EP1503899B1 - Device for printing printing material embodied as metal sheets,and corresponding method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for printing essentially non-absorbent printing material embodied as metal sheets. Said device comprises a printing machine pertaining to a printing line and comprising at least one printing group provided with printing ink. The invention is characterised by a first printing device (17) which forms part of the printing line, is mounted upstream of the printing group (24) in the printing direction (4) and is provided with a primer or a white lacquer. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.

Description

The invention relates to a device for printing substantially non-absorbent, designed as metal panels printing material, belonging to a printing line, at least one equipped with ink printing unit having printing machine.

It is a device for printing sheet metal known, with which the raw sheet is first provided by means of a painting with a primer. The painting is followed by a thermal oven to dry the primer. The plate material present as sheets is stacked after leaving the drying oven, in particular on pallets. The pallets are spent to feed a printing press. There, the printing of the sheets.

Furthermore, it is known to supply metal sheets to a white paint coating device. The individual sheets are taken from the stack, coated with white paint and then passed through a thermal oven (drying oven), so that at the end of this process sheets with white paint coatings are present and can be stacked. The printing of the sheets is then carried out in a further device, that is, coated with white lacquer, Sheets stacked on pallets are fed to a printing machine which has at least one, preferably six printing units with different printing inks.

After carrying out printing, a final finish is preferably carried out in the two known cases mentioned above. For this purpose, the last printing unit of the printing press is followed by a painting station, which preferably follows a thermal or UV drying station (ultraviolet light drying station) in order to cure the final finish. The then finished, leaving the drying station sheets are then stacked or processed.

Similar devices are for example the US-A-5339731 , as well as the article 'INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES FOR PANEL PRINTING SHOW NEW WAYS IN THE PAINTING AND DRYING' GERMAN DRUCKER, GERMAN PRINTERS VERLAGSGESELLSCHAFT, OSTFILDERN, DE, Vol. 31, No. 43, 16 November 1995, pages W51-W52 s.

Although the above-mentioned devices have proven themselves, they are still unsatisfactory in terms of the operating speed, accuracy of fit of the individual coatings and the production costs of the printing material.

The invention is therefore based on the object to eliminate the disadvantages mentioned above.

This object is achieved by ei-ne device with the features of claim 1. Since these printing devices belong to the same printing line as the printing press, in particular sheet metal printing machine itself, the printing material in one operation with primer and white paint and then fed to the actual, taking place with ink printing process. Intermediate stacking is not required. The production of the finished printing takes place without waiting times interrupting the process, whereby the processing is carried out from the raw sheet to the finished product. The primer preferably provides high adhesion of the following coatings; the white lacquer creates a bright, uniform background, so that the subsequent printing on it can be done in particular farbunverfälscht it.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the first printing device is a printing unit of the printing press. Thus, an intended for printing ink printing unit is not charged with ink, but with primer, so that with this printing the corresponding preparatory work can be performed.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the printer-equipped printing unit is an offset printing unit. Consequently, the printing, so the application of the design with an offset printing unit. Under offset printing unit is to understand a device which has a printing cylinder and cooperating with this blanket cylinder. The printing material is introduced into the gap between printing cylinder and blanket cylinder and printed there. With the blanket cylinder, a plate cylinder cooperates, which is provided with a pressure plate. The printing plate is a roller system with the substrate, printing ink and -like below will be clarified primer and white paint supplied.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the priming or white lacquer-equipped first printing device is an offset printing unit. In particular, the primer is applied to the printing material with an offset printing unit.

According to a development of the invention it can be provided that the priming equipped first printing device is a coating unit (primer).

As seen in the printing direction, the first printing device is followed by a second printing device, wherein the first printing device is provided with a primer (primer printing device) and the second printing device is equipped with white paint (white ink printing device). The second printing device is preferably a printing unit of the printing machine, so belongs to the unitary printing units of the printing press.

It is advantageous if the second printing device is an offset printing unit. The definition for "offset printing unit" has already been made above. Alternatively, it can also be provided that the second printing device is a coating unit. In contrast to the offset printing unit, the coating unit has no plate cylinder with pressure plate, but it is a pressure cylinder and a blanket cylinder provided between these two cylinders the printing material passes through. The blanket cylinder is provided by means of a roller device with the white paint.

According to a development of the invention, the printing material is formed as tinplate, chrome plate or aluminum sheet.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if-seen in the printing direction-the second printing device is followed by at least one further, third printing device which is provided with white paint (white paint printing device). Thus, several white paint finishes can be performed sequentially.

As seen in the printing direction, the printing unit equipped with printing ink preferably follows a painting line belonging to the printing line. This is a common, the printing press downstream device to make a final paint.

In order to dry the primer and the one or more white finishes before printing with ink, it is provided that between the first and second and third printing device on the one hand and the printer equipped with ink printing unit (sheet metal printing unit) on the other hand at least one of the printing line belonging UV drying device (ultraviolet radiation drying device) is located. This UV drying device preferably has one or more, in particular all the drying devices mentioned here in this application Radiation sources that have different emission spectra. In particular, it is provided that the UV drying device comprises gallium and / or mercury vapor and / or doped gallium and / or doped mercury vapor lamps. This "mixed light" achieves particularly good results. If a first, equipped with primer printing device is provided, this is preferably assigned to a UV drying zone or more UV drying device, that is, the primed printing material passes through the UV drying zone of the printing device before the printing material, the following printing unit or the following printing device achieved, especially before the printing material reaches the white lacquer-equipped printing unit. In this respect, the white paint is applied to the already dried primer. In the case of several white lacquer printing units arranged one behind the other in the printing line, an additional UV drying zone or additional UV drying device can also be located between them. The white lacquer coating is therefore dried before another white lacquer coating takes place. However, it is also possible to provide no UV intermediate drying, so that the multiple white paint finishes "wet on wet" done.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the UV drying device and / or the additional UV drying device or UV drying zone are separate units of the printing line or are at least one printing unit and / or at least one printing device and / or at least one coating unit integrated units , therefore These UV devices can be directly integrated into the printing or painting units or the respective printing or painting unit is set up separately as a unit and this is separately downstream of the UV device. Regardless of whether there is an integrated or separate design, all components are within the same pressure line.

It is envisaged that the primer will be a UV-drying primer. It is further provided that the white paint is a UV-drying white paint. Thus, both primer and white paint dry out quickly by ultraviolet light and for an unproblematic further processing in the course of the process movement. The printing material is thus guided at a preferably uniform speed through the entire device, so that the crude product is developed in a very short time to the finished product.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the UV drying device also has an IR device. An IR device is to be understood as meaning a device with infrared radiation, that is, heat-drying of the respective coating is carried out.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that transfer cylinders for the transfer and / or transfer of the metal panels are arranged between the individual components or some components. Thus, from component to component a reproducible transfer performed so that it comes to a highly accurate fit of the individual coatings / prints. Components are all devices that belong to the printing line, regardless of whether they are printing, coating, painting, applying UV light, etc.

In addition, it can be provided, in particular, that at least one printing unit and / or at least one printing device and / or at least one painting device is or are designed as a flexographic printing unit or gravure printing unit.

The invention further relates to a method for printing substantially non-absorbent printing material with a device of the type mentioned above. In particular, it is provided that in the process implementation, the primer and the white paint coating and the printing and painting in one and the same printing line while maintaining a single , the printing material holding gripper closure is performed. "Maintaining a single, the printing material holding gripper closure" is to be understood that a reproducible transfer of the printing material from process step to process step by means of the device according to the invention is carried out, that is, for example, a metal sheet is fed to the device and thereby gripped by a corresponding mechanical device , This gripper closure remains until the end of processing, that is maintained until the finished product. This means, that one and the same gripper passes through the entire system, for example by means of chain guide; However, it also means that a transfer to a gripper or holding device of a component of the printing line can be carried out by a previous gripper or holding device of a previous component of the printing line, but this transfer due to the one and the same printing line reproducible and highly accurate, ie without misalignment or registration problems. This makes a high-precision production possible. The mentioned gripper closure between the individual components can preferably be carried out by means of corresponding, gripping devices equipped transfer cylinder, that is, between the individual printing units / coating units is in each case at least one transfer cylinder, the reproducing reproduces precisely the reproducing material and in particular a metal sheet reproducibly and precisely next component. In particular, it is provided that a metal sheet is first provided with a primer. This is done in the first printing unit. Thereafter, the UV-curing primer is dried by irradiation with UV light. The metal sheet then passes to the second printing unit, which performs white-lacquer printing or applies white ink to the metal sheet. Subsequently, the UV-curing white paint or the UV-curing, white printing ink is dried by means of UV light. Then the metal sheet is fed to another printing unit, which carries out the design printing (metal decorating). It may be followed by other printing for design printing. The transfer from the primer printing unit to the white lacquer printing unit respectively Printing unit with white printing ink is carried out by means of at least one transfer cylinder. The transfer from the white lacquer cylinder or printing unit with white printing ink to the design printing unit also takes place by means of at least one transfer cylinder. The same applies if more design printing works follow. For a processing of the metal sheet is realized in one and the same machine line while maintaining a reproducible gripper closure. If separate UV irradiation stations are located between the primer printing unit and the white varnish printing unit or printing unit with white printing ink and also the white varnish printing unit or printing unit with white printing ink and the following design printing unit, the respective transfer from the printing unit to the UV irradiation station and from the UV irradiation station to the corresponding successor printing unit likewise takes place "in gripper closure", preferably by means of transfer cylinders. Alternatively, if there are no separate UV irradiation stations, but the transport path between the printing units is used to make the UV irradiation, so are UV irradiation stations between the printing units, without these are designed as separate components are special, the UV Not required transfer devices associated transfer cylinders. In such a case, the transfer cylinder are thus only between the individual printing units, but it is nevertheless ensured that during the transfer from the primer printing unit to the white lacquer printing unit or printing unit with white ink and the white lacquer printing unit or printing unit with white Printing ink and the first design printing unit UV radiation takes place. Between the individual design printing units, a UV irradiation can also be provided if UV-drying ink is used.

Figur 1

eine Einrichtung zum Bedrucken von im We- sentlichen nicht saugfähigem Bedruckmate- rial in schematischer Darstellung und

Figur 2

einen Ausschnitt aus der eine einzige Drucklinie bildenden Einrichtung zum Be- drucken.

The drawing illustrates the invention and shows:

FIG. 1

a device for printing substantially non-absorbent printing material in a schematic representation and

FIG. 2

a section of the one-line printing device for printing.

The FIG. 1 shows a device 1 for printing a printing material 2, which is designed as a tinplate panel 3. The tinplate board 3 passes through the device 1 in the printing direction 4 and is thereby transferred from its state "raw material" to the state "finished product" 5, that is, there is a finished printed tinplate board.

The device 1 includes the following components 6 to 15. The components 6 to 15 belong to one and the same printing line 16, that is, all components are arranged in rows and coordinated so that a smooth and highly accurate transfer of the printing material 2 from one to the other component, in particular while maintaining a single gripper closure. This is to be understood that the printing material 2 taken from the component 6 and then to to the component 15 is passed through the entire device with high precision, that is, a reproducible, precise registration processing is made. By "a single gripper closure" is not to be understood that only one and the same gripping or holding device is effective, but this may be the case or it can also take place transfers to subsequent gripper or holding devices, but these transfers with respect to the location of Printing material 2 is dimensionally accurate and is performed due to the same pressure line easily and with the desired precision in a single machining pass.

The component 6 is a first printing device 17, which is designed as an offset printing unit 18. This offset printing unit 18 may be part of a total printing press with multiple printing units. The printing device 17 is equipped with a UV-drying primer and further has a UV drying zone 19 in its output region.

The rising digit sequence of the components 6 to 15 corresponds to the time sequence of the processing of the printing material 2, that is, the printing material 2 is first the component 6, then the component 7, then the component 8, etc. supplied until the component 15 is reached. The component 15 outputs the finished product 5 at its output.

In the component 7 is a second printing device 20, which is designed as an offset printing unit 21 and is charged with white paint. Alternatively, it can also be provided, not shown, that the second printing device 20 is not an offset printing unit but a coating device which has only one printing cylinder and one blanket cylinder. A plate cylinder with pressure plate is then not provided.

Furthermore, it can alternatively be provided that the component 7 follows a similar component, ie that a double coating with white paint is carried out. The white paint is a UV-drying white paint, which forms a base coat to better bring out the subsequently applied printing inks.

The component 8 is a UV drying device 22, which has a UV light device with different wavelengths. In particular, both gallium and mercury vapor lamps are provided. The coated product is therefore irradiated with UV radiation of different wavelengths. In addition, as an option, the UV drying device 22 may also include an IR device 23 (infrared radiation device).

In the components 9 to 14 are equipped with ink printing units 24 a printing machine, the printing units 24 are designed as offset printing units 25. Each of the offset printing units 25 has another ink. As already mentioned, the component 6 can also form a printing unit of the printing press. Furthermore, it is possible that alternatively or additionally, the component 7 is a printing unit of the printing press.

The component 15 is a painting device 26, which has a corresponding coating unit for applying a final coating and is formed with a subsequent drying device, for example based on UV and / or IR or as a thermal drying oven.

The printing of the tinplate board 3 is carried out by means of the device resulting from the figure in the course of a transport passage such that the component 6 applies a UV-drying primer, which is then dried by the associated UV drying zone 19. The tinplate board 3 then passes through the component 7 and receives there a white paint coating, which is dried by means of the component 8. For this purpose, the component 8, the UV drying device with different wavelengths, in particular with gallium and mercury vapor lamps, on. Subsequently, the tinplate board 3 passes through the successive components 9 to 14, that is, six printing units provided with different colored inks. Finally, the tinplate board 3 passes through the painting device 26, where it receives a final finish with appropriate drying. Overall, the finished product 5 in the course of a single, very fast and high-precision machining by means of a and the same printing line with regard to the primer and / or the white paint coating and / or the application of the differently colored inks and / or the drying operations.

The FIG. 2 shows a section of a device 1 according to the invention, which is designed as a common pressure line 16. The printing direction is indicated by arrow 30. The printing line 16 has a first printing unit 17, which is designed as an offset printing unit 18. The first printing unit 17 forms a primer printing unit 31, that is, it prints the formed as metal sheets printing material 2 with UV-drying primer. The first printing unit 17 has a printing cylinder 32 and cooperating with this blanket cylinder 33. The printing cylinder 32 cooperates with a transfer cylinder 34, which is associated with a pre-gripper 35 of a leading edge and side stop, not shown. Furthermore, with the impression cylinder 32 -as seen in the printing direction 30 -a further transfer cylinder 34 cooperates, which conveys the sheet-shaped printing material 2 to a second printing unit 20 reproducibly. The second printing unit 20 is likewise designed as an offset printing unit 21. It has a pressure cylinder 36 which cooperates with a blanket cylinder 37. The transfer cylinder 34 cooperates with the impression cylinder 36. The second printing unit 20 is used for printing the printing material 2 with white paint, which is UV-curing, or with white ink, which is also UV-curing.

Of the FIG. 2 clearly shows that for a reproducible transport of the printing material 2 within the device 1 on the input side transfer cylinder 34, a gripper device 38, the printing cylinder 32 two gripper means 38, the following transfer cylinder 34 two gripper means 38 and the next impression cylinder 36 again two gripper means 38 are arranged. The second printing unit 20 is followed by further printing devices (not shown), which effect the design printing, that is, where the printing material 2 is provided with individual imprint, such as the imprint for a brandy beverage when aerosol cans are made from the sheet material forming the printing material 2. If in the course of this application of gripper or gripper device is mentioned, so this is always always a plurality of individual grippers to understand that are distributed over the print format width.

Not shown in FIG. 2 two UV irradiation devices, which are arranged in the zone between the first and the second printing unit 17, 20 and in the zone between the second printing unit 20 and the subsequent design printing unit to perform UV curing of the printing material 2 in these zones ,

The from the FIG. 2 Outgoing device 1 operates as follows: A sheet material forming the printing material 2 is fed to the pre-gripper with high precision and alignment. The aligned sheet metal is accurately taken over by the gripper 38 of the transfer cylinder 34, which is the metal sheet aligned according to the gripper 38 of the printing cylinder 32 feeds, which takes over the metal sheet and leads into the gap between blanket cylinder 33 and impression cylinder 32. There, the metal sheet is printed with a UV-drying primer. The printed sheet metal thus printed is now dried in the zone between the first printing unit 17 and the second printing unit 20 by means of the UV irradiation device, not shown there. Then, the transfer to the gripper 38 of the transfer cylinder 34 and then the transfer to the gripper device 38 of the printing cylinder 36 of the second printing device 20. By means of the blanket cylinder 37, the printing is carried out by means of UV-drying white paint or UV-drying, white printing ink. Subsequently, the white paint or the white printing ink is dried in the transition zone to the subsequent design printing unit by means of a UV irradiation device arranged there. Also in the following printing units, the above-mentioned "common gripper closure" is maintained from cylinder to cylinder, so that the metal sheet is transported to the end of the printing line 16 with high precision and reproducible "in a gripper closure".

Of course, the offset printing of the FIG. 2 All or even some of them be designed differently, especially as coating plants. A coating unit is characterized in that instead of the plate cylinder with pressure plate a Lackierformzylinder with blanket or photopolymer plate is present.

The special feature of the device according to the invention is that all processes, namely the priming, the printing with white paint or white ink, the design printing and optionally also a subsequent overcoating takes place in one and the same device / machine. Very high printing speeds of up to 10,000 sheets per hour are achieved. For the application of the UV-curing primer, a printing unit with printing cylinder and printing plate is preferably used, wherein the primer is transferred to the printing plate via a number of rubber rollers of different diameters. The primer is transferred from the raised pressure plate (relief plate) on the blanket cylinder and from there to the material to be printed (in particular metal sheets). Overall, therefore, it is a Letterset process, performed on an offset machine. Subsequently, a so-printed metal sheet is transported directly to a second printing station and simultaneously acted upon by UV light from UV lamps. Subsequently, UV-drying white paint is then applied to a raised pressure plate of the printing plate cylinder of the second printing unit via a number of rubber cylinders with different diameters. In addition or as an alternative to the rubber cylinders, a chambered Doctor Blade System with anilox roll for lacquer transfer or instead of the doctor blade system and the anilox roller, a scanning dip roll can be provided. The white paint from the printing plate is transferred to the associated blanket cylinder for printing on the metal sheet. Subsequently, the printed with white lacquer printing material with UV light of a UV lamp assembly applied. The UV exposure of these and preferably also of all other UV light arrangements takes place with different wavelengths of the UV spectrum, preferably with one or more gallium UV lamps. In particular, overhead UV lamps can be provided, in particular three lamps being provided, namely one gallium and two mercury vapor lamps. Now, at this point, the order on the sheet metal sufficiently dried or cured. The white ink printing with UV drying or printing with white printing ink and UV drying can optionally be repeated repeatedly. It now follows the decoration (design printing). The panel is preferably transported through six more or fewer stations with intermediate UV exposures, printing being done using an offset lithographic process. The metal sheet is transported after the last printing on narrow conveyor belts in a UV drying device with in particular four UV lamps and then fed to a metal sheet management system. Any exclusion due to damaged panels, damaged surface, misprint or the like is rejected; For this purpose, a corresponding inspection process is provided. Subsequently, the metal sheets enter a painting device, where they are coated with UV-drying overcoat by means of a Lackierformzylinders. The metal sheets are then transported by means of transport belts to a UV drying station with in particular six UV lamps. Subsequently, the transport of the finished metal sheets in a storage system located adjacent to the in-line press assembly (device 1).

Overall, the work is carried out in one go by the invention, so that separate activities omitted, it is achieved a very short processing time, waste and errors are reduced, since the number of work steps to be performed is reduced. Furthermore, fewer operators are required, the energy costs are reduced, and the entire installation area of the machine can be reduced.

The applied to the metal sheets primer forms an adhesion promoter, which preferably has a layer thickness of 1.5 to 3, microns. Instead of using a blanket, photopolymer plates can also be used for primer or lacquer transfer. The whiteness of the white paint or the applied white ink is significantly improved by the previously performed primer and its effect intensified. Due to the previously performed primer can be used in the subsequent coating with white paint or white ink less white, and yet the same color density is achieved, which would be achieved if not-inventively had taken no primer and would use more white , Overall, therefore, the white layer thickness can be kept lower, so that the UV drying is faster and more uniform in the layer depth and overall thereby better adhesion is achieved. It is thereby recognizable that the primer a important first step is. In practical terms, it should be noted that the mostly transparent and thin primer layer is hardly visible to the operator. It is therefore difficult for the operator to assess whether this layer has been applied properly. The primer is therefore preferably admixed with an additive (agent) which makes it possible to better recognize the layer under a given light and therefore allows its quality to be better assessed. For this purpose, special lamps of special wavelength are installed at the control room or at the inspection site, the light of which allows the primer to be checked.

The primer may also be characterized by the term "primer" because it significantly improves the adhesion of the coating to the substrate. It is therefore among other things a bonding agent.

Unless the primer is made with transparent lacquer, it could also be made with opaque (ie non-translucent) lacquer of any color. The following white finish is - as already stated - dried with UV lamps of different spectral emission distribution. These are preferably gallium lamps or gallium and mercury vapor lamps in combination or only mercury vapor lamps. This is to be decided individually, although the combination of these two different lamp types (gallium and mercury vapor lamps) is particularly preferred. If only mercury vapor lamps are used, the white paint layer thickness should preferably be reduced.

After the design printing has taken place (metal-decorating), an overcoating or -alternatively- the product is not provided with an overcoat. Basically, it can be said that about 90% of all applications, the overcoating is performed. The remaining 10% do not require a topcoat. Basically, an overcoating station with UV drying is integrated in the machine line of the invention and thus given an "in-line construction". It can be provided that this Endlackierstation "in the gripper closure" is operated, so that there is a once introduced into the line, to be coated printing material is transferred from gripper closure to gripper closure reproducible. Alternatively, however, it is also possible that the final overpainting does not take place in the gripper closure, but rather that there are transport systems, for example belt transports, which indeed represent an in-line transport option but do not provide the gripper closure otherwise present in the other printing units. The overcoating can therefore be carried out, for example, with a conventional painting machine, which is connected to the actual printing press via, for example, belt transport lines. Therefore, the "gripper closure" is no longer given in the overpainting station, but probably the "uninterruptible single-pass" through the overall arrangement.

It should also be mentioned that the metal sheets to be coated and to be decorated are preferably tinned metal sheets (tinplate sheets) or aluminum sheets (solid material). The applied coating (primer, white lacquer or white ink, decorative lacquer) has a total thickness of about 4 to 12 .mu.m, wherein the entire coating is realized in the course of a single pass through a machine. In addition, at the end of an overcoat can be applied, which is preferably transparent and represents a protective coating. This overcoat is UV curing or thermosetting so that either a UV station or a thermal station is provided.

As already mentioned, the materials to be applied are dried by means of UV light after they have been applied. It is also possible not to dry after each printing unit, so that a wet-wet application is made. In addition, as mentioned above, an additive may be provided in the primer, which makes it possible to better recognize the coating under special lighting conditions. In daylight, the corresponding coating is virtually invisible. The same applies to normal artificial light, which means that there is virtually invisibility as well. Under certain circumstances, the primer may not be colorless but may be intentionally made with opaque paint. The decorative printing (design) can be done by means of UV-curing ink or even thermosetting ink. With thermosetting printing ink are appropriate thermal means provided for drying after the printing units. Even when applying the protective varnish (topcoat), either a UV-curing or a thermally curing overcoat can be provided. Accordingly, the overcoat is dried by means of a UV arrangement or a thermal arrangement.

Claims (21)

1. A device (1) for imprinting substantially non-absorbent printing material (2) embodied as metal panels (3), comprising a printing machine, which belongs to a printing line (16) and which encompasses at least one printing unit (24), which is equipped with printing ink, wherein provision is made for a first printing device (17) and for a second printing device (20), which in each case belong to the printing line (16) and which are located upstream of the printing unit (24) - viewed in printing direction (4) -, wherein - viewed in printing direction (4) - the second printing device (20) follows the first printing device (17) and wherein the first printing device (17) is equipped with a UV drying primer and the second printing device (20) is equipped with a UV drying white lacquer and a UV drying device (22), which belongs to the printing line, is in each case connected downstream from the first printing device (17) and from the second printing device (20).
2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first printing device (17) is a printing unit (24) of the printing machine.
3. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printing unit (24) equipped with printing ink is an offset printing unit (25).
4. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first printing device (17) equipped with a primer is an offset printing unit (18).
5. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first printing device (17) equipped with a primer is a lacquering unit.
6. The printing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second printing device (20) is a printing unit (24) of the printing machine.
7. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second printing device (20) is an offset printing unit (25).
8. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second printing device (20) is a lacquering unit.
9. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metal panels are tin plate, chrome plate or aluminum plate panels.
10. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - viewed in printing direction (4) - at least a further, third printing device (20), which is equipped with a white lacquer, follows the second printing device (20).
11. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - viewed in printing direction (4) - a lacquering device (26), which belongs to the printing line (16), follows the printing unit (24), which is equipped with printing ink.
12. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one UV drying device or an additional UV drying device or UV drying zone is located between the second and the third printing device (17, 20).
13. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the UV drying device (22) encompasses one or a plurality of radiation sources, which have different emission spectra.
14. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the UV drying device (22) encompasses gallium and/or mercury vapor and/or doped gallium and/or doped mercury vapor lamps.
15. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first printing device (17) equipped with a primer, encompasses a UV drying zone.
16. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the UV drying device (22) and/or the additional UV drying device or UV drying zone are separate structural units of the printing line or are structural units, which are integrated into at least one printing unit and/or at least one printing device and/or at least one lacquering unit.
17. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the UV drying device (22) also encompasses an IR device.
18. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that transfer cylinders for the take-over and/or transfer of the metal panels are arranged between the individual components (6 to 15) or several components (6 to 15).
19. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one printing unit and/or at least one printing device and/or at least one lacquering device is/are embodied as a flexographic printing unit or a gravure printing unit.
20. A method for imprinting substantially non-absorbent material to be imprinted by means of a device according to any one or a plurality of the preceding claims.
21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that the primer and the white lacquer coating and the imprinting and the lacquering is carried out in one and the same printing line while maintaining a single gripper bite, which holds the material to be imprinted.

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