EP0654349B2 - Cassette for automatically exchanging printing plates in a printing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A magazine for the automated changing of printing plates of a sheet-fed offset printing machine. The magazine includes a guiding apparatus which can be put into place on the plate cylinder for purposes of conveying used printing plates out of the plate cylinder and for feeding new printing plates to the cylinder. The guiding apparatus may be formed by a sheet-metal profile. Provision is made of further guiding surfaces and a holder so that the used printing plate may be locked by the holder. An operator then only need pull the plate a short distance out of the gripping region of a leading edge clamping rail. Stops are provided for a printing plate so that the new printing plate can be deposited on the stops. By virtue of putting the guiding apparatus into place, the new printing plate is shifted toward the plate cylinder and can be fed into the front clamping rail by the operator.

Description

In sheetfed offset presses, a printing plate is placed on the plate cylinder by means of one at the start of the print and one at the end of the print assigned clamping rail attached. The tension rails are included arranged in a pit of the plate cylinder. To change one Pressure plate is first released at the end of the print and the Pressure plate by turning the plate cylinder backwards removed, until then also the clamping at the beginning of printing can be solved. A new printing plate is made with its leading edge inserted, clamped and in the pressure start clamping rail then the plate cylinder rotated in the forward direction until the trailing end of the pressure plate in the pressure end clamping rail inserted and clamped there. The tensioning of the Pressure plate over the print end clamping rail.

In conventional printing presses, those described above are used Operations performed by the printer are time consuming. To shorten the set-up time, so-called fully automatic printing plate changing systems become known at which the used printing plate from the plate cylinder into a magazine and the new pressure plate to be fed from this magazine the plate cylinder is applied. From EP 0 530 577 A1 known a magazine for the automatic printing plate change, which in the normal position serves as protection against the printing unit and which can be moved vertically and around a horizontal axis is pivotable. For service purposes, this magazine can be top position to be moved. For changing the printing plates the magazine is first moved up a bit and then pivoted to the plate cylinder. This creates both below the magazine and above each a gap that comes out For reasons of occupational safety with additional means of pollution is to be secured. The magazine also pivots with its upper end in the space between the printing units. So here is by more elaborate protective measures to ensure that no one is between the printing units or that there is no risk of injury consists. There is also a risk of injury when swiveling back of the magazine in the vertical position, since here the edges of Magazine and printing unit work together like the parts of a pair of scissors. The enumerated variety of additional necessary pollution measures is to be regarded as very disadvantageous.

DE 3 940 796 C2 describes a magazine for changing printing plates known, which as protection against the printing unit cylinders, in the Basic position and in the pressure plate change position in the same Position remains. To the magazine for working on the cylinders in Spending an upper position is like a magazine Coupling articulated to two parallel swings. This linkage is necessary, as parts of the lower area towards the plate cylinder curved magazines also in below the plate cylinder are arranged. When the magazine starts up, this leads thus a horizontal movement in the area between the Printing units. Complex protective measures are also necessary here, to prevent injury to people.

A semi-automatic printing plate changing device provides that Pressure plate feed system PPL (Power Plate Loading) from MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG, which is currently on the R 700 in Use is. In this in the DE magazine Druckwelt 4 / 25.02.1993, Page 24ff, shown and also in the not Pre-published EP 0 570 702 A1 (Article 54 (3) EPC) must be described the printer only feeds one out of the plate cylinder through a slot in the slide protection Remove the pressure plate and insert a new pressure plate feed the same slot in the slide protection to the plate cylinder. In the pneumatic Movable sliding protection in front of the printing unit cylinders can be swiveled and provided on the plate cylinder on and off guide device provided which as a sheet profile with a. stretching across the format width of the printing plate is formed on the end molded guide rail. Takes hold of this facility the printer removes the old printing plate and pulls it out of the open one Pressure start clamping rail. Then the guide device on the plate cylinder turned on and the printer guides a new printing plate over the guide device into the Pressure start clamping rail. The guide rail of the guide device results an automatic threading of the printing plate front edge into the detection area of the Pressure start clamping rail. An old or new printing plate can with this device but not saved or made available.

Also a guide device mounted on the plate cylinder and detachable from it in addition to the insertion rail also describes the unpublished EP 0 623 467 A1 (Article 54 (3) EPC). This device for automatically changing There are printing plates in sheetfed offset presses with multiple printing units from a carriage suspended from a guide rail above the printing press in addition to transport equipment with lifting devices. The transport device with the lifting devices can be moved along all printing units of the printing press, so that printing plates from the printing units to a central printing plate container and from this, in turn, new printing plates can be conveyed to the printing unit provided in each case are.

DE 4 214 207 C1 describes a pressure roller which can be adjusted to the plate cylinder and a parallel folding edge that can also be adjusted to the plate cylinder known. The pressure roller is used in a known manner to under the new pressure plate Clamp the train on the circumference of the plate cylinder. The one known from the cited scripture Folding bar is used to bend the trailing printing plate edge around the printing end contour of the plate cylinder. This known device is used for winding of those already inserted in the detection area of a pressure start clamping rail Printing plate on the plate cylinder, but not the feeding of a new printing plate to the plate cylinder.

The object of the present invention is therefore such a device to further develop that a simple execution of a Magazine without elaborate Additional pollution results.

This task is solved by the characteristics of Claim 1. Advantageous refinements of the invention result from the subclaims.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, this is Magazine for holding a new and a used printing plate each formed as a slot in the top part of the protection and furthermore stops or holding means are provided through which the new or used pressure plate against gravity being held. The printing plates are oriented vertically and dive about a third or half of their format length through the respective slots in the inside of the protection.

In protection and following the slots shown in the magazine is a guiding device for the Supply of a new pressure plate and another guide surface to the Removal of a used pressure plate attached. Through this Measure ensures that moving parts, which the Printing plate changes serve only within the protection arranged and moved accordingly, so no additional Protective devices are necessary. Furthermore, it is due to the invention Training possible that protection both in normal position as well as in the printing plate changing position the same vertical Assumes position and in particular no parts in the space between neighboring printing units are pivoted. An operator can So remain between the printing units and at an advantageous Embodiment of the invention can therefore be in the magazine used pressure plate conveyed in by hand from the pressure start rail conveyed out and a provided new printing plate be inserted into the tensioning rail by hand.

An operator can use the new printing plates on all printing units Insert into the slots provided and on stops Off. This can, for example, still be in progress Production of a previous print job happened. If then the printing plates are to be changed, the operator leaves simply from printing unit to printing unit and solves by using control elements command to be initiated the printing plate change process for the respective printing unit. The used printing plate is automatically by turning the cylinder backwards out of the in the provided slot in the protection. The provided Retaining means in the form of a rubber lip grip the pressure plate and the operator now only needs the printing plate a piece pull out far. A marking can be provided on the printing unit up to which the old printing plate is pulled out is to be carried out.

After the used pressure plate a bit out of the slot has been pulled out and continues through the rubber lip in this If the slot is held, a control automatically triggers the swivel the control device, whereupon the operator the new Insert the pressure plate into the open start of the clamping rail. By attached there, electrically interrogated and with the appropriate Interacting punchings on the leading edge of the printing plate Register pins will now determine whether the printing plate is correct is present. If the control determines that this is the case, then the detection area of the pressure start clamping rail is closed, i.e. the pressure plate is clamped.

Has been determined by the control that after the clamping process the pressure plate still has a registered fit, so the controller enters the main drive of the press Signal so that it turns forward until the pressure plate is fully raised. The printing end of the printing plate is in the appropriate tensioning rail is inserted, clamped and then the tensioning takes place. Before the plate cylinder to pull up the The control indicates that the new printing plate is rotated the organs effecting the turning on of the guide device corresponding signal, so that the control device back in their Rest position is pivoted back.

According to the invention is provided the guiding device in itself known, a pressure roller adjustable on the plate cylinder to attach the associated folding bar. In this embodiment it is essential that the control device is not a Protection or the magazine attached and thus also vertically movable pivot axis pivotable or on corresponding, on Protection or guide means attached to the magazine can be moved is. In this variant, the control device is explicitly provided to pivot an axis fixed to the frame, thus to the To store plate cylinders on and off this.

The special advantage of this type of attachment of the control device in connection with the magazine according to the invention is that none additional adjusting means for pivoting the guide device must be provided. Starting the guide at Attachment to the known and assigned a pressure roller Folding bar is carried out by the associated with this facility Positioning means. Here, too, is exploited that the on The new printing plate to be fed in stops by the Starting process removed from the basic position from the stops and thus in the open detection area of the pressure start clamping rail can be introduced.

Furthermore, an explanation is given of an execution example game of the invention with reference to the drawing.

Fig. 1

das erfindungsgemäße Magazin im Schnitt

It shows:

Fig. 1

the magazine of the invention in section

Fig. 1 shows a section of part of a printing unit Series printing press. Between the two, not shown The side frame walls of this printing unit is a plate cylinder 1 galager, the one in a cylinder pit 2 the beginning of printing DA and the printing end DE assigned clamping rail 3, 4.

In front of the printing unit with plate cylinder 1 and below arranged blanket cylinder 5 is each on a side frame wall of the printing unit attached guide rail (not shown) a protection 6 slidably arranged according to Fig. 1 is in a basic position during printing. This protection 6 can, as indicated by the arrow, be pushed up become. The protection 6 extends across the width of the printing unit.

On the upper cross member 10 of the protection 6 is a guide plate 11 and 12 attached, which have a length that is slightly larger is the maximum plate size to be processed. On the concave inside of the curved sheet profile 8 are in several spaced strips of brushes 14 arranged over the bristles of a newly to be fed printing plate with its printing Side is supported.

At the upper end of the protection 6 is next to the guide plates 11 and 12 another guide plate 13 in the area of the brushes 14 arranged so that these a total of 3 guide plates 11, 12, 13 two Create slots 21, 22. The slots 21, 22 have just like that Guide plates 11, 12, 13 have a width that is slightly larger than the maximum printing plate format to be processed. How still explained below, the slot 21 is used for receiving and Feed a new pressure plate, the slot 22 in connection with the guide plates 11, 12 for leading out a used one Printing plate.

There is a slot 22 across the width of the slot 22 extending and slightly inclined rubber lip 23 as Holding means. The plate cylinder 1 is turned back until he takes the position as shown in Fig. 1. The start of printing DA assigned clamping rail 3 is opened so that the used and pushed into the gap 22 by the flexible rubber lip 23 Pressure plate by hand from the detection area 17 of the tensioning rail 3 can be pulled out. The rubber lip 23 acts in the illustrated Arrangement as one against the direction of transport used pressure plate inhibitory holding agent. The rubber lip 23 is arranged above the gap 22 at one edge thereof and we bent through the used pressure plate like a lid. Due to the elasticity of the rubber lip 23, the gap 22 retracted pressure plate against the other edge of the gap 22 pressed and held. The used printing plate is, for example 10cm out of the detection area so that the front edge of which is not a problem for the rotating plate cylinder 1 or other parts. So that the end of the used Pressure plate securely between the funnel-shaped area the guide plates 11 and 12 to the slot 22 can additionally a run-in protection 24 take on a further guiding function.

A controller, not shown, asks the not shown and in a manner known per se, electrically insulated on the plate cylinder 1 attached register pins and thus determines whether the used printing plate from the detection area 17 of the open Clamping rail 3 was pulled out. If this is the case, then direct the control via the pneumatic cylinder 19 the pivoting of the Sheet metal profile 8 with the insertion rail 9. In the The basic position of the sheet profile 8 was the new one provided Pressure plate parked on the stops 16. The stops 16 are dimensioned in length so that now in the employed state of the Sheet profile 8 this the path of the pressure plate to the plate cylinder 1st no longer hinder. The pressure plate is only caused by friction held between the brushes 14 and the guide surface 18. Through a light pressure from the operator over the end of the printing plate forth, the new printing plate can now be in the open detection area 17 the pressure start DA clamping rail 3 can be pushed in. By the control, the plate cylinder 1 is previously in the corresponding Position. Made by the controller now again a query of the correct position of the printing plate on the Register pins, whereupon the corresponding adjusting means for Closing the detection area 17 can be controlled, the pressure plate is clamped in the beginning of its printing.

The side of the insertion rail 9 facing the plate cylinder 1 represents an insertion surface 15, which is essentially a funnel-shaped path for the front edge of the new pressure plate in forms the open detection area 17 of the tensioning rail 3.

After the control system registers the new printing plate at the register pins, the pinching of the pressure plate initiated the corresponding closing of the detection area 17 causing actuating means become. Then the register pins are queried again, what is used to determine whether a possible shift has taken place.

If the above query was made with the correct result, then by Control of the pneumatic cylinder 19, the sheet profile 8 again in the Basic position swiveled and the plate cylinder 1 forwards rotated until the printing end of the printing plate into the printing end DE assigned clamping rail 4 inserted, clamped and then tensioned becomes. The printing plate change process is thus finished and the the actual printing process can begin. The in the slot 22nd inserted, used and held by the rubber lip 23 Printing plate can now be removed during the printing process and a new plate for the next print job can be inserted into the slot 21 and placed on the stops 16 become.

The guide device 8, 9 is around a frame-fixed, axis parallel to the plate cylinder 1 pivotable.

The guide plate 11 is in shape with the brushes 14 one rigid, essentially straight strip within the one that forms the magazine Guard 6 pulled down. At the end of the guide plate 11 with the Brushes 14 are on the guard 6, the stops 16, for example in the form attached by sheet metal tabs. One inserted into slot 21 new printing plate can be placed on this.

Fig. 1 shows an axis fixed about the frame, via indicated Bearing lever pivotable on the plate cylinder 1 adjustable pressure roller known type. This pressure roller 25 is used for winding a new pressure plate to be fed around the outer circumference of the Plate cylinder 1 and therefore has its format width. The bearing levers are attached to both ends of the pressure roller 25. It is also pivotable about the axis of rotation in a manner known per se the pressure roller 25 has a cup-shaped profiled folding strip 26 arranged. As is known, this serves to bend the trailing one End of a printing plate around the contour of the printing end DE. It is only briefly repeated here to understand that by starting the Pressure roller 25 on the plate cylinder 1 one in the detection area 17 clamped pressure plate by turning the plate cylinder 1 in Direction of the arrow is drawn around this. The plate cylinder 1 is rotated until the one assigned to the printing end DE Tensioning rail 4 comes to rest approximately where, according to FIG front clamping rail 3 is shown. During this process remains the folding bar 26 off the plate cylinder. To the Bending the printing plate around the contour of the printing end DE and for Introduce the rear edge into the pressure end clamping rail 4 then the folding bar 26 by a pivoting movement to the Plate cylinder 1 turned on. The print end clamping rail 4 is detected the rear edge of the plate for clamping and tensioning. The arrival and Parking the pressure roller 25 and pivoting the folding bar 26 about the axis of rotation of the pressure roller 25 takes place through Actuating means not shown here and known per se, in particular in the form of pneumatic cylinders.

1, the guide device 8, 9 as a wide and Metal rail bent by two obtuse angles. The Guide device 8, 9 is on the one facing the plate cylinder 1 Part of the folding bar 26 attached. In Fig. 1 with a Basic position of the guide device 8, 9 and thus also the basic position of pressure roller 25 and folding bar 26 shown. When winding up the new pressure plate around the outer circumference of the plate cylinder 1 the pressure roller 25 is placed on it, the folding bar 26 but turned off from the plate cylinder 1. The on the folding bar 26 attached control device 8, 9 thus takes the dashed position b shown. The employed on the plate cylinder 1 Pressure roller 25 is also shown in dashed lines. The Length of the guide device 8, 9 attached to the folding bar 26 is such that an inserted through the slot 21 and placed on the stops 16 new pressure plate not hindered becomes. After a new printing plate at the printing end DE in the clamping rail 4 has been attached, pressure roller 25 together with the folding bar 26 off the plate cylinder again and it becomes the position approached according to FIG. 1. Then the pressure roller 25 on the Adjustment means on the plate cylinder 1, with slings prevent the pressure roller 25 from entering the cylinder pit 2 falls into it. The guide device 8, 9 is thus out of position a pivoted into position b. Then the Folding bar 26 and thus the pivoting of the guide device 8, 9 in the printing plate feed position, i.e. in position c. How the guide device 8, 9 according to the invention is shown shaped such that a part of the sheet profile to the The top of the front clamping rail 3 hugs and thus the middle section of the guide device 8, 9, the so-called insertion rail 9, with the side facing the plate cylinder 1 Forms insertion surface 15 for the new pressure plate to be fed. By the pivoting of the guide device 8, 9 was pivoted with it End of the pressure plate on the stops 16 of removed and can now be manually in the detection area 17th be introduced.

So that the pivoting of the guide device 8, 9 over the folding bar 26 while removing the new pressure plate from the Stops 16 is possible, the guide device 8, 9 in Area of the pivotable end corresponding recesses, so that the pivoting is not hindered by the stops 16. The folding bar 26 are not shown sling means assigned, which can be attached to the guide device 8, 9 and a support on the top of the tensioning rail 3 or Bearings of the plate cylinder 1 cause. In the embodiment 1, the guide surfaces 18 are in particular as axial spaced apart, flexible plastic tongues formed and attached to the guide plate 11. Such an execution therefore does not hinder the removal of the on the stops 16th parked new pressure plate by swiveling the guide 8, 9 from position b to position c. In conclusion still mentioned that running out a used printing plate the slot 22 via the guide surfaces 18. In addition, be short noted that the vertical movement of the Magazine forming protection 6 not to hinder the guide 8, 9 pivoted from position a into working position c becomes.

Reference list

1

Plate cylinder

2nd

Cylinder pit

3rd

Tensioning rail (start of printing)

4th

Tensioning rail (printing end)

5

Blanket cylinder

6

protection

8th

Sheet profile

9

Insertion rail

10th

traverse

11

Guide plate

12th

"

13

"

14

to brush

15

Insertion surface

16

attack

17th

Detection area

18th

Guide surface

19th

Pneumatic cylinder

20th

Angle lever

21

slot

22

"

23

Rubber lip

24th

Break-in protection

25th

Pressure roller

26

Folding bar

THERE

Start of printing

DE

End of printing

Claims (5)

1. Printing press with a device for automatically changing printing plates, especially an offset sheet printing press with a cassette vertically movable in front of a printing unit as a protection (6) in front of the printing unit, which serves for feeding a new printing plate made ready in the cassette to the plate cylinder (1) as well as for receiving a used printing plate from the plate cylinder (1), wherein within the cassette (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 21, 22) constructed as protection (6) in front of the printing unit, stops (16) are fitted on to which a printing plate located in the protection (6) can be deposited by its front edge, wherein below the stops (16) of the cassette a guide unit (8, 9) which can be set against the plate cylinder (1) is arranged, via which by setting the guide unit (8, 9) against the plate cylinder (1), the new printing plate is taken away from the stops (16) and can be fed substantially tangentially against the periphery of the plate cylinder (1), wherein the guide unit (8, 9) is mounted swivellably about an axis fixed with respect to the frame and running parallel to the axis of the plate cylinder (1), wherein the guide unit (8, 9) is fitted to a bending off bar (26), which serves for bending off and introduction of the print end edge of the printing plate and a pressing on roller (25) mounted fast with respect to the frame which can be set against the plate cylinder (1) is fitted, wherein the bending off bar (26) is mounted movably with respect to the pressing on roller (25).
2. Printing press according to Claim 1 wherein the cassette (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 21, 22) forming the protection (6) in front of the printing unit has two slots (21, 22) at the upper end of the protection (6), wherein in each case one slot (21, 22) is provided for receiving the new as well as the used printing plate.
3. Printing press according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the stops (16) fitted in the cassette (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 21, 22) within the protection (6) project through openings within the guide unit (8, 9).
4. Printing press according to Claims 1 and 2 wherein fitted at the slot (22) provided for the used printing plate is a rubber lip (23) by which the printing plate is held against the force of its own weight.
5. Printing press according to one of the preceding Claims wherein additionally to the guide unit (8, 9) on the side turned toward the plate cylinder (1), a further guide surface (18) is provided via which a used printing plate can be fed away.

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