EP0979731B1 - Printing device with rotary supports - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates generally to machines for print of the kind comprising a turret, which is rotatably mounted around its axis, and which carries, radially, on its periphery, a plurality of supports object-holders themselves rotatably mounted on this turret, and a plurality of workstations, which are distributed circularly around the turret, at right of the path of the object holders, and some of which are posts printing while others are processing stations, such as, for example, drying, varnishing, flaming, dusting or other.

These printing machines are for example used for the printing of objects of revolution, such as for example flexible tubes, in synthetic or other material, intended to receive successively several different color prints.

Whether the printing stations intervene by screen printing or offset for example, or whether they are printing presses of the gilding press type, there it is important that, from one to the other, the object-holders keep the same orientation, so that each of them is printed suitably identified in relation to the same reference.

Most often, to do this, the object holders are each integral in rotation with a pinion which meshes with a central crown common to all.

This arrangement, which has the advantage of simplicity, because it ensures mechanically the synchronization sought, has the disadvantage to involve an identical rotation of the object-holders at all the work, i.e. at both printing and processing stations possibly intervening between these printing stations.

However, when the turret advances angularly by one step of one of these positions work to another, the object holders are inevitably the object of a differential rotational movement, because their pinions are engaged with the central crown.

If it is possible to take into account this differential movement of rotation for the location of prints, it may happen that, for stations which, for example radiation drying stations ultraviolet, require the rotation of objects over more than one turn, there is the risk, for these objects, to be inadvertently more or less overexposed on one side and more or less underexposed on the side diametrically opposite to the previous one.

For the conservation of the orientation of the stationary object holders work to another, so it was proposed, especially in the patent No. 3,253,538, to proceed differently.

More specifically, it has been proposed to associate each of these supports object holder, in an eccentric position in relation to their axis, a finger of rotary drive, and to equip the printing machine with a plate fixed, which, arranged parallel to the turret, has, at its periphery, a groove with which the rotational drive fingers are engaged object holders, with, interrupting, locally, from place to place, this groove, rotary drive blocks, which are rotatably mounted under the control of control means, being associated, each individually, for some, at the printing stations, and, for others, at the printing stations treatment, and which each have a groove in which the rotational drive fingers of the object holders engage successively each in turn.

Thus, the object holders are not the object of any movement differential rotation between workstations.

However, to date, the control means remain common to the set of rotating drive blocks, so that like previously, the rotation of the holder is the same at all workstations, whether they are printing stations or whether treatment stations.

However it is desirable that different rotations can intervene at at least some of these workstations.

The present invention generally relates to a provision meeting this wish.

More specifically, it relates to a machine for printing kind comprising a turret, which is rotatably mounted about its axis, and which carries radially, at its periphery, a plurality of object-holding supports themselves rotatably mounted on this turret, with, associated with each of these object-holder supports, in an eccentric position relative to the axis of such a support object holder, a rotating drive finger, a plurality of work, which are distributed circularly around the turret, at the right of the path object holders, some of which are printing stations while that others are treatment stations, and a fixed tray, which, arranged parallel to the turret, has, at its periphery, a groove with which are engaged the rotational drive fingers of the object holders, with, interrupting, locally, from place to place, this groove, blocks of rotary drive, which are rotatably mounted under the control of control means, being associated, each individually, for some, at the printing stations, and, for others, at the processing stations, and which each have a groove in which the fingers for rotating the object-holder supports engage successively each in turn, this printing machine being of a generally characterized in that each printing station is followed by a processing station and the block control means rotational drive associated with printing stations are distinct from means for controlling the rotational drive blocks associated with treatment stations.

It is thus advantageously possible to have rotation values different at the printing stations, on the one hand, and at the processing stations, on the other hand.

For example, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for controlling the rotational drive blocks associated with printing stations have motor and belt looped endless on a plurality of pulleys, one of which is fixed in rotation on the shaft output of this engine and the others of which are each individually calibrated in rotation on the corresponding rotary drive blocks, it is the same for the control means of the rotary drive blocks associated with the treatment stations, and the two belts thus used intervene at different levels.

Regarding the rotating drive blocks associated with the positions printing, the implementation of such a numerically controlled engine advantageously allows to know at any time the angular position of object holders, and thereby order these stations accordingly printing.

When, for example, these printing stations intervene, for example screen printing, it is thus possible to modulate the displacement of the corresponding screen, to lengthen or shrink the decoration applied to an object, following for example a possible variation in diameter thereof in depending on its temperature.

It is enough, at each printing station, to order in consequence the displacement of this screen using an individual engine provided specifically for this purpose.

To facilitate, moreover, this operation, this engine is itself, preferably a numerically controlled motor, and this then works in pursuit of the engine, or main engine, ensuring joint control of all rotating drive blocks correspondents.

Thus, for printing stations, there is, in addition to such a motor main common to all, an individual engine per printing station.

On the other hand, for the treatment stations, there is only one motor, namely a main motor ensuring the joint control of the drive blocks in corresponding rotation.

Preferably, finally, it is provided, according to the invention, for one to less object holder, between such object holder and finger associated rotational drive, clutch means individual, which, if desired, allow this support to rotate freely object holder around its axis, independently of other supports slide.

It is thus advantageously possible to print an increased rotation of these object holders at certain work stations, as may be example be the case for a varnishing station, when, before the first printing of objects, it is necessary to lacquer them to avoid oxidation.

These individual clutch means also allow advantageously, the initial location of the objects, that is to say the control of their orientation relative to any given reference.

la figure 1 est une vue en plan d'une machine à imprimer suivant l'invention ;

la figure 2 reprend, de manière schématique, et à échelle supérieure, le détail de la figure 1 repéré par un encart II sur cette figure 1 ;

la figure 3 est une vue en coupe axiale de la machine à imprimer suivant l'invention, suivant la ligne brisée III-III de la figure 1 ;

la figure 4 reprend, à échelle supérieure, le détail de la figure 3 repéré par un encart IV sur cette figure 3 ;

la figure 5 reprend, à échelle encore supérieure, le détail de la figure 4 repéré par un encart V sur cette figure 4 ;

la figure 6 est une vue partielle en coupe de la machine à imprimer suivant l'invention, suivant la ligne VI-VI de la figure 5 ;

la figure 7 en est une vue partielle de côté, suivant la flèche VII de la figure 6.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent, moreover, from the description which follows, by way of example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which:

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

Figure 2 shows, schematically, and on a larger scale, the detail of Figure 1 identified by an insert II in this Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an axial sectional view of the printing machine according to the invention, along the broken line III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows, on a larger scale, the detail of Figure 3 identified by an insert IV in this Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows, on a still larger scale, the detail of Figure 4 identified by an insert V in this Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a partial sectional view of the printing machine according to the invention, along the line VI-VI of Figure 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial side view thereof, along arrow VII of FIG. 6.

These figures illustrate, by way of example, the application of the invention to case, as is visible for one of them in FIG. 4, the objects 10 to print are flexible tubes, which, intended to contain a larger product or less pasty, such as cream or other, have a body 11 and a neck 12.

Initially open at its end opposite the neck 12, the body 11 is generally cylindrical, and its cross section is substantially circular.

The printing machine 14 used for printing such objects 10 generally comprises, in a manner known per se, a turret 15, which is rotatably mounted, about its axis A1, in this case a vertical axis, on a frame 16, and which carries, radially, at its periphery, a plurality of supports object-holder 17 themselves each respectively rotatably mounted on this turret 15 around axes A2, which in this case are orthogonal to the axis A1 of the turret 15, and which are therefore horizontal.

In the embodiment shown, the turret 15 is a simple circular contour tray, and it is rotatably mounted on a table 18 belonging to frame 16, figure 3.

In a manner known per se, this turret 15 is rotated, step by step, by a motor 19 with which an indexer 20 is associated.

The objects 10 to be printed being flexible tubes, the supports object holders 17 are cylindrical mandrels on which the objects 10 are just put it on.

In the embodiment shown, and as it is better visible in FIG. 4, these object-holding supports 17 are hollow, and, for stabilization objects 10 to be printed, they have, on their surface, a network of nozzles 21 connected to any source of suction.

The corresponding provisions being well known in themselves, they will not be described in more detail here.

In a manner known per se, also, the printing machine 14 comprises a plurality of work stations 22, in this case work stations work 22A, 22B, Figure 1, which are distributed circularly around the turret 15, to the right of the path of the object holders 17, and some of which, 22A, are printing stations, while others, 22B, are treatment.

In the embodiment shown, the printing stations 22A, which are four in number, for a four-color printing of 10 objects to print, intervene by screen printing.

But it can be added to them, or it can be substituted for at least one of them, a printing station operating by offset and / or a station printing press type.

Such printing stations 22A being well known in themselves, and not directly pertaining to the present invention, they will not be described here.

However, it should be noted that, preferably, each of these 22A printing stations, an individual motor is provided for control the movement of the corresponding screen, and that this motor is a numerically controlled motor (not shown).

In the embodiment shown, the processing stations 22B are drying stations.

For example, these drying stations intervene by radiation ultraviolet.

Such drying stations being well known in themselves, and do not not directly related to the present invention, they will not be described here.

In practice, each of the printing stations 22A is followed by a station treatment 22B.

The whole is completed by a loading and unloading 23, and, for a preliminary treatment of the objects 10 before their printing, by work stations 22 suitable for this purpose, namely, by example, a 22C flaming and dusting station, and a 22D varnishing followed by a drying station, i.e. a drying station treatment 22B.

In the embodiment shown, there are therefore five processing 22B, namely, four for printing stations 22A and one for the varnishing station 22D.

In a manner known per se, finally, it is associated, with each of the supports object holder 17, for tracking to be ensured, and according to the arrangements described in more detail later, in an eccentric position relative to the axis A2 of a such an object holder 17, a rotational drive finger 27, and, jointly, the printing machine 14 comprises a fixed plate 28, which, arranged parallel to the turret 15, has, at its periphery, a groove 29 with which are engaged the rotational drive fingers 27 of object holders 17, with, interrupting, locally, from place to place, this groove 29, rotational drive blocks 30A, 30B, which are rotatably mounted under the control of control means 31A, 31B, being associated, each individually, some of them, to the printing stations 22A, and for others, at processing stations 22B, and which include each a groove 32 in which the drive fingers in rotation 27 of the object-holders 17 engage each one successively to their turn.

In the embodiment shown, the fixed plate 28 extends above the turret 15 and, while resting, by means bearing 33, on a block 34 disposed axially in the center of this turret 15, it is coupled to the frame 16 by lines 35, FIG. 3.

Like the turret 15, the fixed plate 28 has, peripherally, a circular outline.

In the embodiment shown, it has, at its periphery, a dropped edge 36, and that's on the outside surface of that dropped edge 36 that intervene the groove 29, figure 7.

In practice, this groove 29 is formed between two ribs 37 duly reported, for this purpose, parallel to each other, on this fallen edge 36.

Similarly, the groove 32 of each of the rotation drive blocks 30A, 30B is formed between two ribs 38 duly attached, parallel to each other, on the same support flange 39 belonging to such a rotary drive block 30A, 30B.

In practice, the rotary drive blocks 30A, 30B all have a same structure, and their groove 32 has a width equal to that of groove 29 of the fixed plate 28.

Let A3 be the axes of these rotational drive blocks 30A, 30B on the fixed plate 28.

According to the invention, the control means 31A of the blocks 30A rotary drive associated with 22A printing stations are distinct from the control means 31B of the rotary drive blocks 30B associated with treatment stations 22B.

In the embodiment shown, the control means 31A rotating drive blocks 30A associated with the printing stations 22A have a motor 41A and a belt 42A looped without end on a plurality of pulleys 43A1, 43A2, 43A3, one of which, 43A1, is wedged in rotation on the output shaft of this motor 41A, while others, 43A2, are each respectively locked in rotation on the drive blocks in rotation 30A, and that the last ones, that is to say the pulleys 43A3, are of simple return pulleys, Figures 1 and 2.

It is the same for the control means 31B of the blocks rotational drive 30B associated with treatment stations 22B.

In other words, these control means 31B comprise a motor 41 B, a belt 42B, and pulleys 43B1, 43B2 and 43B3.

In practice, in order not to interfere with each other, the two belts 42A, 42B thus implemented operate at different levels.

In the embodiment shown, they are involved parallel to the fixed plate 28, above it, the various pulleys 43A1, 43A2, 43A3, 43B1, 43B2, 43B3 on which they pass having all parallel axes, which, perpendicular to the fixed plate 28, are parallel to the axis A1 of the turret 15.

Between each of the rotating drive blocks 30A, 30B and the pulley 43A2, corresponding 43B2 intervenes, therefore, away from the fixed plate 28 and the dropped edge 36 thereof, a bevel gear 45A, 45B, Figures 3 and 4.

For example, and as visible for a bevel gear 45A in the figure 4, each of the bevel gears 45A, 45B thus implemented comprises a bevel gear 46, which by an axis 47 which crosses the fallen edge 36 of the fixed plate 28, is locked in rotation on the support flange 39 of the block rotational drive 30A, 30B corresponding, and a bevel gear 48, which meshes with the preceding bevel gear 46, and which, by an axis 49 which crosses the fixed plate 28, is locked in rotation on the pulley 43A2, 43B2 associated.

Preferably, the motors 41A, 41B intervening in the means 31A, 31B of the rotary drive blocks 30A, 30B are numerically controlled motors.

Such motors 41A, 41B being well known in themselves, and do not not directly related to the present invention, they will not be described here.

They were only schematically broken lines in the figure 2, without being shown in the other figures.

The numerically controlled motors controlling the movement of the screens at printing stations 22A each work in pursuit by relative to the motor 41A involved in the control means 31A of the corresponding rotary drive blocks 30A.

Preferably, also, and this is the case in the form of embodiment shown, for at least one of the object-holding supports 17, and, by example, for each of them there is provided individual clutch means 50 between such an object holder 17 and the rotational drive finger 27 associated with it.

In the embodiment shown, and as it is better visible in FIG. 5, each of the object-holder supports 17 is rotatably mounted by compared to a socket 52, which is itself rotatably mounted relative to a support block 53 secured to the turret 15, and on which the finger is wedged associated rotary drive 27, and the individual clutch means 50 correspondents comprise a pinion 54, which is fixed in rotation on the object holder 17, and a pawl 55, which is carried by the socket 52, and which, under the control of control means 56, is pivotally mounted between a drive position, for which, as shown in solid lines on Figure 5, it is engaged with the pinion 54, and a release position, for which, as shown schematically in broken lines in this FIG. 5, it is at opposite at a distance from this pinion 54.

In practice, in the embodiment shown, the support object holder 17 extends cantilevered relative to the socket 52 which carries it, by being attached by a ring 57 at the end of a shaft 58 rotatably mounted in it.

As a corollary, the corresponding support block 53 projects from the upper surface of the turret 15.

In practice, also, in the embodiment shown, the pawl 55 of the individual clutch means 50 of this object holder 17 is pivotally mounted around an axis A4 orthogonal to the own axis A2 of this object holder 17, and, for its guidance, as well as for the recovery of the corresponding rotational force, it intervenes in a notch 59 of the socket 52 elongated parallel to the generators of this socket 52, that is to say parallel to the axis A2 of the object holder 17.

In the embodiment shown, finally, the means of control 56 of this pawl 55 have, on the turret 15, between the sleeve 52 and such a pawl 55, a return spring 60, which urges it permanently in the drive position, and at each of the 22 workstations concerned, a jack 61, which, by its piston 62, is capable of passing it into the position of release, as shown in dashed lines in Figure 5.

Preferably, finally, and this is the case in the embodiment shown, the rotary drive finger 27 of each of the supports object holder 17 comprises, at its end, a roller 63, which is rotatably mounted, and by which it is able to cooperate in engagement with the groove 29 of the fixed plate 28 and with the groove 32 of the rotating drive blocks 30A, 30B, as shown diagrammatically, in broken lines, in FIG. 7.

When, guided by the groove 29 of the fixed plate 28, the finger of rotational drive 27 of an object holder 17 arrives at the right of a rotary drive block 30A, 30B, the groove 32 thereof is systematically in the extension of the groove 29 of the fixed plate 28, as shown in Figure 7, so that the drive finger in rotation 27 can engage smoothly in groove 32 of this block rotational drive 30A, 30B.

The turret 15 is then stopped.

By construction, it is made so that, for such a turret stop 15, the axis A2 of the object holder 17 is located substantially in the extension of axis A3 of the rotary drive unit 30A, 30B in facade of which it is located.

His rotational drive finger 27, and, more precisely, the roller 63 carried by the latter, is therefore located at a distance from this axis A3, as shown or shown diagrammatically in Figures 6 and 7.

It follows that, when, by the control means 31A, 31B corresponding, the rotation drive block 30A, 30B concerned is driven in rotation, it ensures, itself, the rotational drive of the support object-holder 17 around its axis A2.

When, for example, at the varnishing station 22D, it is desired that the object-holding supports 17 can rotate freely, it suffices to actuate, consequence, the jack 61 of the control means 56 of the means 50 individual clutch present at this station.

Indeed, coming to bear on the pawl 55 of these clutch means 50, the piston 62 of this cylinder 61 then causes the release of the object holder 17 relative to the socket 52 which carries it, and therefore its release from the rotary drive block 30A, 30B corresponding.

When the cylinder 61 is released, the return spring 60 returns the pawl 55 to its initial drive position.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the form of embodiment described and shown, but includes any variant in the framework defined by the claims.

Claims (7)

1. A printing machine including a turret (15) mounted to rotate about its axis (A1) and carrying, radially, at its periphery, a plurality of object-carrier supports (17) mounted to rotate on said turret (15) and a rotation drive finger (27) associated with each of said object-carrier supports (17) and at an eccentric position relative to its axis (A2), a plurality of workstations (22) circumferentially distributed around the turret (15) in line with the path of the object-carrier supports (17), some (22A) of which are printing stations and others (22B) of which are processing stations, a fixed plate (28) parallel to the turret (15) and having a groove (29) at its periphery with which the rotation drive fingers (27) of the object-carrier supports (17) are engaged, and rotation drive units (30A, 30B) locally interrupting said groove (29) from place to place and mounted to rotate under the control of drive means (31A, 31B), some of said drive units being each individually associated with the printing stations (22A); others of said drive units being each individually associated with the processing stations (22B), and which drive units each comprise a groove (32) in which the rotation drive fingers (27) of the object-carrier supports (17) are engaged successively turn and turn about, characterized in that each printing station (22A) is followed by a processing station (22B) and the drive means (31A) of the rotation drive units (30A) associated with the printing stations (22A) are separate from the drive means (31B) of the rotation drive units (30B) associated with the processing stations (22B).
2. A printing machine according to claim 1 characterized in that the drive means (31A) of the rotation drive units (30A) associated with the printing stations (22A) include a motor (41A) and an endless belt (42A) passing around a plurality of pulleys (43A1, 43A2, 43A3), one (43A1) of which is constrained to rotate with an output shaft of said motor (41A), and likewise for the drive means (31B) of the rotation drive units (30B) associated with the processing stations (22B), the two belts (42A, 42B) being operative at different levels.
3. A printing machine according to either of claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the motors (41A, 41B) in the drive means (31A, 31B) of the rotation drive units (30A, 30B) associated with the printing stations (22A) and with the processing stations (22B) are digitally controlled motors.
4. A printing machine according to claim 3 characterized in that the printing stations (22A) are screenprinting stations, an individual motor is provided at each printing station (22A) to drive the corresponding screen and said motor is a digitally controlled motor operating in tracking mode relative to the motor (41A) in the drive means (31A) of the corresponding rotation drive units (30A).
5. A printing machine according to any of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that it includes individual clutch means (50) between at least one object-carrier support (17) and the associated rotation drive finger (27).
6. A printing machine according to claim 5 characterized in that each object-carrier support (17) is mounted to rotate relative to a bush (52) which is itself mounted to rotate relative to a support (53) fastened to the turret (15) and to which the associated rotation drive finger (27) is keyed, and the corresponding individual clutch means (50) include a gear (54) which is constrained to rotate with the object-carrier support (17) and a pawl (55) which is carried by the bush (52) and which is mounted to pivot under the control of drive means (56) between a drive position in which it is engaged with the gear (54) and a released position in which it is at a distance from said gear (54).
7. A printing machine according to claim 6 characterized in that the drive means (56) of the pawl (55) include a return spring (60) by which it is springloaded into the drive position and an actuator (61) whose piston (62) is adapted to move it to the released position.

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