EP1645433B1 - Sleeve of a cylinder in a printing machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a sleeve, in particular a spacer sleeve, for printing press cylinders, in particular format-variable printing presses.

At format-variable printing machines so-called spacer sleeves are used to compensate for a change in format resulting change in the diameter of the printing plates or blankets at the same printing press cylinders. The spacers are thereby pushed onto the respective printing press cylinder and serve as a carrier for example printing plates or printing sleeves or rubber blankets or rubber sleeves.

According to the prior art, spacers are made of non-metallic materials for reasons of cost and weight reasons. However, spacers made of such non-metallic materials are not dimensionally accurate and dimensionally accurate, so that they are of limited use, in particular for offset printing. Thus, the spacers known from the prior art must be subjected to a grinding, so that a dimensionally accurate or dimensionally accurate external diameter of the same is provided. This is disadvantageous overall.

A conventional spacer sleeve is in US-A-4,913,048 disclosed.

Proceeding from this, the present invention is based on the problem of creating a novel sleeve, in particular a novel spacer sleeve, for printing press cylinders, in particular format-variable printing presses.

This problem is solved by a sleeve, in particular a spacer sleeve, for printing press cylinders, in particular format-variable printing machines, according to claim 1. The sleeve according to the invention, in particular spacer sleeve, has at least two metallic layers, wherein between a first, inner metallic carrier layer and a second, outer metallic cover layer at least one dimensionally stable intermediate layer is arranged, wherein the or each intermediate layer in particular determines the thickness or wall thickness of the sleeve and the outer metallic cover layer as a carrier is designed for releasable or non-destructive removable recording of a functional surface forming device.

For the purposes of the present invention, a spacer sleeve for format-variable printing machines is proposed which comprises at least two metallic, sleeve-like or tubular layers, namely the first, inner metallic carrier layer and the second, outer metallic cover layer. At least one intermediate layer is positioned between the two sleeve-like, metallic layers, wherein the or each intermediate layer determines the wall thickness of the spacer sleeve. By means of the present invention, spacer sleeves can be produced in a dimensionally accurate or dimensionally accurate manner, so that they can be used in particular for offset printing without subsequent grinding.

According to an advantageous development of the present invention, the or each intermediate layer is firmly connected to the inner metallic carrier layer and / or to the outer metallic covering layer.

Preferably, the or each dimensionally stable intermediate layer is formed from a metallic or non-metallic material, in particular from a foamed material such as PU foam or metal foam.

Fig. 1:

einen schematisierten Querschnitt durch eine erfindungsgemäße Distanzhülse für formatvariable Druckmaschinen nach einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;

Fig. 2:

einen gegenüber Fig. 1 um 90° versetzten Querschnitt durch die Distanzhülse der Fig. 1;

Fig. 3:

einen schematisierten Querschnitt durch eine erfindungsgemäße Distanzhülse für formatvariable Druckmaschinen nach einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;

Fig. 4:

einen schematisierten Querschnitt durch eine erfindungsgemäße Distanzhülse für formatvariable Druckmaschinen nach einem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung; und

Fig. 5:

einen schematisierten Querschnitt durch eine erfindungsgemäße Distanzhülse für formatvariable Druckmaschinen nach einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description below. Embodiments of the invention will be described, without being limited thereto, with reference to the drawings. Showing:

Fig. 1:

a schematic cross section through a spacer sleeve according to the invention for format-variable printing machines according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2:

one opposite Fig. 1 offset by 90 ° cross section through the spacer sleeve of Fig. 1 ;

3:

a schematic cross section through a spacer sleeve according to the invention for format-variable printing machines according to a second embodiment of the invention;

4:

a schematic cross section through a spacer sleeve according to the invention for format-variable printing machines according to a third embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 5:

a schematic cross section through a spacer sleeve according to the invention for format-variable printing machines according to another embodiment of the invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to FIG Fig. 1 to 5 described in more detail.

Fig. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a spacer sleeve 10 according to the invention for a variable format printing machine, wherein the spacer sleeve 10 of the Fig. 1 and 2 has two sleeve-like, metallic layers, namely a first, inner metallic carrier layer 11 and a second outer metallic cover layer 12. Between the two metallic layers 11 and 12 is in the embodiment of the Fig. 1 and 2 a single dimensionally stable intermediate layer 13 is positioned, wherein the intermediate layer 13 is firmly connected on the one hand with the inner metallic carrier layer 11 and on the other hand with the outer metallic cover layer 12. The intermediate layer 13 is made of a dimensionally stable material. This may be a metallic or non-metallic material. Preferably, the intermediate layer 13 consists of a foamed material, such as a polyurethane foam or metal foam.

The inner metal carrier layer 11 defines a cavity 14, via which the spacer sleeve 10 can be pushed onto a printing press cylinder. The spacer sleeve 10 is therefore on with the inner metallic support layer 11 on the printing press cylinder. The diameter of the spacer sleeve 10 is determined primarily by the thickness of the dimensionally stable intermediate layer 13.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1 and 2 serves the spacer sleeve 10 as a carrier for releasable or non-destructively removable recording of a functional surface forming device. These may be printing plates, such as printing plates or printing sleeves or printing sleeves, or color transfer devices, such as blankets or rubber sleeves or rubber sleeves. Serves the spacer sleeve 10 and the outer metallic cover layer 12 of the same recording of pressure sleeves or Drucksleeves or rubber sleeves or rubber sleeves, the pressure sleeves or rubber sleeves are pushed onto the spacer sleeve 10. For this purpose, 10 holes can then be integrated into the spacer sleeve, for example, the pressure sleeves or rubber sleeves using a pneumatic system relieved to the spacer sleeve 10.

Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of a spacer sleeve 15 according to the invention, wherein the spacer sleeve 15 of the embodiment of Fig. 3 as well as the spacer sleeve 10 of the embodiment of Fig. 1 and 2 has two metallic layers and an intermediate layer positioned between the two metallic layers. To avoid unnecessary repetitions, therefore, the same reference numerals are used for the same modules and it is on the comments on the embodiment of Fig. 1 and 2 directed.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3 the dimensionally stable intermediate layer 13 is firmly connected on the one hand to the inner metallic carrier layer 11 and on the other hand to the outer metallic cover layer 12 via an adhesive layer 16 and 17, respectively. The adhesive layer 17 is preferably incompressible, the adhesive layer 16 may be formed compressible. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment shown, both adhesive layers 16 and 17 can also be designed to be incompressible or slightly compressible.

A further embodiment of a spacer sleeve 18 according to the invention Fig. 4 , The spacer sleeve 18 of Fig. 4 again has two metallic layers, namely an inner metallic carrier layer 11 and an outer metallic cover layer 12. In contrast to the embodiments of the Fig. 1 to 3 is in the embodiment of Fig. 4 not only a single intermediate layer positioned between the two metallic layers 11 and 12 of the spacer sleeve 18, but two dimensionally stable intermediate layers 19 and 20 are positioned between the two metallic layers 11 and 12. The dimensionally stable intermediate layer 19 adjoins the inner metallic carrier layer 11 and is firmly connected thereto. The intermediate layer 20 adjoins the outer metallic cover layer 12 and is firmly connected thereto. Furthermore, the two dimensionally stable intermediate layers 19 and 20 are firmly interconnected. In the embodiment of Fig. 4 the intermediate layer 19 is slightly compressible and the intermediate layer 20 is formed incompressible. Of course, it is also possible to position more than two intermediate layers between the two metallic layers 11 and 12.

In the embodiments of the Fig. 1 to 4 serve the spacers 10, 15 and 18 shown there all of the detachable or non-destructively removable recording of a functional surface forming device. These may be printing plates, such as printing plates or printing sleeves, or color transfer devices, such as blankets or rubber sleeves act. The spacers 10, 15 and 18 serve primarily to provide a diameter compensation in a format change on a printing machine. As already mentioned, the thickness or wall thickness of the spacers is primarily determined by the dimensionally stable intermediate layers.

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of a spacer sleeve 21 according to the invention, which in turn has the two metallic layers 11 and 12 and an intermediate layer 13. In the embodiment of Fig. 5 For example, a compressible layer 22, a fabric layer 23 and a rubber cover layer 24 are applied to the outer metallic cover layer 12 in a non-releasable manner. The rubber cover layer 24 forms a functional surface, which is therefore an integral part of the spacer sleeve 21. In the embodiment of Fig. 5 Accordingly, the spacer sleeve is designed as a rubber sleeve, which can be used directly as a color transfer carrier. In the embodiment of Fig. 5 Thus, the spacer sleeve 21 forms a rubber sleeve directly.

Allen in the Fig. 1 to 5 shown spacers according to the invention has in common that they have two metallic layers, namely an inner metallic support layer and an outer metallic cover layer, wherein between these two metallic layers at least one dimensionally stable intermediate layer is positioned. In the assembled state, the spacers lie with the inner metallic support layer on a printing press cylinder. The outer metallic cover layer of the spacer sleeves serves either to detachably receive a device forming a functional surface, alternatively it is also possible to apply a further functional layer permanently to the outer metallic cover layer.

It should be noted that the metallic cover layer of the spacers 10, 15 and 18 of the embodiments according to Fig. 1 to 4 can also be used directly as erasable or rewritable printing form. The spacer sleeve then forms a printing form for working according to the Direktbebilderungsprinzip printing presses. Such printing machines operating according to the direct-imaging principle are marketed by the applicant under the product name "DI-COweb".

Finally, it should be noted that the metallic, sleeve-like layers 11 and 12 of the spacer sleeves are preferably formed from a welded sheet metal. The spacer sleeves according to the invention can be used as paper guide rollers or serve as a carrier coated rollers in an inking unit of the printing press.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Stand Off

11

backing

12

topcoat

13

interlayer

14

cavity

15

Stand Off

16

adhesive layer

17

adhesive layer

18

Stand Off

19

interlayer

20

interlayer

21

Stand Off

22

compressible layer

23

tissue layer

24

Covers, rubber

Claims (13)

1. A tube, in particular a spacer tube, for in particular variable-format printing machines, having at least two metallic layers (11, 12), with at least one dimensionally stable intermediate layer (13; 19, 20) being arranged between a first, inner metallic carrier layer (11) and a second, outer metallic cover layer (12), with the or each intermediate layer (13; 19, 20) determining in particular the thickness or wall strength of the tube, characterised in that the outer metallic cover layer (12) is formed as a carrier to receive a device that constitutes a functional surface, in a detachable manner or in such a way that it can be removed in a non-destructive manner.
2. A tube according to claim 1, characterised in that the same can be positioned with the inner metallic carrier layer (11) on a cylinder of a printing machine.
3. A tube according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the or each intermediate layer (13; 19, 20) is fixedly connected to the inner metallic carrier layer (11) and/or to the outer metallic cover layer (12).
4. A tube according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that arranged between the inner metallic carrier layer (11) and the outer metallic cover layer (12) there is a single dimensionally stable intermediate layer (13) that is fixedly connected to the inner metallic carrier layer (11) and the outer metallic cover layer (12) by way of a respective adhesive layer (16, 17).
5. A tube according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that two dimensionally stable intermediate layers (19, 20) are arranged between the inner metallic carrier layer (11) and the outer metallic cover layer (12).
6. A tube according to claim 5, characterised in that a first intermediate layer (19) is fixedly connected to the inner metallic carrier layer (11), and a second intermediate layer (20) is fixedly connected to the outer metallic cover layer (12), and in that the two intermediate layers (19, 20) are fixedly connected together.
7. A tube according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the or each dimensionally stable intermediate layer (13; 19, 20) is formed from a metallic or non-metallic material, in particular from a foamed material, such as PU foam or metal foam.
8. A tube according to claim 7, characterised in that the outer metallic cover layer (12) is formed as a carrier to receive printing formes, such as printing plates or printing tubes.
9. A tube according to claim 7, characterised in that the outer metallic cover layer (12) is formed as a carrier to receive ink-transferring devices, such as rubber blankets or rubber tubes.
10. A tube according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the outer metallic cover layer (12) is formed directly as a printing forme that can be cleared and also imaged.
11. A tube according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that applied in a non-detachable manner to the outer metallic cover layer (12) there is at least one further layer (22, 23, 24) that constitutes a functional surface.
12. A tube according to claim 11, characterised in that applied to the outer metallic cover layer (12) there is a compressible layer (22), a woven-fabric layer (23) and a rubber layer (24).
13. A tube according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the same is formed as a sleeve.

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