EP2296887A1

EP2296887A1 - System for gripping a cylinder conducting ink in a printing press

Info

Publication number: EP2296887A1
Application number: EP09757202A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Günter Rogge; Georg Rasch; Marco Finke
Original assignee: Windmoeller and Hoelscher KG
Current assignee: Windmoeller and Hoelscher KG
Priority date: 2008-05-29
Filing date: 2009-05-27
Publication date: 2011-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 2029-05-27
Also published as: US9056451B2; DE102008025995B4; US20110072992A1; WO2009146819A1; ES2532947T3; DE102008025995A1; EP2296887B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for gripping and transporting at least one cylinder conducting ink in a printing press (1), wherein the device comprises support elements making contact with the journals of the cylinder in order to lift the cylinder. Each support element comprises at least two pincer-like gripper arms by means of which a journal of the cylinder can be at least partially encompassed.

Description

System for gripping a paint-carrying cylinder in a printing machine

The invention relates to a device for detecting and transporting at least one color leading cylinder of a printing press according to the preamble of claim 1, a color leading cylinder according to the preamble of claim 17 and a method for detecting and transporting at least one cylinder according to the preamble of claim 19.

For the processing of print jobs, it is often necessary to change the rollers of the printing press. Most often, the actual printing cylinders are changed as a rule, since they carry the printing form, which provide on the substrate for the print motif. Such pressure cylinders usually comprise a cylinder body and at its end faces in each case a pin. The surface of the cylinder body is available for the printing plate, which is glued, for example, on the cylinder body or mounted on a sleeve, which is then pushed onto the cylinder body, while the pins are provided in particular for the storage of the cylinder in the printing press. If such a cylinder to be changed, it is also detected by the pins.

However, the present invention does not relate solely to impression cylinders, but to all cylinders in a printing press that carry ink. In particular, this can be anilox rolls. For example, in a flexographic printing machine, anilox rollers serve to apply printing ink to the printing cylinder. Anilox rollers can also be exchanged, for example, when the ink is changed in the respective inking unit.

In a central cylinder flexographic printing press, the inking units are generally arranged around a central impression cylinder. each

In this case, the inking unit comprises at least one printing cylinder which is connected to the

Substrate leading impression cylinder is adjustable. To the

Printing cylinder is in turn the anilox roll adjustable, which removes the ink, which transmits it to the printing cylinder, from a paint reservoir, such as a doctoring chamber. There are also such machines are known in which between the ink reservoir and the anilox roll one more

Ink roller is interposed.

Printing machines that operate on other printing methods include additional and / or different cylinders than those described for flexographic printing.

In order to hire the different rollers and cylinders together, each of them is mounted with their pins in each case a bearing element which is movable relative to the printing press frame. In the example of flexographic printing, this bearing element is often a bearing block, which is displaceable on guides. These guides and the bearing block are arranged on or on brackets of the printing press frame.

In order to be able to change the cylinders now, a system for detecting and transporting at least one ink-carrying cylinder is provided in printing presses of the prior art, which can receive the pins, which pierce the bearing elements, from the front sides. For this purpose, supporting elements are designed so that the pins rest on them. In this case, the support elements are arranged on a movement device, which in turn are arranged on a support frame and movable relative thereto. The movement device is designed such that the support elements on the outside of the consoles of the printing press frame are movable past in order to detect the pins from the outside can. The publication EP 1 016 522 A1 shows such a system. Cylinders with end pins are also often referred to as pressure rollers.

However, the detection of the pins from the end faces leads to the fact that for the system for detecting and transporting a large space is required on both sides of the printing press.

The object of the invention is therefore to propose an improved system that manages with a smaller space.

The object is achieved by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1. Accordingly, it is provided that each support element comprises at least two pincer-like gripping jaws, with which a pin of a cylinder is at least partially encompassed.

With this invention, it is possible that the rollers are not taken from the side (seen in the axial direction) ago, but for example from above. The support members can then be inserted between two consoles and then can grasp the cylinder pin. As a rule, two such support elements are provided, each of which comprises a journal of the roller. Due to the pincer-like design, the movement for detecting the pins only needs to take place in the radial direction. This arrangement not only has advantages in terms of space consumption, but also offers the freedom to construct the entire inking system according to the wishes. Thus, it can now be provided to let various devices act on the cylinder body facing away from the ends of the pins. In particular, a drive can be provided whose drive axis is substantially aligned with the axis of rotation of the cylinder. Such drives are known as "direct drives".

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that a first gripping jaw is stationary. This jaw can therefore be fixedly mounted on a moving device of the system. This movement device may be a boom of a crane. A second Gripping jaw is then designed to be movable so that the pin can be gripped by the movement of the second gripping jaw. Due to this arrangement, the mechanical effort for the movement of the jaws is minimized. In this case, the movement device can drive the first gripping jaw against the journal of the cylinder, so that it bears against the journal or at least almost rests on it. Subsequently, the second jaw can be moved, so that the pin is now encompassed and thereby held securely. A drop of the cylinder is thus almost impossible.

It when the second gripping jaw between an open position and a closed position in which the pin is gripped, is movable and when the second gripping jaw is locked in the closed position by a locking device is particularly advantageous. This locking device thus prevents the second jaw unintentionally opens and that the cylinder falls from the support elements. Only when the locking device is unlocked, the opening of the second gripper jaw is possible.

In an advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the second gripping jaw is arranged at the end of a shaft. The jaw extends radially away from this shaft. The shaft can then be acted upon by a torque, so that a rotation of the shaft leads to a pivoting of the gripping jaw. This structure is advantageous because the pin is not to be taken in the area of the front side, but parts of the moving means, in particular the boom can be located further out.

It is also advantageous if the second gripping jaw is movable by means of a slide, which can act on the mentioned shaft, wherein the slide can be driven by a pressure medium cylinder. Since the gripper jaw only has to be moved into two different positions (open and closed position), the use of a pressure cylinder is an inexpensive way for a drive, especially if the Pressure medium cylinder is a compressed air cylinder. The force applied by the drive is mediated according to the invention by the slide of the shaft and / or the second jaw.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the shaft comprises a bolt extending radially away from it, which engages in a slide introduced into the slide. Now, if the slider is moved in the axial direction and varies the distance of the link from the direction of movement, the bolt is moved laterally and causes, as the shaft is mounted axially immovable, a rotational movement of the shaft and thus a pivoting movement of the gripper jaw. In this way, a low-cost, space-saving and mechanically easy way is created to apply the gripping jaw with a rotational movement. Another advantage is further evidenced by the feature described in the following paragraph.

Accordingly, it is advantageous if the slider carries the locking device on a front side, which comprises a pin. In the locking position, so when the jaw is in the closed position, this pin engages in a bore of the jaw, which is parallel to the shaft. With this pin inadvertent pivoting of the gripping jaw is prevented in a simple manner. In particular, no separate drive device is necessary for actuating the locking device. Rather, the drive is sufficient, which moves the slider, since this includes the locking device.

Another aspect of the invention relates to the position of the two gripping jaws relative to each other when in the closed position. The gripper jaws have support edges on which the pin rests when it is worn. It is advantageous if the support edges include an angle of less than 180 degrees. The support edges are then on the lines of an open triangle, which practically serves as a receiving recess for the pin so that it does not slip sideways or even rolls. It is preferred if this angle is 120 degrees or less. 120 degrees is the angle that two edges of a regular hexagon take each other. However, it is particularly preferred if the two support edges occupy an angle of 60 degrees, take the two lines in a regular triangle. Now, if the cylinder has corresponding flattenings, which can be circumscribed by a regular triangle, it is advantageous if the support edges are designed so that they completely abut these surfaces.

In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the support element comprises a probe element, which rests against the pin when the gripping jaws embrace the pin or at least when the movement device has already moved the gripping jaws to a position in which the gripping jaws can be closed. Nevertheless, the probe element can already be in touching contact with the journal if the movement device still moves or already moves the gripping jaws.

It is advantageous if the probe element can be acted upon by a force that can be applied by a prestressed resilient element. If the jaws moved by the movement device to the pin, the probe element is moved against this force. When the gripping jaws are closed, the feeler element pushes the journal against the bearing edges of the gripping jaws, due to the beauhlage with the said force. It is particularly advantageous if the feeler element has a contact surface which rests against one or more flats of the journal, so that the force is applied to the journal over as large a contact surface as possible. In this context, it is worth noting that the contact surface and the supporting edges form a regular triangle. Now, if the pin includes flats inscribed in the same regular triangle, the pin is completely fixed during transport. Even with a collision of the cylinder during transport, it is very unlikely that the cylinder will come off the "handle" of the support element. In order to ensure a trouble-free and trouble-free operation of the probe element, this can be displaced relative to the support element along guides.

In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the support element comprises sensors with which the positions of the probe element can be determined. In this way it can be determined, for example, how far the feeler element has been displaced by the approach of the support element. For example, statements can then be made as to whether an unintentional collision has occurred. This information may then be used by a controller of the system of the invention for an appropriate response, which may be an emergency stop. These sensors are also particularly advantageous if different types of cylinders in the printing press have different diameters, at least in the areas in which the probe element engages. In this case, statements about the cylinder types can be made via the position determinations. In this way, errors in the assembly of the printing machine can be detected if, for example, an anilox roller was erroneously seized instead of a printing cylinder. Such error detection allows for speedy troubleshooting, which ultimately results in the press being quickly prepared.

The invention also relates to color-leading cylinders in a printing machine comprising a cylinder body and end-side pins. According to the invention, each pin comprises at least three flats at an axial position. Because of these flats, it is possible to securely grasp such a pin with the gripping jaws of a system for detecting and transporting. In addition to safe holding, it is also possible to transport the cylinder in a defined angular position.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the cylinder is provided that each pin comprises at least one further flattening at a further axial position. Thus, it is possible to store the cylinder with this flattening in a cylinder bearing on a support surface. This takes the cylinder In this cylinder bearing, a defined angular position, the so-called "zero position", can now be gripped without changing its angular position either during gripping or during transport If, in addition, the printing form of a printing cylinder is additionally aligned at this zero position, the control of the printing press can pre-position this printing cylinder in the circumferential direction with respect to the further printing cylinders Printing cylinders have advantageously a further flattening, anilox rollers can have three further flattenings, if the number of first flattenings is also three, and so on a positioning of the print motif are taken, so the angular position is irrelevant.

Further embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description and the claims. The individual figures show:

Fig. 1 side view of a printing machine

Fig. 2 view M-Il of Fig. 1st

Fig. 3 view M-III of FIG. 2

4 shows a section through the journal of a paint-transferring roller according to the invention. FIG. 5 shows V-V from FIG. 2 FIG. 6 The components of the mechanism with which the first gripping arm is pivoted

Fig. 7 The components of Figure 6 and a sensor Fig. 8 The side view of the sheet of Figure 7 Fig. 9 View VV of Figure 2 with open gripping arm Fig. 10 The components of the mechanism with which the first gripping arm is pivoted (with open gripping arm) Fig. 11 The components of Figure 6 and a sensor (with open Picker)

Fig. 1 shows a printing machine 1, which represents a central cylinder flexographic printing machine in the illustrated embodiment. It therefore comprises an impression cylinder 2, on which the printing material 3 is guided. The direction of rotation of the impression cylinder is represented by the arrow R. So that the printing material 3 rests completely on the counter-pressure cylinder 2 before the first pressure roller, it is guided by a pressure roller 4.

To the impression cylinder 2 a plurality, in the embodiment shown eight, inking units 5 are arranged. Each inking unit 5 initially comprises a bracket 6, which extends away from a central machine frame 7. Each console carries the cylinders necessary to print one color. For applying the ink to the pressure rollers 8 anilox rollers 9 are provided, which are accordingly adjustable to the pressure rollers 8. The anilox rollers 9 are supplied from the doctor chambers 10, not shown in FIG. 1, with the respective desired ink. Since in particular the pressure rollers 8, optionally also the anilox rollers 9 to be replaced with those with different diameters or against those with differences in relation to other properties (in anilox rollers, for example, the delivery volume), the said rollers 8, 9 are mounted in bearing blocks, which means suitable displacement devices are displaceable relative to the counter-pressure cylinders. These displacement means may comprise guide rails which are mounted on or on the console and which extend away from the impression cylinder. The displacement devices further include drives for moving the bearing blocks along the guide rails, these drives usually have a spindle-spindle nut combination.

Each of the rollers 8, 9 is supplied with torque by torque-supplying components. Often, these are gears that mesh with each attached to the roller gear. These gears can be driven by a central drive. But there are also since A few years ago known printing presses, which include a separate drive for each roller 8, 9, which drive the respective roller via gears.

For exchanging the rollers, the bearings of the bearing blocks which store these rollers are designed in such a way that removal of the rollers is possible. It is advantageous if the bearings remain on the journal of the rollers and parts of the bearing block are folded down, so that the rollers are removed upwards. In addition, the roller - if necessary before - decouple from the drive train.

For the further explanation of the roller exchange, the printing press is conceptually divided by an imaginary center line 11 into two halves, so that half of the inking units 5 lies on each side of this center line. Each half is operated by a crane 20 in the embodiment shown. The crane 20 is able to remove both the pressure rollers 8 and anilox rollers 9 or all the rollers involved in the printing process from the printing press or to supply these. The crane 20 comprises for gripping the rollers 8, 9 grippers 21, which are able to engage around the pins of the roller. Each end of the roller so a gripper 21 is assigned.

Each gripper 21 is disposed at one end of a boom 22, wherein the boom along a support beam 23 are movable. Boom and support beams are advantageously arranged horizontally. With this arrangement, it is possible to insert the gripper 21 between two consoles 6 in the printing press and there to take a roller 8 or 9. In order to achieve the various inking units arranged one above the other, the support beam 23 is arranged to be vertically displaceable on a vertical support 24. To extend the travel possibilities even more, the vertical support 24 is displaced. The vertical support 24 is arranged for this purpose in or on a support frame 27. The support frame 27 consists of two columns 25 which are interconnected by a carrier 26. The vertical support 24 advantageously runs on or on the carrier 26 arranged rails. In summary, it should be noted that the crane comprises a total of three traversing possibilities, of which preferably two grippers 21 in horizontal and one move the grippers in the vertical direction. In this way it is possible to operate all inking units with rollers while leaving the actual support frame 27 completely outside the printing press. To emphasize at this point, that the directions of movement of the crane are always parallel to a plane perpendicular to the axes of the rollers. In other words, the crane is not able to move the rollers in the axial direction. For each of the three traversing possibilities a separate drive, for example an electric motor, is provided.

The rollers 8, 9, which have been excavated by means of the crane 20 from the inking units, can be stored in the roller bearing 30. The roller bearing 30 comprises numerous roller positions 31, in each of which a roller 8, 9 can be deposited. The crane 20 with its possible travels can transport a roller 8,9 not only between an inking unit and a roller position 31, but also between two roller positions 31, so that during the printing operation, the rollers can be arranged in the roller bearing that the setting for the following print job as effectively as possible, ie can be done with the shortest possible travel for the crane 20.

In order to be able to supply printing or ink transfer rollers to the printing press 1 according to the invention as required, a free space 28 is provided between the actual printing press and the roller bearing 30 into which a roller conveyor carriage 29 can be inserted and positioned. Of course, the crane 20 can grasp the rolls fed in this way and deposit them in the roller bearing 30 and / or in the inking units. Subsequently, the rolls to be removed can be lifted onto the roller conveyor carriage 29.

At least one of the roller positions 31 is designed as a change position 32, in which a roller 8,9 can be held in one piece by means described below, so that a pushed onto the roller printing or anilox sleeve on the not held end can be pulled off axially. Overall, anilox rollers or pressure rollers can be stored at any desired roller positions 31.

The roller positions 31 are arranged on uprights 33 of the roller bearing 30. For receiving the rollers in the roller positions 31, vertically spaced projections 34 are attached to the uprights 33, which on the outside comprise recesses 35 which receive the pins of the rollers in order to prevent them from rolling away (see FIG. 2).

At certain uprights 33 are arranged - substantially horizontal - carrier 36, which include further roller positions. These horizontal beams 36 at least partially span the free space 28, in which a roller conveyor 29 can be inserted. This measure also helps to keep the times for loading the inking units 5 with new rollers as short as possible.

For each half of the printing machine 1, a roller bearing 30 is provided with at least 18 roller positions 31 each. These 18 roll positions are capable of accommodating three sets of four-roll press rolls and one set of four-roll anilox rolls. Another two positions are designed as change positions and / or serve to accommodate one or more rollers that have been removed from an inking unit. If both free positions for receiving two rollers from one or more inking units as well as clearing positions to be kept free are to be provided, the number of times increases. If the printing press is operated exclusively with rollers with pushed-on printing sleeves, usually no rollers need to be fed with the roller conveyor carriage 29. For each inking unit, four printing rollers are then available which, in connection with printing sleeves with different outside diameters, cover almost the entire format length range which the printing press basically makes available without, for example, so-called adapter sleeves being required. FIG. 2 shows the view H-II from FIG. 1, wherein the crane with its grippers 21 has already grasped the pressure roller 8 or has not yet released it. In this view, various components of the inking unit 5 can be seen, which are not shown in the figure 1. On each of the two consoles 6 are guide rails 12 on which the bearing blocks 13, in which at least in printing operation the pressure roller 8 is mounted with its pins 14, is movable. For the method are offered driven spindle-spindle nut combinations, of which the spindle nuts 15 which are fixedly arranged in the bearing blocks, can be seen. But other types of drives for moving the bearing blocks can be used at this point.

At the pin 14 bearings 16 are arranged, which are in corresponding shells 17, which are components of the bearing blocks 13. The left of the two shells 17 is shown in the open state, whereas the right bearing is still shown closed. Here, a lid 18 is folded over the bearing 16 and connected to the shell 17, so that the roller 8 can not move relative to the bearing block in the printing operation. About clutches 19, whose operation is not described in detail at this point, the pressure roller 8 to an extension piece 40 and the drive 41 can be coupled. The drive is advantageously gearless on the pressure roller 8. The extension piece 40, which is displaceable by a not shown in detail in the axial direction of the roller 8, has already been deducted from the pin 14 of the pressure roller 8 in FIG. However, the drive 41 is still rotatably coupled with the pressure roller 8 in the illustration shown. It is worth noting that the mounted on the frame piece of the coupling 19 is acted upon by the drive 41 with the interposition of a bellows, which is compressible and stretchable in the axial direction and torsionally stiff in the circumferential direction, with torque.

In this figure it is shown that each gripper 21 of the crane 20 has already taken a pin 14. At each boom 22 of the crane 20, an angle 50 is fixedly attached end. Each elbow 50 carries a support piece, which in the embodiment shown as a tubular piece 51st is formed, whose axis is perpendicular to the extension direction of the boom 22 and thus parallel to the axial extent of the pressure roller 8. This support piece mainly carries the actual gripper 21 and other components that are yet to be described. On the support piece a bearing and guide piece 52 is arranged. The bearing and guide piece thus represents an extension of the support piece on the inside. On the inside, that is to say the pressure roller 8, the gripping jaws 53 and 54 of the gripper 21 are arranged on the bearing and guide piece 52.

There are various configurations of embodiments of the boom, the angle pieces, the support pieces and the bearing and guide pieces conceivable. Thus, various combinations of these components can be made in one piece or dispense with individual components, without the inventive idea is abandoned. However, it is particularly advantageous that support pieces and bearing and guide pieces, viewed from the angle piece, extend in the axial direction toward the roller. In this case, cantilever and angle can be moved on the outside of the ends of the pins of the rollers over, while the gripping arms engage the pins further inside.

FIG. 3 shows the view III-III in FIG. 2. Identical components are provided with the same reference symbols, so that a renewed description of these components is dispensed with. It can once again be clearly seen from the figure that the components 51 and 52 extend from the extension arm in the direction of the pressure roller 8. On the inside of the bearing and guide piece 52, a first gripper arm 53 is arranged. This first gripper arm 53 is advantageously mounted rotatably in the bearing and guide piece 52. Also inside of the bearing and guide piece is a second gripper arm 54, preferably fixed, arranged (see Figure 2).

Figure 4 shows the view IV - IV of Figure 2. This view represents a cross section through the pin 14 at the axial position at which the two gripper arms 53 and 54 engage the pin. The gripper arms 53, 54 have at the areas where they come into contact with the pin, Contact surfaces, which can wear a replaceable wear layer 55 (see Figure 5). In order to be able to grasp the roller securely, it has flattened portions 56 on the circumferential surface at the axial positions mentioned, which in the circumferential direction are preferably completely in contact with the replaceable wear layer 55. The flats are preferably evenly distributed on the circumference of the pin, so that they lie in the embodiment shown on the edges of a uniform triangle. Each two flats thus occupy an angle of 60 degrees to each other. The contact surfaces of the gripper arms 53 and 54 also corresponding to an angle of 60 degrees to one another.

FIG. 5 shows the view V-V from FIG. 2. FIG. 5 shows that the first gripper arm 53 and the second gripper arm 54 have gripped the journal 14 of the roller 8. In addition, a probe element 57 is still on the pin 14. This probe element 57 is mounted displaceably relative to the bearing and guide piece. In addition, acts on this probe element 57, a spring element 58, whose force acts in the direction of the pin 14, so that the probe element presses on the pin. Since the probe element 57 rests with a straight edge on one of the flats 56, the pin is secured against rotation. In addition, the probe member 57 presses the pin 14 against the gripping arms 53, 54, so that the pin is secured against falling out. The gripper arm 54 has a guide groove, not shown, in which the projection 59 of the probe element 57 engages. Furthermore, a second guide may be provided, which consists of a mounted on the probe element pin which engages in a bore in the bearing and guide piece 52. Alternatively, the pin can be mounted in the bearing and guide piece 52 and engage in a bore of the probe element 57.

In the figure 5, in addition, the shaft 60 can be seen, on which the first gripping arm 53 is fixedly arranged. The gripping arm is thus pivotable about the shaft 60 when it is acted upon by a torque. The first gripping arm 53 additionally comprises a bore 61 into which a locking pin can engage. Once this is done, the gripping arm 53 is secured against pivoting, so that unintentional opening of the gripper 21st is avoided. The gripper arm 54 is fixedly mounted on the bearing and guide piece 52.

Figures 6 and 7 show the components of the mechanism with which the first gripping arm 53 is pivoted. For this purpose, a slider 62 is slidably disposed in the direction of the double arrow D in the bearing and guide piece 52. Incorporated in this slide is a guide groove 63 whose ends are offset laterally, ie transversely to the direction of the double arrow D. A pin 64 is fixed to the shaft 60 and engages the guide groove 63 a. A displacement of the slider 62 now causes lateral forces on the pin 64 act, which thus exerts a torque on the shaft 60, so that the first gripping arm 53 is pivoted. The slider 62 has at its end facing the first gripping arm 53 a locking pin 64 which can engage in the bore 61 of the first gripping arm 53. The locking pin 64 and the slider may be integrally formed. So that the first gripping arm 53 no longer carries out a pivoting movement when the locking pin is inserted into the bore 61 of the gripper arm 53, the guide groove 63 is formed at the end facing away from the gripping arm 53 a small piece without lateral offset.

In principle, it is conceivable to apply a torque to the shaft 61 with a different mechanism, for example via an electric motor, but then a separate mechanism for locking the first gripping arm 53 must be provided. This would complicate the construction and thus make it expensive.

For displacement of the slide 62, therefore, a drive is provided which is designed as a pressure medium cylinder 65, for example as a compressed air cylinder. This pressure medium cylinder 65 is arranged within the support piece 51 and has two pressure medium connections 66, which are arranged on both sides of the piston 67, so that it can be acted upon by the movement of the piston 67 from one side with a force. The piston 67 is connected to the slider 62 via the piston rod 68. The pressure medium cylinder 65 is additionally equipped with two sensors, not shown, the messages to a control device, when the piston 67 in one of the two The final position has arrived. If so, the first gripper arm is either fully open or closed and locked. In FIGS. 6 and 7 the last of the two cases is shown.

In the figure 7, a sensor 70 is still shown. A second, arranged at the same height sensor 71 is not visible in this figure. These sensors scan a sheet 72, which is attached to the probe element 57. The sensors detect whether the sheet, when the feeler element 57 is moved in the direction of the double arrow B, lies in the sensing range of a sensor. The sheet 72 and the arrangement of the sensors can be seen from FIG. The sheet is shaped so that this is not initially in the sensing range of the two sensors and that this is in the sensing range of each sensor, until finally the sheet is in the sensing range of both sensors. Instead of the sheet, other elements can be used, which are moved with the probe element and have the same functionality together with the sensors. The two sensors can interrogate a total of four positions of the probe element 57 together with the plate: If both sensors do not plate off, the gripper is empty, ie. there is no pin. If in one of the sensors, the sheet is in the touch area, a pin has been taken. If the journal diameters are different for different types of rollers, for example for pressure rollers and anilox rollers, the type of roller can be inferred from the information which sensor the sheet "sees." If the metal plate is within the sensing range of both sensors, a malfunction can be assumed Now that neither the gripper is empty nor one roller of the two types of rollers has been properly gripped, the information provided by the sensors may be fed to a controller which uses this data to control the crane to change rollers.

Figures 9, 10 and 11 show the same views as Figures 5, 6 and 7, but with an opened first gripping arm 53. To achieve this position, the piston 67 has been moved to its retracted position. As a result, the pin was pushed to the left (see Figure 10), so that the first gripping arm 53 has been swung.

To change a roller 8, for example, for a job change, proceed as follows. A roller 8 located in a printing unit is first rotated by the rotary drive in a so-called zero position, in which the further flattening 37 (in the case of a pressure roller) or one of the further flats 37 (in the case of an anilox roller) points downwards and runs horizontally, decoupled from the rotary drive or the Seitenregisterantheb by, for example, form-fitting clutches are moved apart so far that the roller 8 is completely exposed with their pin 14. Now the lid 18 of the bearing 16 are released. The actual unfolding of the lid 18 is advantageously carried out by the pins during the lifting of the roller 8. Now determines the control device, for example, due to an operator input, the roller to be changed. The control device then controls the crane 20. First, the crane is positioned in height, then the boom 22 is extended and now protrudes above the inking unit, from which a roller is to be removed, into the inking system. Now the actual positioning of the gripper takes place on the pin. For this purpose, the second gripping arm 54 is moved along its extension direction by a combined lowering movement of the vertical adjustment and a horizontal movement of the jib. If there are three flats 56, this direction of extension is inclined 30 degrees from the vertical. The replaceable wear layer 56 of the second gripper arm 54 is advantageously moved a few millimeters past one of the flats 56. A contact of these two elements is not yet necessary and, because of the associated wear and undesirable. The travel is chosen so large that when the first gripping arm 53 is closed, even this 53 does not touch the corresponding flattening or only without a significant exercise of a force. This is advantageous because then only a comparatively small torque has to be applied for the pivotal movement of the first gripping arm 53. For this purpose, a compressed air piston which moves the slider and thus the first gripper arm 53 in the manner described. When the said position of the second gripping arm 54 is reached, which is detected by the fact that the sensor 70 or 71 (depending on the roller type) emits a signal, the pressure medium cylinder 65 can now be set, ie the piston 67 by the introduction of a pressure medium in Direction moved to the gripping arms. The mechanism already described above now ensures that the first gripping arm 53 closes. Only when the gripper arm 53 has reached its closed position and properly locked by the locking pin 64, the piston 67 may have reached its second end position, which is detectable by the corresponding sensor (see above). If the sensor does not transmit a corresponding signal, there may be a fault. This can be made clear to the operating personnel via a display device, for example via a monitor, or a suitable warning device. However, if the first gripping arm 53 is locked, the roller 8 - advantageously initially in the vertical direction - is dug out of the inking unit. Initially, the replaceable wear layers 55 attach to the flats. The roller 8 is transferred to a roller position 31 or 32 of the bearing 30. Since the roller 8 in the gripper still assumes a defined angular position, the roller can now be stored so that the further flats 37 are in contact with corresponding counter elements, so that the roller can not rotate in the roller bearing and for a further recording by the gripper is in the correct angular position. This counter element can be an edgewise arranged sheet, so that the further flattening 37 touches the upper edge of this sheet.

The loosening of the gripper takes place by opening the first gripping arm 53, wherein after successful opening the second sensor of the pressure medium piston cylinder 65 sends a corresponding signal to the control device. Now, the gripper 21 must be moved again in the direction of extension of the second gripping arm 54.

In reverse order now the insertion of a new roll.

Claims

claims

A device for detecting and transporting at least one color leading cylinder of a printing press, the device comprising support elements which come into contact with the pins of the cylinder in order to lift the cylinder, characterized in that each support element comprises at least two gripping arms, with which a pin of the cylinder is at least partially umgreifbar.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a first gripping arm is stationary and a second gripping arm is movably arranged on the device.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a second gripping arm between an open position and a closed position in which the pin is embraced, is movable, and that the second gripping arm in the closed position by a locking device is lockable.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second gripping arm is disposed at the end of a shaft, the shaft carrying a radially extending pin.

5. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the gripping arms by means of a slider is movable, which is drivable by a pressure medium cylinder, so that the gripper arm is movable.

6. System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the bolt engages in an introduced into the slide guide groove.

7. System according to one of the three preceding claims, characterized in that the slide is displaceable in the axial direction of the WeNe.

8. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking device comprises a arranged on an end face of the slider pin which engages in the locking position in an introduced into the second gripping arm bore.

9. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gripping jaws comprise support edges on which the pin of the cylinder rests when it is supported, wherein the support edges form an angle of less than 180 degrees.

10. System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the support edges enclose an angle of 120 degrees or less.

11. System according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the support edges enclose an angle of 60 degrees.

12. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support element comprises a probe element which is in contact with the journal of the cylinder when the gripping jaws engage around the pin.

13. System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the probe element can be pressed with a spring element against the pin.

14. System according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the feeler element is displaceable relative to the support element along guides.

15. System according to one of the three preceding claims, characterized in that the support element comprises sensors with which positions of the feeler element can be determined.

16. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer surfaces of the pin on which the probe element is present, have different distances to the axis of rotation of this roller at different cylinder types.

17. Color of leading cylinder in a printing machine, with a cylinder body and end-side pin, characterized in that each pin at a first axial position at least three flats um- summarize.

18. color leading cylinder according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each pin comprises at least one further flattening at a further axial position.

19. A method for detecting and transporting at least one color leading cylinder of a printing press, wherein in the process support elements contact the pins of the cylinder, and lifting the cylinder, characterized in that each support element comprises at least two pincer-like gripping arms, with which a pin the cylinder is at least partially encompassed.