EP2679389A1 - Alignment station and method for aligning an object to be printed with a printer - Google Patents

Abstract

The alignment station (1) has a base body (25) with a holder (27,28) for holding an object to be printed, where a motor (12) is connected to the base body by a transmission (13) for rotating base body around a pivot axis. A brake disk (23) is mounted on the base body, where a braking device is provided with a brake element. The braking device is adapted to press the brake element against the brake disk for inhibiting the possible existing backlash in the transmission. The object to be printed is stable in the holder, such that the axis of rotation is extended through the object to be printed. An independent claim is included for a method for aligning an object to be printed, such as a coin with a printer.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to an alignment station and a method for aligning an object to be printed by means of a printing machine.

STATE OF THE ART

An essential part of a printing press is the holding device, which serves to hold the object to be printed. The holding device is customarily adapted to the object to be printed and serves in particular to keep the object to be printed during the printing operation in a predetermined position relative to the print head.

In printing machines in general, but especially in pad printing machines, it is essential that the object to be printed is fixed in an absolutely fixed, predetermined position in the holding device during the entire printing process, and in particular also during the sequential printing with different colors.

A holding device, which has a customary for use in pad printing machines embodiment, is for example in the US 5,537,921 disclosed. For fine adjustment of the object to be printed relative to the print head rotatable handles are provided on the holding device.

In the US 2002/0185019 a holding device is disclosed for holding a game chip to be printed by means of a pad printing machine. The game chip is centered by means of a sleeve and then held in place during printing by means of a vacuum.

In the US 2009/0031904 discloses a device for holding a golf ball which is printed in a pad printing machine. To allow quick printing of different parts of the golf ball surface, the device allows automatic turning of the golf ball. The golf ball is held in a shot of two opposing arms. The automatic turning is based on the mechanical action of stop elements, on which the recording is passed on a conveyor belt.

For many objects, it is not only essential at which point, but especially in which rotational position the printing takes place. Especially for objects with a special surface structure, such as a relief, it is of the utmost importance for printing that the object is precisely aligned relative to the print head before printing in order to allow the most accurate possible printing of the surface structure. Such objects must therefore be arranged before printing not only in a predetermined position relative to the print head, but also in a particular orientation or orientation.

The challenge of a precise alignment of the object to be printed relative to the print head arises in particular when printing disk-shaped, provided with a relief objects, such as coins. Since even minor deviations are perceived by the viewer, such objects must be aligned with high precision with respect to their rotational position before printing, so that the printed image matches exactly with the relief structure.

Since often a large number of objects is to be printed, an automatic and fast as possible orientation of the object to be printed is desirable in order to achieve maximum throughput.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to specify an alignment station for aligning an object to be printed by means of a printing machine, which permits a precise and rapid alignment of the object to be printed relative to the print head. To achieve this object, an alignment station is proposed, as indicated in claim 1. In addition, a method for aligning an object to be printed by means of a printing press in such an alignment station is specified in claim 10. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

Thus, the present invention provides an alignment station for aligning an object to be printed by means of a printing press, in particular a pad printing machine, comprising
a base body with a holder for holding the object to be printed;
a motor connected via a gear to the main body, which serves for rotating the main body about an axis of rotation;
a brake disc attached to the body; such as
a braking device with a brake element, which is suitable by means of pressing the brake element to the brake disc to inhibit any existing in the transmission game.

By means of the motor connected to the main body, a fast rotation of the object to be imprinted about the axis of rotation is possible, whereby a fast alignment of the object relative to a printing head of the printing press can be achieved. Problematic for a precise alignment is in an alignment station with a connected via a gearbox with the main body motor usually present in the transmission game. This game can arise in particular in the field of meshing gears, which have a mutual production and application-related freedom of movement between their flanks. Due to the fact that in the inventive alignment station but a braking device with a Brake element is provided for pressing against a brake disc attached to the body, a game in the transmission may be inhibited during the alignment process. For this purpose, the braking element is pressed during the alignment process to the brake disc, whereby a possible existing game between the engine and the body repealed and a precise alignment of the object to be printed is possible.

The object to be printed may in particular be a disk-shaped object, such as a coin. The object to be printed can, but does not have to, have a surface structure to be printed by means of the printing press, in particular a relief.

The motor may in particular be an electric motor, preferably a servomotor. But it is also the use of another, such as a hydraulic motor, conceivable. Preferably, the motor has an axis of rotation, which is arranged parallel to the axis of rotation of the base body.

In a preferred embodiment, the object to be printed on is durable in the holder such that the axis of rotation extends through the object. If the object to be printed is a disc-shaped object, it is usually durable in the holder such that it is arranged with its top and bottom substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation. In particular, the object to be printed on is moreover preferably durable in the holder such that the axis of rotation extends centrally through the object to be printed. The holder is preferably based on a plurality of centering jaws, which each cause a radially inwardly directed holding force.

Advantageously, the braking element can be pressed against the brake disk perpendicular to the axis of rotation in the radial direction from the outside. As a result, an optimal braking effect is achieved. The alignment station can also be very easy to construct.

Preferably, the braking device is a pneumatically operated brake cylinder. This usually has a brake cylinder housing, within which one or more pistons are guided, to which the brake element is mounted. The pistons are then displaced by means of compressed air, which is introduced for example via precision control valves in the brake cylinder housing. The provision of a pneumatically operated brake cylinder allows a precise pressing of the brake element to the brake disc both in terms of timing and on the contact pressure.

Preferably, the alignment station further comprises a guide plate on which rests the brake disc, and which is stationary with respect to a rotation about the axis of rotation relative to the brake device. By resting the brake disc on the guide plate in particular a possible existing lateral play of the body can be repealed in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation relative to the engine. By means of the guide plate can thus be ensured in particular that the axes of rotation of the motor drive and the base body as parallel as possible and superimposed to each other. Advantageously, the guide plate also serves to attach the brake device, for example via a fixed to the guide plate mounting plate. Preferably, the alignment station also has a base plate on which the motor is fixed, and with which the guide plate is rigidly connected.

Preferably, the brake disc extends around the entire body around. This allows alignment of the object to be printed with inhibited backlash by a rotation angle of 360 ° or more. If a guide plate is present, the brake disc is preferably circumferentially on this.

Advantageously, the brake element has a surface which can be pressed against the brake disk and which has an inner radius which substantially corresponds to the outer radius of the brake disk. The brake element can thereby achieve an optimal braking effect when pressed against the brake disc.

The alignment station can also have a rotary angle meter, which serves for measuring the angle of rotation of the brake disc about the axis of rotation. The measurement of the rotation angle can be done, for example, optically or inductively. For this purpose, on the brake disc, in particular on whose radial outer side, corresponding Reference marks be provided. Preferably, the rotary angle meter is arranged with respect to the brake disc diametrically opposite to the brake element.

1. a.) Fixieren des zu bedruckenden Objekts in der Halterung der Ausrichtestation;
2. b.) Rotieren des Grundkörpers mit dem darauf fixierten, zu bedruckenden Objekt in eine Hauptrotationsrichtung, wobei der Grundkörper vom Bremselement abgebremst wird;
3. c.) anschliessend an Schritt b.), Ermitteln eines Korrekturrotationswinkels zwischen der aktuellen Position des zu bedruckenden Objekts und einer vorgegebenen Soll-Position; und
4. d.) Rotieren des Grundkörpers in die Hauptrotationsrichtung um den in Schritt c.) ermittelten Korrekturrotationswinkel, wobei der Grundkörper vom Bremselement abgebremst wird.

A method is also provided for aligning an object to be printed by means of a printing press, in particular a pad printing machine, by means of an aligning station. The alignment station is designed in particular as stated above and has at least one main body with a holder for holding the object to be printed and a brake element. The method has at least the following steps:

1. a.) fixing the object to be printed in the holder of the alignment station;
2. b.) rotating the base body with the object to be printed thereon fixed in a main direction of rotation, wherein the base body is braked by the braking element;
3. c.) subsequent to step b.), determining a correction rotation angle between the current position of the object to be printed and a predetermined desired position; and
4. d.) Rotating of the main body in the main direction of rotation about the correction rotational angle determined in step c.), wherein the main body is braked by the brake element.

By this method, it is ensured that a possible game, which may be present in particular in a arranged between the body and a motor gear, both in determining the current position in step c.) And in making the appropriate eventual correction in step d.) Each inhibited. Preferably, during the entire rotation according to step b.) And preferably also during the entire rotation according to step d.) Of the main body is braked by the brake element. In the case of a gear transmission is thus ensured both in determining the rotational position of the object to be printed as well as in the subsequent correction, that in each case the same gear edges abut each other. The inventive method thus allows a fast and high-precision alignment of the object to be printed in the printing press.

To determine the orientation of the object to be printed, the printing press can in particular have a camera, advantageously a CCD camera, which is provided with a Computer is connected. The camera is then advantageously directed to the holder or to the object to be printed. To determine the correction rotation angle, an image can then be recorded by the camera from the object to be printed, which image is subsequently compared in the computer with a reference image.

The angle of rotation by which the base is rotated when performing step b.) Is preferably less than 5 °, more preferably less than 3 °, and most preferably about 1 °.

• al.) Rotieren des Gundkörpers in eine Drehlage, in welcher sich das zu bedruckende Objekt von der Soll-Position zumindest annähernd um einen vorbestimmten Differenzrotationswinkel unterscheidet.

Advantageously, the following additional step is performed prior to step b.):

• al.) Rotating the Gundkörpers in a rotational position in which the object to be printed differs from the desired position at least approximately by a predetermined differential rotation angle.

Preferably, the base body is not braked during the step al.) By the brake element. By carrying out step al.), The braking of the base body by means of the braking element when aligning the object to be printed can be reduced to a minimum. The stress on the individual components of the alignment station, and in particular the mechanical abrasion of the brake element, can thereby be minimized.

Preferably, the base body during rotation according to step al.) Is rotated in a direction opposite to the main direction of rotation counter-rotation direction. During this rotation in the counter-rotation direction, the orientation of the object to be printed can be monitored in particular continuously. Upon reaching the desired position, the rotation can then be continued by the mentioned differential rotation angle in order subsequently to carry out the fine alignment according to steps b.) To d.).

Advantageously, the differential rotation angle according to step al.) About twice as large as the rotation angle during rotation in step b.). Thus, the differential rotation angle is thus less than 10 °, more preferably less than 5 °, and most preferably about 2 °.

Advantageously, an additional step a0.) Is carried out in advance, in which a coarse alignment of the object to be printed is carried out. In this case, the base body is rotated in such a way that the object to be imprinted assumes a position which at least approximately corresponds to the predetermined desired position. Preferably, the base body is not braked by the brake element during this coarse direction. The stress on the individual components of the alignment station can thereby be further minimized. In addition, a faster alignment is possible if the body is not braked by the brake element.

• e.) Kontrollieren der aktuellen Position des zu bedruckenden Objekts hinsichtlich der Soll-Position; sowie
• f.) falls erforderlich, Nachjustieren, indem der Grundkörper in die Hauptrotationsrichtung rotiert wird, wobei der Grundkörper vom Bremselement abgebremst wird. Vorzugsweise wird der Grundkörper dabei während der gesamten Rotation gemäss Schritt f.) vom Bremselement abgebremst.

In addition, the following steps are advantageously carried out following step d.):

• e.) checking the current position of the object to be printed with regard to the desired position; such as
• f.), if necessary, readjusting by rotating the main body in the main rotational direction, wherein the main body is braked by the braking element. Preferably, the base body is thereby braked by the braking element during the entire rotation according to step f.).

Of course, steps b.) To d.) Can be repeated as often as desired for the readjustment.

Further embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemässen Münzausrichtestation;

Fig. 2

eine Detailansicht des im gestrichelt gekennzeichneten Bereich der Fig. 1 dargestellten Bremszylinders, mit beabstandet zur Bremsscheibe angeordnetem Bremselement;

Fig. 3

eine Detailansicht des im gestrichelt gekennzeichneten Bereich der Fig. 1 dargestellten Bremszylinders, mit an der Bremsscheibe anliegendem Bremselement;

Fig. 4

eine Seitenansicht der in der Fig. 1 gezeigten Münzausrichtestation, mit beabstandet zur Bremsscheibe angeordnetem Bremselement;

Fig. 5

eine Seitenansicht der in der Fig. 1 gezeigten Münzausrichtestation, mit an der Bremsscheibe anliegendem Bremselement;

Fig. 6

eine Ansicht der in der Fig. 1 gezeigten Münzausrichtestation von oben, mit beabstandet zur Bremsscheibe angeordnetem Bremselement; sowie

Fig. 7

eine Ansicht der in der Fig. 1 gezeigten Münzausrichtestation von oben, mit an der Bremsscheibe anliegendem Bremselement.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, which are given by way of illustration only and are not to be interpreted as limiting. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of an inventive Münzausrichtestation;

Fig. 2

a detailed view of the marked in dashed area of Fig. 1 shown brake cylinder, spaced from the brake disc arranged Bremselement;

Fig. 3

a detailed view of the marked in dashed area of Fig. 1 shown brake cylinder, with applied to the brake disc brake element;

Fig. 4

a side view of the in the Fig. 1 shown Münzausrichtestation, spaced from the brake disc arranged Bremselement;

Fig. 5

a side view of the in the Fig. 1 shown Münzausrichtestation, with applied to the brake disc brake element;

Fig. 6

a view of the in the Fig. 1 shown Münzausrichtestation from above, with arranged spaced from the brake disc brake element; such as

Fig. 7

a view of the in the Fig. 1 shown Münzausrichtestation from above, with applied to the brake disc brake element.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the FIGS. 1 to 7 a preferred embodiment of an inventive alignment station 1 for aligning an object to be printed by means of a printing machine 3 is shown. The object 3 to be printed is a coin, and the printing takes place by means of a pad printing machine not shown in the figures.

The alignment station 1 has a base body 25 which, as shown in the FIG. 1 is shown to have a substantially cylindrical shape. Due to the cylindrical shape of the main body 25, a central longitudinal axis is defined, which simultaneously forms the axis of rotation of the main body 25. In its upper region, the base body 25 has three openings distributed uniformly along the circumference, which each extend in the radial direction. In cross-section, the three openings each have the shape of a cross over their entire radial length with four equally long, mutually perpendicular arms. One of the four arms extends in each case in the direction parallel to the axis of rotation upwards and is at its upper end open, whereby at the upper end face of the main body 25 three Slits are formed, each extending in the radial direction from the outside of the body over a majority of the radius inwardly.

In the area of each of the three cross-shaped openings, the main body 25 is reinforced in each case in the radial direction.

In each of the three cross-shaped openings of the base body 25, a slide-in profile 26 is inserted, which is designed cross-shaped in cross section. With respect to their dimensions, the insertion profiles 26 are each configured in cross-section such that they fill the cross-shaped openings of the base body 25 just enough so that the insertion profiles 26 are displaceable along their longitudinal direction as far as possible in the radial direction in the cross-shaped openings of the base body 25.

On the upwardly facing surface, which is formed by the cross-sectionally perpendicular upwardly projecting arm of the insertion profile 26, a centering jaw 27 is mounted in each case. With the help of two screws, each of the three centering jaws 27 is fixedly attached to one of the insertion profiles 26. The centering jaws 27 each extend in the radial direction along the insertion profiles 26 and each have a slightly tapering section in the region of their radially inwardly pointing end. At the end of this slightly tapered section, the centering jaws 27 each have a radially inwardly facing abutment surface 34, which serves to hold a coin 3 inserted in the alignment station 1. The centering jaws 27 may be formed at least slightly elastic, in particular in the region of their abutment surfaces 34, but also as a whole.

The three centering jaws 27 together form a holder for holding a coin 3. The holder is designed such that the front and the back of the coin 3 are respectively arranged perpendicular to the axis of rotation during the printing process, which extends centrally through the coin.

Together with the insertion profiles 26, the centering jaws 27 are each displaceable pneumatically in the radial direction. In order to centralize the coin 3 as possible With reference to the axis of rotation, the movements of the three slide-in profiles 26 can be coupled to one another in the radial direction, or the three slide-in profiles 26 can be individually pneumatically displaceable independently of one another. For the pneumatic displacement of the insertion profiles 26 one or more compressed air connections 33 are provided (see FIGS. 4 and 5 ), which are guided laterally through the main body 25 to the outside and serve to connect a corresponding compressed air line.

Between the centering jaws 27 pre-centering jaws 28 are arranged at uniform intervals along the circumference of the base body 25. These Vorzentrierbacken 28 each extend in the radial direction along the bisectors, which are formed by two adjacent centering jaws 27. The shape of Vorzentrierbacken 28 substantially corresponds in each case to those of the centering jaws 27. Also, the Vorzentrierbacken 28 may each be slightly flexible. By means of a screw, the Vorzentrierbacken 28 are each mounted on a horizontal, round end plate 35 which is attached to the upper end face of the base body 25 and has radial recesses for the arrangement of the centering jaws 27. As in the FIGS. 6 and 7 is shown, the screws each extend through an opening formed in the Vorzentrierbacke 28 slot so that a displacement of the Vorzentrierbacke 28 in the radial direction is not possible in each case tightened screw. The Vorzentrierbacken 28 serve for pre-centering of the coin 3 and can be acted upon in particular in the radial direction with a spring force.

Centrally on the end plate 35, a coin support 31 is provided for placing a coin 3. The Münzauflage 31 can, as in particular in the FIGS. 6 and 7 is shown between the centering jaws 27 and the Vorzentrierbacken 28 have lateral elevations to facilitate the laying and positioning of the coin 3 by the user.

Above the Münzauflage 31 a camera 2 is arranged on the pad printing machine, which is directed to the Münzauflage 31. The camera 2 is used to determine the position and in particular the rotational position of the coin 3. For this purpose, the camera 2 is connected to a computer, not shown in the figures.

At its lower end face of the main body 25 is connected via a gear 13 with a servo motor 12. The servomotor 12, which is mounted on a base plate 11, serves to rotate the main body 25 and thus the coin 3 and the axis of rotation. The transmission 13 is part of a drive train which connects the servomotor 12 to the main body 25. The alignment station 1 is configured in such a way that the axis of rotation extends as centrally as possible through the coin 3, the base body 25, the gear 13 and the servomotor 12.

Between the gear 13 and the main body 25, a horizontal guide plate 14 is arranged, which is rigidly connected to the base plate 11. The drive train connecting the servomotor 12 to the main body 25 extends through the guide plate 14. Between guide plate 14 and drive train, a bearing, such as a ball bearing, may be provided.

In a lower region of the main body 25, a brake disc 23 is provided. This is fixedly fixed to the base body 25 and protrudes circumferentially outwardly in the radial direction. The brake disk 23 rests on the upper side of the guide plate 14, whereby a central and in particular parallel position of the longitudinal axis of the main body 25 relative to the axis of rotation of the servomotor 12 is guaranteed. The brake disk 23 has, in particular, a circumferential, radially outwardly facing outer surface. The brake disk 23 is in particular secured against rotation on the base body 25. It is preferably fastened from below to the lower end face of the main body 25, but may also be mounted in any other area of the main body 25 on its radial outer surface.

As it is in particular in the FIGS. 2 and 3 is shown, a mounting plate 21 is mounted on the guide plate 14, on which a brake cylinder 15 is fixed. This brake cylinder 15 has a brake cylinder housing 16 and piston 17 guided therein. Via compressed air connections 20, compressed air can be introduced into the brake cylinder housing 16, thereby displacing the piston 17 out of the brake cylinder housing 16 to the outside under the action of pressure. At the outer end of the piston 17, a connecting plate 19 is attached, which serves for fastening a brake shoe 18. This brake shoe 18 is arranged directly opposite the radial outer surface of the brake disc 23 and has a radial inner surface which, as in the FIGS. 6 and 7 can be seen, having a matched to the outer surface of the brake disc 23 curvature. With respect to the brake disk 23, the brake cylinder 15 is arranged such that the pistons 17 and thus the brake shoe 18 are displaceable in the radial direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the brake disk 23.

The radially outwardly facing rear side of the brake cylinder housing 16 is fastened by means of screws to a rear wall 22, which in turn is fixed to the mounting plate 29. The rear wall 22 is used when pressing the brake shoe 18 to the brake disc 23 for receiving the resulting, radially outwardly acting on the brake cylinder 15 force.

The gear 13 has a plurality of intermeshing gears, which usually have a slight mutual play, which means that in a rotation about the axis of rotation is not always the same gear edges abut each other. The rotation of the main body 25 by means of the servo motor 12 is thus usually subject to play.

In order to inhibit a backlash in the transmission 13 during rotation of the main body 25 by means of the servo motor 12, as can be seen in the Figures 3 . 5 and 7 is shown, introduced via the compressed-air connections 25 compressed air in the brake cylinder 15 and the brake shoe 18 are thereby pressed against the radial outer surface of the brake disc 23. As a result, the main body 25 undergoes a braking action in a rotation relative to the servomotor 12. This ensures that when rotating the main body 25 in a certain direction always the same gear flanks of the transmission 13 abut each other and a possible existing in the transmission game is inhibited. In this way, it is possible to align the coin 3 held in the alignment station 1 with high precision with respect to its rotation position.

In the present embodiment, the alignment station 1 has a rotary angle meter 29 which serves to measure the rotational position of the brake disk 23. On the radial outer surface of the brake disc 23 are one or more Reference marks 30 attached, which, for example, optically or inductively detected by the rotary angle meter 29. When detecting the reference marks 30, an electrical signal is generated by the rotary angle meter 29, which provides information about the rotational position of the brake disk 23. On the upper side of the guide plate 14 may also be provided an upwardly projecting stop member 32 to form a stop for a reference mark 30 or other mounted on the radially outer surface of the brake disc 23 element. The stop element 32 serves to limit the rotation of the base body 25 about the axis of rotation.

The brake disc 23 and preferably also the brake shoe 18 are advantageously made of an abrasion-resistant, self-lubricating brake pad. For this purpose, for example, anodized aluminum is suitable.

In order to align a coin 3 by means of the alignment station 1, the coin 3 is first placed on the coin support 31 and pre-centered there by means of the pre-centering jaws 28 in an approximately central position. After precentering, the centering jaws 27 are pneumatically displaced radially inwardly until they abut the radially outwardly facing edge of the coin 3 such that the coin 3 is held in a central position relative to the axis of rotation of the alignment station 1. The position of the coin 3 relative to the axis of rotation of the alignment station 1 is monitored by the camera 2 and a computer connected to this.

This is followed by the (rotational) alignment of the coin 3, in which case according to the present embodiment a coarse alignment is carried out in a first step and a fine alignment in a second step.

For the coarse alignment, the camera 2 takes a picture of the top of the coin 3 after fixing the coin 3 and compares it with a reference image representing the desired position of the coin 3. By means of these two images, a correction rotation angle is calculated around which the base body 25 is then rotated by means of the servomotor 12 in order to align the coin 3 at least approximately in accordance with the desired position of the reference image. During this coarse positioning, the brake element 18 is preferably arranged at a distance from the brake disk 23.

For fine positioning of the main body 25 is rotated by the servomotor 12 by 2 ° clockwise, wherein the brake member 18 is further spaced from the brake disc 23 is arranged. By means of introducing compressed air into the brake cylinder 15, the brake element 18 is then pressed against the brake disk 23. Under a correspondingly occurring braking action of the main body 25 is then rotated by the servo motor 12 by 1 in the counterclockwise direction. Due to the braking action of the brake element 18 on the brake disc 23 during this rotation, the backlash in the transmission 13 is canceled when reaching the corresponding position and the position of the coin 3 clearly defined. By means of the camera 2, the rotational position of the coin 3 is then detected in this position and compared again with the aid of the computer with the reference image. On the basis of this comparison, the computer in turn calculates a correction rotational angle by which the main body 25 is then further rotated in the counterclockwise direction, wherein the brake element 18 is further pressed against the brake disk 23. After carrying out this further rotation, the orientation of the coin 3 is checked again by means of the camera 2 and the computer. If the determined rotational position is in the range of a certain tolerance range, the print release takes place. If the rotational position of the coin 3 is not in the range of the tolerance range, a corresponding readjustment can be effected by the main body 25 is rotated further in the counterclockwise direction, wherein the brake member 18 is further pressed against the brake disc 23. The readjustment can be repeated until a desired rotational position of the coin 3 is reached.

The above invention is of course not limited to the present embodiment, and a variety of modifications are possible. Thus, the holder of the object to be printed in the alignment station 1 also take place in any other manner, as is well known in particular from the prior art. For example, it is not necessary to provide pre-centering jaws. Instead of using centering jaws, however, the object to be printed can also be fixed to the main body 25, for example by means of a vacuum or by means of an adhesive. In addition, instead of holding coins, the alignment station may also be designed to hold any other objects. The axes of rotation of the servomotor 12 and the main body 25 also need not necessarily in the be aligned sequence shown. You can, for example, also perpendicular or at any other angle to each other, in which case the connection between the servo motor 12 and body 25 via a reversing gear. Moreover, the motor does not necessarily have to be an electrically driven servomotor, but it could also be a hydraulic motor, for example. The method for adjusting the rotational position of the coin 3 does not necessarily have to be in the manner described above. For example, the entire step of coarse-graining could be omitted. A variety of other modifications is possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

aligner

11

baseplate

12

servomotor

13

transmission

14

guide plate

15

brake cylinder

16

Brake cylinder housing

17

piston

18

brake shoe

19

connecting plate

20

Compressed air connections

21

mounting plate

22

rear wall

23

brake disc

24

centering chuck

25

body

26

insertion profile

27

centralizers

28

Vorzentrierbacken

29

Rotation angle measuring device

30

reference mark

31

Münzauflage

32

stop element

33

Compressed air connection

34

stop surface

35

End plate

2

camera

3

coin

Claims (15)

Aligning station (1) for aligning a by means of a printing machine, in particular a pad printing machine, to be printed object (3), comprising
a base body (25) having a holder (27, 28) for holding the object (3) to be printed;
a motor (12) connected to the main body (25) via a gear (13) and serving to rotate the main body (25) about an axis of rotation;
a brake disk (23) attached to the main body (25); such as
a brake device (15) with a brake element (18), which by means of pressing the brake element (18) to the brake disc (23) is adapted to inhibit any play existing in the transmission (13). Aligning station (1) according to claim 1, wherein an object to be printed (3) in such a way in the holder (27, 28) is durable, that the axis of rotation extends through the object to be printed (3) therethrough. Aligning station (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the holder (27, 28) for holding an object to be printed in the form of a disc-like object, in particular a coin (3) is suitable. Aligning station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the braking element (18) perpendicular to the axis of rotation in the radial direction from the outside to the brake disc (23) can be pressed. Aligning station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the braking device (15) is a pneumatically operated brake cylinder (15). Aligning station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, also comprising a guide plate (14) on which the brake disc (23) rests, and which is stationary with respect to rotation about the axis of rotation relative to the braking device (15). Aligning station (1) according to claim 6, wherein the brake disc (23) extends around the entire base body (25) around and rests circumferentially on the guide plate (14). Aligning station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the brake element (18) has a surface which can be pressed against the brake disk (23) and which has an inner radius which substantially corresponds to the outer radius of the brake disk (23). An alignment station (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a rotation angle meter (29) which serves to measure the angle of rotation of the brake disc (23) about the axis of rotation. Method for aligning an object (3) to be printed by means of a printing machine, in particular a pad printing machine, by means of an alignment station (1) which has a base body (25) with a holder (27, 28) for holding the object (3) to be printed and a braking element (18), the method comprising at least the following steps: a.) fixing the object to be printed (3) in the holder (27, 28) of the alignment station (1); b.) rotating the base body (25) with the object (3) fixed thereon in a main rotational direction, wherein the base body (25) is braked by the braking element (18); c.) subsequently to step b.), determining a correction rotation angle between the current position of the object to be printed (3) and a predetermined desired position; and d.) rotating the main body (25) in the main direction of rotation about the correction rotational angle determined in step c.), wherein the base body (25) is braked by the brake element (18). The method of claim 10, wherein the method comprises, prior to step b.), The following additional step: al.) Rotating of the base body (25) in a rotational position in which the object to be printed (3) from the desired position at least approximately different by a predetermined differential rotation angle. The method of claim 11, wherein the base body (25) during rotation according to step al.) Is rotated in a direction opposite to the main direction of rotation counter-rotation direction. The method of claim 12, wherein the rotation angle during rotation in step b.) Is about half as large as the differential rotation angle according to step al.). A method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the method comprises, prior to step al.), The following additional step: a0.) Executing a coarse direction of the object to be printed (3) by the base body (25) is rotated such that the object to be printed (3) occupies a position which at least approximately corresponds to the predetermined desired position. Method according to one of claims 10 to 14, wherein following the step d.) Additionally the following steps are carried out: e.) checking the current position of the object to be printed (3) with respect to the desired position; and f.), if necessary, readjusting by rotating the main body (25) in the main rotational direction, wherein the main body (25) is braked by the brake element (18).

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