EP0059674A1 - Screen-printing unit for bottles or the like - Google Patents

Screen-printing unit for bottles or the like Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0059674A1
EP0059674A1 EP82400366A EP82400366A EP0059674A1 EP 0059674 A1 EP0059674 A1 EP 0059674A1 EP 82400366 A EP82400366 A EP 82400366A EP 82400366 A EP82400366 A EP 82400366A EP 0059674 A1 EP0059674 A1 EP 0059674A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
screen
printing unit
unit according
station
bottle
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP82400366A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Guy Combeau
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from FR8104370A external-priority patent/FR2501116A1/en
Priority claimed from FR8104371A external-priority patent/FR2501115A1/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0059674A1 publication Critical patent/EP0059674A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F15/00—Screen printers
    • B41F15/08—Machines
    • B41F15/0872—Machines for printing on articles having essentially cylindrical surfaces

Definitions

  • the invention intends to propose an alternative to labeling or to the above-mentioned printing transfer modes by a screen printing machine.
  • a screen printing machine there are two main types of machine: so-called online machines and rotary machines.
  • the in-line machines are defined by the path to the straight bottle under a succession of picking stations (dust, tracking, etc.) printing and drying, and again printing (in J r a second color) and drying, etc.
  • picking stations dust, tracking, etc.
  • J r second color
  • Such material is cumbersome because, among other factors, the inks used dry slowly, which defines for a given rate the drying length after each printing. It is therefore necessary to provide several people to monitor and intervene on such machines when they operate in full color.
  • the ink was changed to obtain faster drying, which made it possible to reduce the bulk, but this gain did not make it possible to appreciably reduce the personnel serving while losing quality on the 'impression.
  • the rotating machines for their part, use a horizontal or vertical plate animated with a step-by-step rotation to present the bottles in front of the various processing and printing stations.
  • These machines require the use of a quick-drying ink (flame or by polymerization under ultraviolet) to admit three printing stations - therefore three colors at most - on an admissible radius.
  • these machines are limited to printing a single type of bottle.
  • the type is generally cylindrical because, although it is possible to pass in these machines bottles of oval section, the adjustment operations are such that it is economically unacceptable to make such a change.
  • the monitoring and control of the various machine stations are difficult due to their circular distribution and cannot be carried out by a single person.
  • the inks that can be used have drawbacks as to their covering nature for some or their possibility of overlapping for others. In general, this type of machine is assigned a very specific kind of ink that cannot be changed.
  • the present invention intends to remedy all these drawbacks by proposing a machine the design of which does not bring any of the limits stated above as to the choice of possible ink, the shapes of vials to be printed, the number of colors applicable, etc. Furthermore, the machine according to the invention is in the form of modules easily connectable to each other, which can be placed under the responsibility of a single servant.
  • the subject of the invention is therefore a printing unit by screen printing of vials or the like comprising a device for conveying said vials, from a pick-up station for each of the vials to be printed to an unloading station of the printed bottle and serving between them, by means of a step-by-step drive, at least one pre-treatment station for the bottle, a printing station comprising a printing head and a drying station, the section of which between the pick-up station and the entrance to the drying station is arranged in a vertical plane along which said bottles are held in an orientation in which their longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal and moved parallel to themselves.
  • said section having an extreme front part to the right of which the printing station is disposed, while downstream of this section, the conveying device passes through an enclosure of adjustable length as a function of the ink drying time, this enclosure constituting the aforementioned drying station.
  • the aforementioned conveying device comprises at least for said section gripping pliers of said bottles cooperating with the neck of these during the phases of transport from one station to another.
  • each of the aforesaid clamps is constituted by two arms articulated on a base forming a link of a conveying chain, each of these arms being coupled in rotation around its articulation to the other arm by means of sprockets, one of them being additionally secured to a wheel for controlling the opening of the clamp cooperating with a chain arranged between the loading station and the entry to the drying station, along the conveyor chain and animated a main movement identical to the conveying movement and a relative translational movement relative to the main movement during which said control wheel is rotated.
  • a print head has p rti cu - die having in known manner a bottle holder and a holder for a screen and a squeegee holder movable relative to the screen, said supports being arranged relative to each other so that the plane of the screen is kept substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bottle but in which the aforementioned support for the screen and the squeegee holder consists of an arm, one end of which is provided with a plate adjustable in position along the arm comprising a first slide perpendicular to the axis of the bottle and parallel to the plane of the screen on which said screen is slidably mounted and a second slide parallel to the first on which the aforementioned squeegee holder is slidably mounted and the other end of which is articulated on a part adjustable in position along a fixed oriented guide perpendicular to the surface e to print from the bottle and passing
  • the support of the bottle will be equipped with a mandrel for driving the bottle in rotation about its longitudinal axis, said mandrel being integral with a pinion capable of cooperating with said rack.
  • the above-mentioned articulation part carries a toothed sector of radius equal to the radius of said cylinder portion capable of cooperating with said rack.
  • the above-mentioned arm can be immobilized on the guide, parallel to the latter, the screen can be immobilized on the plate, as is the squeegee holder.
  • Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a print head according to the invention.
  • FIGS 9, 10 and 11 illustrate by diagrams the various possible adaptations of the print head according to the invention to the different shapes of bottle.
  • Figures 12, 13 show by a perspective diagram 1 2 an elevational view 13 of an industrial embodiment of the invention.
  • a printing unit constituted by a frame 1, which supports the various fixed or mobile elements described below.
  • a conveying device 2 is arranged so as to rotate in the direction of the arrow A.
  • the visible part of this device passes in front of an unloading station 3 - comprising, for example, a conveyor 3a with a band for evacuating the vials - a pick-up station 4 - also with a conveyor belt 4a - three stations 5, 6 and 7 for preparing the vial before it is printed - for example a treatment surface area in 5, dust removal in 6 and pre-registration in 7 - a printing station 8 with final registration in front of which is placed a mechanism 9 carrying the screen-printing screen, the squeegee, the ink reserve and the means for controlling these various elements and, finally, in the inlet 10a a drying station 10 consisting of a box and the outlet 10b of which is located in the vicinity of the unloading
  • the part of the conveying device 2 serving stations 4 to 8 is located in a substantially vertical plane and the printing station 8 is located at the extreme point (or in the immediate vicinity of the latter), so that the screen printing mechanism 9 is located frontally on the front of the machine.
  • One of the important consequences of this arrangement lies in the small width of the unit according to the invention and in the great accessibility of the printing station from the outside. As an indication, it will be noted that this width is of the order of 50 cm, which allows a juxtaposition of several units according to the invention on a very short front (six printing stations or six colors over 3 m) which can be easily monitored and controlled by a single servant.
  • the conveying member 2 is constituted by a chain which is wound around a vertical drive wheel 11, the wound part of the chain forming the above-mentioned front part.
  • This chain can be replaced by any other device which can ensure the transfer of objects from station 4 to station 8 (for example, a disc provided at its periphery with means for gripping the bottles), circulation in the drying unit.
  • printed bottles which can be supplied by a recovery conveyor different from the above-mentioned device.
  • a single conveyor for the entire unit, consisting of an endless chain provided with gripping means 12 in the form of pliers - the composition and operation of which will be explained with reference to the following figures - arranged entirely in a vertical plane to hold the bottles 13 by their neck 13a or any other end part in a position such that their longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal (perpendicular to the plane of the figure) and to move them parallel to themselves.
  • gripping means 12 in the form of pliers - the composition and operation of which will be explained with reference to the following figures - arranged entirely in a vertical plane to hold the bottles 13 by their neck 13a or any other end part in a position such that their longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal (perpendicular to the plane of the figure) and to move them parallel to themselves.
  • the chain 2 is judiciously returned to a second unit in which it would be oriented vertically opposite the processing and printing stations of this
  • the drying enclosure 10 specific to each unit can receive a plurality of equipment selected according to the inks used.
  • blowers 14, 15 it is possible to create a circulation of hot (or cold) air.
  • This type of drying can be substituted or supplemented with emitters of infrared or ultraviolet rays in order to best meet the drying requirements dictated by the nature of the inks or the various mixtures.
  • the unit according to the invention is provided with a flexibility of adaptation which makes it possible to use different inks adapted to the object or, for the same object, different inks in the production of the same decoration.
  • said drying chamber 10 is closed by a rear part 10b which can be dismountably adapted to the main part 10.
  • the length of this rear part can then be chosen as a function of time. ink drying and therefore be more or less long depending on whether this time is more or less short.
  • this rear part may contain a device for taking up the bottles brought into the enclosure by the conveyor operating on the same principle as the device comprising the stations 5, 6, 7 above - explained in more detail with reference to Figures 5 and 7 - to rotate the bottles in front of the emission sources of the above rays.
  • the opening and closing of the clamps 12 for releasing and resuming the bottles opposite this drying station which can be ensured by means of a control device similar to that described below in see Figures 4 and 5.
  • Figures 2 and 3 show a link 16 of the endless conveyor chain 2 provided with two arms 12a and 12b forming the clamp 12 can be closed on the mouth 13a of a bottle 13.
  • One arms 12b is journalled at 17 in a bearing 16a and is integral with a pinion 18 also centered on the axis 17.
  • the other, 12a is integral in rotation with a shaft 19 on which is pinned a pinion 20 meshing with the pinion 18, the shaft 19 being supported by two bearings 16b and 16c and comprising at its end opposite the arm 12a a toothed wheel 21 for controlling the rotation of the shaft 19.
  • This toothed wheel 21 can be secured to the 'shaft 19 or be coupled to it by means of a freewheel symbolized at 22.
  • Figure 4 and Figure 5 schematically symbolize a command to open the clamps 12.
  • the wheels 21 of the links 16 assigned an index identical to the references of the positions defined with reference to Figure 1.
  • a drive member 26 of the chain is shown below in the form of a pinion coupled to a non-illustrated drive member.
  • the chain 23 is printed, by means of the member 26 (which can be a lever acting on the wheel 24), a movement of determined amplitude in a direction causing the rotation of the wheels 21 and the shaft 19.
  • the member 26 which can be a lever acting on the wheel 24
  • all the clamps open.
  • a contrary movement of the same amplitude ensures the closing of the clamps (assisted by a spring tending to bring the arms 12a and I2b together).
  • the wheel 21 of each clamp is directly locked in rotation on the shaft 19
  • provision will be made for the chain 23 to be driven with a movement identical to that of the conveyor 2.
  • the wheel 24 will be coupled to the drive shaft of the toothed wheel 11 .
  • the member 26 will act, when the conveyor is stopped, on the chain 23, the wheel 24 having been driven mad relative to the wheel 11 to maneuver the grippers 12 when opening and closing.
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 the arrangement of the means specific to the unit according to the invention is shown diagrammatically, which constitute the bodies for taking charge of the bottles at the processing and printing stations.
  • the bottles 13 are supported between the mandrels 27 of the base and the tips 28 cooperating with the necks 13a (only the tips and mandrels of the station 8 are shown in FIG. 7).
  • the aforementioned mandrels are carried by a substantially vertical plate 29, while the points are carried by a plate 30 parallel to the plate 29.
  • These plates are slidably mounted on fixed rods 31 and have respectively a lower extension 29a and 30a which is engaged in a groove 32a formed in a disc 32 and the profile of which is such that a rotation of this disc causes the plates 29 and 30 to approach and move apart by a determined amplitude.
  • the disc 32 is rotated by means of a member (not shown), the operation of which is controlled by the operation of the conveyor 2 (with the time delays necessary to avoid interference).
  • the clamps 12 place the bottles 13 at each step between the plates 29 and 30. These come together to hold the bottles while the clamps are ordered to open.
  • Some mandrels 28 are rotated either directly for, for example, dusting and flame treatment (stations 5 and 6) and over a predetermined angle for pre-marking (station 7), in known manner, or depending on the displacement another member (as at the printing station 8 where a translation of the screen printing screen 9 causes a simultaneous rotation of the mandrel in the case of a cylindrical container).
  • the printing unit according to the invention by its simple design has great adaptability both in terms of the shape of the bottles to be treated as the inks used and the colors to be deposited. Its modular nature allows you to quickly switch to applying a different number of colors on the same bottle.
  • the relative arrangement of the means of conveying the bottles makes it possible to group the driving members on a single unit and to couple at will the following units which can be, by their frame, mounted on rolling tracks to quickly put them in or out service.
  • the short length of the front where the processing operations are located makes it a simple machine to control and verify by a single operator who can intervene quickly in the slightest incident.
  • the bodies for taking care of the bottles of the units according to the first comprise stations 5 to 7 which are not not affected. It is no longer necessary to carry out a second surface treatment at this stage, dedusting or pre-marking the bottle. It is therefore advantageous to use these vacant stations to perform other functions such as sticking labels, rotating a fraction of a turn, or functions for checking the tightness of the bottles or the "bar code". which could have been previously applied to the bottle.
  • the "bar code" is the name which has now become customary for identifying the bottle (and its contents) by means of a succession of lines with variable thicknesses and spacings which can be read by optical heads connected to computer processing units.
  • reference 101 has been made to a fixed support belonging to a structure not shown of a screen printing machine.
  • This support 101 constitutes a guide for an articulation piece 102 which can be immobilized on the guide 101 in any position.
  • the part 102 carries the end of an arm 103 which can debate in a plane substantially parallel to the guide 101 around the axis of articulation 104 whose orientation is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the object to be printed (not shown in this figure).
  • the arm 103 is equipped with a plate 105, adjustable in position along the arm, and which comprises two slides 106 and 107.
  • the first slide 106 constitutes a guide for a screen printing screen 108
  • the orientation of this screen is such that it is parallel to the axis 104 (therefore to the longitudinal axis of the object to be printed) and perpendicular to the arm 103. More specifically, the screen is kept parallel to the surface to be printed which, if it is cylindrical, is parallel to the axis 104 but which may also have a slight conicity of axis 104.
  • the fixing of the screen comprises means making it possible to adjust its position as a function of this conicity. Its displacement along the slide 106 is perpendicular to the arm 103, and it can be immobilized relative to said slide on the plate 105.
  • a squeegee holder 109, provided with the squeegee 109a is for its part capable of sliding along the slide 107 which is parallel to the slide 106, the edge of the squeegee 109a being able to move parallel to the screen 108 by rubbing on the latter.
  • the squeegee holder 109 can be immobilized on the plate 105.
  • a member 110 making it possible to removably block the brasl03 relative to the guide 101 .
  • the members 108b, 109, respectively integral with the screen 108 and the squeegee holder 109 constitute means for detachably coupling a drive rod, not shown, of said screen and said squeegee holder along their respective slides and if these organs are blocked on the drive plate of the plate itself in angular oscillation around the aforementioned axis 104.
  • FIGS. 9 to 11 illustrate the different possible kinematics of the means described with reference to FIG. G. In these diagrams we find some of these means bearing the same references.
  • Figure 9 illustrates the case where the bottle is cylindrical.
  • This bottle is held, generally, by means of a support comprising on the side of the base of the bottle a mandrel and on the other side a point which cooperates with the opening of its neck, parallel to the screen 108 which it comes from. tangent by one of its generators.
  • the above mandrel is rotatably coupled to a pinion of the same diameter as that of the bottle.
  • This pinion referenced 111 in FIG. 9 , cooperates with the rack 108a of the screen.
  • the pc.rte-raclette109 so that the squeegee 109asoit disposed along the line of tangency of the bottle and the screen.
  • the screen is driven by pulling it downwards. along its slide 106 Thanks to the engagement of the rack 108a on the pinion 1111, the bottle rolls without sliding relative to the screen and the portion of cylinder scanned by the squeegee 109 is printed. The screen is then moved away from the bottle along the guidelOlet the bottle is evacuated by appropriate means to set up the next.
  • the bottle 3 to be printed is here represented of rectangular section. It therefore has at least one flat surface to be printed. Having immobilized the arm 103 on the guide 101 - the plate 05 therefore being fixed - and the screen 108 on the plate 105 the coupler 3 is coupled to the squeegee holder 109.0 the screen is brought to the flat surface to be printed and the squeegee is moved towards the down along the coulissel07 by means of the connecting rod to effect the transfer of the ink carried by the screen on said surface through the pores of the latter. As in FIG. 9, the screen is then moved away from the object to ensure its evacuation. At the same time, the raclettel09a is raised to the top of the screen.
  • the support for the bottle comprises, in known manner, means for presenting the face to be printed in an orientation parallel to that of the screen.
  • FIG. 11 the case of printing a bottle 114 with a relatively flattened section (substantially oval) is illustrated, one of the faces of which can be likened to a portion of cylinder with a large radius of curvature.
  • the arm length 103 is adjusted by making on the one hand, slide the articulation piece 02 on the guide and on the other hand by adjusting the position of the plate 1051 along the end of the arm 103 so that the screen 108 is distant from the axis 04 of a length equal to the radius of curvature of said surface.
  • a toothed sector 115 is then placed immobilized on the guide 101 (for example on a non-rotating part of the articulation piece 102 or the axis 104) whose radius is also equal to the radius of curvature of the aforesaid face on which the rack 108ade the screen 108
  • the latter is free to slide on the slide 106 while the squeegee holder 109 is immobilized on the plate 105 which is free relative to the guide 101 since the arm 103 is not secured to this guide.
  • the connecting rod 112 is coupled to the squeegee holder and, when the connecting rod 112 is pulled down, the plate 105 raclette holder 109 and arms 103 are rotated around the axis 104.
  • the rack 108 loosens without sliding on the toothed sector 115, as well as the screen on the bottle 114 .
  • the squeegee 109a having been adjusted in position so as to be located in line with the contact generator of the screen and the bottle, the ink transfer is correctly carried out.
  • the means according to the invention are extremely simple to implement and to adjust and it is possible, thanks to their design, to quickly switch from one type of bottle to another.
  • Figures 12 and 13 illustrate in the form of a perspective diagram and an elevational view of an industrial embodiment of the invention.
  • the adjustment of the part 102 along the guide 101 (censtitué by a set of parallel columns of which only one 1 21 is visible on the figurel3) is carried out by means of a system screw116 nut 117 the latter being coupled to the piece02 the screw 116 being integral with the columns 121.
  • the arm 103 is also constituted by a set of two columns 123 , 123a.
  • the set of plates and slides of the preceding figures is produced differently in these two figures to however ensure the same functions.
  • a piece 124 receives two bars 125 and 12 in transversely sliding.
  • This piece 124 is shaped as a yoke to receive a central block 127 also crossed by the bar 125 and receiving at sliding a bar 128.
  • the bars 125, 128 are connected to each other by their ends by means of plates 129, 130.
  • the bars 125, 126 are connected in the same way by plates 131, 132.
  • the front faces of the block 127 and plates 129, 130 have members 133 to allow the selective fixing of the screen 108 and the squeegee holder 109 the assembly.
  • the screen 108 and the squeegee holder 109 will have fixing plates 108 b, 109 b which can be screwed either on the block 127 or on the plates 129 and 130.
  • the bottle shown in Figure 13 is cylindrical in 119 and is held between a mandrel 134a and a tip 134b respectively integral with plates such as January 35 support belonging for example to a fixed set of picking stations and indexing the position of bottles known in itself. These mandrel and tip are capable of being moved away and brought closer to one another to take charge of or release the bottle brought to this place by any known means.
  • the mandrel 134a is integral with an axis 136 passing through the plate 135 at the end of which a pinion (such as that, 111 in FIG. 9) can be wedged in line with the rack 108a of the carriage. This pinion can be removed and replaced by the toothed sector 115 of FIG.
  • the invention finds an interesting application in the field of screen printing.

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  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Screen Printers (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne une unité d'impression par sérigraphie de flacons ou analogues. Selon l'invention, cette unité comporte un dispositif de convoyage (2) dont au moins un tronçon compris entre un poste (4) de prise de charge des flacons (13) à imprimer et l'entrée (10a) d'un poste de séchage (10) est situé dans un plan vertical le long duquel lesdits flacons sont maintenus selon une orientation dans laquelle leur axe longitudinal est sensiblement horizontal et sont déplacés parallèlement à eux-mêmes, ledit tronçon présentant une partie extrême frontale au droit de laquelle est disposé un poste d'impression (8, 9). Application à l'imprimerie.The present invention relates to a screen printing unit for bottles or the like. According to the invention, this unit comprises a conveying device (2) including at least one section between a station (4) for taking charge of the vials (13) to be printed and the inlet (10a) of a drying (10) is located in a vertical plane along which said bottles are held in an orientation in which their longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal and are moved parallel to themselves, said section having an extreme frontal part to the right of which is disposed a printing station (8, 9). Application to printing.

Description

Jusqu'à l'heure actuelle, la décoration ou le marquage de flaconnages en matière plastique ne nécessitait souvant qu'une seule couleur. La sérigraphie a constitué pour ce type d'impression une solution adaptée et économique, car elle permet d'obtenir une impression très franche avec effet de relief et qui résiste bien aux produits contenus dans les flacons et à l'usure due au frottement pendant les transports avec un matériel d'impression d'un coût faible s'adaptant aisément à toute forme de surface et pouvant être servi par une main-d'oeuvre sans grande qualification.Until now, decorating or marking plastic bottles often only required one color. Screen printing was an appropriate and economical solution for this type of printing, because it allows a very frank impression with relief effect and which resists well the products contained in the bottles and the wear due to friction during transport with low cost printing equipment that easily adapts to any surface and can be served by unskilled labor.

Cependant, ce type de flaconnage devenant, plus qu'un récipient, une marque, un symbole, un moyen de promotion commerciale, on est aujourd'hui contraint de l'imprimer en plusieurs couleurs pour composer des dessins de plus en plus complexes. Il a donc fallu spécialiser les machines pour la réalisation d'un décor déterminé sur un type de flaconsde forme déterminée pour pouvoir satisfaire cette demande. Cette contrainte conduit les imprimeurs à se fournir en machines de divers types pour pouvoir traiter les divers flacons à imprimer, ce qui constitue des investissements lourds et quelquefois impossibles à amortir du fait de l'instabilité du marché. En tout état de cause, aucun procédé d'impression, et avec eux la sérigraphie, n'a permis de résoudre de manière satisfaisante le problème posé par cette demande d'impression. Il ne reste que l'emploi de l'étiquetage, la décalcomanie, ou le transfert à chaud qui présentent les inconvénients d'un coût élevé en raison de leur procédé d'élaboration, de leur système d'application sur le flacon, de leur manque de souplesse dans les adaptations nécessaire au changement de types de flacon et de la difficulté d'obtenir une bonne résistance au contenu du flacon.However, this type of bottles becoming more than a container, a brand, a symbol, a means of commercial promotion, we are now forced to print it in several colors to compose more and more complex designs. It was therefore necessary to specialize the machines for producing a specific decoration on a type of bottles of determined shape in order to be able to meet this demand. This constraint leads printers to supply themselves with machines of various types to be able to process the various vials to be printed, which constitutes heavy investments and sometimes impossible to amortize due to the instability of the market. In any event, no printing process, and with them screen printing, has made it possible to satisfactorily resolve the problem posed by this printing request. There remains only the use of labeling, decalcomania, or hot transfer which have the disadvantages of a high cost due to their production process, their application system on the bottle, their lack of flexibility in the adaptations necessary for changing the types of bottle and the difficulty of obtaining good resistance to the contents of the bottle.

L'invention entend proposer une solution de substitution à l'étiquetage ou aux modes de transfert d'impressions susdits par une machine de sérigraphie. On rappellera que, dans ce domaine, il existe deux grands types de machines : les machines dites en ligne et les machines tournantes. Les machines en ligne sont définies par le trajet au flacon en ligne droite sous une succession de postes de préparation (dépoussiérage, repérage, etc.) d'impression et séchage, puis à nouveau impression (poJr une seconde couleur) et séchage, etc. Un tel matériel est encombrant car, entre autres facteurs, les encres mises en oeuvre sèchent lentement, ce qui définit pour une cadence donnée la longueur de séchage après chaque impression. Il est donc nécessaire de prévoir plusieurs personnes pour surveiller et intervenir sur de telles machines lorsqu'elles fonctionnent en polychromie. Dans une variante, on a changé d'encre pour obtenir un séchage plus rapide, ce qui a permis de diminuer l'encombrement, mais ce gain n'a pas permis de réduire de manière sensible le personnel servant tout en perdant en qualité sur l'impression.The invention intends to propose an alternative to labeling or to the above-mentioned printing transfer modes by a screen printing machine. It will be recalled that, in this area, there are two main types of machine: so-called online machines and rotary machines. The in-line machines are defined by the path to the straight bottle under a succession of picking stations (dust, tracking, etc.) printing and drying, and again printing (in J r a second color) and drying, etc. Such material is cumbersome because, among other factors, the inks used dry slowly, which defines for a given rate the drying length after each printing. It is therefore necessary to provide several people to monitor and intervene on such machines when they operate in full color. In a variant, the ink was changed to obtain faster drying, which made it possible to reduce the bulk, but this gain did not make it possible to appreciably reduce the personnel serving while losing quality on the 'impression.

Les machines tournantes mettent en oeuvre quant à elles un plateau horizontal ou vertical animé d'une rotation pas à pas pour présenter les flacons devant les différents postes de traitement et d'impression. Ces machines imposent l'utilisation d'une encre à séchage rapide (à la flamme ou par. polymérisation sous ultraviolets) pour admettre trois postes d'impression - donc trois couleurs au maximum - sur un rayon admissible. En outre, compte tenu notamment de la complexité des outillages mis en oeuvre pour la préhension des flacons, ces machines sont limitées à l'impression d'un seul type de flacon. Le type est généralement cylindrique car, bien qu'il soit possible de passer dans ces machines des flacons de section ovale, les opérations de réglage sont telles .qu'il est économiquement inadmissible de procéder à un tel changement. Par ailleurs, la surveillance et le contrôle des différents postes de la machine sont malaisés du fait de leur distribution circulaire et ne peuvent être assurés par une seule personne. Enfin, les encres utilisables présentent des inconvénients quant à leur caractère couvrant pour certaines ou à leur possibilité de superposition pour d'autres. D'une manière générale, à ce type de machine est affectée une sorte d'encre bien spécifique qu'il n'est pas possible de changer.The rotating machines, for their part, use a horizontal or vertical plate animated with a step-by-step rotation to present the bottles in front of the various processing and printing stations. These machines require the use of a quick-drying ink (flame or by polymerization under ultraviolet) to admit three printing stations - therefore three colors at most - on an admissible radius. In addition, given in particular the complexity of the tools used for gripping the bottles, these machines are limited to printing a single type of bottle. The type is generally cylindrical because, although it is possible to pass in these machines bottles of oval section, the adjustment operations are such that it is economically unacceptable to make such a change. In addition, the monitoring and control of the various machine stations are difficult due to their circular distribution and cannot be carried out by a single person. Finally, the inks that can be used have drawbacks as to their covering nature for some or their possibility of overlapping for others. In general, this type of machine is assigned a very specific kind of ink that cannot be changed.

La présente invention entend remédier à tous ces inconvénients en proposant une machine dont la conception n'apporte aucune des limites énoncées ci-dessus quant au choix de l'encre possible, aux formes de flacons à imprimer, au nombre de couleurs applicables, etc. Par ailleurs, la machine selon l'invention se présente sous forme de modules facilement connectables les uns aux autres, qui peuvent être placés sous la responsabilité d'un seul servant.The present invention intends to remedy all these drawbacks by proposing a machine the design of which does not bring any of the limits stated above as to the choice of possible ink, the shapes of vials to be printed, the number of colors applicable, etc. Furthermore, the machine according to the invention is in the form of modules easily connectable to each other, which can be placed under the responsibility of a single servant.

A cet effet, l'invention a donc pour objet une unité d'impression par sérigraphie de flacons ou analogues comportant un dispositif de convoyage desdits flacons, depuis un poste de prise en charge de chacun des flacons à imprimer jusqu'à un poste de déchargement du flacon imprimé et desservant entre eux, au moyen d'un entraînement pas à pas, au moins un poste de traitement préalable du flacon, un poste d'impression comportant une tête d'impression et un poste de séchage, dont le tronçon entre le poste de prise en charge et l'entrée du poste de séchage est disposé dans un plan vertical le long duquel lesdits flacons sont maintenus selon une orientation dans laquelle leur axe longitudinal est sensiblement horizontal et déplacés parallèlement à eux-mêmes. Selon l'une des caractéristiques de l'invention, ledit tronçon présentant une partie extrême frontale au droit de laquelle est disposé le poste d'impression, tandis qu'en aval de ce tronçon, le dispositif de convoyage passe dans une enceinte de longueur réglable en fonction du temps de séchage de l'encre, cette enceinte constituant le poste de séchage susdit.To this end, the subject of the invention is therefore a printing unit by screen printing of vials or the like comprising a device for conveying said vials, from a pick-up station for each of the vials to be printed to an unloading station of the printed bottle and serving between them, by means of a step-by-step drive, at least one pre-treatment station for the bottle, a printing station comprising a printing head and a drying station, the section of which between the pick-up station and the entrance to the drying station is arranged in a vertical plane along which said bottles are held in an orientation in which their longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal and moved parallel to themselves. According to one of the characteristics of the invention, said section having an extreme front part to the right of which the printing station is disposed, while downstream of this section, the conveying device passes through an enclosure of adjustable length as a function of the ink drying time, this enclosure constituting the aforementioned drying station.

Dans un mode de réalisation, le dispositif de convoyage susdit comporte au moins pour ledit tronçon des pinces de préhension desdits flacons coopérant avec le goulot de ceux-ci pendant les phases de transport d'un poste à l'autre.In one embodiment, the aforementioned conveying device comprises at least for said section gripping pliers of said bottles cooperating with the neck of these during the phases of transport from one station to another.

Plus précisément, chacune des pinces susdites est constituée par deux bras articulés sur une embase formant maillon d'une chaîne de convoyage, chacun de ces bras étant accouplé en rotation autour de son articulation à l'autre bras au moyen de pignons, l'un d'entre eux étant en plus solidaire d'une roue de commande de l'ouverture de la pince coopérant avec une chaîne disposée, entre le poste de chargement et l'entrée du poste de séchage, le long de la chaîne de convoyage et animée d'un mouvement principal identique au mouvement de convoyage et d'un mouvement relatif de translation par rapport au mouvement principal pendant lequel ladite roue de commande est entraînée en rotation.More precisely, each of the aforesaid clamps is constituted by two arms articulated on a base forming a link of a conveying chain, each of these arms being coupled in rotation around its articulation to the other arm by means of sprockets, one of them being additionally secured to a wheel for controlling the opening of the clamp cooperating with a chain arranged between the loading station and the entry to the drying station, along the conveyor chain and animated a main movement identical to the conveying movement and a relative translational movement relative to the main movement during which said control wheel is rotated.

Par ailleurs, dans le cadre.de la machine selon l'inven-tion, il est avantageux de prévoir une tête d'impression particu- lière comportant de manière connue un support du flacon et un support pour un écran et un porte-raclette mobile par rapport à l'écran, lesdits supports étant agencés l'un par rapport à l'autre de manière que le plan de l'écran soit maintenu sensiblement parallèle à l'axe longitudinal du flacon mais dans laquelle le support susdit de l'écran et du porte-raclette est constitué par un bras dont une extrémité est pourvue d'une platine réglable en position le long du bras comportant une première coulisse perpendiculaire à l'axe du flacon et parallèle au plan de l'écran sur laquelle est monté à coulissement ledit écran et une seconde coulisse parallèle à la première sur laquelle est monté à coulissement le porte-raclette susdit et dont l'autre extrémité est articulée sur une pièce réglable en position le long d'un guide fixe orienté perpendiculairement à la surface à imprimer du flacon et passant par son axe longitudinal, l'axe d'articulation de ladite autre extrémité étant parallèle à l'axe longitudinal du flacon et situé au-delà de ladite surface par rapport à l'écran ; ledit écran est pourvu d'une crémaillère parallèle à la première coulisse susdite.Furthermore, in the cadre.de the machine according to the in v e n-tion, it is advantageous to provide a print head has p rti cu - die having in known manner a bottle holder and a holder for a screen and a squeegee holder movable relative to the screen, said supports being arranged relative to each other so that the plane of the screen is kept substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bottle but in which the aforementioned support for the screen and the squeegee holder consists of an arm, one end of which is provided with a plate adjustable in position along the arm comprising a first slide perpendicular to the axis of the bottle and parallel to the plane of the screen on which said screen is slidably mounted and a second slide parallel to the first on which the aforementioned squeegee holder is slidably mounted and the other end of which is articulated on a part adjustable in position along a fixed oriented guide perpendicular to the surface e to print from the bottle and passing through its longitudinal axis, the axis of articulation of said other end being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bottle and situated beyond said surface relative to the screen; said screen is provided with a rack parallel to the first above-mentioned slide.

Dans le cas de l'impression d'un flacon cylindrique le support du flacon sera équipé d'un mandrin d'entraînement en rotation du flacon autour de son axe longitudinal, ledit mandrin étant solidaire d'un pignon susceptible de coopérer avec ladite crémaillère.In the case of printing a cylindrical bottle, the support of the bottle will be equipped with a mandrel for driving the bottle in rotation about its longitudinal axis, said mandrel being integral with a pinion capable of cooperating with said rack.

Dans le cas de l'impression d'un flacon dont la face à imprimer est une portion de cercle entrant par exemple dans la constitution d'une enveloppe de section ovale, la pièce d'articulation susdite porte un secteur denté de rayon égal au rayon de ladite portion de cylindre susceptible de coopérer avec ladite crémaillère.In the case of the printing of a bottle whose face to be printed is a portion of a circle entering for example in the constitution of an envelope of oval section, the above-mentioned articulation part carries a toothed sector of radius equal to the radius of said cylinder portion capable of cooperating with said rack.

On notera que, de manière amovible, le bras susdit peut être immobilisé sur la guide, parallèlement à ce dernier, l'écran peut être immobilisé sur la platine, de même que le porte-raclette.It will be noted that, in a removable manner, the above-mentioned arm can be immobilized on the guide, parallel to the latter, the screen can be immobilized on the plate, as is the squeegee holder.

Enfin la manoeuvre associée de l'écran, la raclette et le flacon sera assurée au moyen d'une bielle d'entraînement évoluant dans un plan sensiblement perpendiculaire audit bras.Finally, the associated operation of the screen, the squeegee and the bottle will be ensured by means of a drive rod moving in a plane substantially perpendicular to said arm.

L'invention sera mieux comprise au cours de la description donnée ci-après à titre d'exemple purement indicatif et non limi-tatif qui permettra d'en dégager les avantages et les caractéristiques secondaires.The invention will be better understood from the description given below by way of purely indicative example and not li m i-tative that will bring out the advantages and secondary characteristics.

Il sera fait référence aux dessins annexés, dans lesquels :

  • - la figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble en élévation laté rale d'une unité d'impression selon l'invention;
  • - les figures 2 et 3 illustrent, par des schémas, un mode de réalisation des pinces de convoyage selon l'invention;
  • - les figures 4 et 5 illustrent schématiquement le mécanisme de commande de l'ouverture et de la fermeture desdites pinces;
  • - les figures 6 et 7 sont des vues schématiques des différents postes de traitement, de repérage et d'impression de la machine selon l'invention.
Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
  • - Figure 1 is an overall side elevational view of a printing unit according to the invention;
  • - Figures 2 and 3 illustrate, by diagrams, an embodiment of the conveying clamps according to the invention;
  • - Figures 4 and 5 schematically illustrate the mechanism for controlling the opening and closing of said clamps;
  • - Figures 6 and 7 are schematic views of the various processing stations, location and printing of the machine according to the invention.

la figure8 est une vue schématique en perspective d'une tête d'impression selon l'invention ;Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a print head according to the invention;

les figures 9, 10 et 11 illustrent par des schémas les diverses adaptations possibles de la tête d'impression selon l'invention aux différentes formes de flacon ; etFigures 9, 10 and 11 illustrate by diagrams the various possible adaptations of the print head according to the invention to the different shapes of bottle; and

les figures 12, 13 montrent par un schéma en perspective 12 une vue en élévation 13 d'un mode de réalisation indus- t-ielle de l'invention.Figures 12, 13 show by a perspective diagram 1 2 an elevational view 13 of an industrial embodiment of the invention.

En se reportant tout d'abord à la figure 1, on voit une unité d'impression selon l'invention constituée par un bâti 1, lequel supporte les différents éléments fixes ou mobiles décrits ci-après. Dans ce bâti, un dispositif de convoyage 2 est disposé de manière à tourner dans le sens de la flèche A. La partie visible de ce dispositif, telle qu'elle est représentée sur la figure, passe devant un poste de déchargement 3 - comportant, par exemple, un transporteur 3a à bande d'évacuation des flacons - un poste de prise en charge 4 - avec également un transporteur à bande 4a - trois postes 5, 6 et 7 de préparation du flacon préalablement à son impression - par exemple un traitement de surface en 5, un dépoussiérage en 6 et prérepérage en 7 - un poste d'impression 8 avec repérage final devant lequel est placé un mécanisme 9 portant l'écran sérigraphique, la raclette, la réserve d'encre et les moyens de commande de ces divers éléments et, enfin, dans l'entrée 10a un poste de séchage 10 constitué par un caisson et dont la sortie 10b est située au voisinage du poste de déchargement 3.Referring first to Figure 1, there is shown a printing unit according to the invention constituted by a frame 1, which supports the various fixed or mobile elements described below. In this frame, a conveying device 2 is arranged so as to rotate in the direction of the arrow A. The visible part of this device, as shown in the figure, passes in front of an unloading station 3 - comprising, for example, a conveyor 3a with a band for evacuating the vials - a pick-up station 4 - also with a conveyor belt 4a - three stations 5, 6 and 7 for preparing the vial before it is printed - for example a treatment surface area in 5, dust removal in 6 and pre-registration in 7 - a printing station 8 with final registration in front of which is placed a mechanism 9 carrying the screen-printing screen, the squeegee, the ink reserve and the means for controlling these various elements and, finally, in the inlet 10a a drying station 10 consisting of a box and the outlet 10b of which is located in the vicinity of the unloading station 3.

On voit, sur cette figure, que la partie du dispositif de convoyage 2 desservant les postes 4 à 8 est située dans un plan sensiblement vertical et le poste 8 d'impression est situé au point extrême (ou au voisinage immédiat de ce dernier), si bien que le mécanisme d'impression 9 par sérigraphie se présente frontalement à l'avant de la machine. L'une des conséquences importantes de cette disposition réside dans la petite largeur de l'unité selon l'invention et dans la grande accessibilitë du poste d'impression depuis l'extérieur. A titre indicatif, on notera que cette largeur est de l'ordre de 50 cm, ce qui permet une juxtaposition de plusieurs unités selon l'invention sur un front très court (six postes d'impression ou six couleurs sur 3 m) qui peut être surveillé et contrôlé par un seul servant aisément.It can be seen in this figure that the part of the conveying device 2 serving stations 4 to 8 is located in a substantially vertical plane and the printing station 8 is located at the extreme point (or in the immediate vicinity of the latter), so that the screen printing mechanism 9 is located frontally on the front of the machine. One of the important consequences of this arrangement lies in the small width of the unit according to the invention and in the great accessibility of the printing station from the outside. As an indication, it will be noted that this width is of the order of 50 cm, which allows a juxtaposition of several units according to the invention on a very short front (six printing stations or six colors over 3 m) which can be easily monitored and controlled by a single servant.

Dans le cas de la figure, l'organe de convoyage 2 est constitué par une chaîne qui s'enroule autour d'une roue d'entraînement 11 verticale, la partie enroulée de la chaîne formant la partie frontale susdite. Cette chaîne peut être remplacée par tout autre dispositif pouvant assurer le transfert des objets depuis le poste 4 jusqu'au poste 8 (par exemple, un disque pourvu à sa périphérie de moyens de préhension des flacons),la circulation dans l'unité de séchage des flacons imprimés pouvant être assurée par un convoyeur de reprise différent du dispositif susdit. Il peut être cependant avantageux de prévoir un convoyeur unique pour toute l'unité, constitué par une chaîne sans fin pourvue de moyens de préhension 12 en forme de pinces - dont on explicitera la composition et le fonctionnement en regard des figures suivantes - disposées en totalité dans un plan vertical pour maintenir les flaçons 13 par leur goulot 13a ou toute autre partie terminale dans une position telle que leur axe longitudinal soit sensiblement horizontal (perpendiculaire au plan de figure) et pour les déplacer parallèlement à eux-mêmes. Ce n'est pas sortir du cadre de l'invention que de mettre en place un convoyeur unique sans fin desservant consécutivement plusieurs unités d'impression placées côte à côte. On peut en effet imaginer qu'au sortir du poste d'impression dans l'enceinte de séchage la chaîne 2 soit judicieusement renvoyée vers une seconde unité dans laquelle elle serait orientée verticalement en regard des postes de traitement et d'impression de cette seconde unité et poursuivrait un trajet identique dans les unités suivantes pour, finalement, décharger les flacons et être renvoyée à vide au poste de prise en charge 4 de la première unité. On disposerait ainsi d'une chaîne continue desservant plusieurs unités fonctionnant en synchronisme à partir d'une source unique de mouvement.In the case of the figure, the conveying member 2 is constituted by a chain which is wound around a vertical drive wheel 11, the wound part of the chain forming the above-mentioned front part. This chain can be replaced by any other device which can ensure the transfer of objects from station 4 to station 8 (for example, a disc provided at its periphery with means for gripping the bottles), circulation in the drying unit. printed bottles which can be supplied by a recovery conveyor different from the above-mentioned device. However, it may be advantageous to provide a single conveyor for the entire unit, consisting of an endless chain provided with gripping means 12 in the form of pliers - the composition and operation of which will be explained with reference to the following figures - arranged entirely in a vertical plane to hold the bottles 13 by their neck 13a or any other end part in a position such that their longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal (perpendicular to the plane of the figure) and to move them parallel to themselves. It is not outside the scope of the invention to set up a single endless conveyor serving cons several printing units placed side by side. One can indeed imagine that when leaving the printing station in the drying chamber, the chain 2 is judiciously returned to a second unit in which it would be oriented vertically opposite the processing and printing stations of this second unit. and would continue an identical route in the following units to, finally, unload the bottles and be sent back empty to the pick-up station 4 of the first unit. This would provide a continuous chain serving several units operating in synchronism from a single source of movement.

On notera enfin que l'enceinte de séchage 10 propre à chaque unité peut recevoir une pluralité d'équipementschoisis en fonction des encres utilisées. Ainsi, au moyen de soufflantes 14, 15, on peut créer une circulation d'air chaud (ou froid). On peut substituer à ce type de séchage ou y apporter en complément des émetteurs de rayons infrarouges ou ultraviolets afin de répondre pour le mieux aux exigences de séchage dictées par la nature des encres ou les divers mélanges. Ainsi, on procure à l'unité selon l'invention une souplesse d'adaptation qui permet d'utiliser des encres différentes adaptées à l'objet ou, pour un même objet, des encres différentes dans la réalisation d'un même décor.Finally, it will be noted that the drying enclosure 10 specific to each unit can receive a plurality of equipment selected according to the inks used. Thus, by means of blowers 14, 15, it is possible to create a circulation of hot (or cold) air. This type of drying can be substituted or supplemented with emitters of infrared or ultraviolet rays in order to best meet the drying requirements dictated by the nature of the inks or the various mixtures. Thus, the unit according to the invention is provided with a flexibility of adaptation which makes it possible to use different inks adapted to the object or, for the same object, different inks in the production of the same decoration.

Pour ce qui concerne ladite enceinte de séchage 10, il faut remarquer qu'elle est fermée par une partie arrière 10b qui peut être adaptée de manière démontable à la partie principale 10. La longueur de cette partie arrière pourra alors être choisie en fonction du temps de séchage de l'encre et donc être plus ou moins longue selon que ce temps est plus ou moins bref.With regard to said drying chamber 10, it should be noted that it is closed by a rear part 10b which can be dismountably adapted to the main part 10. The length of this rear part can then be chosen as a function of time. ink drying and therefore be more or less long depending on whether this time is more or less short.

Dans le cas de la nécessité d'un séchage par rayonnement infrarouge ou ultraviolet, cette partie arrière pourra contenir un dispositif de reprise des flacons apportés dans l'enceinte par le convoyeur fonctionnant sur le même principe que le dispositif comprenant les postes5, 6, 7 susdits - explicité plus en détail en regard des figures 5 et 7 - permettant de faire tourner les flacons devant les sources d'émission des rayons susdits. L'ouverture et la fermeture des pinces 12 pour lâcher et reprendre les flacons en regard de ce poste de séchage pouvant être assurées au moyen d'un dispositif de commande semblable à celui décrit ci-après en regard des figures 4 et 5. In the case of the need for drying by infrared or ultraviolet radiation, this rear part may contain a device for taking up the bottles brought into the enclosure by the conveyor operating on the same principle as the device comprising the stations 5, 6, 7 above - explained in more detail with reference to Figures 5 and 7 - to rotate the bottles in front of the emission sources of the above rays. The opening and closing of the clamps 12 for releasing and resuming the bottles opposite this drying station which can be ensured by means of a control device similar to that described below in see Figures 4 and 5.

Sur les figures 2 et 3, on voit un maillon 16 de la chaîne du transporteur sans fin 2 pourvu des deux bras 12a et 12b formant la pince 12 susceptible d'être refermée sur le goulot 13a d'un flacon 13. L'un des bras 12b est tourillonné en 17 dans un palier 16a et est solidaire d'un pignon 18 également centré sur l'axe 17. L'autre, 12a, est solidaire en rotation d'un arbre 19 sur lequel est claveté un pignon 20 engrenant avec le pignon 18, l'arbre 19 étant supporté par deux paliers 16b et 16c et comportant à son extrémité opposée au bras 12a une roue dentée 21 de commande de la rotation de l'arbre 19. Cette roue dentée 21 peut être solidaire de l'arbre 19 ou y être accouplée au moyen d'une roue libre symbolisée en 22.Figures 2 and 3 show a link 16 of the endless conveyor chain 2 provided with two arms 12a and 12b forming the clamp 12 can be closed on the mouth 13a of a bottle 13. One arms 12b is journalled at 17 in a bearing 16a and is integral with a pinion 18 also centered on the axis 17. The other, 12a, is integral in rotation with a shaft 19 on which is pinned a pinion 20 meshing with the pinion 18, the shaft 19 being supported by two bearings 16b and 16c and comprising at its end opposite the arm 12a a toothed wheel 21 for controlling the rotation of the shaft 19. This toothed wheel 21 can be secured to the 'shaft 19 or be coupled to it by means of a freewheel symbolized at 22.

La figure 4 et la figure 5 symbolisent schématiquement une commande de l'ouverture des pinces 12. On retrouve les roues 21 des maillons 16 affectées d'un indice identique aux références des postes définis en regard de la figure 1. On a disposé une chaîne 23 sans fin s'enroulant sur deux roues 24 et 25 placées de manière qu'un brin de cette chaîne coopère avec les roues 21 comprises entre le poste 3 et le poste 8. Un organe d'entraînement 26 de la chaîne est représenté sous la forme d'un pignon attelé à un organe moteur non figuré. Dans l'hypothèse où les roues 21 sont accouplées à l'arbre 19 au moyen d'une roue libre, la chaîne 23 est fixe pendant le mouvement pas à pas du convoyeur 2. Les roues 21 tournent donc sur l'axe 19. A l'arrêt du convoyeur, on imprime à la chaîne 23, au moyen de l'organe 26 (qui peut être un levier agissant sur la roue 24), un mouvement d'amplitude déterminée dans un sens provoquant la rotation des roues 21 et de l'arbre 19. Par le jeu des pignons 18 et 20, toutes les pinces s'ouvrent. Un.mouvement contraire de même amplitude assure la fermeture des pinces (assistée par un ressort tendant à rapprocher les bras 12a et I2b). Dans l'hypothèse où la roue 21 de chaque pince est directement calée en rotation sur l'arbre 19, on aura prévu que la chaîne 23 soit animée d'un mouvement identique à celui du convoyeur 2. Dans ce cas, la roue 24 sera accouplée à l'arbre d'entraînement de la roue crantée 11. L'organe 26 agira, quand le convoyeur sera arrêté, sur la chaîne 23, la roue 24 ayant été rendue folle par rapport à la roue 11 pour manoeuvrer à l'ouverture et à la fermeture les pinces 12.Figure 4 and Figure 5 schematically symbolize a command to open the clamps 12. We find the wheels 21 of the links 16 assigned an index identical to the references of the positions defined with reference to Figure 1. We have arranged a chain 23 endless winding on two wheels 24 and 25 placed so that a strand of this chain cooperates with the wheels 21 between station 3 and station 8. A drive member 26 of the chain is shown below in the form of a pinion coupled to a non-illustrated drive member. In the event that the wheels 21 are coupled to the shaft 19 by means of a free wheel, the chain 23 is fixed during the stepwise movement of the conveyor 2. The wheels 21 therefore rotate on the axis 19. A when the conveyor stops, the chain 23 is printed, by means of the member 26 (which can be a lever acting on the wheel 24), a movement of determined amplitude in a direction causing the rotation of the wheels 21 and the shaft 19. By the play of the pinions 18 and 20, all the clamps open. A contrary movement of the same amplitude ensures the closing of the clamps (assisted by a spring tending to bring the arms 12a and I2b together). Assuming that the wheel 21 of each clamp is directly locked in rotation on the shaft 19, provision will be made for the chain 23 to be driven with a movement identical to that of the conveyor 2. In this case, the wheel 24 will be coupled to the drive shaft of the toothed wheel 11 . The member 26 will act, when the conveyor is stopped, on the chain 23, the wheel 24 having been driven mad relative to the wheel 11 to maneuver the grippers 12 when opening and closing.

D'autres variantes peuvent être apportées à ces systèmes de commande. Ainsi, pour obtenir au droit des postes de prise en charge 4 et de déchagement 3 un angle d'ouverture plus important qu'en regard des autres postes, on peut mettre en place, dans le cas d'un accouplement par roue libre de la roue 21 à l'arbre 19, une chaîne secondaire dont l'entraînement sera réalisé par la chaîne 23 limitée aux postes restants au moyen d'un organe de démultiplication d'amplitude (jeu de roues dentées par exemple).Other variants can be made to these control systems. Thus, to obtain the right of the pick-up 4 and release 3 stations a larger opening angle than compared to the other stations, it is possible to set up, in the case of a freewheel coupling of the wheel 21 to the shaft 19, a secondary chain, the drive of which will be carried out by the chain 23 limited to the remaining stations by means of an amplitude reduction member (set of toothed wheels for example).

Enfin, sur les figures 6 et 7, on a schématisé l'agencement des moyens propres à l'unité selon l'invention, qui constituent les organes de prise en charge des flacons aux postes de traitement et d'impression.Finally, in FIGS. 6 and 7, the arrangement of the means specific to the unit according to the invention is shown diagrammatically, which constitute the bodies for taking charge of the bottles at the processing and printing stations.

Certains éléments déjà décrits s'y retrouvent avec les mêmes références. Aux postes 5, 6, 7, 8, les flacons 13 sont pris en charge entre les mandrins 27 de culot et des pointes 28 coopérant avec les goulots 13a (seuls les pointeset mandrins du poste 8 sont représentés sur la figure 7). Les mandrins susdits sont portés par une plaque 29 sensiblement verticale, tandis que.les pointes sont portées par une plaque 30 parallèle à la plaque 29. Ces plaques sont montées à coulissement sur des tiges 31 fixes et possèdent respectivement une extension inférieure 29a et 30a qui est engagée dans une rainure 32a ménagée dans un disque 32 et dont le profil est tel qu'une rotation de ce disque provoque le rapprochement et l'écartement des plaques 29 et 30 d'une amplitude déterminée. Le disque 32 est entraîné en rotation au moyen d'un organe non représenté dont le fonctionnement Est commandé par le fonctionnement du convoyeur 2 (avec les temporisations nécessaires pour éviter les interférences). Ainsi, les pinces 12 placent à chaque pas les flacons 13 entre les plaques 29 et 30. Celles-ci se rapprochent pour maintenir les flacons alors que les pinces sont commandées à l'ouverture. Certains des mandrins 28 sont entraînés en rotation soit directement pour, par exemple, le dépoussiérage et le traitement à la flamme (postes 5 et 6) et sur un angle déterminé pour le prérepérage (poste 7), de manière connue, soit en fonction du déplacement d'un autre organe (comme au poste d'impression 8 où une translation de l'écran de sérigraphie 9 entraîne une rotation simultanée du mandrin dans le cas d'un récipient cylindrique).Some elements already described are found there with the same references. At stations 5, 6, 7, 8, the bottles 13 are supported between the mandrels 27 of the base and the tips 28 cooperating with the necks 13a (only the tips and mandrels of the station 8 are shown in FIG. 7). The aforementioned mandrels are carried by a substantially vertical plate 29, while the points are carried by a plate 30 parallel to the plate 29. These plates are slidably mounted on fixed rods 31 and have respectively a lower extension 29a and 30a which is engaged in a groove 32a formed in a disc 32 and the profile of which is such that a rotation of this disc causes the plates 29 and 30 to approach and move apart by a determined amplitude. The disc 32 is rotated by means of a member (not shown), the operation of which is controlled by the operation of the conveyor 2 (with the time delays necessary to avoid interference). Thus, the clamps 12 place the bottles 13 at each step between the plates 29 and 30. These come together to hold the bottles while the clamps are ordered to open. Some mandrels 28 are rotated either directly for, for example, dusting and flame treatment (stations 5 and 6) and over a predetermined angle for pre-marking (station 7), in known manner, or depending on the displacement another member (as at the printing station 8 where a translation of the screen printing screen 9 causes a simultaneous rotation of the mandrel in the case of a cylindrical container).

L'unité d'impression selon l'invention par sa conception simple présente de grandes facultés d'adaptation tant en ce qui concerne la forme des flacons à traiter que les encres employées et les couleurs à déposer. Son caractère modulaire permet de passer rapidement à l'application d'un nombre différent de couleurs sur un même flacon. L'agencement relatif des moyens de convoyage des flacons permet de grouper les organes moteurs sur une seule unité et d'atteler à volonté les unités suivantes qui peuvent être, par leur bâti,montées sur des chemins de roulement pour les mettre rapidement en ou hors service. Par ailleurs, on rappellera que la courte longueur du front où sont localisées les opérations de traitement en fait une machine simple à contrôler et à vérifier par un seul opérateur qui peut intervenir rapidement au moindre incident.The printing unit according to the invention by its simple design has great adaptability both in terms of the shape of the bottles to be treated as the inks used and the colors to be deposited. Its modular nature allows you to quickly switch to applying a different number of colors on the same bottle. The relative arrangement of the means of conveying the bottles makes it possible to group the driving members on a single unit and to couple at will the following units which can be, by their frame, mounted on rolling tracks to quickly put them in or out service. In addition, it will be recalled that the short length of the front where the processing operations are located makes it a simple machine to control and verify by a single operator who can intervene quickly in the slightest incident.

Dans le cas d'une machine présentant une batterie d'unités placées côte à côté pour l'impression en plusieurs passes ou plusieurs couleurs, les organes de prise en charge des flacons des unités suivant la première comportent des postes 5 à 7 qui ne sont pas affectés. Il n'est plus en effet nécessaire d'opérer à ce stade un second traitement de surface, un dépoussiérage ou un prérepérage du flacon. Il est alors avantageux d'utiliser ces postes libres pour assurer d'autres fonctions telles que le collage d'étiquettes, la rotation d'une fraction de tour, ou des fonctions de contrôle de l'étanchéité des flacons ou du "code barre" qui aurait pu être au préalable appliqué sur le flacon. On rappellera que le "code barre" est l'appellation devenue maintenant usuelle d'une identification du flacon (et de son contenu) au moyen d'une succession de traits à épaisseurs et écartements variables pouvant être lus par des têtes optiques reliées à des unités informatiques de traitement.In the case of a machine having a battery of units placed side by side for printing in several passes or several colors, the bodies for taking care of the bottles of the units according to the first comprise stations 5 to 7 which are not not affected. It is no longer necessary to carry out a second surface treatment at this stage, dedusting or pre-marking the bottle. It is therefore advantageous to use these vacant stations to perform other functions such as sticking labels, rotating a fraction of a turn, or functions for checking the tightness of the bottles or the "bar code". which could have been previously applied to the bottle. It will be recalled that the "bar code" is the name which has now become customary for identifying the bottle (and its contents) by means of a succession of lines with variable thicknesses and spacings which can be read by optical heads connected to computer processing units.

Enfin, il faut préciser que l'un, des avantages particulier de l'unité selon l'invention réside dans le principe et les moyens du transfert des flacons pendant lequel ces derniers sont toujours tenus dans une orientation bien précise, ce qui permet de tuujours prendre et lâcher le flacon dans des positions bien repérées et ainsi facilite beaucoup la succession des traitements que ces derniers doivent subir en simplifiant les systèmes de prise en charge.Finally, it should be pointed out that one of the particular advantages of the unit according to the invention lies in the principle and the means of transferring the bottles during which the latter are always kept in a very precise orientation, which allows you to always take and release the bottle in well identified positions and thus greatly facilitates the succession of treatments that they must undergo by simplifying the management systems.

Les avantages de l'invention ci-dessus exposés sont augmentés si l'on met en oeuvre une tête d'impression particulière telle qu'illustrée par les figures 8 à 13.The advantages of the invention described above are increased if a particular print head is used as illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 13.

En se reportant tout d'abord à la figure 8, on a référencé 101 un support fixe appartenant à une structure non représentée d'une machine de sérigraphie. Ce support 101 constitue un guide pour une pièce d'articulation 102 qui peut être immobilisée sur le guide 101 dans une position quelconque. La pièce 102 porte l'extrémité d'un bras 103 qui peut débattre dans un plan sensiblement parallèle au guide 101 autour de l'axe d'articulation 104 dont l'orientation est parallèle à l'axe longitudinal de l'objet à imprimer (non représenté sur cette figure). A une extrémité opposée à l'articulation, le bras 103 est équipé d'une platine 105, réglable en position le long du bras, et qui comporte deux coulisses 106 et 107. La première coulisse 106 constitue un guide pour un écran de sérigraphie 108. L'orientation de cet écran est telle qu'il est parallèle à l'axe 104 (donc à l'axe longitudinal de l'objet à imprimer) et perpendiculaire au bras 103. Plus précisément, l'écran est maintenu parallèle à la surface à imprimer qui, si elle est cylindrique, est parallèle à l'axe 104 mais qui peut également présenter une légère conicité d'axe 104. La fixation de l'écran comporte des moyens permettant de régler sa position en fonction de cette conicité. Son déplacement le long de la coulisse 106 est perpendiculaire au bras 103, et il peut être immobilisé par rapport à ladite coulisse sur la platine 105.Referring first to FIG. 8, reference 101 has been made to a fixed support belonging to a structure not shown of a screen printing machine. This support 101 constitutes a guide for an articulation piece 102 which can be immobilized on the guide 101 in any position. The part 102 carries the end of an arm 103 which can debate in a plane substantially parallel to the guide 101 around the axis of articulation 104 whose orientation is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the object to be printed ( not shown in this figure). At an end opposite to the articulation, the arm 103 is equipped with a plate 105, adjustable in position along the arm, and which comprises two slides 106 and 107. The first slide 106 constitutes a guide for a screen printing screen 108 The orientation of this screen is such that it is parallel to the axis 104 (therefore to the longitudinal axis of the object to be printed) and perpendicular to the arm 103. More specifically, the screen is kept parallel to the surface to be printed which, if it is cylindrical, is parallel to the axis 104 but which may also have a slight conicity of axis 104. The fixing of the screen comprises means making it possible to adjust its position as a function of this conicity. Its displacement along the slide 106 is perpendicular to the arm 103, and it can be immobilized relative to said slide on the plate 105.

Un porte-raclette 109, pourvu de la raclette 109a est quant à lui susceptible de coulisser le long de la coulisse 107 qui est parallèle à la coulisse 106, le bord de la raclette 109a étant susceptible de se déplacer parallèlement à l'écran 108 en frottant sur ce dernier. De même que pour l'écran, le porte-raclette 109 peut être immobilisé sur la platine 105.A squeegee holder 109, provided with the squeegee 109a is for its part capable of sliding along the slide 107 which is parallel to the slide 106, the edge of the squeegee 109a being able to move parallel to the screen 108 by rubbing on the latter. As with the screen, the squeegee holder 109 can be immobilized on the plate 105.

On notera en outre en regard de cette figure un organe 110 permettant de bloquer de manière amovible le brasl03par rapport au guide101. Par ailleurs, on a référencéen 108aune crémaillère portée par l'écran 108dans le plan de ce dernier et parallèle à la première coulisse106susdite. Enfin les organes 108b,109bsolidaires respectivement de l'écran108et du porte-raclette109constituent des moyens d'attelage amovible d'une bielle d'entraînement non représentée dudit écran et dudit porte-raclette le long de leur coulisse respective et si ces organes sont bloqués sur la platine d'entraînement de la platine elle-même en oscillation angulaire autour de l'axe 104 susdit.It will also be noted with regard to this figure a member 110 making it possible to removably block the brasl03 relative to the guide 101 . Furthermore, reference has been made in 108 to a rack carried by the screen 108 in the plane of the latter and parallel to the first slide 106 above. Finally, the members 108b, 109, respectively integral with the screen 108 and the squeegee holder 109 constitute means for detachably coupling a drive rod, not shown, of said screen and said squeegee holder along their respective slides and if these organs are blocked on the drive plate of the plate itself in angular oscillation around the aforementioned axis 104.

Les schémas des figures 9 â11 illustrent les différentes cinématiques possibles des moyens décrits en regard de la figure g. Sur ces schémas on retrouve certains de ces moyens portant les mêmes références.The diagrams in FIGS. 9 to 11 illustrate the different possible kinematics of the means described with reference to FIG. G. In these diagrams we find some of these means bearing the same references.

La figure- 9 illustre le cas où le flacon est cylindrique. Ce flacon est tenu, généralement,au moyen d'un support comportant du côté du culot du flacon un mandrin et de l'autre côté une pointe qui coopère avec l'ouverture de son goulot, parallèlement à l'écran 108 qu'il vient tangenter par l'une de ses génératrices. Le mandrin susdit est attelé à rotation à un pignon de même diamètre que celui du flacon. Ce pignon, référencé 111 sur la figure 9, coopère avec la crémaillère 108a de l'écran. Pour réaliser l'impression sur le flacon cylin- driqueon fixe le bras 103 au guide101Par l'élément de fixation 110.La platine 105préalablement réglée le long du bras103 est donc fixe en position. On fixe sur la platine 105le pc.rte-raclette109de manière que la raclette 109asoit disposée le long de la ligne de tangence du flacon et de l'écran. Au moyen de la bielle 112 dont la tête est attelée en 108b à l'écran alors que le pied est articulé à un dispositif d'entraînement non représenté du type maneton excentrique ou analogue, on entraîne l'écran en le tirant vers le bas le long de sa coulisse 106 Grâce à l'engrènement de la crémaillère108a sur le pignon1111.le flacon roule sans glisser par rapport à l'écran et la portion de cylindre balayée par la raclette109aest imprimée. On assure ensuite l'éloignement de l'écran par rapport au flacon le long du guidelOlet l'on évacue le flacon par des moyens appropriés pour mettre en place le suivant.Figure 9 illustrates the case where the bottle is cylindrical. This bottle is held, generally, by means of a support comprising on the side of the base of the bottle a mandrel and on the other side a point which cooperates with the opening of its neck, parallel to the screen 108 which it comes from. tangent by one of its generators. The above mandrel is rotatably coupled to a pinion of the same diameter as that of the bottle. This pinion, referenced 111 in FIG. 9 , cooperates with the rack 108a of the screen. To perform printing on the bottle cylin- dr i that is fixed to the arm 103 guide101P ar the fastener 110.La 105préalablement platinum adjusted along the arm 103 is therefore fixed in position. Is fixed on the plate 105 the pc.rte-raclette109 so that the squeegee 109asoit disposed along the line of tangency of the bottle and the screen. By means of the rod 112 whose head is coupled at 108b to the screen while the foot is articulated to a drive device not shown of the eccentric crankpin type or the like, the screen is driven by pulling it downwards. along its slide 106 Thanks to the engagement of the rack 108a on the pinion 1111, the bottle rolls without sliding relative to the screen and the portion of cylinder scanned by the squeegee 109 is printed. The screen is then moved away from the bottle along the guidelOlet the bottle is evacuated by appropriate means to set up the next.

Sur la figure 10 le flaconll3 à imprimer est ici représenté de section rectangulaire. Il présente donc au moins une surface plane à imprimer. Ayant immobilisé le bras103sur le guide101- la pla- tinel05étant donc fixe - et l'écran108sur la platine105 on attelle la biellell3 au porte-raclette109.0n fait porter l'écran sur la surface plane à imprimer et l'on déplace la raclette vers le bas le long de la coulissel07au moyen de la bielle pour réaliser le transfert de l'encre portée par l'écran sur ladite surface au travers des pores de ce dernier. De même que dans la figure 9 on éloigne ensuite l'écran de l'objet pour en assurer son évacuation. Dans le même temps, on remonte en haut de l'écran la raclettel09a Le support du flacon comporte de manière connue des moyens pour présenter la face à imprimer dans une orientation parallèle à celle de l'écran.In FIG. 10 the bottle 3 to be printed is here represented of rectangular section. It therefore has at least one flat surface to be printed. Having immobilized the arm 103 on the guide 101 - the plate 05 therefore being fixed - and the screen 108 on the plate 105 the coupler 3 is coupled to the squeegee holder 109.0 the screen is brought to the flat surface to be printed and the squeegee is moved towards the down along the coulissel07 by means of the connecting rod to effect the transfer of the ink carried by the screen on said surface through the pores of the latter. As in FIG. 9, the screen is then moved away from the object to ensure its evacuation. At the same time, the raclettel09a is raised to the top of the screen. The support for the bottle comprises, in known manner, means for presenting the face to be printed in an orientation parallel to that of the screen.

Sur la figure 11enfin, on a illustré le cas d'impression d'un flacon 114à section relativement aplatie (sensiblement ovale) dont l'une des faces peut être assimilée à une portion de cylindre à grand rayon de courbure. Pour imprimer cette face, qui se trouve à un emplacement déterminé par rapport au guide101du fait que le support de flacon place ce dernier dans une position fixe par rapport à la structure de soutien du guide101 on procède au réglage de la longueur du bras103en faisant d'une part coulisser la pièce d'articulationl02sur le guide et d'autre part en réglant la position de la platine 1051e long de l'extrémité du bras103 de manière que l'écran108 soitdistant de l'axel04d'une longueur égale au rayon de courbure de ladite surface. On place ensuite un secteur denté 115 immobilisé sur le guide 101(par exemple sur une partie non tournante de la pièce d'articulation 102ou l'axe104) dont le rayon est aussi égal au rayon de courbure de la face susdite sur lequel vient engrener la crémaillère 108ade l'écran108 Ce dernier est libre en coulissement sur lacoulisse 106alors que le porte-raclette 109 est immobilisé sur la platine105qui est libre par rapport au guide 101puisque le bras 103n'est pas solidarisé à ce guide. La bielle 112 est attelée au porte-raclette et,lorsqu'on tire vers le bas la bielle 112, on entraîne en rotation l'ensemble platine105 porte-raclettd109 et bras103 autour de l'axe104.Dans ce mouvement, la crémaillère108aroule sans glisser sur le secteur denté 115, ainsi que l'écran sur le flacon114. La raclette 109aayant été réglée en position de manière à être située au droit de la génératrice de contact de l'écran et du flacon, on réalise correctement le transfert d'encre.Finally, in FIG. 11 , the case of printing a bottle 114 with a relatively flattened section (substantially oval) is illustrated, one of the faces of which can be likened to a portion of cylinder with a large radius of curvature. To print this face, which is at a determined location relative to the guide101 because the bottle holder places the latter in a fixed position relative to the support structure of the guide101, the arm length 103 is adjusted by making on the one hand, slide the articulation piece 02 on the guide and on the other hand by adjusting the position of the plate 1051 along the end of the arm 103 so that the screen 108 is distant from the axis 04 of a length equal to the radius of curvature of said surface. A toothed sector 115 is then placed immobilized on the guide 101 (for example on a non-rotating part of the articulation piece 102 or the axis 104) whose radius is also equal to the radius of curvature of the aforesaid face on which the rack 108ade the screen 108 The latter is free to slide on the slide 106 while the squeegee holder 109 is immobilized on the plate 105 which is free relative to the guide 101 since the arm 103 is not secured to this guide. The connecting rod 112 is coupled to the squeegee holder and, when the connecting rod 112 is pulled down, the plate 105 raclette holder 109 and arms 103 are rotated around the axis 104. In this movement, the rack 108 loosens without sliding on the toothed sector 115, as well as the screen on the bottle 114 . The squeegee 109a having been adjusted in position so as to be located in line with the contact generator of the screen and the bottle, the ink transfer is correctly carried out.

On voit que les moyens selon l'invention sont extrêmement simples à mettre en oeuvre et à régler et l'on peut grâce à leur conception passer rapidement d'un type de flacons à un autre.It can be seen that the means according to the invention are extremely simple to implement and to adjust and it is possible, thanks to their design, to quickly switch from one type of bottle to another.

Les figures 12 et 13 illustrent sous la forme d'un schéma en perspective et d'une vue en élévation une réalisation industrielle de l'invention. Le réglage de la pièce102le long du guide 101(censtitué par un jeu de colonnes parallèles dont une seule 121 est visible sur la figurel3) est réalisé au moyen d'un système vis116 écrou 117 ce dernier étant attelé à la piècel02 la vis 116 étant solidaire des colonnes 121.Le brasl03est constitué également par un jeu de deux colonnes123, 123a.L'ensemble platine et coulisses des figures précédentes est réalisé de manière différente dans ces deux figures pour cependant assurer les mêmes fonctions. Ainsi solidaire des colonnes123,123a et réglable le long de ces colonnes, une pièce 124 reçoit à coulissement transversal deux barres 125 et 126. Cette pièce 124 est conformée en chape pour recevoir un bloc central 127 également traversé par la barre 125 et recevant à coulissement une barre 128.Les barres 125, 128 sont reliées entre elles par leurs extrémités au moyen de plaques 129, 130. Les barres 125, 126 sont reliées de la même manière par des plaques 131, 132. Les faces frontales du bloc127 et des plaques 129, 130 présentent des organes 133 pour permettre la fixation sélective de l'écran108 et du porte-raclette109a l'ensemble. A cet effet l'écran108 et le porte-raclette 109présenteront des semelles de fixation 108b,109b qui peuvent être vissées soit sur le bloc127 soit sur les plaques 129 et 130.Figures 12 and 13 illustrate in the form of a perspective diagram and an elevational view of an industrial embodiment of the invention. The adjustment of the part 102 along the guide 101 (censtitué by a set of parallel columns of which only one 1 21 is visible on the figurel3) is carried out by means of a system screw116 nut 117 the latter being coupled to the piece02 the screw 116 being integral with the columns 121. The arm 103 is also constituted by a set of two columns 123 , 123a. The set of plates and slides of the preceding figures is produced differently in these two figures to however ensure the same functions. Thus integral with the columns 123, 123a and adjustable along these columns, a piece 124 receives two bars 125 and 12 in transversely sliding. This piece 124 is shaped as a yoke to receive a central block 127 also crossed by the bar 125 and receiving at sliding a bar 128. The bars 125, 128 are connected to each other by their ends by means of plates 129, 130. The bars 125, 126 are connected in the same way by plates 131, 132. The front faces of the block 127 and plates 129, 130 have members 133 to allow the selective fixing of the screen 108 and the squeegee holder 109 the assembly. For this purpose, the screen 108 and the squeegee holder 109 will have fixing plates 108 b, 109 b which can be screwed either on the block 127 or on the plates 129 and 130.

Le flacon représenté sur la figure13 est cylindrique en 119 et est tenu entre un mandrin 134a et une pointe 134b respectivement solidaires de plaques telles que135 support appartenant par exemple à un ensemble fixe de postes de préparation et d'indexation de la position des flacons connu en lui-même. Ces mandrin et pointe sont susceptibles d'être éloignés et rapprochés l'un de l'autre pour prendre en charge ou libérer le flacon apporté à cet endroit par tout moyen connu. On notera que le mandrin 134a est solidaire d'un axe 136 traversant la plaque 135à l'extrémité duquel peut être calé un pignon (tel que celui,111 de la figure 9) au droit de la crémaillère 108a du chariot. Ce pignon peut être retiré et remplacé par le secteur denté 115 de la figure11 fixé par exemple sur l'axe10 d'articulation fixe par rapport au bras103(colonne123). Ces pignon et secteur denté n'ont pas été représentés sur le dessin de la figure13 pour ne pas le compliquer. On les retrouvera sur la figure 8 où ils ont été schématisés en traits mixtes.The bottle shown in Figure 13 is cylindrical in 119 and is held between a mandrel 134a and a tip 134b respectively integral with plates such as January 35 support belonging for example to a fixed set of picking stations and indexing the position of bottles known in itself. These mandrel and tip are capable of being moved away and brought closer to one another to take charge of or release the bottle brought to this place by any known means. It will be noted that the mandrel 134a is integral with an axis 136 passing through the plate 135 at the end of which a pinion (such as that, 111 in FIG. 9) can be wedged in line with the rack 108a of the carriage. This pinion can be removed and replaced by the toothed sector 115 of FIG. 11 fixed for example on the axis 10 of articulation fixed relative to the arm 103 (column 123). These pinion and toothed sector have not been represented in the drawing of FIG. 13 so as not to complicate it. They will be found in Figure 8 where they have been shown in dashed lines.

Enfin, sur cette figurel3 on a représenté en136 une came qui coopère avec un galetl37 porté par une extrémité du guide101 (colonnes 121) de manière à provoquer un soulèvement de l'ensemble de la tête pour que l'écran quitte le contact du flaconl19. Le guide101 sera alors prévu de manière coulissante sur une structure de support et maintenu constamment au contact de la camel36 par des moyens appropriés. Lors de ce mouvement, les moyens 132a, 131a de tenue de la crémaillère108a permettent que celle-ci reste toujours engrenée avec le pignon ou le secteur denté.Finally, in this figurel3 there is shown at136 a cam which cooperates with a roller37 carried by one end of the guide101 (columns 121) so as to cause the entire head to rise so that the screen leaves contact with the bottle19. The guide101 will then be slidably provided on a support structure and kept constantly in contact with the camel36 by appropriate means. During this movement, the means 132a, 131a for holding the rack 108a allow it to always remain meshed with the pinion or the toothed sector.

L'invention trouve une application intéressante dans le domaine de l'impression par sérigraphie.The invention finds an interesting application in the field of screen printing.

Elle n'est pas limitée à la description qui vient d'en être donnée mais couvre au contraire toutes les variantes qui pourraient lui être apportées sans sortir de son cadre ni de son esprit. C'est ainsi que l'invention s'applique à toutes sortes de flacons, récipients, tubes, pots, etc. avec ou sans goulots, la prise de ces objets pouvant être réalisée sur toute partie terminale propre à être pincée et située à l'extérieur de la surface à imprimer.It is not limited to the description which has just been given, but on the contrary covers all the variants which could be made to it without departing from its scope or its spirit. This is how the invention applies to all kinds of bottles, containers, tubes, pots, etc. with or without necks, it is possible to take these objects from any terminal part capable of being pinched and situated outside the surface to be printed.

Claims (19)

1. Unité d'impression par sérigraphie de flacons (13) ou analogues comportant .un dispositif de convoyage (2) desdits flacons (13), depuis un poste de prise en charge (4) de chacun des flacons à imprimer jusqu'à un poste de déchargement (3) du flacon imprimé et desservant entre eux, au moyen d'un entraînement pas à pas, au moins un poste (5, 6, 7) de traitement préalable du flacon, un poste d'impression comportant une tête d'impression (8) et un poste de séchage (10), ledit dispositif de convoyage comportant depuis le poste de prise en charge (4), au moins un tronçon disposé dans un plan vertical le long duquel lesdits flacons sont maintenus selon une orientation dans laquelle leur axe longitudinal est sensiblement horizontal et sont déplacés parallèlement à eux-mêmes, caractérisée en ce que ledit tronçon présente une partie extrême frontale au droit de laquelle est disposé le poste d'impression (8, 9) tandis que le poste de séchage (10) situé à l'arrière du poste d'impression (8) et est constitué par une enceinte (10) de longueur adaptée au temps de séchage de l'encre et réglable en fonction de ce dernier.1. Printing unit by screen printing of bottles (13) or the like comprising .a conveying device (2) of said bottles (13), from a pick-up station (4) of each of the bottles to be printed up to a unloading station (3) of the printed bottle and serving between them, by means of a step-by-step drive, at least one station (5, 6, 7) for pretreatment of the bottle, a printing station comprising a head printing (8) and a drying station (10), said conveying device comprising from the picking station (4), at least one section arranged in a vertical plane along which said bottles are held in an orientation in which their longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal and are moved parallel to themselves, characterized in that said section has an extreme front part to the right of which is disposed the printing station (8, 9) while the drying station ( 10) located at the rear of the printing station (8) and e st consists of an enclosure (10) of length adapted to the drying time of the ink and adjustable as a function of the latter. 2. Unité d'impression selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif de convoyage susdit comporte, au moins pour ledit tronçon, des pinces (12) de préhension desdits flacons coopérant avec une partie (13a) de ceux-ci, située à l'extrémité de la surface à imprimer pendant les phases de transport d'un poste à l'autre.2. Printing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned conveying device comprises, at least for said section, grippers (12) for gripping said bottles cooperating with a part (13a) thereof, located at the end of the surface to be printed during the transport phases from one station to another. 3. Unité d'impression selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif de convoyage (4) est constitué par une chaîne sans fin, évoluant en totalité dans un plan vertical, ladite partie extrême frontale étant formée par la portion de chaîne s'enroulant sur un organe courbe ou polygonal de renvoi (11).3. Printing unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the conveying device (4) consists of an endless chain, moving entirely in a vertical plane, said end end being formed by the portion of chain winding on a curved or polygonal return member (11). 4. Unité d'impression selon la revendication 2 ou et la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce que chacune des pinces (12) susdites est constituée par deux bras (12a, 12b) articulés sur une embase (16) formant maillon de ladite chaîne, chacun de ces bras étant accouplé en rotation autour de son articulation à l'autre bras au moyen de pignons (18, 20), l'un d'entre eux étant en plus solidaire d'une roue de commande (21) de l'ouverture de la pince coopérant avec une chaîne (23) disposée, entre le poste de chargement (4) et l'entrée (10a) du poste de séchage, le long de la chaîne de convoyage.4. Printing unit according to claim 2 or and claim 3, characterized in that each of the clamps (12) above-mentioned consists of two arms (12a, 12b) articulated on a base (16) forming a link of said chain, each of these arms being coupled in rotation about its articulation to the other arm by means of pinions (18, 20), one of them being additionally secured to a control wheel (21) of the opening of the clamp cooperating with a chain (23) arranged between the loading station (4) and the inlet (10a) of the drying station, the along the conveyor chain. 5. Unité d'impression selon la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce que ladite chaîne de commande (23) est solidaire d'un organe d'entraînement (26) et d'immobilisation qui, d'une part, l'immobilise par rapport au bâti lorsque le dispositif de convoyage (4) est en mouvement et, d'autre part, l'anime d'une translation d'amplitude déterminée lorsque le dispositif de convoyage est à l'arrêt, lesdites roues de commande (21) étant accouplées auxdits bras de pince (12a) au moyen d'un mécanisme (22) du type à roue libre.5. Printing unit according to claim 4, characterized in that said control chain (23) is integral with a drive member (26) and immobilization which, firstly, immobilizes it relative to the frame when the conveying device (4) is in motion and, on the other hand, animates a translation of determined amplitude when the conveying device is stopped, said control wheels (21) being coupled to said gripper arms (12a) by means of a freewheel type mechanism (22). 6. Unité d'impression selon la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce que ladite chaîne de commande (23) est attelée à un organe d'entraînement (26) l'animant d'un mouvement principal identique au mouvement de la chaîne de convoyage et d'un mouvement secondaire, lors de l'arrêt de la chaîne de convoyage, d'entraînement en rotation de ladite roue de commande (21).6. Printing unit according to claim 4, characterized in that said control chain (23) is coupled to a drive member (26) animating it with a main movement identical to the movement of the conveyor chain and a secondary movement, when the conveyor chain stops, driving in rotation of said control wheel (21). 7. Unité d'impression selon la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce que ladite chaîne de commande (23) s'étend en regard du poste de déchargement (3) situé au voisinage dudit poste de prise en charge.7. Printing unit according to claim 4, characterized in that said control chain (23) extends opposite the unloading station (3) located in the vicinity of said support station. 8. Unité d'impression selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que l'enceinte (10) susdite est fermée par une partie arrière démontable (10b) dont la longueur est adaptée au temps de séchage de l'encre, susceptible d'être pourvue d'un poste de prise en charge des flacons disposés en regard d'une source de rayonnement.8. Printing unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforementioned enclosure (10) is closed by a removable rear part (10b) whose length is adapted to the drying time of the ink, likely to be provided with a station for taking care of the bottles placed opposite a radiation source. 9. Unité d'impression selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la tête d'impression comporte un support du flacon et un support pour un écran (108) et un porte-raclette (109) mobile par rapport à l'écran, lesdits supports étant agencés l'un par rapport à l'autre de manière que le plan de l'écran soit maintenu sensiblement parallèle à l'axe longitudinal du flacon, le support susdit de l'écran (108) et du porte-raclette (109) étant constitué par un bras (103) dont une extrémité est pourvue d'une platine (105) réglable en position le long du bras comportant une première coulisse (106) perpendiculaire à l'axe du flacon et parallèle au plan de l'écran sur laquelle est monté à coulissement ledit écran (108) et une seconde coulisse (107) parallèle à la première sur laquelle est monté à coulissement le porte-raclette (109) susdit et dont l'autre extrémité est articulée sur une pièce (102) réglable en position le long d'un guide (101) fixe orienté perpendiculairement à la surface à imprimer du flacon et passant par son axe longitudinal, l'axe d'articulation (104) de ladite autre extrémité étant parallèle à l'axe longitudinal du flacon et situé au-delà de ladite surface par rapport à l'écran.9. Printing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the printing head comprises a support for the bottle and a support for a screen (108) and a squeegee holder (109) movable relative to the screen, said supports being arranged relative to each other so that the plane of the screen is kept substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bottle, the aforementioned support of the screen (108) and the squeegee holder ( 109) consisting of an arm (103), one end of which is provided with a plate (105) adjustable in position along the arm comprising a first slide (106) perpendicular to the axis of the bottle and parallel to the plane of the screen on which said screen (108) is slidably mounted and a second slide (107) parallel to the first on which it is slidably mounted the above-mentioned squeegee holder (109) and the other end of which is articulated on a part (102) adjustable in position along a fixed guide (101) oriented perpendicularly to the surface to be printed on the bottle and passing through its longitudinal axis , the axis of articulation (104) of said other end being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bottle and situated beyond said surface relative to the screen. 10. Unité d'impression selon la revendication 9, caractérisée en ce que l'écran est pourvu d'une crémaillère (108a) parallèle à la première coulisse (106) susdite.10. Printing unit according to claim 9, characterized in that the screen is provided with a rack (108a) parallel to the first slide (106) above. 11. Unité d'impression selon la revendication 10, caractérisée en ce que le support du flacon est équipé d'un mandrin (133) d'entraînement en rotation du flacon autour de son axe longitudinal, ledit mandrin étant solidaire en rotation d'un pignon (111) susceptible de coopérer avec ladite crémaillère (108a).11. Printing unit according to claim 10, characterized in that the support of the bottle is equipped with a mandrel (133) for driving the rotation of the bottle around its longitudinal axis, said mandrel being integral in rotation with a pinion (111) capable of cooperating with said rack (108a). 12. Unité d'impression selon la revendication 10, caractérisée en ce que la pièce d'articulation (102) susdite porte un secteur denté (115) fixe par rapport au bras (103) susceptible de coopérer avec ladite crémaillère (108a).12. Printing unit according to claim 10, characterized in that the above-mentioned articulation part (102) carries a toothed sector (115) fixed relative to the arm (103) capable of cooperating with said rack (108a). 13. Unité d'impression selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 12, caractérisée en ce que le bras (103) susdit comporte des moyens (110) pour son immobilisation sur le guide (101) susdit et parallèlement à ce dernier.13. Printing unit according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the above-mentioned arm (103) comprises means (110) for its immobilization on the above-mentioned guide (101) and parallel to the latter. 14. Unité d'impression selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 13, caractérisée en ce que l'écran (108) comporte des moyens (108b,133) pour son immobilisation par rapport audit bras (103).14. Printing unit according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the screen (108) comprises means (108b, 133) for its immobilization relative to said arm (103). 15. Unité d'impression selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 14, caractérisée en ce que le porte-raclette (109) comporte des moyens (109b, 133) pour son immobilisation par rapport audit bras.15. Printing unit according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the squeegee holder (109) comprises means (109b, 133) for its immobilization relative to said arm. 16. Unité d'impression selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 15, caractérisée en ce que l'ensemble porte-raclette-écran est monté articulé à l'extrémité dudit bras (103) autour d'un axe (125) de pivotement perpendiculaire à ce bras.16. Printing unit according to any one of claims 9 to 15, characterized in that the squeegee-screen assembly is mounted articulated at the end of said arm (103) about an axis (125) of pivoting perpendicular to this arm. 17. Unité d'impression selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 16, caractérisée en ce que le porte-raclette (109) et l'écran (108) sont pourvus d'un moyen d'attelage. amovible pour une bielle (112) d'entraînement sensiblement perpendiculaire audit bras.17. Printing unit according to any one of claims 9 to 16, characterized in that the squeegee holder (109) and the screen (108) are provided with coupling means. removable for a connecting rod (112) substantially perpendicular to said arm. 18. Unité d'impression selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 16, caractérisée en ce que la platine susdite est constituée par une pièce (124) réglable en position sur le bras (103) susdit et traversée par des barres coulissantes (125, 126, 128) réunies à leurs extrémités pour former un chariot (125, 126, 131, 132), ladite pièce et ledit chariot présentant des éléments 133) pour l'attelage sélectif de l'écran (108) et du porte-raclette (109).18. Printing unit according to any one of claims 9 to 16, characterized in that the aforesaid plate is constituted by a part (124) adjustable in position on the aforementioned arm (103) and traversed by sliding bars (125 , 126, 128) joined at their ends to form a carriage (125, 126, 131, 132), said part and said carriage having elements 133) for the selective coupling of the screen (108) and the squeegee holder (109). 19. Unité d'impression selon la revendication 18, caractérisée en ce que les éléments d'attelage (133) susdits sont portés par une partie (127) de ladite pièce et une partie (129, 130) dudit chariot articulées respectivement sur ladite pièce (124) et ledit chariot (125, 126, 131, 132) autour d'une barre (125) de coulissement du chariot perpendiculaire au bras (103) susdit permettant le pivotement d'ensemble écran raclette.19. Printing unit according to claim 18, characterized in that the above-mentioned coupling elements (133) are carried by a part (127) of said part and a part (129, 130) of said carriage articulated respectively on said part (124) and said carriage (125, 126, 131, 132) around a bar (125) for sliding the carriage perpendicular to the above-mentioned arm (103) allowing the pivoting of the squeegee screen assembly.
EP82400366A 1981-03-04 1982-03-03 Screen-printing unit for bottles or the like Withdrawn EP0059674A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8104370 1981-03-04
FR8104370A FR2501116A1 (en) 1981-03-04 1981-03-04 Machine for series printing of bottles - has drying station with length of zone determined by time required to dry printing ink
FR8104371A FR2501115A1 (en) 1981-03-04 1981-03-04 Machine for series printing of bottles - has drying station with length of zone determined by time required to dry printing ink
FR8104371 1981-03-04

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FR2639875A1 (en) * 1988-12-05 1990-06-08 Dubuit Mach MACHINE FOR PRINTING OBJECTS WITH FIXED PRINT AXIS
EP2100733A1 (en) * 2008-03-11 2009-09-16 Polytype S.A. Modular linear printing press for printing onto hollow bodies with different print procedures

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DE59504484D1 (en) * 1994-10-27 1999-01-21 Ferag Ag Method and device for labeling printed products
US6283022B1 (en) 1997-10-17 2001-09-04 Deco Patents, Inc. Apparatus and method for direct rotary screen printing radiation curable compositions onto cylindrical articles
US6152031A (en) * 1999-02-10 2000-11-28 Decruz; Rudolf R. STS dayloader system
US6684770B2 (en) 2001-06-29 2004-02-03 Deco Patents, Inc. Apparatus and method for direct rotary printing compositions onto cylindrical articles

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FR1263239A (en) * 1960-02-23 1961-06-09 Machine for printing flat and on cylindrical bodies by the silk screen process
US3338574A (en) * 1964-11-27 1967-08-29 Strutz & Co Inc Carl Workpiece carrier assembly for decorating apparatus
FR1497680A (en) * 1966-09-12 1967-10-13 Miehle Goss Dexter Inc Cylindrical container printing machine
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FR2186887A5 (en) * 1972-05-30 1974-01-11 Dubuit Mach
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FR2639875A1 (en) * 1988-12-05 1990-06-08 Dubuit Mach MACHINE FOR PRINTING OBJECTS WITH FIXED PRINT AXIS
US5046412A (en) * 1988-12-05 1991-09-10 Societe D'exploitation Des Machines Dubuit Fixed printing axis printing machine with multiratio transmission means varying the location of the object to be printed
EP2100733A1 (en) * 2008-03-11 2009-09-16 Polytype S.A. Modular linear printing press for printing onto hollow bodies with different print procedures

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