EP1291175B1 - Plate cylinder for several images - Google Patents

Abstract

A cylinder section (33) carries at least part of a first image to (I1-16) be printed. An at least axially movable casing element (31,35) in relation to the cylinder section carries at least one part of a second image to be printed. A ring (32,34) between the casing and the cylinder section is axially movable in relation to the casing and cylinder section. When the ring is joined to the cylinder section, it holds a further part of the first image; when joined to the casing, the ring holds a further part of the second image,

Description

The present invention relates to a printing cylinder for receiving a plurality of images according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for applying a plurality of images to a printing cylinder according to the preamble of claim 12.

In a web-fed rotary offset printing machine, a printing plate carrying an image to be printed is dyed. The dyed image is transferred to a blanket and from there to a continuous web. The printing press usually comprises four printing units, in which the material web is printed with one of the four process colors. When the web passes the blanket cylinders of the printing units, it also absorbs moisture, which can lead to stretching of the web. This stretching of the web in the axial direction of the impression cylinder is also referred to as "spreading" or "fan-out". When this phenomenon occurs, the print or images on the web becomes slightly wider as the web passes the printing units. The second and the following printing units must be register-aligned in the axial direction of the cylinders with respect to the printed images on the material web, so that e.g. an image in a second color in the second printing unit is printed directly on an image already printed in the first printing unit.

Some printing applications use plate cylinders that support multiple printing plates and a variety of images across their width. These plate cylinders carry a plurality of axially spaced pressure plates. For register-accurate alignment of the individual printing plates and to correct the fan-out effect, the printing plates can be independently movable in the axial direction.

In the US 4,207,815 a plate cylinder carrying two printing plates is described. A pressure plate is attachable to a large pressure gauge portion, and another plate is attachable to a rotatable sleeve axially movable relative to the large diameter portion. The sleeve is attached to a stepped shaft. To adjust the axial register and the circumferential register of the printing units, a helical gear is provided.

The US 5,383,393 describes a multicolor rotary offset printing machine having a plurality of printing sections arranged along a path of travel of a paper web, a plurality of register setting means, a paper stretching device, and a plurality of width adjusting means. Each of the printing sections further comprises at least one split plate cylinder, the sections of which are moved independently in the axial and / or circumferential direction. The printing machine described in the cited document further comprises a register setting means, which is mechanically connected to all divided plate cylinders in the printing sections, and an adjusting mechanism for actuating the sections in response to a control unit provided with a sensor for scanning the in the individual printing sections on the Paper web printed lines and images is connected.

The post-published DE 101 35 506 describes a plate cylinder for receiving a plurality of printing plates with independently registerable jacket elements. In this case, the printing plates are arranged on at least in the axial direction displaceable jacket elements, which can be moved by means of a respective drive in different axial positions.

The DE 101 45 016 describes a device for regulating the fan-out of a web in a printing press with a plate-carrying plate cylinder. In this case, the printing cylinder has a central cylinder portion and adjacently arranged, at least axially displaceable jacket elements. However, the cylinder portion and the shell elements can be fitted only with such printing plates, which are adapted in width to the respective width of the cylinder portion or the shell elements.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing cylinder suitable for taking a plurality of images for a printing press adapted to different image and web formats, i. to different image and web widths, is customizable.

A further or alternative object of the present invention is to regulate the fan-out effect in such a printing press and to improve register accuracy.

It is also a further or alternative object of the present invention to provide a method which allows multiple images to be applied to a printing cylinder, the images being adapted to different image and web formats, i. to different image and web widths, are customizable.

These objects are achieved by a printing cylinder according to claim 1 and by a method according to claim 12. Further features of the present invention are contained in the subclaims.

The terms "ring" and "sheath element" used in this application in this application in cross-section substantially circular or at least partially circular or circular arc-shaped elements. Preferably, both the ring and the jacket elements are formed as cylindrical elements, wherein the ring a having smaller axial extent than the jacket elements. However, both ring and shell elements can also be divided in the circumferential direction into two or more separate sections.

As used herein, the term "connected" means that the ring is positioned adjacent, adjacent (with or without clearance), or in contact with a shell member or cylinder portion, i. H. moved, moved, relocated or moved to this position. A fixed connection is not necessary, but may be optional and may be used.

Between the cylinder portion and the jacket elements, an intermediate portion is preferably provided, which is wider in the axial direction than the ring, so that the ring can be positioned and moved in the intermediate portion.

Due to the movable ring between the cylinder portion and the shell element, the cylinder can advantageously record images of different width, while at the same time controlling the fan-out effect and register-accurate alignment is possible.

A controller can be provided, which adjusts the jacket element as a function of the web width.

If e.g. the first image is so narrow that it fits completely on the cylinder portion, the ring is moved to the shell element. The second image arranged next to the first image is thus located both on the outer surface of the ring and on the outer surface of the jacket element. The ring and the shell element can now be moved together axially to achieve a suitable adaptation to the fan-out effect.

If the narrow first image is to be replaced by a wider image, the ring is moved to the cylinder portion and the wider image on the cylinder portion and Ring arranged. A next to the wider image arranged new image is located only on the jacket element. The cylinder portion and the ring remain together while the jacket member can be moved to match the fan-out effect and to adjust the distance between the two images.

Additional rings movable relative to the ring, shell member, and barrel portion may be provided between the shell member and the barrel portion to accommodate a larger variety of formats.

The cylinder section is preferably stationary in the axial direction. It can also be designed, for example, as part of the impression cylinder.

Opposite the jacket element on the other side of the cylinder section, a further jacket element and an additional ring can be arranged. This advantageously allows the printing of triple-width webs with simultaneous register and fan-out control or regulation. The register control may include both the axial register and the circumferential register. A fan-out compensation is possible with stationary cylinder section on both sides by means of the two jacket element and also the rings.

According to a preferred embodiment, at least six images can be applied to the cylinder portion, the shell element and the ring. In this way, a six-wide printing machine is created, which can process variable formats and allows adaptation to the fan-out effect. In the circumferential direction, an image can proceed. It is also possible to provide two or more images in the circumferential direction. By way of example, a printing cylinder with 6x2 images can be used (6 in the axial direction, 2 in the circumferential direction).

Furthermore, it can be provided that the cylinder section and both jacket elements each carry at least partially two images.

The cylinder is preferably designed as a plate cylinder suitable for receiving at least two flat printing plates. The printing plates define the images that they were imaged outside or in a printing press with images to be printed.

The cylinder portion, the shell member and the ring each have an axially extending gap or channel with a plate clamping mechanism. The plate clamping mechanisms can be hydraulically controlled, for example, and can be similar to that in the US 5,284,093 disclosed plate clamping mechanism may be formed.

The cylinder portion, the shell member and the ring may have axially extending channels for mounting pressure plates, the pressure plates defining the images.

The axial movement of the shell element and the ring can be controlled by a mechanical or hydraulic actuator. A mechanical actuator may e.g. a motor and a side drive gear for the shell element and a lateral drive gear for the ring include. Preferably, a Abstellzahnrad is provided, which connects the drive gear of the shell element and the drive gear of the ring together. When the parking gear is engaged, the ring moves with the shell element, while the ring remains on the cylinder section with the parking gear disengaged.

When the parking gear is disengaged, manual adjustment of the ring can also be performed.

The jacket element and the ring preferably have a cross-section which defines approximately one pitch circle (eg semicircle), whereby corresponding further pitch circles are provided so that a continuous outer surface is formed, as is the case for example with a printing press, in which two images are arranged over the circumference of the plate cylinder. However, it is also completely circular shell elements and rings possible.

The jacket element and the ring may e.g. be connected via a dovetail connection with a cylinder body, whereby an axial movement allows, but other movements are limited. The cylinder body may e.g. a dovetail groove into which a dovetailed wedge of the shell element and the ring can be inserted. The dovetail-shaped wedges may be formed smaller than the groove, so that there is a certain amount of clearance in the groove, which facilitates an axial movement. For fixing the dovetail-shaped wedges during operation, a displaceable wedge may be provided, which fills the clearance. If an axial movement is to be carried out, then the displaceable wedge can be released, so that the backlash arises again.

An inventive method for applying a plurality of images to a printing cylinder, wherein the printing cylinder has a cylinder portion and an at least relative to the cylinder portion axially movable shell element and wherein a first image at least partially on the cylinder portion and a second image is at least partially disposed on the jacket element, is characterized in that an axially movable ring is provided in an intermediate portion between the cylinder portion and the skirt member, the intermediate portion being wider than the ring, the ring being positioned substantially adjacent to the cylinder portion, and the first image being partially disposed on the ring or alternatively selectively positioning the ring substantially adjacent the shell member and partially locating the second image on the ring.

The images are preferably disposed on flat printing plates, the cylinders preferably having plate clamping mechanisms for clamping a leading and trailing edge of the respective printing plates. However, sleeve-shaped printing plates can also be used.

Further features and advantageous embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail in the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings listed below.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer bevorzugten erfindungsgemäßen Rollenrotationsoffsetdruckmaschine;

Fig. 2

einen erfindungsgemäßen Zylinder zur Aufnahme von sechs Bildern, der zum Bedrucken einer Bahn in ihrer gesamten Breite geeignet ist;

Fig. 3

den in Fig. 2 gezeigten Zylinder zum Bedrucken einer schmaleren Bahn;

Fig. 4

einen Querschnitt eines Zylinders mit zwei Druckbildern in Umfangsrichtung sowie mit den zugeordneten Plattenspannvorrichtungen; und

Fig. 5

einen bevorzugten axialen Antriebsmechanismus zum Bewegen des Mantelelements und der beiden Ringe relativ zu einem Zylinderabschnitt.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a preferred web-fed rotary offset printing machine according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a cylinder according to the invention for taking six images, which is suitable for printing a web over its entire width;

Fig. 3

the in Fig. 2 shown cylinder for printing a narrower web;

Fig. 4

a cross section of a cylinder with two printed images in the circumferential direction and with the associated plate clamping devices; and

Fig. 5

a preferred axial drive mechanism for moving the shell member and the two rings relative to a cylinder portion.

Fig. 1 shows a web-fed rotary offset printing press with a first printing unit 5 and a second printing unit 6. Four-color printing machines usually comprise four such printing units. The printing unit 6 comprises a first plate cylinder 10, a first blanket cylinder 12, a second plate cylinder 20 and a second blanket cylinder 22.

In the first printing unit 5, a web 2 is printed with adjacent images in a first color, z. B. with six images across the width of the web. In the second printing unit 6, a second color is printed over the first images. To compensate for the fan-out effect, the second printing unit 6 can be adjusted laterally.

A control unit 200, e.g. includes a microprocessor receives information received from sensors 201, 202 to determine the width of the web 2. The sensors 201, 202 may be upstream or downstream of the blanket cylinders 12, 22. The control unit 200 may then adjust to the web width in the manner described below.

Fig. 2 shows a closer view of the cylinder 10 for printing a web in its full width. The cylinder 10 includes a first shell member 31, a first ring 32, a stationary central cylinder portion 33, a second ring 34 and a second shell member 35. The shell members 31, 35 and the rings 32, 34 are axially movable relative to the central cylinder portion 33 ,

The jacket member 31 has a width WS, the rings 32, 34 have a width WR, and the middle portion 33 has a width WC. A distance or intermediate portion FD between the shell member 31 and the ring 32 is adjustable depending on the desired fan-out balancing effect for controlling the fan-out effect.

In Fig. 2 For example, a web is printed in its entire width with six images I1, I2, I3, I4, I5, I6. The jacket element 31 carries the images I1 and I2, the ring 32 and a part of the central portion 33 is the image I3, the other part of the central portion 33 and the ring 34 carry the image I4 and the jacket member 35 carries the images I5, I6 , The images are preferably on flat printing plates, which are secured by means of plate tensioning devices to the corresponding cylinder sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35.

Fig. 4 shows a cross section along the line XX in Fig. 2 , The image I1 is located on a pressure plate 40, which is fastened by means of a plate-tensioning mechanism 50 which can be activated by a hydraulically actuable piston 53. The jacket element 31 can by means of a in Fig. 4 schematically shown drive 56 are moved. A tine or dovetail 54 of the jacket element 31 can be inserted into a dovetail groove of a cylinder body 60 of the cylinder 10. The cylinder body 60 can with the central cylinder portion 33 ( Fig. 2 ) be integrally formed. A clearance 57 in the dovetail-shaped groove can be filled by a fastening mechanism 55 which is preferably formed as an axially extending, movable wedge and the jacket member 31 frictionally secured to the cylinder body 60.

On the cylinder 10 two pressure plates can be fastened in the circumferential direction, in which case a corresponding jacket element 131, a corresponding second pressure plate 42 and a second attachment mechanism 52 is provided, as in Fig. 4 is shown. In a printing press with plate cylinders, which carry only one printed image in the circumferential direction, the jacket element 31 is substantially annular in cross section. Printing machines whose plate cylinders carry more than two images in the circumferential direction are also conceivable.

The rings 32, 34 and the jacket member 35 may be formed similar to the jacket member 31. In a printing machine whose plate cylinders bear two printed images in the circumferential direction, correspondingly two ring sections or jacket elements can be provided in the circumferential direction.

The attachment mechanisms of the rings 32, 34, the shell elements 31, 35 and the cylinder portion 33 may be hydraulically actuated. The drive 56 can axially move the shell element 31 and the ring 32 independently of one another. On the opposite side may be provided for the ring 34 and the jacket member 35, a similar drive.

Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the invention with an additional ring. Shown is a detail view of a drive 156 for the shell member 31, the ring 32 and a second ring 132. A motor shaft 70 rotates a drive gear 71 of a shell member, thereby rotating a shaft 72 of the shell member rotatably mounted in a stationary support 79. The other end of the shaft 72 has a thread which cooperates with a thread 73 of the jacket member 31 to rotate upon rotation of the shaft or spindle 72 an axial movement of the To cause jacket element 31. In the support 79, two shafts 86 and 87 are further supported, which cooperate with a thread 88 of the ring 32 and with a thread 89 of the ring 132. A Abstellzahnrad 75 optionally provides a connection between the gears 71 and 76, so that the jacket member 31 and the ring 32 are movable together. A parking gear 78 selectively connects the gears 76 and 77 so that the two rings 32 and 132 are movable together. When the two Abstellzahnräder 75 and 78 are disengaged, the gears 76 and 77 are manually adjustable.

The drives 56 and 156 are characterized by the in Fig. 1 shown control unit 200 which can adjust in this way the position of the rings 132, 32, 34 in dependence on the web width and can cause a compensation of the fan-out effect.

At the in Fig. 2 shown cylinder 10 can be dispensed with the gears 77, 78 and the shaft 87, since no second ring 132 is provided. The drive 56 may therefore comprise only two shafts formed similarly to the shafts 72 and 86.

To control the fan-out effect on in Fig. 2 shown cylinder 10 remains the Abstellzahnrad 75 of the drive 56 disengaged because only the jacket element 31 must be moved to adjust the fan-out compensation distance FD.

If a narrower web is to be printed with narrower images, then the printing plates or images I1, I2, I3, I4, I5, I6 can be removed. The jacket member 31 can be moved in the direction of the ring 32, and the Abstellzahnrad 75 can be engaged, so that the ring 32 and the jacket member 31 are movable together. As in Fig. 3 11, narrower images I1 ', I2', I3 ', I4', I5 'and I6' can now be applied to the cylinder 10, wherein the image I2 'spans both the ring 32 and a part of the jacket element 31 and the Picture I4 'spans both the ring 34 and a part of the jacket member 35. The section B1 of the jacket element 31 and the section B2 of the jacket element 35 can remain unimaged / free. Since that Sheath member 31 and the ring 32 are movable together, the drive 56 can compensate for the fan-out effect by the generation of a compensation section FD '.

In this way, an image-bearing cylinder of variable width, i. for accommodating variable width printing plates, which also allows control of the fan-out effect.

Instead of the completely mechanical drive 56 can also be provided that the jacket member 31 mechanically and the ring 32 are moved axially by means of a hydraulic mechanism. The jacket elements and rings can be determined in their axial position by means of a movable wedge in the free space of a dovetail groove.

The width WS of the jacket member 31, 35 is preferably greater than the width WC of the cylinder portion 33 and greater than or equal to the sum of the width WC of the cylinder portion 33 and the double width WR of the ring 32 Fig. 2 WS = WC + 2 * WR, ie the web width is 3 * WS (without fan-out). In Fig. 3 the web width is 3 * WC (without fan-out).

In the in Fig. 2 embodiment shown may also be provided a single ring, yet a variable width is guaranteed. In this case, however, the section 33 would not be at all possible widths of the web 2 in the middle of the web 2. However, if it is not necessary that the section 33 is always in the middle of the web, the in Fig. 2 shown embodiment with two rings provide another web width, which corresponds to 3 * (WC + WR).

List of reference numbers

2

train

5

first printing unit

6

second printing unit

10

first plate cylinder

12

first blanket cylinder

20

second plate cylinder

22

second blanket cylinder

31

first jacket element

32

first ring

33

middle cylinder section

34

second ring

35

second jacket element

40

printing plate

42

printing plate

50

Plate clamping mechanism

52

Plate clamping mechanism

53

piston

54

dovetail

55

fastening mechanism

56

drive

57

free space

60

cylinder body

70

motor shaft

71

drive gear

72

Jacket element shaft

73

thread

75

Abstellzahnrad

76

gear

77

gear

78

Abstellzahnrad

79

fixed support

86

wave

87

wave

88

thread

89

thread

131

jacket element

132

ring

156

drive

200

control unit

201

sensor

202

sensor

B1

free section

B2

free section

FD

adjustable distance

FD '

adjustable distance

I1'-I6 '

image

I1-I6

image

WS

Width of the jacket element

WR

Width of the rings

WC

Width of the middle section

X X

intersection

Claims (12)

1. Printing cylinder (10) for receiving a plurality of images (I1-I6, I1'-I6') to be printed, having a cylinder portion (33) which carries a first part of a first image (I1-I6, I1'-I6') to be printed, a sleeve element (31, 35, 131) which is axially movable relative to the cylinder portion (33) and which carries a first part of a second image (I1-I6, I1'-I6') to be printed, the printing cylinder being a plate cylinder, and comprising at least two flat printing plates, each of the printing plates defining one of the first and one of the second images which are to be printed, characterised by
   a ring (32, 34, 132) arranged between the sleeve element (31, 35, 131) and the cylinder portion (33), said ring being axially movable relative to the sleeve element (31, 35, 131) and the cylinder portion (33), the ring (32, 34, 132) carrying a second part of the first image (I1-I6, I1'-I6') when it is connected to the cylinder portion (33) and carrying a second part of the second image (I1-I6; I1'-I6') when it is connected to the sleeve element (31, 35, 131).
2. Cylinder according to claim 1, characterised by
   a drive (56, 156) for axially moving the sleeve element (31, 35, 131) relative to the ring (32, 34, 132) and to the cylinder portion (33) in a first operating mode and for axially moving the sleeve element (31, 35, 131) and the ring relative to the cylinder portion (33) in a second operating mode.
3. Cylinder according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by
   a second axially movable ring (32, 34, 132) arranged between the first ring (32, 34, 132) and the cylinder portion (33).
4. Cylinder according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sleeve element (31, 35, 131) is connected to a body (60) of the cylinder (10) via a dovetail joint (54), the cylinder portion (33) being fixed in position relative to the body (60).
5. Cylinder according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
   the sleeve element (31, 35, 131) is located on a first side of the cylinder portion (33) and a second sleeve element (31, 35, 131) is provided on the other side of the cylinder portion (33).
6. Cylinder according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by
   a further sleeve element (31, 35, 131) arranged adjacent to the sleeve element (31, 35, 131) in the circumferential direction.
7. Cylinder according to claim 6, characterised in that
   the cylinder portion (33) and the two sleeve elements (31, 35, 131) each at least partly carry two images (I1-I6, I1'-I6').
8. Cylinder according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
   the cylinder portion (33), the sleeve element (31, 35, 131) and the ring (32, 34, 132) have axially extending channels for fixing printing plates (42, 50), the printing plates (42, 50) defining the images (I1-I6, I1'-I6').
9. Cylinder according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
   the width (WR) of the ring (32, 34, 132) is less than the width of an image (I1-I6, I1'-I6').
10. Cylinder according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
    the width (WS) of a sleeve element (31, 35, 131) is greater than the sum of twice the width (WR) of a ring (32, 34, 132) and the width (WC) of the cylinder portion (33) or equal to this sum.
11. Web-fed rotary printing press, characterised by
    at least one printing cylinder according to one of the preceding claims.
12. Use of the printing cylinder according to one of claims 1 to 10 in a process for placing a plurality of images on a printing cylinder, comprising the following steps:

    - providing an intermediate portion between the cylinder portion (33) and the sleeve element (31, 35, 131), the intermediate portion being wider than the ring (32, 34, 132);

    - axially positioning the ring (32, 34, 132) on the cylinder portion (33) and placing the first part of the first image (I1-I6, Il'-I6') on the ring (32, 34, 132) or optionally

    - axially positioning the ring (32, 34, 132) on the sleeve element (31, 35, 131) and placing part of the second image (I1-I6, I1'-I6') on the ring (32, 34, 132).

Images