EP2838822A1

EP2838822A1 - Device for conveying a substrate, and system for printing a substrate

Info

Publication number: EP2838822A1
Application number: EP13718834.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Norbert Muench; Volkmar Kiessling
Original assignee: KORA-PACKMAT Maschinenbau GmbH
Current assignee: KORA-PACKMAT Maschinenbau GmbH
Priority date: 2012-04-20
Filing date: 2013-04-19
Publication date: 2015-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 2033-04-19
Also published as: EP2838822B1; EP3663241B1; WO2013156592A1; DE102012103533A1; US9505240B2; JP2015514650A; US20150049150A1; EP3663241A1; JP6317329B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (18) for conveying a substrate (12), said device having a rail-like track (20) with a length (22) and having a traveling unit (24) which is designed to carry out a movement relative to the track (20) along the length (22) of the track (20). The track (20) and the traveling unit (24) are designed to interact such that the movement of the traveling unit (24) is caused by a magnetic interaction between the track (20) and the traveling unit (24), and the traveling unit (24) has a retaining unit (42) which is designed to assume an open and a closed state. A portion of the substrate (12) can be inserted into the retaining unit (42) in the open state, and the portion is held by the retaining unit (42) in the closed state. The invention further relates to a system (10) for printing a substrate (12), said system comprising an aforementioned device (18). Finally, the invention additionally relates to the use of an aforementioned device (18) for passing a substrate by a processing station, in particular a printing station (14) for printing the substrate (12).

Description

Device for conveying a substrate and system for printing on a substrate

The present invention relates to a device for conveying a substrate. The invention also relates to a system for printing on a substrate.

The conveying of substrates in the mechanical processing or industrial production is a special technical challenge. Part of the challenge is moving a substrate from one processing station to the next processing station during the processing process. A processing station may, for example, be a station for punching, cutting, folding or in particular for printing. Another challenge is to promote the substrate so that it can be fed in the best possible way to a processing station or can be passed to a processing station. However, the conveying speed or processing speed must not suffer as otherwise the production throughput will be too low.

Another challenge arises when the substrate has no intrinsic stability or inherent stability, so if it can be easily deformed and in particular does not return to its original shape after deformation by internal restoring forces. Examples of such substrates are paper sheets, thin plastics, fabrics and leather. While substrates with inherent stability can be conveyed relatively easily, for substrates without inherent stability, the substrate must be guided particularly well to avoid deformation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for conveying a substrate, which allows a good guidance of a substrate at a good processing speed and thereby also substrates without inherent stability can be promoted. It is another object of the invention to provide a corresponding system for printing a substrate with such a device.

According to a first aspect, the object is achieved by a device for conveying a substrate, wherein the device has a rail-like driving route with a longitudinal extension and a driving unit, which is designed to perform along the longitudinal extent of the route a movement relative to the route, wherein the driving route and the driving unit are adapted to cooperate such that the movement of the driving unit is effected due to a magnetic interaction between the driving route and the driving unit, and wherein the driving unit has a holding unit adapted to assume an open and a closed state, wherein in the open state, a portion of the substrate can be inserted into the holding unit and in the closed state, the portion is held by the holding unit. A special feature is that the driving unit has a holding unit with which the substrate can be held, in particular can be held by frictional engagement. Embodiments are also conceivable in which the substrate is retained in a non-positive or positive fit by the holding unit. The device also makes it possible to promote substrates of different lengths, in principle even of any length.

Another special feature is that the driving unit is moved relative to the route due to a magnetic interaction between the route and driving unit. It is in particular such that a first magnetic field interacts with a second magnetic field and the resulting force is used for a movement of the driving unit along the route.

The operation of the device is in principle as follows. The driving unit is ready in a first region of the driving route to receive the substrate by means of the holding unit, wherein the holding unit is preferably already in the opened state. The substrate is then fed to the holding unit. The holding unit then changes from the open state to the closed state, whereby the substrate is now held by the holding unit. The driving unit then moves along the route, preferably passing through a processing station. In a second region of the driving route, in particular an end region, the holding unit opens and releases the substrate, which is then taken over by a subsequent process step or a conveying device.

On the one hand, the device enables precise control of the driving unit. On the other hand, since the traveling unit can be carried out very easily, it is possible to accelerate, drive and decelerate the traveling unit quickly during the production operation, so that a high throughput can be achieved. Since drive chains, timing belts, toothed racks, gears and shafts can be dispensed with, a relatively quiet operation with low maintenance requirements can be achieved. The device also has the advantage that in preferred embodiments, two or more driving units can be used. In this way, the holding and the positioning of the substrate can be improved and / or the throughput can be improved by an improved utilization of the route.

The device preferably has a defined receiving point at which the substrate is detected by the holding unit, and a transfer or transfer point at which the substrate is dispensed or transferred to a further manufacturing step.

The drive of the driving unit is preferably carried out according to the principle of a linear motor, which is sometimes spoken of linear unit or linear servomotor. Suitable systems are offered, for example, by Beckhoff Automation GmbH.

It is preferred if the holding unit has an upper and lower part, wherein upper part and lower part can be displaced relative to each other. In order to hold the substrate, the substrate is inserted between the upper and lower parts and the upper and lower parts are moved relative to each other in order to hold the substrate by means of the holding unit. It is preferred that the holding part works like a pair of pliers and clamps the substrate. Upper and lower part preferably have smooth contact surfaces, so that the substrate can be well held without damaging it. In this case, both the upper part can be rigid and the lower part can be movable, the lower part can be rigid and the upper part can be movable and both upper part and lower part can be movable.

If two or more routes are used, the substrate is held in an embodiment of a respective driving unit on each one of the routes. As will be shown below, there are preferred embodiments in which the substrate is held by two or more driving units on the same route. Thus, the problem is completely solved.

In an advantageous embodiment, the route is designed to generate over the time changing magnetic fields along the longitudinal extent and has the driving unit on a permanent magnet.

This embodiment has the advantage that the driving unit for the movement requires no additional power supply. In another advantageous embodiment, the driving route has a plurality of permanent magnets and the driving unit is designed to generate alternating magnetic fields over time. This embodiment has the advantage that the route can be realized easily and inexpensively. Since the general operating principle of linear motors is known to the person skilled in the art, this application will not be discussed in more detail. For both embodiments, it should be noted that, if a plurality of travel routes and / or a plurality of driving units are used, the further driving routes or the further driving units are designed in the same way.

In a preferred embodiment, the route and the driving unit are adapted to guide the driving unit in its movement.

This embodiment allows a particularly precise movement of the driving unit. It is preferred that the driving unit has a support element with a support profile, wherein the support profile corresponds to a guide profile of a guide rail of the route. It should be noted that when multiple routes and / or several driving units are used, the other routes or the other driving units are formed in the same way.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the route forms a closed loop.

This embodiment has the advantage that the driving unit can always be moved in the same direction. Because the closed loop has a flow path In addition, there is no hindrance if a driving unit is to be moved back from the end of the driving route to the beginning of the driving route. The design also makes it possible that a large number of driving units along the route can be moved and can be easily attributed to the beginning of the route. It is particularly possible to return the driving units at high speed from the end of the route to the beginning of the route. The closed loop preferably has a straight flow path and a straight return path, which are connected to each other on both sides via arcuate elements.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the device has a control device which is adapted to control the movement and / or the position of the driving unit.

This refinement makes it possible, inter alia, to predefine the driving unit with a specific position and / or to predetermine a certain speed for the driving unit, which may change in particular over the course of the driving distance. If several driving units are used, the driving units can preferably be controlled individually or in groups. If several drive units are responsible for conveying a substrate, the control unit controls this group of drive units in one embodiment so that the drive units move at the same speed. It is particularly advantageous if several routes are used, that a first drive unit on a first route and a second drive unit on a second route are moved in the same way and with a constant distance.

In a further embodiment, the device in addition to the said first route a second rail-like route with a longitudinal extent and in addition to the said first drive unit on a second drive unit, which is designed along the longitudinal extent of the second route a movement relative to perform the second route, wherein the second route and the second driving unit are adapted to cooperate such that the movement of the second driving unit due to a magnetic interaction between see second route and second drive unit is effected, the second

Driving unit has a holding unit which is adapted to take an open and a closed state, wherein in the open state, a second portion of the substrate can be inserted into the holding unit and in the closed state, the second portion is held by the holding unit.

This embodiment allows a particularly accurate guidance of the substrate. In this embodiment, the substrate is preferably retained both by the holding unit of the first driving unit and by the holding unit of the second driving unit. The routes are preferably arranged parallel to each other. This can be ensured in a simple manner that lateral displacement can be avoided during the promotion. The first and second driving distances preferably have the same length and the same shape. The two drive units are preferably moved synchronously in order to avoid yawing of the substrate.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the distance between the first and the second driving distance is variable relative to each other.

The embodiment allows processing of substrates with different widths, in principle even with arbitrary widths. In principle, there are the possibilities that the first route moves to a stationary second route, that the second route moves to a stationary first route or that both the first and second route are movable. In order to change the distance of the routes relative to each other, at least one of the routes, preferably both routes, mounted on a holding system.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the device has a third drive unit, which is designed to perform along the longitudinal extension of the first route a movement relative to the first route, wherein the first route and the third driving unit are designed to cooperate so, that the movement of the third driving unit is effected due to a magnetic interaction between the first driving route and the third driving unit, the third driving a holding unit, which is adapted to take an open and a closed state, wherein in the open state, a third portion of the substrate can be inserted into the holding unit and in the closed state, the third portion is held by the holding unit, and the device a fourth driving unit, which is designed to perform a movement relative to the second driving route along the longitudinal extension of the second driving route, wherein the second driving route and the fourth driving unit are configured to cooperate such that the movement of the fourth driving unit due to a magnetic interaction between second driving distance and fourth driving unit, wherein the fourth traveling unit has a holding unit adapted to assume an open and a closed state, wherein in the opened state, a fourth portion of the substrate in the Holding unit can be introduced and in the closed state of the fourth section is held by the holding unit.

This embodiment makes it possible to clamp the substrate in four places and to be able to perform particularly well in this way.

In a preferred embodiment, the device has a control device which is designed to control the holding units so that the holding units of the first and second driving unit open at a transfer or transfer of the substrate at a first time and the Holding units of the third and fourth driving unit open at a transfer or transfer of the substrate at a later, second time.

This embodiment makes it possible to guide a substrate with all four driving units until the leading end of the substrate reaches the end of the conveying path of the device. At this time, the holding units of the first and second driving units open. The leading end of the substrate is released and can be transferred to another conveyor line or processing station. Since the substrate is still held by the third and fourth driving unit, the third and fourth driving unit push the substrate further in the direction of the further conveying path or processing station. In a further advantageous embodiment, the device has a control device which is adapted to control the first and second drive unit for a first speed of movement and to control the third and / or fourth drive unit for a second speed of movement, wherein the second speed is less than the first speed.

This embodiment makes it possible to keep the substrate under tension between the first / second driving unit and the third / fourth driving unit. Since the first and second drive units tend to move away from the third and / or fourth drive unit, the substrate is tensioned because the four drive units hold the same substrate. It is particularly preferred to set the second speed to a percentage of the first speed, wherein the percentage is between 0% and less than 100%. In one embodiment, the speed zero is set at the third and fourth driving units, so that the third and fourth driving units are pulled by the first and second traveling units because they are connected to the first and second traveling units via the substrate. The percentage of the second speed relative to the first speed is particularly selected considering the possibility of tearing the substrate and the holding force of the holding units.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the holding units of the first and second driving unit are adjusted so that they can provide a first holding force, and the holding units of the third and fourth driving unit are set so that they can provide a second holding force, wherein the first Holding force is greater than the second holding force.

This configuration makes it possible to prevent cracking of the substrate. In this case, it is ensured by means of the first and second drive unit that the substrate is held precisely and can be conveyed precisely. The second holding force is chosen so that the substrate from the holding units of the third and fourth driving unit dissolves before it breaks. The size of the second holding force can be determined by calculation, simulation or practical experiments. According to a second aspect, the object is achieved by a system for printing on a substrate with a previously described apparatus and a printing station, wherein the apparatus and the printing station are arranged to each other, that the device has a held in the holding unit substrate at the printing station can lead past.

This embodiment makes it possible to meet the high demands that are made when you want to print on a substrate that moves past a printing station. In particular, a uniform movement should take place along the longitudinal extent without lateral deflections. In addition, a constant distance to the printing station, more precisely to the printheads guaranteed. These properties provides the device described and therefore enables a particularly advantageous system for printing on a substrate.

In a preferred embodiment, the system is followed by a drying station in the direction of production, where the printed substrate is dried. It is advantageous if the substrate is transferred at the end of the route to a conveyor line of the drying station.

According to a third aspect, the object is achieved by the use of a device described above, to pass a substrate to a processing station, in particular to pass by a printing station for printing the substrate.

However, the device can also be used for other applications requiring precise guiding of the substrate, such as e.g. a cutting or punching machining.

It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained not only in the particular combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the description are shown in more detail in the drawing and are explained in more detail in the following description. Show it:

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a system for printing a

Substrate with a first embodiment of a device for conveying a substrate,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the front part of the system according to

Fig. 1,

3 shows a first embodiment of a driving unit,

4 shows a second embodiment of a driving unit,

Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of a system for printing a

Substrate with a second embodiment of a device for conveying a substrate,

Fig. 6 shows a third embodiment of a system for printing a

Substrate with a third embodiment of a device for conveying a substrate,

Fig. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of a device for conveying a

substrate; and

Fig. 8 shows a fifth embodiment of a device for conveying a

Substrate.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a system 10 for printing a substrate 12 with a printing station 14, shown here symbolically, a drying station 16, it is only the drying belt shown, and a device 18 for conveying the substrate 12th The device 18 for conveying the substrate 12 has a rail-like route 20, here a first route 20 and a second route 20 ', each with a longitudinal extent 22nd

The device 18 also has a driving unit 24, here a first driving unit 24, a second driving unit 24 ', a third driving unit 24 "and a fourth driving unit 24"'. Each drive unit 24 is designed to perform a movement relative to the travel path 20 along the longitudinal extent 22 of the travel path 20. The driving route 20 and the driving unit 24 are designed to cooperate in such a way that the movement of the driving unit 24 is moved due to a magnetic interaction between the driving route 20 and the driving unit 24. Specifically, the first driving unit 24 and the third driving unit 24 "cooperate with the first driving path 20 and the second driving unit 24 'and the fourth driving unit 24"' with the second driving distance 20 'together.

The route 20 is adapted to generate over time changing magnetic fields along the longitudinal extent 22. The route 20 forms a closed loop. These statements apply equally to the second route 20 '. The device 18 has a control device 26 which is designed to control the movement and / or the position of the driving unit 24. In this embodiment, the control device 26 controls the movement of all driving units 24 on the routes 20.

Fig. 2 shows an enlargement of the front portion of the device 18 of FIG. 1. All previously introduced reference numerals apply here and below.

In Fig. 2 it can be seen that the tracks 20, 20 'coil assemblies 30 which generate said magnetic fields along the longitudinal extent 22, which change over time. In addition, guide rails 32, 32 'can be seen with a guide profile, which guide the driving units 24, 24', 24 ", 24"'in their movement. Fig. 3 shows a first embodiment of a driving unit 24 according to FIG. 1. The driving unit 24 has a base body 40, a holding unit 42 with an upper part 44 and a lower part 46, one or more permanent magnets 48 and a support member 50 with a support profile 52, which in a sense represents the negative of the leadership profile

The holding unit 42 is adapted to assume an open and a closed state. This is done by a relative displacement of upper part 44 and lower part 46 to each other, preferably by a displacement 54 and / or by pivoting 56 of the lower part 46 relative to the upper part 44. In the opened state, a portion of the substrate 12 can be inserted into the holding unit 42, and in the closed state, the portion is held by the holding unit 42.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the driving unit 24 for a further, not shown embodiment of the device 18. In principle, the statements made for FIG. 3 apply.

However, it is in this embodiment so that the driving unit 24 does not have permanent magnets 48, but via a coil assembly 60 which is powered by supply cable 62 with power. An associated, not shown embodiment of a route 20 has a plurality of permanent magnets, so that in turn adjusts the previously described magnetic interaction.

Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of a system 10 with a second embodiment of the device 18. It applies to all statements made to Fig. 1 also here.

A special feature of this embodiment is that the device 18 has a vacuum pad 70. If a substrate 12 slides over the vacuum pad 70, it is pressed flat on the vacuum pad. However, it is still possible, the substrate 12 via the vacuum pad 70 by means of the driving units 24 to pull so that the substrate 12 can be moved accurately and at a constant distance below the printing station 14 along.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of a system 10 with a third embodiment of a device 18. All the statements made with regard to FIGS. 1 and 5 continue to apply.

A peculiarity of this embodiment is that a substrate 12 is conveyed only by a first and a second driving unit 24 '. Since the vacuum pad 70 causes the substrate 12 to be pressed on the vacuum pad 70, it is possible to dispense with the third and fourth driving units 24 ", 24 '".

It is noted that although the device 18 has further driving units, these are not to be understood in the sense of a third and fourth driving unit 24 ", 24" ', since they do not attack on the same substrate 12.

Fig. 7 shows a simplified fourth embodiment of the device 18. Here is a route 20 is used, which forms no loop and therefore is particularly easy to implement.

Fig. 8 shows a particularly simple fifth embodiment of the device 18 in plan view. Here only one driving distance 20 is used, on which a first driving unit 24 and a second driving unit 24 'move. If the route is designed as a closed loop, of course, further driving units can be used. The drive units 24, 24 'each have a holding unit 42, 42', each of which here detects two sections of the substrate 12.

The apparatus 18 for conveying a substrate 12 and the system 10 for printing a substrate 12 disclosed herein are particularly advantageous for processing substrates 12 which have no inherent stability, in particular paper sheets, plastic films, textile or leather, etc. be explicit It should be noted that the device 18 and the system 10 can also be used to process substrates 12 which already have an inherent stability.

Claims

claims

A device (18) for conveying a substrate (12), wherein the device comprises a rail-like route (20) having a longitudinal extent (22) and a driving unit (24), which is formed along the longitudinal extent (22) of the route (20) to perform a movement relative to the route (20), wherein the route (20) and the driving unit (24) are adapted to cooperate such that the movement of the driving unit (24) due to a magnetic interaction between the route (20) and Driving unit (24) is effected, and wherein the driving unit (24) has a holding unit (42) which is adapted to assume an open and a closed state, wherein in the opened state, a portion of the substrate (12) in the holding unit (42 ) can be introduced and in the closed state, the portion of the holding unit (42) is held.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the driving distance (20) is adapted to generate over time changing magnetic fields along the longitudinal extent (22) and wherein the driving unit (24) has a permanent magnet (48).

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the driving distance (20) and the driving unit (24) are adapted to guide the driving unit (24) during its movement.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the driving distance (20) forms a closed loop.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (18) comprises a control device (26) which is adapted to control the movement and / or the position of the driving unit (24).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (18) in addition to said, first route (20) a second rail-like route (20 ') with a longitudinal extent (22) and in addition to said first drive unit (24). a second drive unit (24 ') which is designed to perform a movement relative to the second travel path (20') along the longitudinal extent (22) of the second travel distance (20 '), wherein the second travel distance (20') and the second Driving unit (24 ') are adapted to cooperate such that the movement of the second driving unit (24') due to a magnetic interaction between the second driving distance (20 ') and second driving unit (24') is effected, wherein the second driving unit (24 '; ) has a holding unit (42) adapted to assume an open and a closed state, wherein in the opened state, a second portion of the substrate (12) in the H old unit can be introduced and in the closed state, the second portion of the holding unit (42) is held.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a distance of the first and second travel distance is variable relative to each other.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the device comprises a third driving unit (24 ') which is adapted to perform along the longitudinal extent (22) of the first driving distance (20) movement relative to the first driving distance (20), wherein the first travel path (20) and the third drive unit (24 ") are configured to cooperate such that the movement of the third drive unit (24") is effected due to a magnetic interaction between the first travel path (20) and the third drive unit (24 ") wherein the third drive unit (24 ") has a holding unit (42) adapted to assume an open and a closed state, wherein in the opened state, a third section of the substrate (12) can be inserted into the holding unit (42) and in the closed state, the third portion is held by the holding unit (42), and wherein the apparatus has a fourth traveling unit (24 "') provided therefor Leden is, along the longitudinal extent (22) of the second driving distance (20 ') to perform a movement relative to the second driving distance (20'), wherein the second travel path (20 ') and the fourth drive unit (24 "') are designed to cooperate such that the movement of the fourth drive unit (24"') due to a magnetic interaction between the second travel distance (20') and fourth drive unit (24 "'). '), wherein the fourth drive unit (24 "') has a holding unit (42), which is designed to assume an open and a closed state, wherein in the opened state, a fourth section of the substrate (12) into the holding unit (12). 42) can be introduced and in the closed state, the fourth portion of the holding unit (42) is held.

9. Device according to claim 8, wherein the device (18) has a control device (26) which is designed to control the holding units (42) such that the holding units (42) of the first and second drive units (24, 24 ' ) at a handover or transfer of the substrate at a first time open and the holding units (42) of the third and fourth driving unit (24 ", 24" ') at a handover or transfer of the substrate (12) to a later , second time open.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the device (18) comprises a control device (26) which is adapted to the first and second drive unit (24, 24 ') to control for a first speed of movement and the third and / or fourth driving unit (24 ", 24" ') for a second speed of the movement, wherein the second speed is less than the first speed.

11. Device according to one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the device (18) comprises a vacuum pad (70) which is arranged relative to the driving units (24) so that the driving units (24) the substrate (12) via the vacuum surface (70) can pull.

12. Device according to one of claims 6 to 11, wherein the holding units (42) of the first and second driving unit (24, 24 ') are adjusted so that they can provide a first holding force, and the holding units of the third and fourth Drive unit (24 ", 24 '") are set so that they can provide a second holding force, wherein the first holding force is greater than the second holding force.

13. System (10) for printing on a substrate (12) with a device (18) according to one of the preceding claims and a printing station (14), wherein the device (18) and the printing station (12) are arranged to each other, that the Device (18) in the holding unit (42) held substrate (12) can lead past the printing station (14).

14. Use of a device (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, in order to pass a substrate past a processing station, in particular past a printing station (14) for printing on the substrate (12).