CA1054850A - Multiple pattern printing - Google Patents
Multiple pattern printingInfo
- Publication number
- CA1054850A CA1054850A CA244,577A CA244577A CA1054850A CA 1054850 A CA1054850 A CA 1054850A CA 244577 A CA244577 A CA 244577A CA 1054850 A CA1054850 A CA 1054850A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- printing
- ink
- web
- printed
- equipment
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
- B41F5/00—Rotary letterpress machines
- B41F5/24—Rotary letterpress machines for flexographic printing
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Printing Methods (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
In printing on continuous webs, it is known to employ a sequence of ink-image combinations to achieve the full image result. In the case of contiguous patterns printed on a continuous web, such patterns are often printed from the same printing plates repeatedly and frequently comprise products which are of standard widths. The invention concerns the use of laterally separated flexographic printing members in combination with multiple ink fountains for the purpose of improving productivity and efficiency of manufacture.
In printing on continuous webs, it is known to employ a sequence of ink-image combinations to achieve the full image result. In the case of contiguous patterns printed on a continuous web, such patterns are often printed from the same printing plates repeatedly and frequently comprise products which are of standard widths. The invention concerns the use of laterally separated flexographic printing members in combination with multiple ink fountains for the purpose of improving productivity and efficiency of manufacture.
Description
This invention relates to equipment employed in processing of continuous web materials, It i8 an object of the instant invention to provide an apparatus enabling increased levels of productivity to be achieved in continuous printing and in specialty coating operationsO
Another ob~ect of the instant invention is to provide printing equipment in which two or more different contiguous patterns may be printed simultaneously, each with fluids of independent properties, and particularly of independent colour characteristics.
A further object of the instant invention is to enable increased efficiency of use of manufacturing resourcesO
A still further object of the instant invention is to enable increased flexibility in the use of manufacturing fscilitiesO
The main printing application~ to which the invention is directed involve two distinct types of circumstances. One such circumstance arise where a given unit Or printing equipment is sufficiently wide that printing of narrow web~, that i5 webs as narrow as approximately half the width normally employed, is cons~dered undesirable due to the resulting low productivityO The second circumstance arises where a catagory of equipment is accepted to perform at a width which is narrow, by standards Or printing technology used in other printing arts, but direct employment of wider equipment according to the presently known art is prohibitive in terms of the quantity, nature of or variety of tasks to be undertaken. In the latter circumstance, increased productivity necessitates, according to the presently known art, that additional units of the narrow version of equipment be employed, with the resulting requirement for additional investment, personnel, space and other manufacturing resources.
An especially important catagory of printing directed to the lnstant invention comprises relief image forming members suitable for continuous ima8e printingO Such printing processes include flexographic printing.
The principal aspect of these processes relevant to the instant invention concerns the fact that the printing plates may be conventionally made so as to be without image ~oining seams or interfering construction lines and are conventionally made for patterns of varying length of repeat. Other processes may be employed to form continuous pattern prints. Some, such as serigraph printing~
ar`e well suited wbile others involve particular limitations and incur restrictions in the selection of designs and the execu~ion of printinB-Terminology is to be under~tood as described hereinafter. Acontinuous desi8n or a continuous pattern means an overall collection of design elements which comprise6 a single repeating unit, as employed in the printing operation~ and thi~ larger repeating unit is reproduced ~, . .
lOS4850 numerously during printing. Repeat units adjoining during the printing operation may or may not have image regions which physically abut or directly touch the image areas of other repeat unitsO On the other hand, continuous designs or continuous patterns in which image regions do physically abut and do directly touch image area~ of adjoining repeat units during the printing operation, are herein referred to as contiguous design~ or contiguous patternsO
Both rotogravure and flexography permit contiguous patterns of different and selectable repeat lengths to be printedO When the repeat length is determined by the printing plate roll circumference there is a very direct relationship between the permissible limits of roll diameters which may be employed and the attainable range of pattern repeatsO The printing plate roll diameters of most interest for decorative paper products are twelve inches or less.
It is known to apply inks and coatings~ or fluid3 generally, in conventional printing proce~ses without a deliberate image being formedO
In the case of flexographic printing, the image forming member consists of an elastomeric covered roll with the image forming region elevated above the surface of the otherwise outer region of the printing roll.
It is known to have the rubber corered image forming roll, the printing plate or the printing cylinder, comprise an integral printing cylinder-printing shaft assembly or to have separate printing cylinders which may be mounted, and demounted, on separate shafts. ~he shafts normally fit a particular model of printing equipment and the separately mountable printing cylinders are advantageous in respect that the same printing cylinders may be u~ed with more printing cylinder shafts than those fitting only one model of equipment. It i~ known to prepare the printing cylinder for printing on equipment separate from the printing equipment and the final printing cylinder-printing shaft assembly may be proofed, to verify that it is of acceptable quality. In the event that refinishing of the printing cylinder is required, this may also be undertaken prior to installation on the printing equipment to ensure that quality standards are attainedO
In the case of mountable, demountable, printing cylinders, these may be attached to the printing cylinder shafts by a number of methods.
A method of particular interest employs printing cylinders fabricated containing magnesiwn metal and rnounted on the printing cylinder shafts concentrically in precise position, by heating mainly the shaft contacting ends of the printing cylm ders at the moment of attachment to the shaftsO The heat expands the shaft receiving openings sufficiently to permit the shaft to be slid in with slight pressure. Upon removal of the heat the contraction of the metal firmly and concentrically joins the cylinder to the shaft.
The printing cylinder can be constructed to one of a number of configurations depending on the severity and duration of service required. In the case of cylinders which are to be used for continuous and contiguous patterns for extended useage, it is often found desirable to retain the printing cylinders until no longer servicable and then to reuse the printing cylinder base for another pattern. In such cases, the printing cylinder is typically of a standard width.
A known method of preparing printing cylinders comprises the adherence of preformed printing plates, consisting of a polymeric material, by u~e Or a material having adhesive properties and being of known and constant ~hicknes~, to the cylinder surface, which may be metal or otherwi~e. Another known method involves the use of preformed printing plates joined to a dimensionally stable ba~e, which may or may not be metal, and then adhering the plate-base assembly to the cylindrical roll or cylinder with adherinB materials or with mechanical devices. In the case of magnetically active materials attached to printing plates, the magnetic member may be adhered to the printing member by use of permanent magnets.
In preparation for printing, the print cylinder-print cylinder shaft assembly for each of the printing stations required is assembled into the printing equipmentO In each printing station one ink supply container is associated with one or more rolls which contact the inl and pick up ink from the ink supply vesselO In one version, the ink is picked up by a roll rotating in contact with the ink and then transfered to one or more rolls, some or all of which may be covered with elastomers of specified thickness and hardness, the quantity of ink being regulated by the properties of the transfer rolls and the speed and pressure of the nips of the contacting rolls. In another version, the ink is picked up by an elastomerically covered roll contacting the ink and being in immediate rotational contact with a precisely engraved roll such that the nip contact in combination with the engraving serves to regulate the quantity of ink being transferred. In another version, in place of the engraved roll noted above a ceramic lOS48SO
roll of deliberate surface structure and composition may be employedO
In ~mother version, the quantity of ink transferred is regulatsd by mea~ls of an engraved roll used in combination with a doctor blade to remove excess ink from the engraved roll, above that held in the engravings. In all the cases noted above the ink after regulation is then transferred, directly or indirectly, to the image formin~, plate, roll and from this roll by contact to the surface to be printed. In all cases it is known for one ink supply container to supply all the ink for one printing stationO
It is known to combine both gravure and flexographic printing units in the same printing equipment.
The printing stations described herein are components of equipment in which common fac;lities and services are provided, which include; (a) power driven members to rotate the rolls, specifically including the printing rolls, the ink transfer rolls, if present, and in the case of flexography, the ink metering members, (b) the web support and guiding members, (c) web material unwind and wind-up facilities, (d) ~acilities to operate the gravure doctor blade, (e) drying and air moving equipment, (f) control and inspection mechanisms and (g) the supports and power, as required, to circulate the inks, ensure lubrication and position components in placeO
The instant invention provides means of increasing both printing producti~ity and production ~ersatility and thereby overcoming the known limitations referred to earlier.
The detailed discussion and selected case presented hereinbelow will serve to illustrate more completely these and other objects of the instant inventionO
It has been discovered that separation of the heretofore one image-one fluid pair combination employed in known printing stations, into a greater number of image-fluid pair combinations provides, unexpectedly, substantial benefits and more logical execution of selected operations, Specifically, association of two or more image forming members, each associated with one separate printing ink, comprising two or more separate image-ink combinations, will enable two or more printing operations, differing on both the nature of the pattern and the nature of the ink, to be simultaneously conducted.
More specifically, a particularly preferred apparatus includes, in a~ printing press~ a single web feeding means to supply a web between a plate roller and an impression roller, the improvement comprising;
means on the plate roller to secure contiguous laterally separated flexographic printing plates, separate ink fountains equal in number to the printing plates to supply ink to the said plates so that the said web can be printed with contiguous laterally ~paced patterns.
Depending on the printing process employed, the printing equipment, and particularly equipment appendages, must be altered to achieve the advantages conferred by the instant inventionO These changes, in selected cases, are well within the capability of current practi~ioners of the printing arts and are herein describedO
In drawings which ;llustrate embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a lateral view of a flexographic printing unit, and Figure 2 i8 a perspective view of a flexographic printing unit.
In ~igure 1, 1 is the web to be printed, 12 is a web supporting roll~ 13, 16, 19 and 22 are all shaftsO 14 is a flexographic printing plate cylinder, 17 is an engraved roll and 20 is a rubber covered rollO
23 i9 the ink container.
In Figure 2, 1 i8 the web to be printed, 12 is a web supporting roll, 13, 16, 19 and 22 are all shafts. 14 and 15 are separate pr~nting cylinders~ 17 and lg are separate regions Or a roll with engravings.
20 and 21 are separate regions of a roll with both regions being rubber covered. 23 and 24 are separate ir~ containers.
To illustrate the production Mexibility with the instant invention a comparison is made of two printing units, processing a series of designs of decorative papers. One unit, with a maximum web handling width Or 36 inches, may readily process paper of 31 inches width. For a printing design designated as A processed at an average rate of 100 yards per minute, a run of 30,000 yards would require 5 hours processing time and would require an operating staff of two. A
second design, B, installed on a second printing unit which is capable of handling widths in excess of 62 inches, has an assigned production run duration of 300,000 yardsO Because of the much larger size run, it is known to print two replicas of design B side b~ side, employing in this case a web of 62 inches width. The resultant web length to be printed would therefore be only 150,000 yards in view of the use Or two replicasO At an average rate of 100 yards per minute, this run lOS48SO
would require 25 hours of processing and the same staff as employed with design A above.
The design run first, A , if run analogously to design B would have also required onc half its above specified processing time. However, with due regard to manufacturing factors; including degree of equipment utilization, time to set up and clean up each run, there is a min~mum run size at which it is questionable which method would be most attractive from an overall perspective for such an intermediate size run.
In the case of a third design, designated as design C, assigned a run duration of 3,000 yards, this design would by comparison be processed with a web wid~h of 31 inches. At an average processing rate of 100 yards per minute, the 3,000 yards would require 30 minutesO Ha~ing regard for manufacturing factors, Ruch a time might be considered as an undesirably short processing time or a minimum time to be employedO Normally, small duration run~ must exist to some degree before relatively longer duration runs become establishedO
In the case of the existence of a number of designs having marginal run durations, in the context outlined above, a current known practi~e would be to minimize a~ much as possible the number of such runs and of those of that kind that are to be run, to assign them to the narrower of the two equipment type~ being compared and to accept the lower processing efficiency incurred.
According to the instant invention, a more attractive alternative would be to assemble two or more patterns together, in a side by side configuration, each with separate ink containers in each printing station, as shown in Figure 2, and to run the two patterns for the short time, in the comparison above for 30 minutes. Thereby a manufacturing advantage would be gained over the circumstance of running each pattern separately.
An illustration to show the productivity increase potential with the instant invention involves wallpaper manufacture, in which it is known to print one width of printing image and flexographic processes are employed. A unit capable of handling a web of 30 inches in width in processing a web of 25.25 inches at an average rate of 100 yards per minute would produce a 30,000 yard quantity in a running time of 5 hoursO
lt is the practice in the industry with flexographic printing, for an additional printing unit of comparable width to be employed when _g_ productive capacity of the existing units is attained. According to the instant invention, known equipment of width permitting two or more printing patterns to be processed in a side by side configuration would maintain the current controls with respect to printing performance but would permit greatly increased productivity.
Of two designs, each suitable for processing 30,000 yards, each printed ~imultaneously on a web 50.S inches in width at an average rate of 100 yards per minute, the processing time would be ~ hours, comparable to the case immediately above. However, from the printed web two complete 30,000 yard printed products would be obtainedO
In the case of flexographic printing, the very same printing cylinders as employed on the narrow printing equipment could be employed on the wider printing equipmentO The additional requirement on the wider flexographic printing equipment would be, in this case, double ink containers, ink pick up rolls with two functional regions, both as shown in Figure 2, and means to meter the ink for the two separate printing zones. The printing equip~ent controls and means of operation would otherwise be comparable to conventionally operated equipment.
The illustrations are presented primarily for the purpose of illustrating the nature of the in~tant invention and any specific enumeration of detail contained thereic should not be interpreted as a limitation except as indicated in the claimsO
_9_
Another ob~ect of the instant invention is to provide printing equipment in which two or more different contiguous patterns may be printed simultaneously, each with fluids of independent properties, and particularly of independent colour characteristics.
A further object of the instant invention is to enable increased efficiency of use of manufacturing resourcesO
A still further object of the instant invention is to enable increased flexibility in the use of manufacturing fscilitiesO
The main printing application~ to which the invention is directed involve two distinct types of circumstances. One such circumstance arise where a given unit Or printing equipment is sufficiently wide that printing of narrow web~, that i5 webs as narrow as approximately half the width normally employed, is cons~dered undesirable due to the resulting low productivityO The second circumstance arises where a catagory of equipment is accepted to perform at a width which is narrow, by standards Or printing technology used in other printing arts, but direct employment of wider equipment according to the presently known art is prohibitive in terms of the quantity, nature of or variety of tasks to be undertaken. In the latter circumstance, increased productivity necessitates, according to the presently known art, that additional units of the narrow version of equipment be employed, with the resulting requirement for additional investment, personnel, space and other manufacturing resources.
An especially important catagory of printing directed to the lnstant invention comprises relief image forming members suitable for continuous ima8e printingO Such printing processes include flexographic printing.
The principal aspect of these processes relevant to the instant invention concerns the fact that the printing plates may be conventionally made so as to be without image ~oining seams or interfering construction lines and are conventionally made for patterns of varying length of repeat. Other processes may be employed to form continuous pattern prints. Some, such as serigraph printing~
ar`e well suited wbile others involve particular limitations and incur restrictions in the selection of designs and the execu~ion of printinB-Terminology is to be under~tood as described hereinafter. Acontinuous desi8n or a continuous pattern means an overall collection of design elements which comprise6 a single repeating unit, as employed in the printing operation~ and thi~ larger repeating unit is reproduced ~, . .
lOS4850 numerously during printing. Repeat units adjoining during the printing operation may or may not have image regions which physically abut or directly touch the image areas of other repeat unitsO On the other hand, continuous designs or continuous patterns in which image regions do physically abut and do directly touch image area~ of adjoining repeat units during the printing operation, are herein referred to as contiguous design~ or contiguous patternsO
Both rotogravure and flexography permit contiguous patterns of different and selectable repeat lengths to be printedO When the repeat length is determined by the printing plate roll circumference there is a very direct relationship between the permissible limits of roll diameters which may be employed and the attainable range of pattern repeatsO The printing plate roll diameters of most interest for decorative paper products are twelve inches or less.
It is known to apply inks and coatings~ or fluid3 generally, in conventional printing proce~ses without a deliberate image being formedO
In the case of flexographic printing, the image forming member consists of an elastomeric covered roll with the image forming region elevated above the surface of the otherwise outer region of the printing roll.
It is known to have the rubber corered image forming roll, the printing plate or the printing cylinder, comprise an integral printing cylinder-printing shaft assembly or to have separate printing cylinders which may be mounted, and demounted, on separate shafts. ~he shafts normally fit a particular model of printing equipment and the separately mountable printing cylinders are advantageous in respect that the same printing cylinders may be u~ed with more printing cylinder shafts than those fitting only one model of equipment. It i~ known to prepare the printing cylinder for printing on equipment separate from the printing equipment and the final printing cylinder-printing shaft assembly may be proofed, to verify that it is of acceptable quality. In the event that refinishing of the printing cylinder is required, this may also be undertaken prior to installation on the printing equipment to ensure that quality standards are attainedO
In the case of mountable, demountable, printing cylinders, these may be attached to the printing cylinder shafts by a number of methods.
A method of particular interest employs printing cylinders fabricated containing magnesiwn metal and rnounted on the printing cylinder shafts concentrically in precise position, by heating mainly the shaft contacting ends of the printing cylm ders at the moment of attachment to the shaftsO The heat expands the shaft receiving openings sufficiently to permit the shaft to be slid in with slight pressure. Upon removal of the heat the contraction of the metal firmly and concentrically joins the cylinder to the shaft.
The printing cylinder can be constructed to one of a number of configurations depending on the severity and duration of service required. In the case of cylinders which are to be used for continuous and contiguous patterns for extended useage, it is often found desirable to retain the printing cylinders until no longer servicable and then to reuse the printing cylinder base for another pattern. In such cases, the printing cylinder is typically of a standard width.
A known method of preparing printing cylinders comprises the adherence of preformed printing plates, consisting of a polymeric material, by u~e Or a material having adhesive properties and being of known and constant ~hicknes~, to the cylinder surface, which may be metal or otherwi~e. Another known method involves the use of preformed printing plates joined to a dimensionally stable ba~e, which may or may not be metal, and then adhering the plate-base assembly to the cylindrical roll or cylinder with adherinB materials or with mechanical devices. In the case of magnetically active materials attached to printing plates, the magnetic member may be adhered to the printing member by use of permanent magnets.
In preparation for printing, the print cylinder-print cylinder shaft assembly for each of the printing stations required is assembled into the printing equipmentO In each printing station one ink supply container is associated with one or more rolls which contact the inl and pick up ink from the ink supply vesselO In one version, the ink is picked up by a roll rotating in contact with the ink and then transfered to one or more rolls, some or all of which may be covered with elastomers of specified thickness and hardness, the quantity of ink being regulated by the properties of the transfer rolls and the speed and pressure of the nips of the contacting rolls. In another version, the ink is picked up by an elastomerically covered roll contacting the ink and being in immediate rotational contact with a precisely engraved roll such that the nip contact in combination with the engraving serves to regulate the quantity of ink being transferred. In another version, in place of the engraved roll noted above a ceramic lOS48SO
roll of deliberate surface structure and composition may be employedO
In ~mother version, the quantity of ink transferred is regulatsd by mea~ls of an engraved roll used in combination with a doctor blade to remove excess ink from the engraved roll, above that held in the engravings. In all the cases noted above the ink after regulation is then transferred, directly or indirectly, to the image formin~, plate, roll and from this roll by contact to the surface to be printed. In all cases it is known for one ink supply container to supply all the ink for one printing stationO
It is known to combine both gravure and flexographic printing units in the same printing equipment.
The printing stations described herein are components of equipment in which common fac;lities and services are provided, which include; (a) power driven members to rotate the rolls, specifically including the printing rolls, the ink transfer rolls, if present, and in the case of flexography, the ink metering members, (b) the web support and guiding members, (c) web material unwind and wind-up facilities, (d) ~acilities to operate the gravure doctor blade, (e) drying and air moving equipment, (f) control and inspection mechanisms and (g) the supports and power, as required, to circulate the inks, ensure lubrication and position components in placeO
The instant invention provides means of increasing both printing producti~ity and production ~ersatility and thereby overcoming the known limitations referred to earlier.
The detailed discussion and selected case presented hereinbelow will serve to illustrate more completely these and other objects of the instant inventionO
It has been discovered that separation of the heretofore one image-one fluid pair combination employed in known printing stations, into a greater number of image-fluid pair combinations provides, unexpectedly, substantial benefits and more logical execution of selected operations, Specifically, association of two or more image forming members, each associated with one separate printing ink, comprising two or more separate image-ink combinations, will enable two or more printing operations, differing on both the nature of the pattern and the nature of the ink, to be simultaneously conducted.
More specifically, a particularly preferred apparatus includes, in a~ printing press~ a single web feeding means to supply a web between a plate roller and an impression roller, the improvement comprising;
means on the plate roller to secure contiguous laterally separated flexographic printing plates, separate ink fountains equal in number to the printing plates to supply ink to the said plates so that the said web can be printed with contiguous laterally ~paced patterns.
Depending on the printing process employed, the printing equipment, and particularly equipment appendages, must be altered to achieve the advantages conferred by the instant inventionO These changes, in selected cases, are well within the capability of current practi~ioners of the printing arts and are herein describedO
In drawings which ;llustrate embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a lateral view of a flexographic printing unit, and Figure 2 i8 a perspective view of a flexographic printing unit.
In ~igure 1, 1 is the web to be printed, 12 is a web supporting roll~ 13, 16, 19 and 22 are all shaftsO 14 is a flexographic printing plate cylinder, 17 is an engraved roll and 20 is a rubber covered rollO
23 i9 the ink container.
In Figure 2, 1 i8 the web to be printed, 12 is a web supporting roll, 13, 16, 19 and 22 are all shafts. 14 and 15 are separate pr~nting cylinders~ 17 and lg are separate regions Or a roll with engravings.
20 and 21 are separate regions of a roll with both regions being rubber covered. 23 and 24 are separate ir~ containers.
To illustrate the production Mexibility with the instant invention a comparison is made of two printing units, processing a series of designs of decorative papers. One unit, with a maximum web handling width Or 36 inches, may readily process paper of 31 inches width. For a printing design designated as A processed at an average rate of 100 yards per minute, a run of 30,000 yards would require 5 hours processing time and would require an operating staff of two. A
second design, B, installed on a second printing unit which is capable of handling widths in excess of 62 inches, has an assigned production run duration of 300,000 yardsO Because of the much larger size run, it is known to print two replicas of design B side b~ side, employing in this case a web of 62 inches width. The resultant web length to be printed would therefore be only 150,000 yards in view of the use Or two replicasO At an average rate of 100 yards per minute, this run lOS48SO
would require 25 hours of processing and the same staff as employed with design A above.
The design run first, A , if run analogously to design B would have also required onc half its above specified processing time. However, with due regard to manufacturing factors; including degree of equipment utilization, time to set up and clean up each run, there is a min~mum run size at which it is questionable which method would be most attractive from an overall perspective for such an intermediate size run.
In the case of a third design, designated as design C, assigned a run duration of 3,000 yards, this design would by comparison be processed with a web wid~h of 31 inches. At an average processing rate of 100 yards per minute, the 3,000 yards would require 30 minutesO Ha~ing regard for manufacturing factors, Ruch a time might be considered as an undesirably short processing time or a minimum time to be employedO Normally, small duration run~ must exist to some degree before relatively longer duration runs become establishedO
In the case of the existence of a number of designs having marginal run durations, in the context outlined above, a current known practi~e would be to minimize a~ much as possible the number of such runs and of those of that kind that are to be run, to assign them to the narrower of the two equipment type~ being compared and to accept the lower processing efficiency incurred.
According to the instant invention, a more attractive alternative would be to assemble two or more patterns together, in a side by side configuration, each with separate ink containers in each printing station, as shown in Figure 2, and to run the two patterns for the short time, in the comparison above for 30 minutes. Thereby a manufacturing advantage would be gained over the circumstance of running each pattern separately.
An illustration to show the productivity increase potential with the instant invention involves wallpaper manufacture, in which it is known to print one width of printing image and flexographic processes are employed. A unit capable of handling a web of 30 inches in width in processing a web of 25.25 inches at an average rate of 100 yards per minute would produce a 30,000 yard quantity in a running time of 5 hoursO
lt is the practice in the industry with flexographic printing, for an additional printing unit of comparable width to be employed when _g_ productive capacity of the existing units is attained. According to the instant invention, known equipment of width permitting two or more printing patterns to be processed in a side by side configuration would maintain the current controls with respect to printing performance but would permit greatly increased productivity.
Of two designs, each suitable for processing 30,000 yards, each printed ~imultaneously on a web 50.S inches in width at an average rate of 100 yards per minute, the processing time would be ~ hours, comparable to the case immediately above. However, from the printed web two complete 30,000 yard printed products would be obtainedO
In the case of flexographic printing, the very same printing cylinders as employed on the narrow printing equipment could be employed on the wider printing equipmentO The additional requirement on the wider flexographic printing equipment would be, in this case, double ink containers, ink pick up rolls with two functional regions, both as shown in Figure 2, and means to meter the ink for the two separate printing zones. The printing equip~ent controls and means of operation would otherwise be comparable to conventionally operated equipment.
The illustrations are presented primarily for the purpose of illustrating the nature of the in~tant invention and any specific enumeration of detail contained thereic should not be interpreted as a limitation except as indicated in the claimsO
_9_
Claims (2)
1. In a printing press, a single web feeding means to supply a web between a plate roller and an impression roller, the improvement comprising; means on the plate roller to secure contiguous laterally separated flexographic printing plates, separate ink fountains equal in number to the printing plates to supply ink to the said plates so that the said web can be printed with contiguous laterally spaced patterns.
2. A printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the laterally separated flexographic printing plates, each comprise a plate cylinder, and all plate cylinders are secured on a common shaft concentrically by contraction of the plate cylinders onto the said common shaft.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA244,577A CA1054850A (en) | 1976-01-28 | 1976-01-28 | Multiple pattern printing |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA244,577A CA1054850A (en) | 1976-01-28 | 1976-01-28 | Multiple pattern printing |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1054850A true CA1054850A (en) | 1979-05-22 |
Family
ID=4105085
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA244,577A Expired CA1054850A (en) | 1976-01-28 | 1976-01-28 | Multiple pattern printing |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1054850A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5456176A (en) * | 1994-01-11 | 1995-10-10 | Ferd. Ruesch Ag | Rotary printing press |
-
1976
- 1976-01-28 CA CA244,577A patent/CA1054850A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5456176A (en) * | 1994-01-11 | 1995-10-10 | Ferd. Ruesch Ag | Rotary printing press |
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