EP1932669B1 - Dispositif et procede d'impression utilisant des encres durcissables par energie pour imprimante flexographique - Google Patents

Dispositif et procede d'impression utilisant des encres durcissables par energie pour imprimante flexographique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1932669B1
EP1932669B1 EP06764351A EP06764351A EP1932669B1 EP 1932669 B1 EP1932669 B1 EP 1932669B1 EP 06764351 A EP06764351 A EP 06764351A EP 06764351 A EP06764351 A EP 06764351A EP 1932669 B1 EP1932669 B1 EP 1932669B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
printing
ink
printing ink
application chamber
doctor blade
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
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EP06764351A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1932669A1 (fr
EP1932669A4 (fr
Inventor
Jordi Puig Vila
Jordi Sahun Peres
Jordi Davila Casitas
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Comexi Group Industries SA
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Comexi Group Industries SA
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Publication of EP1932669A4 publication Critical patent/EP1932669A4/fr
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Publication of EP1932669B1 publication Critical patent/EP1932669B1/fr
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F31/00—Inking arrangements or devices
    • B41F31/005—Ink viscosity control means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F31/00—Inking arrangements or devices
    • B41F31/002—Heating or cooling of ink or ink rollers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F31/00—Inking arrangements or devices
    • B41F31/02—Ducts, containers, supply or metering devices
    • B41F31/027—Ink rail devices for inking ink rollers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41P—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO PRINTING, LINING MACHINES, TYPEWRITERS, AND TO STAMPS
    • B41P2200/00—Printing processes
    • B41P2200/10—Relief printing
    • B41P2200/12—Flexographic printing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a printing device and a printing method using energy-curable inks for a flexographic printer.
  • Patents US-A-6284816 , US-A-6727295 and EP-A-1133533 disclose energy-curable flexographic printing inks, with a detailed description of the components integrating them. According to another aspect, these patents disclose a printing method combining the use of the mentioned energy-curable ink with two printing process steps, namely: printing the energy-curable ink on a substrate to obtain an image; and subjecting said image to actinic radiation or thermal energy, such as an electron beam or ultraviolet radiation.
  • An essential feature of these energy-curable inks is that they include a low solvent content and therefore have a relatively high viscosity compared to other conventional inks, but sufficiently low to flow suitably, having low odor and good adhesion.
  • energy-curable inks allows implementing a printing technique known as wet-on-wet printing, which consists of consecutively printing with several printing units different colors superimposed on one and the same substrate and subsequently carrying out a single curing operation, for example using an electron beam, downstream of the printing units. As it is not necessary to cure each color before printing the next color, higher printing speeds can be achieved.
  • Energy-curable inks can be water-soluble and the use of an evaporability modifying agent, such as ammonia, to improve the drying capacity of the ink once it has been printed, as well as the capacity to withstand a subsequent wet-on-wet printing without the colors running, is known.
  • the high viscosity of these inks is a drawback when applying the ink to an inking roller of the printing unit, also known as screen roller or anilox roller.
  • the mentioned screen roller usually comprises a surface provided with pits which must be filled with fresh ink by an ink application chamber in each rotation of the roller. The excess ink from a previous turn remains often housed in the pits, making it difficult to fill them with fresh ink.
  • the viscosity level is furthermore critical for obtaining a good print, which involves the need to have equipment for controlling the viscosity of the ink which is supplied to the ink application chamber.
  • patent EP-A-0350839 describes a printing system comprising an ink application chamber partly delimited by an upper doctor blade and a lower doctor blade, both of them in contact with the pitted surface of the inking roller, as is conventional.
  • the chamber has an ink inlet and an ink outlet whereby the ink is circulated through the chamber wetting the pitted surface of the inking roller.
  • the chamber includes, as a main feature, a third additional doctor blade located under the chamber between the upper and lower doctor blades. This third additional doctor blade has a longitudinal edge close to the pitted surface of the inking roller but which does not touch it, and the chamber works completely full of ink.
  • Patent DE-A-3614582 discloses an ink application device including three doctor blades in contact with the pitted surface of the inking roller, although only two of them form the ink application chamber and the third one is outside, downstream of the chamber.
  • De 41116989 A1 discloses an ink supplying device with adjustment means comprising an ink reservoir associated to heating means, stirring means and a viscosity measuring instrument; a mixer inserted between ink supply conduits and comprising a viscosity measuring instrument, heating means and temperature control means, a printing ink inlet receiving ink from said ink reservoir, a solvent inlet receiving solvent from a solvent reservoir and an additive inlet receiving additives from an additive reservoir; and an ink application chamber receiving ink from the mixer propelled by a pump under the control of a solenoid valve, and also comprising level control electrodes and a pump enabling the ink recirculation through return piping to the mixer.
  • International Patent Application WO 0068014 discloses an inking device comprising an ink application chamber delimited by upper and lower doctor blades having respective longitudinal edges in contact with the surface of an inking roller rotating in a predetermined direction. Said lower doctor blade is placed at the upstream end of the ink application chamber with respect to the rotating direction of the inking roller and is inclined in favour of the rotating direction of the inking roller, whereas the upper doctor blade is placed at the downstream end of the ink application chamber and is inclined against the rotating direction of the inking roller.
  • the device comprises an additional doctor blade placed between the upper and lower doctor blades dividing the ink application chamber in an upper ink receiving cavity and a lower ink discharging cavity.
  • Said additional doctor blade has a longitudinal edge in contact with the inking roller and is inclined against the rotating direction of the inking roller to carry out a certain ink retention in the upper cavity. Furthermore, the additional doctor blade is shorter than the transverse length of the chamber, so that passageways between the upper chamber and the lower chamber are provided at its ends. Thus, the ink supplied to the upper cavity at atmospheric pressure by ink circulating means is temporally retained by the additional doctor blade and can circulate simply by gravity from the upper chamber to the lower chamber through said passageways formed by the shorter ends of the additional blade.
  • patent US-A-4552165 describes a method and a device for supplying ink to a printing device and for maintaining the density of a printed color constant. It comprises detecting the light reflected from a printed mark to provide a correction signal which is combined with a viscosity code signal obtained by means of a viscosimeter located at a specific point of a tank containing a mixture of printing solvent and ink to generate control signals for controlling valves of an ink and solvent mixer. The density of the printing ink is thus adjusted according to the density of the printed color.
  • Patent US-A-5330576 describes a recirculating coating liquid supply system for a coating apparatus. It includes a tank containing a mixture of coating liquid and a pumping device for circulating the mixture through a main line and a return line. A viscosimeter is connected to measure the viscosity of the mixture flowing through the main line, and viscosity adjustments are made by adding accurate amounts of base coating liquid or thinner to the main line.
  • Patent US-A-5772787 describes a method for cleaning and maintaining viscosity and pH measuring devices for water-based flexo inks.
  • the mentioned viscosity and pH measuring devices are introduced in a tank containing the ink for carrying out the corresponding measurements and then they are removed and submersed in a tank of cleaning fluid.
  • the result of the measurements is used to know the ink conditions and determine viscosity and pH adjustments to be carried out manually by the addition of components.
  • An objective of the present invention is to a provide a printing device and method for a flexographic printer suitable for the use of energy-curable inks with a relatively high viscosity, including a control of the viscosity and other attributes of the ink mixtures to be supplied to the printing units and an improved mechanical device to assure the application of the ink mixture to the inking roller in each printing unit.
  • the present invention provides a printing device using energy-curable inks for a flexographic printer, comprising at least one printing unit adapted to print an energy-curable printing ink on a substrate web supported on at least one counterpressure roller, and at least one energy emission unit to direct energy towards said substrate web for the purpose of curing the printing inks printed on said substrate web.
  • the printing unit comprises an ink application chamber partly delimited by an upper doctor blade and a lower doctor blade in contact with an inking roller to apply the printing ink to a pitted surface of said inking roller, which is arranged to ink in turn a printing roller.
  • the device includes supply means for supplying printing ink to said ink application chamber and adjustment means for periodically adjusting the printing ink to predetermined values of viscosity, evaporability and temperature before the printing ink is supplied to the ink application chamber.
  • the ink application chamber comprises at least one additional doctor blade located inside the ink application chamber and arranged between said upper and lower doctor blades, said additional doctor blade comprising a longitudinal edge elastically pressed against said pitted surface of the inking roller.
  • the additional doctor blade is inclined in favor of the rotating direction of the inking roller acting as a polishing spatula to contribute to removing printing ink remaining in pits of the pitted surface of the inking roller and to refilling them with fresh printing ink.
  • the pitted surface thereof enters the ink application chamber through the upstream doctor blade according to the rotation direction of the inking roller and leaves the ink application chamber through the downstream doctor blade.
  • the upstream doctor blade and the additional doctor blade are arranged in favor of the mentioned rotating direction of the inking roller, whereas the downstream doctor blade is arranged against the rotating direction of the inking roller. Notice that the upstream doctor blade will be the upper doctor blade in the printing units placed at one side of the central drum and the lower doctor blade in the printing units placed at the opposite side.
  • the additional doctor blade divides the ink application chamber into a lower cavity communicated with an inlet through which it receives the recirculating printing ink, and an upper cavity communicated with an outlet through which the recirculating printing ink is discharged. Both the upper and lower cavities are communicated with one another through passageways through which the printing ink can pass from the lower cavity to the upper cavity.
  • the mentioned supply means are adapted to recirculate the printing ink through the ink application chamber at a suitable flow rate so that the upper and lower cavities of the ink application chamber are only partially filled with printing ink during the operation.
  • valve means which can be selectively actuated to interrupt or allow, or even regulate, the passage of printing ink from the upper cavity to the lower cavity through the passageways, to thus better control the level of ink in the upper and lower cavities of the ink application chamber.
  • the additional doctor blade acts as a spatula acting to apply the printing ink accumulated in the upper cavity against the pitted surface of the inking roller.
  • this spatula action of the additional doctor blade contributes to removing any residue of printing ink remaining in the pits of the pitted surface of the inking roller and to filling them again with fresh printing ink.
  • the mentioned adjustment means comprise a mixer connected to receive through an inlet the energy-curable ink coming from an ink tank, and to further receive through other respective inlets at least a solvent coming from a solvent tank, and an evaporability modifying agent coming from an evaporability modifying agent tank containing same.
  • the mixer comprises at least a viscosimeter in cooperation with control means and valve means for periodically determining and adding, if necessary, a measured amount of solvent to said printing ink to adjust the viscosity of the printing ink to a predetermined value, an evaporability measuring device in cooperation with control means and valve means for determining and adding if necessary, a measured amount of evaporability modifying agent in the printing ink to adjust the evaporability of the printing ink to a predetermined value, and a thermostat in cooperation with control means and heating-cooling means for heating or cooling, as appropriate, the printing ink until adjusting the temperature of the printing ink to a predetermined value.
  • the mixer is adapted to supply the printing ink, once it has been adjusted, through an outlet.
  • the periodicity with which the physical conditions of the printing ink, i.e. viscosity, evaporability and temperature, are controlled and adjusted is short enough to be considered a continuous control, which assures that the physical conditions of the printing ink supplied to the ink application chamber are indeed those stipulated by the manufacturer of the energy-curable ink.
  • the supply means comprise pumping equipment connected to a recirculation circuit to recirculate the printing ink through the ink application chamber.
  • the recirculation circuit includes a supply line from the pumping equipment to the ink application chamber and a return line from the ink application chamber to the pumping equipment, and the pumping equipment includes at least two pneumatic diaphragm pumps, one pump for driving the ink through the supply line and the other pump for suctioning the ink through the return line.
  • the mixer can be located outside said recirculation circuit, in which case its outlet is connected to an inlet of the pumping equipment through a mixture feed line, or it can be placed in said supply line of the recirculation circuit, in which case the ink coming from the ink tank is supplied directly to the pumping equipment by means of a feed line and a recirculation outlet of the pumping equipment is connected to the ink inlet of the mixer, and the outlet of the mixer is connected to the inlet of the ink application chamber.
  • the device of the present invention can include two or more printing units arranged to consecutively wet-on-wet print on the substrate web, in which case the ink is cured downstream of said printing units.
  • Each printing unit is obviously equipped with its own supply means, adjustment means and auxiliary inking means.
  • the present invention provides a printing method using energy-curable inks for a flexographic printer, comprising the steps of printing an energy-curable printing ink on a substrate web supported on a counterpressure roller by means of at least one printing unit, and curing the printing ink printed on said substrate web by means of at least one energy emission unit arranged to direct energy towards said substrate web.
  • the mentioned step of printing comprises, for each printing unit, supplying by means of supply means said printing ink to a corresponding ink application chamber partly delimited by upper and lower doctor blades in contact with an inking roller to apply the printing ink to a pitted surface of said inking roller , which is arranged to ink in turn a corresponding printing roller, and periodically adjusting the printing ink to predetermined values of viscosity, evaporability and temperature before the printing ink is supplied to the ink application chamber.
  • the method according to the present invention comprises the additional step of contributing to remove the printing ink remaining in pits of said pitted surface of the inking roller and to filling them with fresh printing ink by means of an additional doctor blade arranged between said upper and lower doctor blades in contact with the inking roller, where a longitudinal edge of said additional doctor blade is elastically pressed against a pitted surface of the inking roller, the additional doctor blade being inclined in favor of the rotating direction of the inking roller to act as a polishing spatula and further comprises communicating a lower cavity of the ink application chamber, comprised between the lower doctor blade and the additional doctor blade, with a printing ink inlet, communicating an upper cavity of the ink application chamber, comprised between the additional doctor blade and the upper doctor blade, with a printing ink outlet, and maintaining said upper and lower cavities only partially filled with printing ink during the operation.
  • said energy-curable printing ink is a water-soluble printing ink curable by electron beam.
  • the method comprises consecutively wet-on-wet printing energy-curable printing inks on the substrate web by said two or more printing units, carrying out said steps of supplying and adjusting the printing ink by means of one of said supplying means and adjustment means for each printing unit, and
  • the method further comprises using a mixer to adjust the printing ink and preheating the printing ink in the ink tank before the printing ink is supplied to said mixer.
  • the printing ink can be effectively supplied to the ink application chamber with the physical conditions stipulated by the manufacturer of the energy-curable ink, and the printing ink can be applied to the pitted surface of the inking roller in a manner according to its relatively high viscosity.
  • Figure 1 shows the elements forming the printing device using energy-curable inks for a flexographic printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the scheme of Figure 1 is also useful for explaining the method of the present invention.
  • FIG 3 schematically shows a flexographic printer with a central drum to which are applied by way of example several printing groups 21, each incorporating the device of Figure 1 .
  • the mentioned flexographic printer comprises a rotating central drum 24 carrying out the function of a counterpressure roller for a plurality of printing units 21 arranged around it.
  • a substrate web 23 on which the printing is to take place is arranged supported on a part of the outer surface of the central drum 24.
  • the substrate web 23 moves in the direction indicated by arrows in Figure 3 at the same speed as the outer surface of the central drum 24, such that there is no sliding between both.
  • the different printing units 21 are adapted to consecutively wet-on-wet print energy-curable printing inks on the substrate web 23.
  • An energy emission unit 22 to direct energy towards said substrate web 23 is arranged downstream of all the printing units 21 for the purpose of curing the printing inks printed on said substrate web 23.
  • the energy used by said energy emission unit 22 to cure the printing ink is an electron beam, for example.
  • wet-on-wet is used to designate a printing technique which consists of printing by means of a printing unit 21 an ink of one color on the ink of another color previously printed by another printing unit 21 without an intermediate curing operation, a single curing operation being carried out for all the colors superimposed downstream of the printing units 21. This is possible due to the characteristics of energy-curable printing inks allowing a fast partial drying of the ink immediately after being printed as well as a subsequent wet-on-wet printing of another ink without the colors running.
  • the flexographic printer is not limited to a flexographic printer with a central drum, but can be any other type of flexographic printer, for example, in-line or stack flexographic printers, in which each printing unit includes its own counterpressure roller 24. Furthermore, for the purposes of the present invention, at least one printing unit 21 is sufficient, the possibility of wet-on-wet printing several inks by means of two or more printing units being optional.
  • each printing unit 21 comprises an ink application chamber 13 adapted to apply the printing ink to a pitted surface of an inking roller 11, which is arranged to ink in turn a printing plate arranged on the surface of a printing roller 12 rotating in contact with the substrate supported on the counterpressure roller 24 so as to print an image with the printing ink.
  • Supply means for supplying printing ink to the corresponding ink application chamber 13 are included for each printing unit 21.
  • these supply means comprise pumping equipment 16 connected to receive printing ink through an inlet 17 and also connected to a recirculation circuit for recirculating the printing ink through the ink application chamber 13.
  • the mentioned recirculation circuit comprises a supply line from a recirculation outlet 18 of the pumping equipment 16 to an inlet 14 of the ink application chamber 13, and a return line from an outlet 15 of the ink application chamber 13 to a recirculation inlet 19 of the pumping equipment 16.
  • the pumping equipment 16 comprises a first pneumatic diaphragm pump connected to drive printing ink through said supply line of the recirculation circuit and a second pneumatic diaphragm pump connected to aspirate printing ink through said return line of the recirculation circuit.
  • the pumping equipment 16 includes a single pneumatic diaphragm pump associated to the supply line of the recirculation circuit, the return of the recirculation circuit being carried out by gravity.
  • the pumping equipment 16 includes a dual body single pneumatic diaphragm pump, which works with a first body associated to the supply line of the recirculation circuit and the second body associated to the return line of the recirculation circuit.
  • the device comprises adjustment means for periodically adjusting the printing ink to predetermined values of viscosity, evaporability and temperature before the printing ink is supplied to the ink application chamber 13.
  • these adjustment means comprise, a mixer 4 having an ink inlet 5 connected to an outlet of an ink tank 1 to receive the energy-curable printing ink, a solvent inlet 6 connected to an outlet of a solvent tank 2 to receive a solvent, and an evaporability modifying agent inlet 7 connected to the outlet of an evaporability modifying agent tank 3 to receive an evaporability modifying agent.
  • the mixer 4 is adapted to adjust the printing ink by means of adding, if necessary, measured amounts of said solvent and/or of said evaporability modifying agent to the printing ink, and/or by means of heating or cooling, as appropriate, the printing ink.
  • the adjusted printing ink is supplied through an outlet 8 of the mixer which is connected to the mentioned inlet 17 of the pumping equipment 16.
  • the mixer 4 is located outside said recirculation circuit.
  • the recirculation circuit can optionally include a line 41 from the pumping equipment 16 to the mixer 4, therefore the recirculated ink passes through the mixer 4 to be adjusted in each cycle.
  • the mixer 4 essentially includes a viscosimeter 9 and an evaporability measuring device 10 in cooperation with control means and valve means for controlling the flow of printing ink and adding measured amounts of solvent and of an evaporability modifying agent thereto, if considered necessary.
  • the mixer also includes a thermostat 25 in cooperation with control means and heating-cooling means for heating or cooling the printing ink once it has been adjusted.
  • the operation of the mixer 4 comprises periodically evaluating the viscosity of the printing ink by means of said viscosimeter 9 and comparing the evaluated value with a predetermined value of viscosity stipulated by the manufacturer of the energy-curable ink.
  • valve means are actuated by a command of the control means for adding a measured amount of solvent to the printing ink that is suitable for adjusting the viscosity of the printing ink to said predetermined value of viscosity.
  • the evaporability of the printing ink is periodically evaluated by means of said evaporability measuring device 10 of the mixer 4 and, if it is considered necessary as a result of the comparison of the obtained value with a predetermined value of evaporability stipulated by the manufacturer, the valve means are actuated by a command of the control means for adding a measured amount of evaporability modifying agent to said printing ink that is suitable for adjusting the evaporability of the printing ink to said predetermined value of evaporability.
  • the operation of the mixer 4 also comprises periodically evaluating the temperature of the printing ink by means of said thermostat 25 and, if considered necessary, said heating-cooling means are actuated by a command of the control means for heating or cooling, as appropriate, the printing ink until adjusting the temperature of the printing ink to a predetermined value.
  • a heating device 38 is arranged to preheat the printing ink when it is inside said ink tank 1.
  • the energy-curable printing ink is a water-soluble printing ink that can be cured by an electron beam.
  • said solvent is treated water.
  • ammonia can be used as an evaporability modifying agent, modifying the pH of the printing ink, among other parameters.
  • a pH meter is used as the evaporability measuring device 10 because the evaporability will be related to the pH.
  • the mixer 4 is not limited to adjusting the viscosity, evaporability and temperature of the printing ink, and it can optionally adjust other parameters by means of adding other additives with the aid of suitable measuring and control equipment.
  • the device of the present invention further comprises auxiliary inking means associated to said ink application chamber 13, which means are adapted to contribute to removing any residue of printing ink that may remain in pits existing in said pitted surface of the inking roller 11 after the inking of said printing roller 12 and to filling them again with fresh printing ink inside the ink application chamber.
  • FIG. 2 shows with more detail the mentioned auxiliary inking means.
  • the ink application chamber 13 is delimited, as is conventional, by a body 40, an upper doctor blade 26, a lower doctor blade 27 and a portion of the inking roller 11. At the side ends, the ink application chamber 13 is closed in a known manner by lids that are not shown.
  • the upper and lower doctor blades 26, 27 are logically in contact with the pitted surface of the inking roller 11.
  • the auxiliary inking means comprise at least an additional doctor blade 20 located inside the ink application chamber 13 and arranged between said upper and lower doctor blades 26, 27, such that a longitudinal edge of the mentioned additional doctor blade 20 is in contact with the pitted surface of the inking roller 11, and elastically pressed against it.
  • the additional doctor blade 20 divides the ink application chamber 13 into an upper cavity 28 and a lower cavity 29.
  • the mentioned inlet 14 of the ink application chamber 13 communicates with said lower cavity 29, whereas said outlet 15 of the ink application chamber 13 communicates with said upper cavity 28.
  • Passageways 37 communicate the upper and lower cavities 28, 29 with one another to allow the passage of printing ink from the lower cavity 29 to the upper cavity 28.
  • the supply means described above are adapted to supply the printing ink to the ink application chamber 13 at a suitable rate so that the upper and lower cavities 28, 29 of the ink application chamber 13 are only partially filled with printing ink during operation.
  • the passageways 37 have associated thereto valve means 39 which can be actuated to interrupt or allow, or to regulate, the passage of printing ink from the upper cavity 28 to the lower cavity 29 through the passageways 37.
  • the inking roller 11 is actuated to rotate in a direction indicated by means of a curved arrow in Figure 2 according to the rotating direction of the central drum 24 at a first side thereof.
  • This rotating direction determines that the pitted surface of the inking roller 11 enters the ink application chamber 13 through the upper doctor blade 26 and leaves the ink application chamber 13 through the lower doctor blade 27.
  • the upper doctor blade 26 and the additional doctor blade 20 are arranged in favor of the rotating direction of the inking roller 11, whereas the lower doctor blade 27 is arranged against the rotating direction of the inking roller 11.
  • the elastic pressure exerted by the additional doctor blade 20 against the pitted surface of the inking roller makes the additional doctor blade 20 act as a polishing spatula, contributing to remove any residue of printing ink remaining in the pits of the pitted surface of the inking roller and forcing the fresh printing ink to fill the pits again.
  • FIG 2A is shown a printing unit 21 placed at a second side of the central drum 24 opposite to said first side (see Figure 3 ) and therefore the corresponding inking roller 11 will rotate in a direction indicated by means of a curved arrow in Figure 2 according to the rotating direction of the central drum 24 at said second side thereof.
  • the pitted surface of the inking roller 11 enters the ink application chamber 13 through the lower doctor blade 27 and leaves the ink application chamber 13 through the upper doctor blade 26.
  • the lower doctor blade 27 and the additional doctor blade 20 are arranged in favor of the rotating direction of the inking roller 11, whereas the upper doctor blade 26 is arranged against the rotating direction of the inking roller 11.
  • the printing ink coming from the ink tank 1 is directly supplied to the pumping equipment 16 by means of a line from the ink tank 1 to the feed inlet 17 of the pumping equipment 16 and which reaches the mixer 4 through a first section of the supply line of the recirculation circuit.
  • the recirculation circuit optionally includes a line 42 from the ink application chamber 13 to the mixer 4 and another line 43 from the mixer 4 to the pumping equipment 16.
  • the device of the present invention can advantageously include a self-cleaning device comprising a cleaning fluid tank 30 containing a cleaning fluid and connections with the pumping equipment 16 to circulate said cleaning fluid through the ink application chamber 13 and through the mixer 4 during periods in which the circulation of printing ink is interrupted.
  • said cleaning fluid tank 30 has a first outlet 31 and an inlet 32 respectively connected to cleaning inlet and outlet 33, 34 of said pumping equipment 16, whereas a second outlet 35 of the cleaning fluid tank 30 is connected to an inlet 36 of the mixer 4.
  • the pumping equipment 16 in cooperation with control means and valve means, can circulate the cleaning fluid through the recirculation circuit including the ink application chamber 13, through the mixer 4, or through both at the same time.
  • the cleaning fluid tank 30 has an outlet 31 connected to a cleaning inlet 33 of the pumping equipment 16, and the pumping equipment 16 has a cleaning outlet 34 connected to an inlet 32 of the cleaning fluid tank 30.
  • the pumping equipment 16 in cooperation with control means and valve means, can thus circulate the cleaning fluid through the mixer 4 and through the ink application chamber 13.

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Claims (15)

  1. Un dispositif d'impression utilisant des encres durcissables par énergie pour une imprimeuse flexographique comportant au moins un élément imprimeur (21) adapté pour imprimer une encre d'imprimerie durcissable par énergie sur une bande de substrat (23) supportée sur au moins un rouleau de contre-pression (24), dans lequel cet élément imprimeur (21) comporte une chambre d'application d'encre (13) délimitée en partie par des racles supérieure et inférieure (26, 27) en contact avec un rouleau encreur (11) pour appliquer l'encre d'imprimerie sur une surface percée de trous de ce rouleau encreur (11), qui est aménagé pour encrer à son tour un cylindre imprimeur (12) et des moyens d'alimentation pour alimenter l'encre d'imprimerie à cette chambre d'application d'encre (13), dans lequel la chambre d'application d'encre (13) comporte au moins une racle complémentaire (20) agencée entre ces racles supérieure et inférieure (26, 27) à l'intérieur de la chambre d'application d'encre (13) et dans lequel cette racle complémentaire (20) comporte un bord longitudinal pressé élastiquement contre la surface percée de trous du rouleau encreur (11), la racle complémentaire (20) étant inclinée dans le sens de rotation du rouleau encreur (11) pour agir comme spatule de polissage et contribuer à enlever l'encre d'impression restant dans les trous de la surface percée de trous du rouleau encreur (11) et pour remplir cette surface percée de trous d'une nouvelle encre,
    le dispositif d'impression étant caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en plus un élément d'émission d'énergie (22) pour diriger l'énergie vers cette bande de substrat (23) à l'effet de durcir cette encre d'impression imprimée sur cette bande de substrat (23)
    et des moyens d'ajustement pour ajuster périodiquement l'encre d'impression à des valeurs prédéterminées de viscosité, d'évaporabilité et de température avant que l'encre d'imprimerie soit alimentée à la chambre d'application d'encre (13), dans lequel cette racle complémentaire (20) divise la chambre d'application d'encre (13) en une cavité inférieure (29) adaptée pour y recevoir l'encre d'imprimerie à travers une entrée (14) et une cavité supérieure (28) adaptée pour décharger l'encre d'impression à travers une sortie (15), ces cavités supérieure et inférieure (28, 29) étant communiquées avec une autre à travers le passage (37) pour l'écoulement de l'encre d'imprimerie de la cavité inférieure (29) à la cavité supérieure (28) et des moyens sont reliés à ce passage (37) pour ajuster cette encre d'imprimerie de la cavité inférieure à la cavité supérieure (28).
  2. Un dispositif conformément à la revendication (1) dans lequel ces moyens d'ajustement reliés à ce passage (37) sont des valves (39) appropriées pour être actionnées afin d'interrompre, permettre ou ajuster l'écoulement de l'encre d'imprimerie de la cavité inférieure (29) à la cavité supérieure (28) à travers le passage (37).
  3. Un dispositif conformément à la revendication (1) dans lequel le rouleau encreur (11) est actionné dans un sens, de sorte que sa surface percée de trous entre dans la chambre d'application d'encre (13) à travers la racle en amont par rapport au sens de rotation du rouleau encreur (11) et sorte de la chambre d'application d'encre (13) à travers la racle en aval, cette racle en amont et la racle complémentaire (20) étant agencées dans le sens de rotation du rouleau encreur (11) et cette racle en aval étant agencée à contre-sens de la rotation du rouleau encreur (11).
  4. Un dispositif conformément à la revendication 1, dans lequel ce moyen d'alimentation comporte un équipement de pompage (16) relié à un circuit de recyclage pour recycler l'encre d'impression à travers la chambre d'application d'encre (13), ce circuit de recyclage comprenant un tuyau d'alimentation depuis une sortie de recyclage (18) de l'équipement de pompage (16) jusqu'à une entrée (14) de la chambre d'application d'encre (13) et un tuyau de retour depuis une sortie (15) de la chambre d'application d'encre (13) jusqu'à une entrée de recyclage (19) de l'équipement de pompage (16).
  5. Un dispositif conformément à la revendication 4, dans lequel l'équipement de pompage (16) comporte une première pompe à membrane pneumatique reliée à ce tuyau d'alimentation du circuit de recyclage et une deuxième pompe à membrane pneumatique reliée à ce tuyau de retour du circuit de recyclage.
  6. Un dispositif conformément à la revendication 4, dans lequel l'équipement de pompage (16) comporte une seule pompe à membrane pneumatique reliée à ce tuyau d'alimentation du circuit de recyclage, le retour de ce circuit de recyclage étant effectué par pesanteur.
  7. Un dispositif conformément à la revendication 4, dans lequel l'équipement de pompage (16) comporte deux corps de pompe à membrane pneumatique unique, un premier corps étant relié au tuyau d'alimentation du circuit de recyclage et un deuxième corps étant relié au tuyau de retour du circuit de recyclage.
  8. Un dispositif conformément à la revendication 4, dans lequel ces moyens d'ajustement comportent un malaxeur (4) relié pour y recevoir à travers les entrées respectives (5,6,7) au moins l'encre d'imprimerie durcissable par l'énergie provenant d'un réservoir d'encre (1), un solvant provenant d'un réservoir de solvant (2) et un agent modificateur de l'évaporabilité provenant du réservoir d'agent modificateur d'évaporabilité (3), ce malaxeur (4) étant adapté pour ajuster l'écoulement d'encre d'imprimerie en ajoutant, le cas échéant, des quantités mesurées de ce solvant et/ou cet agent modificateur d'évaporabilité à l'encre d'imprimerie, et/ou chauffer ou refroidir, selon les cas, l'encre d'imprimerie et alimenter l'encre ajustée à travers une sortie (8).
  9. Un dispositif conformément à la revendication 8, comprenant un dispositif autonettoyant comportant un réservoir de fluide de nettoyage (30) contenant un fluide de nettoyage, une première sortie (31) et une entrée (32) de ce réservoir de fluide de nettoyage (30) étant respectivement reliées à l'entrée et sortie de nettoyage (33, 34) de cet équipement de pompage (16) et une deuxième sortie (35) du réservoir du fluide de nettoyage (30) étant reliée à une entrée (36) du malaxeur (4), dans lequel l'équipement de pompage (16), en coopération avec des moyens de contrôle et des moyens de valves, font circuler le fluide de nettoyage à travers la chambre d'application d'encre (13) et/ou à travers le malaxeur (4).
  10. Un dispositif conformément à la revendication 8, comportant un dispositif de chauffage (38) pour le préchauffage de cette encre d'imprimerie dans ce réservoir d'encre d'imprimerie (1) avant que l'encre d'imprimerie soit alimentée à ce malaxeur (4).
  11. Un dispositif conformément à une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comportant deux ou plusieurs éléments imprimeurs (21) adaptés pour imprimer humide-sur-humide des encres d'imprimerie durcissable par l'énergie sur cette bande de substrat (23), cet élément d'émission d'énergie (22) étant agencé en aval de ces éléments imprimeurs (21) et chacun de ces éléments imprimeurs (21) étant relié à un de ces moyens d'alimentation et ces moyens d'ajustement.
  12. Une méthode d'impression utilisant des encres durcissables par énergie pour imprimeuse flexographique, comportant les étapes d'imprimer une encre d'imprimerie durcissable par énergie sur une bande de substrat (23) supportée sur un cylindre de contre-pression (24) au moyen d'au moins un élément imprimeur (21) et durcir l'encre d'imprimerie imprimée sur cette bande de substrat (23) au moyen d'un élément d'émission d'énergie (22) agencé pour diriger l'énergie vers cette bande de substrat (23), dans laquelle cette étape d'imprimer comporte, pour chaque élément imprimeur (21), alimenter par le biais de moyens d'alimentation cette encre d'imprimerie à une chambre d'application d'encre correspondante (13), délimitée en partie par des racles supérieure et inférieure (26, 27) en contact avec un rouleau encreur (11), pour appliquer l'encre d'imprimerie sur une surface percée de trous de ce rouleau encreur (11), qui est agencé pour encrer à son tour le cylindre imprimeur (12) et ajuster périodiquement l'encre d'imprimerie à des valeurs prédéterminées de viscosité, d'évaporabilité et de température avant que l'encre d'imprimerie soit alimentée à la chambre d'application d'encre (13), dans laquelle la méthode d'imprimerie comporte également l'étape complémentaire de contribuer à enlever l'encre d'imprimerie restant dans les trous de cette surface percée de trous du rouleau encreur (11) et les remplir avec une nouvelle encre d'imprimerie au moyen d'au moins une racle complémentaire (20) agencée à l'intérieur de la chambre d'application d'encre (13) entre ces racles supérieure et inférieure (26, 27) et ayant un bord longitudinal pressé élastiquement contre la surface percée de trous du rouleau encreur (11), la racle complémentaire (20) étant inclinée dans le sens de rotation du rouleau encreur (11) pour agir comme spatule de polissage et comportant en plus de communiquer une cavité inférieure (29) de la chambre d'application (13), comprise entre la racle inférieure (27) et la racle complémentaire (20), avec une entrée d'encre d'imprimerie (14), communiquer une cavité supérieure (28) de la chambre d'application d'encre (13), comprise entre la racle supérieure (26) et la racle complémentaire (20), avec une sortie d'encre d'imprimerie (15) et maintenir ces cavités supérieure et inférieure (28,29) pleines, seulement en partie, d'encre d'imprimerie durant l'opération.
  13. Une méthode conformément à la revendication 12 dans laquelle cette encre durcissable par énergie est de l'encre hydrosoluble pouvant être durcie par un faisceau d'électrons.
  14. Une méthode conformément à la revendication 13, comportant l'utilisation d'un malaxeur (4) pour ajuster l'encre d'imprimerie et le préchauffage de cette encre d'imprimerie avant que l'encre soit alimentée à ce malaxeur (4).
  15. Une méthode conformément à une quelconque des revendications 12 à 14, comportant consécutivement imprimer humide-sur-humide des encres d'imprimerie sur une bande de substrat (23) au moyen de deux ou plusieurs de ces éléments imprimeurs (21) en effectuant ces étapes d'alimentation et d'ajustement de l'encre d'imprimerie par le biais d'un de ces moyens d'alimentation et de ces moyens d'ajustement pour chaque élément imprimeur (21) et durcir l'encre d'imprimerie imprimée sur cette bande de substrat (23) au moyen de cet élément d'émission d'énergie (22) aménagé en aval de ces éléments imprimeurs (21).
EP06764351A 2005-06-22 2006-05-26 Dispositif et procede d'impression utilisant des encres durcissables par energie pour imprimante flexographique Not-in-force EP1932669B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ES200501516A ES2264643B1 (es) 2005-06-22 2005-06-22 Dipositivo y metodo de impresion usando tintas curables por energia para impresora flexografica.
PCT/ES2006/000298 WO2006136628A1 (fr) 2005-06-22 2006-05-26 Dispositif et procede d'impression utilisant des encres durcissables par energie pour imprimante flexographique

Publications (3)

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EP1932669A1 EP1932669A1 (fr) 2008-06-18
EP1932669A4 EP1932669A4 (fr) 2011-12-14
EP1932669B1 true EP1932669B1 (fr) 2012-11-21

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EP (1) EP1932669B1 (fr)
ES (2) ES2264643B1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2006136628A1 (fr)

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ES2371606B1 (es) * 2009-08-13 2012-11-22 Comexi, S.A. Dispositivo y método de impresión usando tintas curables por energía para impresora flexográfica
WO2011020022A1 (fr) * 2009-08-13 2011-02-17 Sun Chemical Corporation Régulation de la température lors d'une opération de gravure et d'impression flexographique, par injection de fluide aqueux dans l'encre
GB2495733A (en) * 2011-10-18 2013-04-24 Mark Alan Macshannon Apparatus for flexographic printing with temperature regulation
ES2761329T3 (es) * 2012-01-25 2020-05-19 Bobst Bielefeld Gmbh Sistema de limpieza para una cámara de tinta
ES2431894B1 (es) * 2012-04-26 2014-09-03 Comexi Group Industries, Sau Sistema de aplicación de líquido de impresión o auxiliar de impresión a un rodillo de huecograbado
DE102012103850B3 (de) 2012-05-02 2013-07-25 Windmöller & Hölscher Kg Vorrichtung zur Einstellung eines Betriebsparameters einer Farbe für einen Druckprozess einer Rotationsdruckmaschine sowie Verfahren hierzu
US9327489B2 (en) 2014-01-24 2016-05-03 Eastman Kodak Company Controlling line widths in flexographic printing
US9233531B2 (en) * 2014-01-24 2016-01-12 Eastman Kodak Company Flexographic printing system with solvent replenishment
US9346260B2 (en) 2014-01-24 2016-05-24 Eastman Kodak Company Flexographic printing system providing controlled feature characteristics
ES2631329T3 (es) * 2014-08-11 2017-08-30 Comexi Group Industries, S.A.U Sistema y método de corrección de color en trabajos de impresión ejecutados en una máquina impresora
WO2020240442A1 (fr) * 2019-05-28 2020-12-03 Alcon Inc. Instrument d'impression par transfert de tampon et procédé permettant de fabriquer des lentilles de contact colorées
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US5425809A (en) * 1993-06-17 1995-06-20 Howard W. DeMoore Anilox coater with brush
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2399415T3 (es) 2013-04-01
ES2264643B1 (es) 2007-10-01
EP1932669A1 (fr) 2008-06-18
ES2264643A1 (es) 2007-01-01
EP1932669A4 (fr) 2011-12-14
WO2006136628A1 (fr) 2006-12-28

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