EP2121327A1

EP2121327A1 - Cold film application and simultaneous embossing

Info

Publication number: EP2121327A1
Application number: EP07856350A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Uwe Püschel; Jürgen Schölzig
Original assignee: Manroland AG
Current assignee: Manroland AG
Priority date: 2006-12-22
Filing date: 2007-12-04
Publication date: 2009-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 2027-12-04
Also published as: DE102006060830A1; JP2010513074A; ATE513683T1; EP2121327B1; WO2008080486A1; US20100065193A1

Abstract

Production of a printed image on a sheet of paper comprises feeding sheets of a printed material to a sheet-fed printing machine, subjecting the sheets to a working step to prepare or directly produce a changed surface structure, applying adhesive to the changed surface of the sheets, applying a foil image to the pre-treated sheet and post-treating. An independent claim is also included for a device for carrying out the above process. Preferred Features: A base coating is applied using lacquer modules before applying the foil image. A medium having an adhering force greater than the adhesive is used as the base coating.

Description

Cold foil application with embossing

The invention relates to a method and a device for transferring imaging layers from a carrier foil to printed sheets according to the preamble of claims 1 and 11.

It is known to produce metallic layers on printed sheets by means of a film transfer process. Thus, EP 0 569 520 B1 describes a printing material and a printing device using this material. In this case, a sheet-processing machine is shown, which has a feeder and a boom, between which two units printing units and a film transfer module are arranged. In at least one of the printing units, an adhesive pattern is applied by means of the planographic printing process. This adhesive pattern is applied in a cold printing process and has a specific imaging subject. In the printing unit following the film transfer module with a counter-pressure cylinder and a transfer cylinder, a film guide is provided. This is designed in such a way that a film strip or a transfer film is guided through the transfer nip of the film transfer module between the impression cylinder and the transfer cylinder by a film supply roll. The film strip is rewound on the exit side after leaving the film transfer module. The transfer film has a carrier layer on which imaging layers such as metallic layers, for example of aluminum, can be applied. When printing sheets are transported through the printing unit, each sheet is given an adhesive pattern. Thereafter, the sheet is passed through the film transfer module, wherein by means of the transfer cylinder, the resting on the impression cylinder sheet is brought into contact with the film material. In this case, the downwardly lying metallic layer makes a close connection with the areas provided with adhesive on the printed sheet. After further transporting the printing sheet, the metallic layer adheres only in the area provided with the adhesive pattern at. The carrier film is thus removed from the metallic layer in the region of the adhesive pattern. The used in this way transfer film is wound up again. The print sheet is laid out in the coated state.

It is known to use such film transfer modules, for example in printing units of printing presses. A disadvantage of the known devices is that they are not flexible and that the consumption of transfer film is expensive. Furthermore, the generation of embossing effects is difficult.

To produce printed products with a structured surface, it has hitherto been necessary to use an expensive starting material. The starting point according to customary methods is that structured surfaces are fed to a sheet-fed printing machine on a correspondingly treated sheet material or as roll material by means of a roll-sheet feeder. These can then be coated in the inline process by means of cold foil application and printed within the same machine and, if necessary, coated or finished or checked by further methods, marked, e.g. be processed by inkjet printing and finally also.

It is also known to provide embossing in a printing machine after a cold foil application, so that the coated sheet is additionally provided with a structuring of its surface.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide methods and a device by means of which the transfer of an imaging layer, e.g. a metallization layer can be done safely, economically and accurately, with embossing effects can be produced in a simple manner.

The solution to this problem results in a method according to claim 1 and an apparatus according to claim 11.

Structured surfaces can also be produced by the process according to the invention in the inline process. Within a printing machine, a foil coating can be applied by cold foil application and the sheet subsequently printed and, if necessary, further refined or processed. The structuring, which can be distributed regularly or arbitrarily, can be effected both by a mechanical process, such as, for example, a blank embossing, or else by means of printing technology processes before the film transfer. Here, a pictorial precoating with inflatable colors, a thermo-relief printing, a screen printing with paint or varnish, a flocking be applied with foamable Beflockungsstoff. Furthermore, an inflatable printing material can be used. Subsequently, a film transfer is carried out in the inline process and the substrate is subsequently printed inline in the same printing press and, if necessary, finished.

The structuring of the printing material can be carried out partially or partially or completely over the sheet or paper format. Furthermore, only recessed areas of the printing material can be structured in all desired area or even under the film coating.

In mechanical relief formations by means of e.g. Embossing process, appropriate paint or printing modules are upstream of the applicator for the adhesive. When applying the structure-forming substances corresponding printing devices such as inkjet printing units, printing or coating units possibly with drying equipment, the applicator be provided upstream.

The printing press must be equipped accordingly and operated with suitable printing aid. Here, e.g. Compressible blankets used so that the substrate during film transfer and printing is not deformed and thus the surface structure can be damaged.

When using structure-forming substances, the formation of the printing material can take place with respect to its structure or relief before or after the film transfer. For this purpose, if necessary, a heat input or radiation, for example by means of a UV lamp is required. The adhesive application before the film transfer, can be done in one or more printing units.

The advantage of this combination of methods is on the one hand generally justified in the inline process, since less material handling and thus possibilities for damage are given. On the other hand, a higher added value of the finished sheet is achieved by the integrated feel or optics even with standardized materials. Furthermore, it is very advantageous that the protection of applied structures e.g. for braille characters from detachment or damage is achieved. Finally, the processing is extremely economical feasible even with pure finishing measures.

The pre-structuring of printing substrates can also be carried out by calender units or creasing devices or the like in a roll-sheet feeder, which interacts with a sheetfed offset press in which one or more film transfer modules are integrated, so that an active confluence occurs in the process chain takes place.

In the process chain, a steel-stamping process can also be integrated to enable a securities refinement. This can be done before or after the film transfer and in the area or outside of the film coating, if the substrate is only partially coated with film.

In the following the invention is illustrated in more detail with reference to figures. Showing:

1 shows a basic illustration of a printing press with a film transfer device and

Figures 2 to 4 configurations of printing machines according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a sheet-processing machine, here a printing press, which consists of at least two printing units. A sheet to be coated is provided in a first step in the applicator 1 with an imaging adhesive pattern. For this purpose, a printing unit of an offset printing press with dyeing and dampening units 11, a printing plate on a plate cylinder 12, a blanket or blanket cylinder 13 and a counter-pressure cylinder 4 can be used. Likewise, applicators can be used in the form of flexographic printing or painting units. The adhesive can also be applied in two applicators 1, to improve its effect on different substrates. In the second step, a transfer film 5 is guided under pressure through a transfer nip 6 together with the printing sheet. A film transfer module 2 used for this purpose can be a printing unit, a coating module, a base unit or another type of processing station of a sheetfed offset printing press. The transfer nip 6 in the film transfer module 2 is formed by a transfer cylinder 3 and an impression cylinder 4. The transfer cylinder 3 may correspond to a blanket or form cylinder of a known offset printing unit or paint module of a sheetfed offset printing press. Within the film transfer module 2, a web guide for transfer films 5 is shown.

A film supply roll 8 is assigned to the film transfer module 2 on the side of the sheet feed. The film supply roll 8 has a rotary drive 7. The rotary drive 7 is required for the continuous controlled feeding of the transfer film 5 to the film transfer module 2 and is therefore controllable. Furthermore, in the field of film feed and removal guide devices 14, such as deflection or tensioning rollers, pneumatically actuated conducting means, baffles o. Ä. Provided. Thus, the film web of the transfer film 5 can always be guided flat without distortions and held in the same voltage with respect to the transfer cylinder 3.

In this case, the transfer film 5 can be guided around the transfer cylinder 3, the transfer film 5 advantageously being able to be fed in and out of the press nip 6 only from one side of the film transfer module 2 (see dashed representation). In a further embodiment, the transfer film 5 in the essentially tangentially past the transfer cylinder 3 or only in a small circumferential angle, looping toward the press nip 6, and are removed. For this purpose, the transfer film 5 is supplied from one side of the film transfer module 2 and discharged to the opposite side of the film transfer module 2. On the outlet side of the printing unit, a film collection roller 9 is shown, by means of which used sheet material is wound up. Again, a rotary drive 7 is provided, which is controllable.

Furthermore, it is provided in the area of the adhesive application and the film transfer dryer 16 provided. Thus, e.g. by UV drying, the adhesive layer by means of a first dryer 16 (intermediate dryer I) are pre-dried, so that the wear layer of the transfer film 5 better adheres. Furthermore, the adhesive effect of the applied wear layer on the printed sheet can be improved by the action of a second dryer 16 (intermediate dryer II) by additionally accelerating the final drying of the adhesive.

For the transfer process of imaging e.g. Wear layer of the transfer sheet 5 on the printing sheet in the transfer nip 6 between the transfer cylinder 3 and the impression cylinder 4, the surface of the transfer cylinder 3 is provided with compressible, damping elements as press fabric 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cold foil application can also be carried out in an integrated film transfer module FA. In this case, the film feeder is additionally integrated into the same printing unit, in this case the applicator 1, so that adhesive application and film transfer take place in two successive working gaps on the same impression cylinder 4.

The application according to the invention of the cold foil transfer will be described below. Structured surfaces can also be produced by the process according to the invention in the inline process. In a printing machine, a structured surface with film coating is to be produced in one process. A regular or arbitrarily distributed structuring can be carried out by a mechanical process or by printing processes in one step before the film transfer.

The mechanical processes are well known as embossing processes. Here, an embossing station is arranged upstream of the film transfer module FA. In mechanical relief formations by means of e.g. Embossing process, corresponding paint or printing modules are upstream of the applicator 1 for the adhesive.

For the application of printing techniques, a pictorial pre-coating is used, in which inflatable colors, a thermo-relief printing, a screen printing with paint or varnish or a flocking with foamable Befuckungsstoff can be applied.

When applying the structure-forming substances corresponding printing devices such as inkjet printing units, printing or coating units possibly with drying equipment, the applicator be provided upstream.

Furthermore, it is also possible to use a substrate which can be locally swelled by chemical or radiation action.

Depending on the type of pretreatment, a printing substrate pretreated in this way within the printing press can still be planar or already have a desired surface structure.

Subsequently, a film transfer is carried out in the inline process.

If the structure on the substrate is not yet formed, the structure can now be generated on the substrate by radiation or heat. The printing material is printed inline and optionally finished after the film transfer and the possibly to be executed process for forming the surface structure in the same printing press.

The structuring of the printing material can be carried out partially or completely with respect to the sheet or paper format. Furthermore, distributed over the entire substrate recessed areas, both in the area and outside the film coating be structured.

The printing press must be equipped accordingly and operated with suitable printing aids. Here, e.g. Compressible blankets used so that the substrate during film transfer and printing is not deformed and thus the surface structure can be damaged.

When using structure-forming substances, the formation of the printing material can take place with respect to its structure or relief before or after the film transfer. For this purpose, if necessary, a heat input or radiation, e.g. required by means of a UV lamp.

For the mechanical pre-structuring of substrates, calendering or creasing devices or the like come into question. These may be integrated into a roll sheet feeder upstream of the press. It is also possible to integrate a device according to the steel-piercing method in order to enable securities refinement.

In the printing machine and several film transfer modules can be integrated.

FIGS. 2 to 4 schematically show various possibilities of arranging coating module 2 and applicator 1 or film transfer module FA in a printing machine for carrying out the described production method for structured substrates. The printing presses shown can, in all configurations shown, if not already shown downstream of a feeder AN and film transfer modules FA or 1, 2 or printing units D upstream one or more paint modules L be provided to allow a pre-coating of printed sheets. In the arrangements shown, one or more paint modules L can be provided in front of a boom AU in order to apply one-layer or multi-layer transparent and thereby clear, glossy or colored cover layers.

At all positions where a film transfer is to be performed, the normal combination of applicator 1 and coating module 2 and, alternatively, an integrated film transfer module FA can be provided. When arranging a plurality of film transfer positions, the use of the integrated film transfer modules FA is particularly suitable.

FIG. 2 shows a basic configuration of the printing press according to the invention. A sheet feeder AN of the sheet-fed printing machine is first followed by a paint module L, then a preparation module P, then an applicator 1 and then a coating module 2. The coating module 2 is again followed by printing units D of the sheet-fed printing machine. A lacquer module L and a bow changer AU complete the configuration.

With such a printing press, a printing sheet can be precoated in the paint module L in order to improve its surface or consistency. In the preparation module, mechanical structuring by embossing, e.g. Blind embossing, or grooves take place.

Furthermore, in the preparation module P, a printing-technical pretreatment for producing a structuring can take place, in which case printing inks, flaking medium or thermo-relief medium are applied. Offset printing, screen printing, flexographic printing, inkjet printing, transfer printing or the like may be considered as the printing method.

In combination with the paint module L, which can also be used as a flexographic printing unit, the structuring of the printing substrate can also be carried out in the preparation module P. be formed by a radiation or heat is applied to the substrate.

Furthermore, an intumescent printing material can be treated there to form a structuring by structurally recording heat or radiation.

The treatment of the printing material can be continued if the film transfer has taken place. For this purpose, a drying device which is suitable for forming the structuring can be provided in front of the printing units downstream of the coating module 2. Finally, after the color prints, a protective coating can then be applied to protect the surface.

In FIG. 3, a printing unit D is arranged downstream of the sheet feeder AN. The printing unit D is followed by an integrated film transfer module FA. The film transfer module FA is followed by a paint module L downstream. Subsequently, various printing units D, and a boom AU are provided.

In this configuration, a printing unit D is provided for pre-treatment for structuring. The pretreatment can also take place here mechanically or by means of pressure technology. The aftertreatment of the printing material for forming the structuring can then take place in the paint module L, which is connected downstream of the film transfer module FA.

FIG. 4 shows a further developed variant of a printing press, which consists of two machine groups. The printing press again has the sheet feeder AN, to which a lacquer module L can be assigned, to which one or more printing units D are subsequently provided. Subsequent to the final printing unit D of the first machine group, a sheet turning device W is arranged. The sheet turning device W is provided so that sheet-fed printed or coated printed sheets in the first machine group can be everted during sheet travel of this sheet-fed printing press, so that their previous unprinted printed underside to the top, which can subsequently be printed, coated, heat treated or mechanically deformed. In the configuration shown, a commissioning unit 1 and a coating module 2 adjoin the sheet turning device W. Thereafter, a plurality of additional printing units D and, optionally, also a paint module L are provided up to the sheet boom AU.

With such a printing machine so each sheet can first coated from its back, printed one or two colors, then turned, then imagewise coated with a layer of film and subsequently printed again in more colors, and possibly painted. An application example of this are greeting cards with jewelery inserts made of metal foil on the image page. The structuring or preparation for structuring takes place here in a paint module L, which is directly downstream of the sheet turning device W.

The following configuration is possible on the machine:

- Before each film transfer module FA or each applicator 1, a pretreatment unit in the form of a paint module L, a printing unit D or a preparation module P is arranged. - In an additional first printing unit / paint module, a rough or porous substrate can be precoated to homogenize its surface and internal structure or optically unify. An intermediate dryer can be used after the coating.

In the above-mentioned pretreatment units, a mechanical or printing-technical pretreatment of the printing material for the production or preparation of the desired structuring is carried out.

- In a subsequent first printing unit / applicator 1 adhesive is applied. The application of adhesive can also be done twice in order to achieve a sufficient adhesive layer. In the second printing unit / coating module 2, the film transfer is performed. After the film transfer, an aftertreatment in a separate paint module L or printing unit D, a preparation module P, can be carried out to form or strengthen the structuring of the printing substrate

- After that you can print or varnish again.

In the case of film transfer after a sheet turning device W, first one side of the printing material is coated or printed. After the application of the sheet, a pre-treatment of the back of the sheet for structuring and only then the film transfer takes place. It can be printed / varnished again. - After the film transfer, after-treatment can be carried out again in a separate module

- After that you can print or varnish again.

It is also possible to arrange the devices for pretreatment in connection with the sheet feeder AN. In this case, the sheet feeder can be designed as a roll-bow feeder. The pretreatment can then be carried out continuously even when the printing substrate is removed from the printing substrate roll and before the sheet cut.

- It is also possible to arrange two or more devices for the film transfer in a printing press. These may alternatively be permanently installed or displaced.

The configurations shown are given by way of example. Within the scope of the modularization of the film transfer modules, as has been described in detail above, the person skilled in the art can easily find further possible applications. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 applicator

2 film transfer module

3 transfer cylinders

4 impression cylinders

5 transfer foil / foil web

6 transfer gap

7 roller drive

8 foil supply roll

9 foil collecting roll

10 press clothing

11 inking / dampening unit

12 plate cylinders

13 blanket cylinder

14 guide device

15 protection

16 UV dryers

17 monitoring system

18 dancer roller

D printing unit

W turning device

AN sheet feeder

AU sheet delivery

FA Integrated film transfer module

L paint module

Claims

claims

1. A method for producing a printed image on a printing sheet, including the transfer of imaging layers from a transfer film (5), wherein in a sheet-processing machine, preferably a sheet-fed press, arranged film transfer module at least by means of an applicator (1) an imagewise coating of the printed sheets takes place with an adhesive and by means of a coating module (2) the application of a film image is carried out by transferring at least parts of the imaging layers from the transfer film (5) to the printed sheet, characterized in that the sheet-fed printing press sheets are fed to a substantially unstructured substrate in its surface, that the signatures are subjected to a step for preparing or for directly producing a modified surface structure, that the adhesive is applied to the modified surface of the sheet and that the film image is applied to the pretreated sheet, and that the pre-treated and possibly foil-coated printing sheets are aftertreated.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that prior to the application of the film image, a pretreatment of the printing sheet for producing a tactile and / or haptic and / or optically effective surface structure is carried out that the film image is applied to the pretreated sheet that the post-treated for structuring pretreated and film-coated sheet and then that the sheet with a single- or multi-color printed image by means of inks at least partially, including the image areas of

Foil image takes place.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that prior to application of the film image is a single or multi-layer planar base coating of the sheet in one or more of the film transfer module upstream paint modules.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that for monolayer or multilayer base coating of the sheet, a medium is used whose adhesive force is matched to the adhesive or which is increased by the adhesive.

5. The method according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in that the pretreatment by mechanical action takes place in a rotatory embossing process.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the pretreatment by blind embossing in a paint module (L) or a printing unit (D).

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the pretreatment is carried out by calendering in a calendering module.

8. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the pretreatment by a Rillbehandlung in a paint module

(L) or a printing unit (D).

9. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the pretreatment is carried out by mechanical deformation in a stamping in a press upstream roller-bow feeder.

10. The method according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in that the pretreatment by applying an image of the desired embossing structure image is made of volume changeable media.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the pretreatment is carried out by printing pattern image of swellable printing ink.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the pattern image is printed in offset printing or flexographic printing or gravure printing or screen printing.

13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the pattern image is printed in the thermo-relief method.

14. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the structure image is produced by applying a flocking with a foamable flocking agent.

15. The method according to claim 10 to 14, characterized in order to form the structuring of the printing substrate, the pre-coating is subjected to a heat treatment or to a radiation effect.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the formation of the structuring of the printing material takes place before and / or after the film transfer.

17. The method according to claim 1 to 16, characterized in that for printing the film image carrying a structured printed sheet applied a single or multi-color printed image and then coated for coating the sheet with a single or multi-layer coating all or part of a paint becomes.

18. The method according to claim 1 to 17, characterized in that after the transfer of the film image and / or after the application of printing inks and / or after the application of the single- or multi-layer coating drying takes place.

19. An apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 1 with a film transfer module for transfer of imaging layers of a transfer film (5) on printed sheets at least with an applicator (1) for imagewise coating the printed sheet with an adhesive and with a coating module (2) Transfer of the image-forming layers from the carrier film to the printing sheet in a transfer nip (6) between a counter-pressure cylinder (4) and a press roller (3), the carrier film with the coated side in contact with the printed sheet together with the latter through the transfer nip (6) can be guided and thereby the image-forming layers imagewise transferred to the sheet are in a sheet-fed printing machine, the film transfer module upstream of a unit for the pretreatment of substrates for the creation of a surface structuring, such that the applicator (1) the adhesive image and the coating module (2) applies the film image on the pretreated substrate ,

20. The device according to claim 19, characterized in that before the film transfer module, a paint module (L) or printing unit (D) or preparation module (P) for the mechanical production of an embossing or a structure in the substrate is arranged.

21. The device according to claim 19, characterized in that prior to the film transfer module, a paint module (L) or printing unit (D) for generating a pattern image of volume changeable media is arranged on the substrate.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 to 21, characterized in that before or after the film transfer module, a post-treatment unit for forming the structuring on or in the surface of the printed matter is arranged.

23. The device according to claim 22, characterized in that the post-treatment unit comprises a heat generator, a dryer or a radiation generator.

24. The apparatus of claim 19 to 23, characterized in that the sheet-processing machine is a printing machine with a plurality of printing units (D) for generating a colored imprint and that the film transfer module the printing units (D) before, intermediate or downstream.

25. The apparatus of claim 19 to 24, characterized in that before and / or after the film transfer module and / or after the

Printing units (D) and / or after the paint modules (L) dryer are arranged.

26. The apparatus of claim 19 to 25, characterized in that for the supply of sheet to the printing press a roll-sheet feeder is provided, which is equipped for the processing of film substrates and / or recycled Bedruckstόffen and / or paper and / or cardboard ,

27. The device according to claim 26, characterized in that in conjunction with the roll-bow feeder means for pretreating the printing material for the production of a surface structure is provided.