EP2298677A1

EP2298677A1 - Machine with reciprocating motion for multisystem printing machines

Info

Publication number: EP2298677A1
Application number: EP09382177A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jose Betes Peruga
Original assignee: ROTATEK SA
Current assignee: ROTATEK SA
Priority date: 2009-09-22
Filing date: 2009-09-22
Publication date: 2011-03-23

Abstract

It comprises a frame (1) with an entry (4) and exit (5), through which the mean (3) to be printed or has been printed with a design, respectively enters and exits, fixed rotating cylinders (2) over which the cited mean (3) circulates, characterised in that it comprises a linear motor that controls the reciprocating motion, at least one rotating cylinder (10) firmly coupled to the mentioned linear motor, at least one support cylinder (14) joint to the frame (1) over which the cited mean (3) circulates, being the next cylinder after the rotating cylinder (10) and in a different plane to same (10) and at least one guide cylinder (15) that controls the movement of the mean (3) inside the machine, the support cylinder (14) is away from the rotating cylinder (10) when the movement of the mean (3) is away from the multisystem printing machine and approaching to the rotating cylinder (10) when the movement of the mean (3) is approaching to the multisystem printing machine.

Description

A machine with reciprocating motion for multisystem printing machines, of the type that comprises a frame with an entry and exit, through which a mean respectively enters and exits, on which is going to be printed or has been printed a motif, fixed rotating cylinders over which the cited mean circulates, characterised in that it comprises a linear motor that controls the reciprocating motion, at least one rotating cylinder joint to the mentioned linear motor, at least one support cylinder joint to the frame over which the cited mean circulates, being the next cylinder after the rotating cylinder and in a different plane to it and at least one guide cylinder that controls the movement of the mean inside the machine, the support cylinder is away from the rotating cylinder when the movement of the mean is away from the multisystem printing machine and approaching to the rotating cylinder when the movement of the mean is approaching to the multisystem printing machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of reciprocating motion is known in the state of the art for auxiliary machines of multisystem printing machines.
Thus, European patent 0742755 , "A METHOD AND A CYLINDER ARRANGEMENT FOR PROCESSING A CONTINUOUS WEB EXTENDING ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH", from 1995 is known, in the name of NILPETER A/S, which refers to a method and a cylinder arrangement for a printing apparatus in which printing plates of punching of different lengths may selectively be mounted on the same plate cylinder, and wherein the web to be printed or punched may be moved past the cylinder at a substantially constant speed.
Also in the state of the art is US Patent 3926097 , "ROTARY DIE MECHANISM WITH VARIABLE SHEET VELOCITY MEANS FOR FORMING DIFFERENT SIZED BLANKS", in the name of BOBST CHAMPLAIN, INC, from 1974, which refers to an apparatus is provided for performing operations such as cutting and creasing on a continuous sheet material. The apparatus includes a first pair and a second pair of die carrying cylinders. The cylinders in each of the pairs are spaced to form a first and a second nip respectively there between. The cylinder pairs are physically independent such that the path of travel of the material as it moves from one nip to the other is not constrained by the size of the cylinders and may follow a substantially straight path as it moves from one nip to the other. Each of the cylinders in each pair is rotatable such that each pair periodically performs an operation along a substantial length of the material during respective operative intervals. Means in the form of a looper roll are provided for varying the velocity of the sheet material as it passes the first nip. The looper roll has a cyclical operation during one portion of which the material is caused to move at a constant velocity and during another portion of which the material is caused to move at a non constant velocity. The constant velocity portion of the looper roll cycle causes the velocity of the material to match the circumferential speed of the cylinders. This occurs during the operative interval of the first cylinder pair. As a result, the operation performed by the first cylinder pair may take place over a substantial length of the material.
Lastly, mention should be made of European Patent 1026111 , "INJECTOR FOR ROTARY WEB PROCESSING DEVICE WITH FIXED DIAMETER BASE", in the name of Mr. Allan R. PRITTIE, of 2000, which refers to a unique rotary die cutting system including an injector mechanism that accurately positions a moving continuous web in such manner as to permit the implementation of a set of constant diameter cylindrical bases onto which are mounted by various means a pair of removable complementary steel sheet dies. The integrated action of the novel sub-sections of the invention permits significant improvements in economies of operation relative to exiting rotary converting technologies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The closest document is European Patent 1026111 , because said cylinder movement is the most similar one to this application and the clearest when describing operating characteristics.
In this document, the "infeed" - "outfeed" movement is horizontal and driven by a mechanical transmission.
This involves a series of drawbacks. The first are vibrations that are produced, and which involves movements in the pieces leading to a certain clearance in them, so that the machine needs constant maintenance.
The second is due to material wear in consequence of the own transmissions.
This invention is intended to eliminate such vibration and thus, significantly reduce material wear.
A machine has therefore been configured in which a support cylinder is solidly mated with a linear motor so that, when the latter is moved in one direction or the other, the cylinder increases or reduces the paper distance to the preceding or succeeding multisystem unit allowing the infeed - outfeed operations, as applicable.
With this configuration, the inventor was able to verify that vibration is reduced to a minimum, that there is no the transmissions wear and that the clearance of the several parts of machine caused by movements and vibrations of same are also eliminated during movement.
An object of this invention is a machine with reciprocating motion for multisystem printing machines of the type that comprises a frame with an entry and exit, through which the mean to be printed or has been printed with a design, respectively enters and exits, fixed rotating cylinders over which the cited mean circulates, characterised in that it comprises a linear motor that controls the reciprocating motion, at least one rotating cylinder joint to the mentioned linear motor, at least one support cylinder joint to the frame over which the cited mean circulates, being the following cylinder after the rotating cylinder and in a different plane to it and at least one guide cylinder that controls the movement of the mean inside the machine, the support cylinder is away from the rotating cylinder when the movement of the mean is away from the multisystem printing machine and approaching to the rotating cylinder when the movement of the mean is approaching to the multisystem printing machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to facilitate the description, this report is accompanied by three sheets of drawings that show an exemplary embodiment that is cited merely as an example that in no way limits the scope of this invention:

Figure 1 is a section view of this invention.
Figure 2 is an upper frontal perspective view and
Figure 3 is an upper rear perspective view.

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT OF THIS INVENTION

Thus, Figure 1 illustrates a frame 1, with fixed cylinders 2, means 3 that define an entry 4 and exit 5, a moving plate 6 with its rotating cylinder 10, guides 7, magnet 8, guide cylinder 15, support cylinder 14 and fixed winding 9.
Figure 2 shows the frame 1, mean 3, moving plate 6, guides 7, magnet 8, fixed winding 9, rotating cylinder 10 and upper plate 12.
Lastly, Figure 3 contains the frame 1, mean 3, moving plate 6, guides 7, magnet 8, fixed winding 9, upper plate 12, fans 11 and power supply means 13 for the fixed winding.
Thus, in a specific exemplary embodiment, it is necessary to state that this machine can be placed before or after one of those that forms part of the multisystem printing (offset, wet printing, dry printing, stamping, silk screening, die stamping and hot stamping etc). In fact, it is recommended that one be positioned before and another behind in order to a better manage of mean (this is label paper in this embodiment).
A linear motor has also been chosen for this embodiment in which winding 9 is fixed because this avoids cable fatigue, however, magnet 8 could be fixed and winding 9 be the moving element (then fixed to him, the rotating cylinder 10), although it would be necessary to employ a cable that is highly resistant to fatigue, which would increase costs.
In this embodiment, for example, the machine from the multi-system group will be flexographic. When the flexographic machine cylinder plate (not shown) has printed in the mean 3, the latter continues moving forward, but the cylinder plate has to stop because part of it does not have a blanket so that if it does not move backwards after the paper passes, a large amount of unprinted paper material would be lost.
This lead to the development of machines like the one in this application, with the so-called "reciprocating motion", which stops and moves back to print the paper that was not printed by the blanket.
The machine of this invention is of the type described in the previous paragraph.
Thus, when the flexographic machine finishes printing the motif, it will decelerate mean 3 and make it accelerate in the opposite direction, stopping it at the point where the flexographic machine stops printing.
This is accomplished as follows. This exemplary embodiment shows the machine installed after the flexographic machine, being the explanation of the one that is placed before the same in inverse mode.
So, when the flexographic machine pulls on the mean 3 in the direction opposite to the forward movement of the mean 3, the controlling cylinder 15 will allow the mean to move in this direction. At the same time, the fixed winding 9, which is installed on an upper plate 12 fixed to the frame 1, repels the magnet 8 (which is separated by a predetermined distance from fixed winding 9), which, because said magnet 8 is fixed to the moving plate 6, it will drag the latter and, in turn, rotating cylinder 10, approaching said cylinder 10 to the flexographic machine.
When rotating cylinder 10 is approaching to the flexographic machine, there is an amount of mean 3 that is between support cylinder 14 and said rotating cylinder 10, which is the margin of mean 3 that has to be taken back and printed again.
This means that when rotating cylinder 10 is approaching support cylinder 14 and the multisystem printing machine pulls on mean 3, the amount of mean 3 between one cylinder and the other is reduced, which is the backward margin of mean 3.
Thus, support cylinder 14 is moved away from rotating cylinder 10 when the forward movement direction of mean 3 is away from the flexographic machine and moved closer to rotating cylinder 10 when the forward movement direction of mean 3 is towards the multisystem printing machine.
Once printed by the multisystem printing machine, mean 3 advances due to drive cylinder 15 and the processor sends a signal to the fixed winding 9 so that it attracts magnet 8, and with this then the moving plate 6 and rotating cylinder 10.
When it has printed again, the operation will proceed as previously indicated, advancing/returning.
One of the reasons why winding 9 is fixed and the moving part is plate 6 is that in this way, the power supply means 13, because of the high rate and high accelerations, avoids cable fatigue.
Said fixed winding 9 is mounted on an upper plate 12 on which fans 11 are also mounted.
Moving plate 6 is rigid. In fact, in one exemplary embodiment, one that it follows a deformation proportion of 0.01 mm for a force of 11,000 N was found to be valid, (although this could vary in function of materials and other variables).
It has also been practiced castings to reduce its weight and hence increase performance.
As previously indicated, magnet 8 can be fixed and the winding 9 moved without changing the basic idea of the invention and, in this way, winding 9 moves over guides 7 joint to frame 1, at least one magnet 8, fixed underneath the referred winding 9 and separated from said winding (9), and power supply means for said fixed winding 9.
This patent describes a new reciprocating motion machine for multisystem printing machines. The examples described here do not limit this invention and thus, it can have various applications and adaptations, all of which are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

A machine with reciprocating motion for multisystem printing machines of the type that comprises a frame (1), with an entry (4) and an exit (5) through which a mean (3) respectively enters and exits, on which is going to be printed or has been printed a motif, fixed rotating cylinders (2) over which cited mean 3 circulates and characterised in that it comprises:
- A linear motor that controls the reciprocation motion,

- At least one rotating cylinder (10) joint to said linear motor,

- At least one support cylinder (14) joint to frame 1, over which cited mean (3) circulates, being the next cylinder after the rotating cylinder (10) and in a different plane to same (10), and

- At least one control cylinder (15) that controls movement of mean (3) inside the machine,
with support cylinder (14) is away from the rotating cylinder (10) when the movement of the mean (3) is away from the multisystem printing machine and approaching to the rotating cylinder (10) when the movement of the mean (3) is approaching to the multisystem printing machine.
A machine in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the linear motor comprises:
- A moving plate (6) that runs over guides (7) that are joint to frame (1),

- At least one magnet (8) installed above mentioned moving plate and joined to it,

- A fixed winding (9) joint to frame (1), above referred magnet (8) and separated from it, and

- Power supply means (13) for the referred fixed winding (9).
A machine in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that rotating cylinder (10) is joint to the mentioned moving plate (6) over which the cited mean (3) circulates.
A machine in accordance with claim 2 or 3, characterised in that moving plate (6) is rigid.
A machine in accordance with claim 4, characterised in that the rigidity follows a deformation proportion of 0.01 mm for a force of 11,000 N.
A machine in accordance with claim 4 or 5, characterised in that moving plate (6) comprises castings.
A machine in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that fans (11) are installed on fixed winding (9).
A machine in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the linear motor comprises:
- winding (9) moved over guides (7) joint to frame (1),

- at least one magnet (8), fixed underneath the referred winding (9) and separated from it (9), and

- power supply means (13) for said fixed winding (9).