in the direction to and from it, as shown in fig. 1, 2 and 9 with the arrows marked "ab". There is also a positioning system comprising sensors for position 16 and actuators connected to the drive means 12. Transversely above the conveying device 2 is a locking beam 17, mounted for movement along the length of the conveying device 2 and including a heat source 8, fixing ink and at least one UV lamp 9.

The installation of the movable screens 4 in the shops 7 with the possibility of group vertical movement can be performed in different variants, one of which is, for example, the one shown in fig. 11, according to which, the store 7 has a supporting structure 18 of known type, internally on which are fixed vertically movable guides 19 with supports 20 for the sieve frames 41, which supports 20 are of a type allowing for horizontal movement of each sieve frame 41. FIG. 10 shows another variant for realizing the possibility of vertical displacement, in which the supporting structure 18 of the magazine 7 is mounted on a vertically movable mechanism 21, and the screen frames 41

66572 B1 are fixed on horizontally movable supports 22 on the inside, providing the possibility of horizontal movement of each movable sieve 4. These variants do not exhaust the possible design solutions associated with conventional design in the functionality required for carrying out the invention.

For each of the movable screens 4 there is an ink application squeegee 42, which can be of any known type, including electromagnetically driven. When the squeegees are electromagnetically driven, they are carried by / placed in the movable sieves 4, as shown in FIG. 3, 10 and 11. In working position 3, the respective squeegee is located on / in the movable sieve 4.

The support 13 for the printing material 1 may be of one of the known types such as a countertop, airbag or other suitable. In FIG. 2 shows a support 13 made as a countertop made of non-magnetic and antistatic material. The use of said type of material according to the invention allows the use of different types of squeegees. For example, in FIG. 3 shows an embodiment with an electromagnetically driven squeegee 42, wherein the squeegee-driven electromagnet 23 is located below the support 13. Another embodiment is possible, which includes a mechanical squeegee, for example a rubber squeegee, driven by mechanical means of a known type. When the movable sieves 4 are particularly large, an embodiment is possible in which the squeegee is fixedly fixed above the movable sieve 4, and the latter performs a reciprocating movement by driving the conveying device 2 carrying the support 13 with the printing material 1 and itself movable sieve 4.

When a UV lamp 9 is used for the fixing beam 17, it is mounted with the possibility to move along the length of the fixing beam 17. In case more UV-lamps 9 are used, they are located transversely to the fixing beam 17 and at a distance of one on the other along its length. They can be movable or stationary. In all embodiments, a range of UV rays should be provided to the entire printed image at the respective operating position 3. In the exemplary embodiment, different, but not limiting, variants of a conventional heat source 8 for fixing ink are shown. For example, in FIG. 7 shows a heat source 8 designed as a broadband air duct 81 for supplying heated air, and FIG. 8 shows a heat source 8 representing a group of heaters 82.

The material on which the printing is performed can be selected from a wide range of materials, such as wood, plastic, vinyl, ceramic, metal, paper, laminated roll and sheet surfaces.

The conveying device 2 can also be selected from one of the known types such as: mechanical, eg conveyor belt, roller type or with spiked guides 24 for perforated part 25 of the printing material 1, as well as pneumatic or hydraulic (the latter are not shown in figures). In the specific examples of FIG. 4 - 6 shows a transport device 2 with spiked guides 24, as it allows precise guidance and positioning of the printing material 1, especially when printing images in large format. The spike guides 24 themselves can be arranged on a longitudinal guide strip 26, as can be seen from FIG. 5, forming a bar-spike guide connected to the drive means 12, or being arranged on guide rollers 27 forming a roller-spike guide, as shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 4 shows a detail according to GG of the perforated part 25 of the printing material 1.

The inks that can be used are both conventional, water-based and UV-based, and the choice is made based on the desired image quality, print material or customer requirements. It is possible to print on the largest, currently produced, format sheets 200x600 cm.

Additionally, after the working position 3, it is good to have a print quality control system 28 (Fig. 3), which is usually digital and signals irregularities, ie. ink shortage, smudge, poor image and so on, and appropriate machine settings are made based on this signal.

Dryer 5 is good to be tunnel with heaters of any known type, such as

66572 Bl. Heating lamps, gas or steam and the like, and combinations thereof. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the dryer 5 is equipped with heating lamps 29. The dryer 5 can also be located after the receiving device 6 for the printed material, as long as this is required by the entire manufacturing process of the articles.

Application of the invention

The present invention is intended for use in the manufacture of printed matter, preferably large format. Of course, it can also be used to print small formats if needed. The application of the method and machine according to the invention is explained in more detail with the following non-limiting example of use:

The material 1 on which the seal is to be applied is placed on the feeder tray 11. In the specific example shown in FIG. 1, the printing material 1 is in the form of a roll formed by a foil having a longitudinal side perforation or a perforated part 25, as shown in FIG. 4. The roll is connected to the feeder, which in this case is a developing device, but can also be a lift with sheets, if format taki are used. The conveyor device 2 is included, which in the example shown has spiked guides 24 for the perforated parts 25 of the printing material 1, the foil is pulled from the roll to the working position 3 of the machine and the printing material 1 is positioned at the printing point by the sensors. position 16. When the printing material 1 reaches the working position 3, one of the movable screens 4 located in one of the shops 7 is based on the working position 3. 4θ The example shows a screen frame 41. Similarly, a screen cylinder can be used, which does not go beyond the scope of the invention. The basing is done by moving in the vertical direction of the group-driven sieves 4, as shown by the arrows "cd" until reaching ^ 5 the corresponding sieve 4, in this case sieve frame 41, at the required height and with its horizontal movement through the supports 20 of the magazine 7 or with the horizontally movable supports 22, according to the embodiment of the shop 7, in the direction towards and above the conveying device 2 to the working position 3. An image is then printed on the printing material 1 by reciprocating the squeegee 42 of the screen frame 41, which in one direction applies an image of a corresponding color, and in the other prepares the ink for further application. The screen frame 41 returns to its store 7 and releases the working position 3. The printed image is fixed by the fixing beam 17 using the heat source 8 fixing the ink, such as supplying hot air through the broadband air duct 81 shown in FIG. 7 or by activating the UV lamp 9, depending on the type of ink applied. Instead of supplying heated air, any other conventional heat source 8 fixing the ink can be used. This results in a complete print of the corresponding color. Then another movable screen frame 41 is based on the working position 3 and the actions of printing an image with another color, returning the screen frame 41 to its store 7 and fixing this color by the fixing beam 17, in this order, are repeated until the required number of colors for the whole image. The stores 7 are switched on in series, with each subsequent movable screen 4 being from the opposite of them, which allows fast positioning of the movable screens 4 and continuity of the printing process. Then, the already printed material enters the dryer 5 for final drying of the ink layers and from there is fed to the receiving device 6, which is the final position of the printing machine.

The accuracy of the location of the movable sieves 4 and, respectively, the images is realized by the positioning passers 14 placed on the movable sieves 4, which should coincide for each subsequent one. The control for this is performed by the base system 15 of the machine, which is electromechanical and synchronizes the movements between the printing material 1 and the corresponding movable screen 4, i. the material stops at a precisely defined place, and with the passers for positioning 14 of the movable sieve 4 for the respective color, the latter is positioned in the working position 3 and an imprint is applied, which is fixed by the fixing beam 17, then the movable sieve 4 is returned to the store si 7 and

66572 Bl in its place comes a second with another color, which is positioned using its positioning passers 14, the next color is applied, etc., until the required number of colors is listed. In the event of a mismatch, the machine stops to make the appropriate settings.

The locking beam 17 is switched on after the used horizontal-movable sieve 4, in this example - the sieve frame 41, returns to its initial position in the vertically movable magazine 7 and releases the working position 3. The locking beam 17 is driven and reciprocates, whereby , according to the example shown in FIG. 7, heated air is supplied through the broadband air duct 81, which blows the imprint, but can also be used instead of air of any known type of heat source, for example heaters 82, according to the example of FIG. 8, or heating lamps. If UV ink is used, the fixing beam 17 performs the same movement, but a UV lamp is turned on, which irradiates the imprint to polymerize the ink. In other words, depending on the type of ink used, the corresponding fixing means of the fixing beam 17 is also used.

After passing the printed material through the dryer 5 for final drying, it enters the receiving device 6, from where it is transported to its destination. In the specific example of FIG. 1 shows a receiving device 6 and a stand with a feeding device 11 suitable for printing material 1 in the form of a roll, but if format sheets are used, these devices should be of the type suitable for format sheets. Both types are well known in the art and the use of one or the other type does not go beyond the scope of the present invention.

With this typewriter configuration, it is possible to perform combined printing by combining the type of ink and the type of printing material. Combinations such as - UV-ink and format sheets are possible; UV ink and roll printing material; UV ink and plain, or water-soluble ink and roll printing material, or format sheets, etc. Other combinations may be used, but those listed are not exhaustive.

Claims (14)

A printing method comprising feeding a printing material through a conveying device to a working position, where images are sequentially printed on the printing material using sieves and squeegees, followed by the printed material entering the dryer for final drying and feeding. thence in a receiving device, characterized in that the screens (4) are movable and sequentially fed to the working position (3) by shops (7) located on both sides, and after each printing, the corresponding movable screen (4) returns to its store (7), and the image is fixed by alternatively using a heat source (8) and a UV lamp (9), depending on the type of ink used. 2. A printing machine comprising a main frame on which a stand with a feeder for a printing material, a conveying device connected to a driving means and having a working position for printing, as well as screens and squeegees, a dryer and a receiving device are mounted in series, and the sieves are equipped with positioning strainers with a basic strainer adjustment system, characterized in that on both sides of the working position (3) of the conveying device (2) there are sieve stores (7) (4) (4) are movable, being mounted in shops (7) with the possibility of group vertical movement, and each of them is mounted and with the possibility of horizontal movement in the working position (3) above the transport device (2) in the direction of and from wherein the working position (3) provides a support (13) for the printing material, made of non-magnetic and antistatic material, and a positioning system including position sensors is also provided. (16) and actuators connected to the drive means (12), in which a locking beam (17) is arranged transversely above the conveying device (2), mounted with the possibility of movement along the length of the conveying device (2) and including a heat source (8) and at least one UV lamp (9). Printing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the UV lamps (9) are mounted so that the UV rays have a range equal to 66572 Bl of the entire printed image in the corresponding working position (3). Printing machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the UV lamps (9) are mounted with the possibility of moving along the length of the fixing beam (17). Printing machine according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the movable screens (4) are screen frames (41). । θ Printing machine according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the movable screens (4) are screen cylinders. Printing machine according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that each shop (7) has a supporting structure (18), internally on which are fixed vertically movable guides (19) with supports (20). ) for mobile sieves (4). Printing machine according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that each shop (7) has a supporting structure (18) mounted on a vertically movable mechanism (21), and the screen frames 41 are fixed 25 on horizontally movable supports (22) on its inner side. Printing machine according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the squeegees (42) are electromagnetically driven and are carried by / placed in the movable screens (4). Printing machine according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the squeegees (42) are mechanically driven and mounted to the main frame (10). Printing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the conveying device (2) is provided with spiked guides (24). Printing machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the spiked guides (24) are arranged on a longitudinal guide strip (26). Printing machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the spike guides (24) are arranged on guide rollers (27). Printing machine according to Claim 2, characterized in that a print quality control system (28) is arranged after the operating position (3).