EP2616242B1 - Device for guiding strips for a stamping machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for guiding the movement of one or more strips to stamp at the entrance of a platen press.

The invention finds a particularly advantageous application in the field of stamping machines.

It is known to print texts and / or patterns by stamping, that is to say to deposit by pressure on a sheet-like support, colored or metallized film from one or more strips to be stamped. commonly referred to as metallized strips. In the industry, such a transfer operation is usually carried out by means of a vertical platen press, in which the printing media are introduced sheet-by-sheet, while the feeding of strips to be stamped takes place keep on going.

Such platen presses are known from EP1593503-A2 or EP1468828-A2 .

In a standard platen press, the stamping takes place between a fixed platen extending horizontally, and a platen movably mounted in displacement in a vertical reciprocating motion. This type of press being generally automated, means of transport are provided to bring one by one each sheet between the plates. In practice, it is usually a series of gripper bars, each of which in turn seizes a sheet at its front edge, before pulling it between the two plates of the press when the latter are sufficiently apart .

A tape stamping is schematically composed of a support film type polyester, on which is secured a pigmented layer via a layer of wax. The outer face of this pigmented layer is coated with a hot melt adhesive layer. As in the case of sheets, the feed of the belt press is traditionally automated, in this case by means of a drive system able to unroll and circulate each of said bands in a scrolling path. well determined, which passes especially through the platen press. Generally, such a tape drive system combines a series of cross bars that are located all along the scroll path to guide the tape movement, with several advance trees positioned downstream of said scroll path for respectively driving each of said bands in displacement.

In practice, the running path of the strips to stamp passing through the platen press, a return bar is often present directly near the entrance of said press. As its implantation position conditions the passage of the strips between the plates, it is usually rigidly secured to a fixed part of the press, generally to the upper plate.

This type of return member however has the disadvantage of being particularly exposed to soiling, while being intrinsically difficult to access. It is therefore extremely difficult to clean or mechanically intervene on him.

In terms of soiling, metalized or colored particles, glue particles, and also surrounding dust are especially thought here. The return bar is indeed destined to be in contact permanent stamping strips that, it is recalled, support on one side of the colored or metallized film and on the other side of the glue. The return bar will therefore logically tend to get dirty quickly.

As regards this time the lack of accessibility, it comes mainly from the fact that the return bar is located close to the entrance of the platen press, that is to say in a particularly congested area of the stamping machine. At this point, it is particularly common to find a locking system of the frame supporting certain tools of the platen press, a gripper bar locking system, a sheet cutter, as well as particularly bulky elements of the system. driving clamp bars.

Also, the technical problem to be solved by the object of the present invention is to propose a device for guiding at least one strip to be stamped at the entrance of a platen press, a guiding device which would make it possible to avoid the problems of the state of the art in particular by providing a substantially easier maintenance.

The solution to the technical problem posed consists, according to the present invention, in that the guiding device comprises a return member which is mounted movably in displacement between a working position in which the return member is able to direct each strip to stamping inside the platen press following a given scroll plane, said operational plane, and a maintenance position in which said return member is placed in a space directly accessible by a user.

It is important to note that the working position according to the invention corresponds to the fixed position in which are implanted the return members of the state of the art. The maintenance position must be considered as a new operating position, which in theory can be located in any free space of the machine, as long as it is significantly easier to access than the machine. space dedicated to the working position.

It is furthermore understood that throughout this text, the operational plan designates the plane in which it is necessary to scroll each band to be stamped when the platen press is in its normal operating mode ( figure 3 ).

In any event, the invention as thus defined has the advantage of ensuring a great convenience of access to the return member. Thanks to its mobility, the return member can indeed be moved in an easily accessible area of the machine. It thus becomes particularly easy to carry out a cleaning or any mechanical intervention.

The present invention further relates to the features which will emerge in the course of the description which follows, and which should be considered in isolation or in all their possible technical combinations.

• La figure 1 illustre une machine d'impression dans laquelle est intégrée une station d'estampage qui est équipée d'un dispositif de guidage de bandes conforme à l'invention.
• La figure 2 montre en détail la station d'estampage dont est pourvue la machine d'impression objet de la figure 1.
• La figure 3 représente le dispositif de guidage de bandes en position de travail.
• La figure 4 fait apparaître le dispositif de guidage en position d'entretien.
• La figure 5 illustre le dispositif de guidage dans une position de maintenance permettant d'intervenir au niveau de la presse à platine.

This description is intended to better understand what the invention is and how it can be done. The description is also given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• The figure 1 illustrates a printing machine in which is integrated a stamping station which is equipped with a band guide device according to the invention.
• The figure 2 shows in detail the stamping station which is provided with the printing machine object of the figure 1 .
• The figure 3 represents the tape guiding device in working position.
• The figure 4 causes the guiding device to appear in the maintenance position.
• The figure 5 illustrates the guiding device in a maintenance position to intervene at the level of the platen press.

For the sake of clarity, the same elements have been designated by identical references. Likewise, only the essential elements for understanding the invention have been represented, and this without regard to the scale and in a schematic manner.

The figure 1 represents a printing machine 1 which is intended for the customization of cardboard packaging for the luxury industry. Commonly called gilding machine, this printing machine 1 is conventionally composed of several work stations 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 which are juxtaposed but interdependent one by one to form a unitary unit able to process a succession of supports leaf-shaped. There is thus a feeder 100, a margin table 200, a stamping station 300, a feed and recovery station 400, and a receiving station 500. A transport device 600 is also provided for moving each sheet individually from the output of the margin table 200 to the receiving station 500, including through the stamping station 300.

The different parts 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 of the printing machine 1 being perfectly known from the state of the art, they will not be described in detail here, both in terms of their structure and their operation.

In this particular embodiment, selected solely by way of example, the feeder 100 is supplied by means of a succession of pallets on each of which are stacked a plurality of cardboard sheets. The latter are successively removed from the top of the stack by a suction gripping member which transports them to the margin table 200 directly adjacent.

At the level of the margin table 200, the sheets are tabled by the suction grip member, that is to say placed one after the other so as to overlap partially. The entire web is then moved along a platen 210 towards the stamping station 300 by means of a belt conveyor mechanism. At the end of the web, the head sheet is systematically accurately positioned by means of front and side cleats.

The workstation located immediately after the margin table 200 is therefore the stamping station 300. The latter has the function of depositing on each sheet, by hot stamping, the metallized film which is issued from a single strip. stamp 410 in this embodiment. It uses for this a platen press 310 within which the stamping operation operates classically between a heating upper platen 320 which is fixed, and a lower plate 330 which is mounted movably in displacement in a vertical back and forth motion.

Downstream of the stamping station 300 is the tape feed and recovery station 400. As the name suggests, this station plays a dual role since it is responsible for ensuring both the feeding the machine belt stamping 410, and the evacuation of the same band once it used.

In this particular exemplary embodiment, the strip 410 is conventionally stored in a wound form, around a supply reel 420 rotatably mounted. Similarly, after its passage through the platen press 310, the band 410 is wrapped around a recovery spool 430 rotatably mounted.

Between its storage point and its point of recovery, the band 410 is driven in displacement by a drive system 440 which is able to circulate it over a given distance and following a determined path of travel which passes in particular through the platen press 310. This tape drive system 440 is mainly composed, on the one hand, of a series of deflection bars 441 which are located along the running path to guide the movement of the web 410, and on the other hand, the combination of a feed shaft 442 and a pressure roller 443 which are positioned downstream of said running path for driving and tensioning said belt 410 in displacement.

The process of processing the sheets in the printing machine 1 is completed in the receiving station 500 whose main function is to repackage the sheets previously stacked processed. For this, the transport device 600 is arranged to automatically release each sheet when the latter is found at the right of this new battery. The sheet then falls squarely on the top of the stack.

In a very conventional manner, the transport device 600 implements a series of clamp bars 610 which are movably mounted in transverse translation by means of two chain trains 620 arranged laterally on each side of the stamping machine 1. Each chain train 620 traverses a loop which allows the gripper bars 610 to follow a path passing successively through the stamping station 300, the feed and discharge station 400 and the receiving station 500.

As can be seen on the figure 2 the embossing station 300 furthermore has a device 10 capable of guiding the stamping strip 410 to the inlet of the platen press 310. In accordance with the subject of the present invention, this guiding device 10 comprises a return member 20 which is movably mounted in displacement. This mobility is exercised between a working position ( figure 3 ) in which the deflection member 20 is able to direct the stamping strip 410 inside the platen press 310 according to a given running plane, said operational plane, and a maintenance position ( figure 4 ) in which said return member 20 is placed in a space directly accessible by a user.

As can clearly be seen from figure 4 in the maintenance position, the deflection member 20 is placed at a distance from the operational plane that is intended to follow each band stamped 410 inside the platen press 310.

Particularly advantageously, the guide device 10 is provided with first guide means 30 which are able to guide the displacement of the deflection member 20 between the working position and the maintenance position.

In this particular embodiment, the first guide means 30 consist of a support 31 which is integral with the return member 20, and which is slidably mounted relative to a guide rail 32. It is however understood that all other known guide means could be used in an equivalent manner.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the guiding device 10 is also provided with first motor means 40 which are able to drive the return member 20 in displacement between the working position and the maintenance position.

In this embodiment, the first motor means 40 are constituted by a pneumatic cylinder 41 which directly generates the sliding of the support 31 along the guide rail 32. But again, any other known motor means could be used in an equivalent manner. For example, here we think of the combination of several pneumatic cylinders, one or more hydraulic cylinders or a linear electric motor.

According to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the deflection member 20 is mounted to move in translation in a direction substantially orthogonal to the operational plane in which the tape to be stamped 410 has to travel when the platen press 310 is in operation. .

It is understood here that the translation can be carried out according to any trajectory, that is to say be purely rectilinear or circular, or be more generally curvilinear, or result from any combination of these movements.

Specifically, the return member 20 is constituted by an air return 21 of elongated shape, which is mounted movably in transverse translation between the working position and the maintenance position.

This reference to air 21 is quite conventional since it is in the form of a circular section tube, in which compressed air circulates, and through the wall of which is pierced a plurality of orifices. intended to allow said compressed air to escape. The air film thus created between the tube and the band 410 makes it possible to limit the friction forces and thus to promote sliding.

It should also be noted that, like any reference to air of the state of the art, the deflection member 20 according to the invention is perfectly capable of supporting one or more guiding clips able to guide laterally the scrolling of each stamping tape used.

The figure 3 shows that the operational plane extends closer to the upper platen 320 of the press 310, so that the tape stamping 410 can scroll flush with the stamping tools that are mounted under said upper plate 320. Gold the tools in question must be changed each time a new print job is to be done. In order to be able to easily perform this operation, the guiding device 10 has a maintenance position allowing the stamping band 310 of the upper plate 320, and thus the operational scrolling plane, to be momentarily removed ( figure 5 ).

For this, and according to another feature of the invention, the guide device 10 has a holding member 50 which is mounted movably in displacement. Its mobility is exerted between a passive position in which the holding member 50 has no direct effect on the arrangement of the stamping strip 410 inside the platen press 310 ( Figures 3 and 4 ), and an active position in which it is able to keep the tape stamped 410 away from said operational plane ( figure 5 ).

Several cases can then arise depending on the actual position of the return member 20.

As can be seen at figure 3 when the deflection member 20 is in the working position, the guiding device 10 is arranged such that, in the passive position, the holding member 50 is held away from the stamping band 410. The stamping strip 410 then extends precisely in the operational plane.

On the other hand, when the return member 20 is in the maintenance position, two solutions can be envisaged depending on whether the holding member 50 is in the passive position or in the active position.

Thus, if the holding member 50 is in a passive position in accordance with the figure 4 , the assembly will preferably be arranged so that said holding member 50 is able to maintain each band to stamp 410 substantially in the operational plane.

On the other hand, since the holding member 50 is in the active position, the assembly will advantageously be arranged in such a way that said holding member 50 is able to keep each band stamping 410 at the same time. distance from said operational plane (configuration not shown).

The Figures 3 to 5 also clearly show that the holding member 50 is implanted between the return member 20 and the platen press 310.

Particularly advantageously, the guide device 10 is provided with second guide means 60 which are able to guide the movement of the holding member 50 between the passive position and the active position.

In a similar manner to what has been said for the return member 20, in this embodiment, the second guide means 60 consist of a support 61 which is integral with the holding member 50, and which is mounted slidably with respect to a guide rail 62. However, it is also understood that any other known guide means could be used in an equivalent manner.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the guiding device 10 is also provided with second motor means 70 which are able to move the holding member 50 between the passive position and the active position.

In the exemplary embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 , the second motor means 70 are constituted by a pneumatic cylinder 71 which actuates directly the support 61 along the guide rail 62. But again, any other known motor means could be used in an equivalent manner. One thinks in particular of the combination of several pneumatic cylinders, one or more hydraulic cylinders or a linear electric motor.

According to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the holding member 50 is mounted movable in translation in a direction substantially orthogonal to the operational plane in which the tape to be stamped 410 passes inside the platen press 310.

Here too, it is understood that the translation can be carried out according to any trajectory, that is to say be purely rectilinear or circular, or be more curvilinear, or even result from any combination of these movements.

In this embodiment, the holding member 50 is constituted by a bar 51 which is mounted movably in transverse translation between the passive position and the active position.

The Figures 3 to 5 show precisely that the bar 51 has a rectangular section to provide a satisfactory rigidity. Furthermore, the stamping strip 410 being intended to come into contact with two directly adjacent faces of the bar 51, the assembly is arranged so that said faces are connected by a rounded surface as an edge. This characteristic makes it possible not to damage the tape stamping 410.

Of course, the invention also relates to any stamping station 300 ( figure 2 ) comprising a platen press 310, as well as a guiding device 10 as previously described.

But more generally still, the invention relates to any printing machine 1 ( figure 1 ) with such a stamping station 300.

Claims (18)

1. Guiding device (10) for guiding at least one stamping foil (410) at the inlet to a platen press (310), comprising a diverting member (20), characterized in that the diverting member (20) is mounted with the ability to move between a work position in which the diverting member (20) is able to direct each stamping foil (410) into the platen press (310) in a given feed plane, known as the operational plane, and a maintenance position in which said diverting member (20) is placed in a space directly accessible to a user.
2. Guiding device (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that in the maintenance position, the diverting member (20) is positioned some distance away from the operational plane.
3. Guiding device (10) according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises first guide means (30) able to guide the movement of the diverting member (20) between the work position and the maintenance position.
4. Guiding device (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises first drive means (40) able to drive the movement of the diverting member (20) between the work position and the maintenance position.
5. Guiding device (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the diverting member (20) is mounted with translational mobility in a direction substantially orthogonal to the operational plane.
6. Guiding device (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the diverting member (20) consists of an air-powered diverting member (21) of elongate shape, which is mounted with transverse translational mobility between the work position and the maintenance position.
7. Guiding device (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it further comprises a holding member (50) which is mounted with the ability to move between a passive position in which it has no direct effect on the arrangement of each stamping foil (410) inside the platen press (310) and an active position in which it is able to hold each stamping foil (410) some distance away from said operational plane.
8. Guiding device (10) according to Claim 7, characterized in that when the diverting member (20) is in the work position, the holding member (50) in the passive position keeps away from each stamping foil (410).
9. Guiding device (10) according to either of Claims 7 and 8, characterized in that when the diverting member (20) is in the maintenance position, the holding member (50) in the passive position is able to hold each stamping foil (410) substantially in the operational plane.
10. Guiding device (10) according to any one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that when the diverting member (20) is in the maintenance position, the holding member (50) in the active position is able to hold each stamping foil (410) away from the operational plane.
11. Guiding device (10) according to any one of Claims 7 to 10 characterized in that the holding member (50) is installed between the diverting member (20) and the platen press (310).
12. Guiding device (10) according to any one of Claims 7 to 11, characterized in that it comprises second guide means (60) able to guide the movement of the holding member (50) between the passive position and the active position.
13. Guiding device (10) according to any one of Claims 7 to 12, characterized in that it comprises second drive means (70) able to guide the movement of the holding member (50) between the passive position and the active position.
14. Guiding device (10) according to any one of Claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the holding member (50) is mounted with translational mobility in a direction substantially orthogonal to the operational plane.
15. Guiding device (10) according to any one of Claims 7 to 14, characterized in that the holding member (50) consists of a bar (51) which is mounted with transverse translational mobility between the passive position and the active position.
16. Guiding device (10) according to any one of Claims 7 to 15, characterized in that the bar (51) is of rectangular cross section, and in that, with each stamping foil (410) being intended to come into contact with two directly adjacent faces of the bar (51), said faces are connected by a rounded surface by way of a corner edge.
17. Stamping station (300) comprising a platen press (310), characterized in that it further comprises a guiding device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.
18. Printing machine (1), characterized in that it comprises a stamping station (300) according to the preceding claim.

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