EP2982510A1 - Modular inkjet unit in a hybrid printing press - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a printing formless printing unit (8) for printing sheets with one or more inkjet printheads in a printing unit on a sheet-guiding impression cylinder (7) in a hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine with multiple printing and or coating. According to the invention, modular printing units (8) are provided within a printing unit, which can be composed of modular units for sheet guiding, inkjet, drying, quality control unit, powdering and / or sheet monitoring.

Description

The invention relates to a pressure-free printing unit in a sheet-fed offset printing machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

In sheet-fed printing presses working according to the offset printing principle, increasingly pressure-free printing devices are used which preferably serve to individualize printed products produced by offset printing with, for example, addresses, barcodes, numbering or other markings. Such pressure-formless printing devices are also referred to as non-impact print (NIP) devices. For this purpose, laser printing devices or thermographic printing devices are known.
For example, the NIP devices may also be embodied as inkjet printing devices having one or more inkjet printheads, which may operate on any inkjet principle. These inkjet devices are used to process solvent, water or wax-based inks, UV inks, varnish or other coating media that print using a variety of principles (Continouos Inkjet, Drop on Demand ) and allow to dry (UV radiation, infrared radiation, electron beam, hot air, etc.).

Printed products produced in offset and digital printing are common in the market. The static information is produced inexpensively and in high quality offset printing, the variable information is applied before or after the offset printing in digital printing.

There are already first installations of inkjet printheads in web and sheetfed offset presses which apply variable information to the signatures, eg an internal signature, numbering, code, customization and the like.

Imprinting systems for single-use marking in packaging printing in conjunction with an inspection system are also available on the market.

The DE 10 2009 002 580 A1 describes inter alia the use of an inkjet printing unit in a sheet delivery module.

The EP 0 737 572 B2 : describes a device for imprinting bar codes, numbering or the like in printed sheets. Sheets to be processed are held flat on the cylinder surface by means of electrostatic charging of a sheet or on a format-adjustable sheet guiding drum with suction heads. An inkjet print head used here can be set to different substrate thicknesses.

The EP 1 147 893 B1 deals with a sheet-fed rotary press with a multifunction module in a printing unit or between different printing units. As an option, the impression is given by means of inkjet printing devices.

From the DE 197 04 003 A1 a sheet-fed printing machine is known, in which a formed as an inkjet printing device or as a laser printing device, pressure-free printing device is integrated into an offset printing unit. In this case, the pressure-formless printing device with respect to a sheet-guiding impression cylinder in the area after the passage of sheet is arranged by a pressure gap formed by the impression cylinder and a blanket cylinder. Another sheet-fed press with a built-in pressure-free printing device is from the DE 195 14 259 A1 Known, according to this prior art, the printing formless printing device as seen in the transport direction of the sheet is integrated after the last offset printing unit and before a boom of the sheet-fed press in the same.

From the DE 10 2009 000 513 A1 is a sheetfed press known. The sheet-fed press is equipped with a feeder for feeding sheet to be printed in the sheet-fed press, with several printing units and / or Coater for printing the sheet with a static, identical for all sheets print image, provided with a boom for discharging printed sheet from the sheetfed press, and at least one integrated into the sheetfed press formless printing device. For printing the sheet with a particular dynamic, variable print image, a multi-color inkjet printing unit is integrated in the sheet-fed press in the field of a printing unit or coating unit.

From the DE 10 2009 003 202 A1 Another sheet-fed printing machine is known, which is provided with a feeder, with a boom and with several printing units and / or coating units. The sheets to be printed are transported by means of sheet transfer cylinders from the feeder in the direction of the delivery arm through each printing unit and / or each coating unit. At least one sheet transfer cylinder has at least one gripping device for printed sheets, which lies completely within a contour defined by an outer surrounding surface of the sheet transfer cylinder, wherein at least one of these sheet transfer cylinders is associated with an inkjet printing device such that printed sheets guided on the sheet transfer cylinder can be printed with the aid of the inkjet printing device are.

From the EP 2 230 182 B1 An ink jet printing device is known. This comprises an ink jet head having a nozzle surface in which ink jet nozzles are arranged; and a cleaner for scraping off the nozzle surface. Furthermore, a supply spindle and a receiving spindle for rolling a strip-shaped scraper element are present. The scraper member runs along a predetermined raceway parallel to the nozzle surface, being wound around a peripheral surface of a pressure roller. Guide means guide the stripping element between the supply spindle and the pressure roller and between the pressure roller and the receiving spindle. The stripping element wrapped around the pressure roller is applied against the nozzle surface. The nozzle surface is inclined to the horizontal and inclined with respect to the axes of the spindles.

From the DE 10 2013 209 908 A12 is an additional printing device in a sheetfed press known. To print sheets, several inkjet printheads are provided in a printing unit on a sheet-leading impression cylinder in a sheetfed press with multiple printing units. Each inkjet print head is associated with a swivel mechanism in the area between the surface of the impression cylinder and a parking position within the printing unit. The pivot mechanism is designed as a parallel guide, wherein the inkjet print head can be adjusted from the surface of the impression cylinder at a distance to a coating unit in the printing unit.

In such known from the prior art sheet printing each inkjet printing device are firmly integrated within the facilities of the printing or sheet transport units, so that at each interesting for an inkjet printing device installation position a corresponding pressure-formless printing device must be kept. This increases the investment requirement for such sheet-fed presses.

The invention has for its object to make an inkjet printing unit so that they are modular depending on the desired application and can be integrated as a compact unit in a hybrid sheet-fed offset printing press.

This object is achieved by a modular printing unit for a hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine according to claim 1.

• Es werden eine oder mehrere modulare Druckeinheiten unter Einschluss von druckformlosen Druckeinheiten in einer hybriden Bogenoffsetdruckmaschine für eine Kombination von statischem und individualisierendem Druck vorgesehen. Modulare Druckeinheiten sind dabei in einem Druckwerk und/oder in einem Lackwerk und/oder in einem Anlagebereich und/oder in einem Auslagebereich der hybriden Bogenoffsetdruckmaschine integriert angeordnet.

According to the following measures are provided for the modular printing device:

• One or more modular printing units including printing-less printing units are provided in a hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine for a combination of static and individualizing printing. Modular printing units are arranged integrated in a printing unit and / or in a coating unit and / or in a contact area and / or in a display area of the hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine.

In the hybrid sheet-fed offset printing press, therefore, printed sheets are printed with a static printed image in the offset printing process and with a print image that is variable on request, from sheet to sheet, thus also individualizing by means of a printing formless printing method such as by means of the inkjet printing method.
Furthermore, the printed sheets can be finished by means of static patterns in the coating unit or units for carrying out a cold foil transfer.
An individual refinement is possible by means of the pressure-free printing process (inkjet printing process) by means of inkjet printheads and using special inkjet inks or inkjet varnishes.

• 1 bis n Bogenführungselemente und / oder
• 1 bis n Inkjet-Druckköpfe und / oder
• 1 bis n Bogenabstandssensoren und / oder
• 1 bis n Pudereinrichtungen und / oder
• 1 bis n UV LED-Trockner oder 1 bis n IR-Trockner und / oder
• 1 bis n optischer Kontrolleinheiten und /oder
• 1 bis n Pudereinrichtungen.

Advantageously, one or each modular printing unit may be made to be composed of one or more modular units.
As modular units are provided:

• 1 to n sheet guiding elements and / or
• 1 to n inkjet printheads and / or
• 1 to n arc distance sensors and / or
• 1 to n powderers and / or
• 1 to n UV LED dryers or 1 to n IR dryers and / or
• 1 to n optical control units and / or
• 1 to n powderers.

1. 1. Einheiten zur geometrischen Vermessung der Bedruckstoffstellung
2. 2. Einheiten zur Videokontrolle des gedruckten Sujets
3. 3. Messeinheiten zur farbmetrischen Vermessung von Aufdrucken

As optical control units, various systems are suitable for use in conjunction with inkjet printheads:

1. 1. Units for the geometric measurement of the printing material position
2. 2. Units for video control of the printed subject
3. 3. Measuring units for the colorimetric measurement of imprints

Furthermore, the sheet guiding elements can advantageously be printed sheets to be printed by means of electrostatics, air blowing elements and / or mechanical elements on the surface of a counter-pressure cylinder leading a sheet lying down or at least held down in the direction of the surface of the impression cylinder.
Furthermore, the sheet guiding elements can advantageously be arranged over the entire sheet width of the printed sheets.
Furthermore, advantageously, the sheet guiding elements can be arranged over a freely selectable printing width, for example across the width of one or more inkjet printing heads.

Furthermore, an electrostatic sheet guide can be provided for the surface smoothed adhesion of a printing sheet on the surface of the impression cylinder in an advantageous manner. Such an electrostatic sheet guide may be disposed in the or each printing unit and in the or each coating unit of the hybrid sheetfed offset printing machine in front of an inkjet printhead.

Furthermore, the electrostatic sheet guide may be arranged before and / or after a printing nip, which is formed by a roller or a cylinder with the impression cylinder in an advantageous manner. This nip lies in the direction of rotation in front of the inkjet printing unit and serves to lay the printed sheet flat on the impression cylinder.

For selected substrates, such as particularly thick, stiff, thin or unstable substrates, additional air blowing elements and / or mechanical elements for stabilizing the signatures in the field of the inkjet printing process can be arranged in the area of the inkjet print head. Such an arrangement may be in a plane with and in the working direction before or after the position of the inkjet printhead.

Furthermore, additional sheet guiding elements for smoothing and stabilizing the printed sheets and for avoiding sheet contact in the region of a UV LED dryer and / or in the region of an optical control unit can advantageously be arranged. Also, such arrangements may be provided within a plane with and in the working direction before or after the position of the inkjet printhead.

Furthermore, the modular printing unit can advantageously be arranged in the hybrid printing mode for the hybrid sheet-fed offset printing press in a working position near the surface of the impression cylinder.
Furthermore, in the processing of pure offset printing jobs in the hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine, which are executed without inkjet imprint, the modular printing unit in a latching position and for maintenance in a maintenance position to be pivotable, movable and / or positionable.

Furthermore, it should be provided in an advantageous manner that a modular printing unit can be constructed from one or more module units, wherein all module units can be arranged freely positionable within the modular printing unit.

• Somit können Verschmutzungen durch Staubeintrag ausgehend von Blaseinrichtungen vermieden werden.
• Weiterhin können Licht und Wärmeeintrag gegenüber Messeinrichtungen und so deren Fehlfunktion vermieden werden.
• Es kann das Antrocknen von Tinte am Inkjet-Druckkopf durch an diesem einfallende Strahlung vermieden werden.
• Es können weitere Störeinflüsse von Druck- oder Messbereichen weggehalten werden, wie etwa Farb-/Wasser-Spritzer

Furthermore, advantageously, one, several or each of the individual module units (inkjet, sheet guiding, powder, drying, measurement) can be provided with means for shielding against all or particular disturbing influences emanating from adjacent module units.

• Thus, contamination by dust entry starting from blowing devices can be avoided.
• Furthermore, light and heat input compared to measuring devices and thus their malfunction can be avoided.
• It is possible to prevent the ink from drying on the inkjet printhead by radiation incident thereon.
• It can be kept away from other disturbing influences of pressure or measuring ranges, such as color / water splashes

Preferred embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description below.

An inkjet printing unit incorporating the invention is provided in a hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine for individualizing printing, the inkjet printing unit can be integrated in a printing unit, in a coating unit, in an investment area and / or in a display area of the hybrid sheet-fed offset printing press. In the hybrid sheet-fed offset printing press, printed sheets are printed using a static, ie print-to-print, print image in the offset printing process. Furthermore, the printed sheets are printed with a variable, so each sheet in his image content individualizing printed image in the inkjet printing process.

The printing sheets can optionally be finished statically in the coating unit or with units for carrying out a cold foil transfer and / or a customization for different printing sheets can be carried out by means of the inkjet printing unit using special inkjet inks or inkjet coatings.
According to the invention, a modular printing unit is provided, which is arranged configurable in the hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine depending on the printing task (printing subject, edition, quality requirements) and selectable framework conditions with regard to the materials used for printing (substrate, ink, drying).

1. (a) 1 bis n Bogenführungselemente und/oder
2. (b) 1 bis n Inkjet-Druckköpfe und/oder
3. (c) 1 bis n Bogenabstandssensoren und/oder
4. (d) 1 bis n UV LED-Trockner oder 1 bis n IR-Trockner und/oder
5. (e) 1 bis n optischer Kontrolleinheiten und/oder
6. (f) 1 bis n Pudereinrichtungen..

In an advantageous embodiment, modular printing units are made from the following modular units:

1. (a) 1 to n sheet guiding elements and / or
2. (b) 1 to n inkjet printheads and / or
3. (c) 1 to n sheet distance sensors and / or
4. (d) 1 to n UV LED dryers or 1 to n IR dryers and / or
5. (e) 1 to n optical control units and / or
6. (f) 1 to n powderers ..

In an advantageous embodiment, modular printing units are designed so that the sheet guiding elements keep the sheet smoothed by means of electrostatics, air blowing elements and / or mechanical elements on the upper surface of a printing sheet leading counterpressure cylinder or guided in the direction of the surface of the surface of the impression cylinder.

In an advantageous development, modular printing units are designed such that the sheet guiding elements are arranged over the entire printed sheet width and / or that the sheet guiding elements are arranged over a freely selectable printing width, e.g. the width of one or more inkjet printheads are arranged.

In an advantageous development, modular printing units are designed such that an electrostatic sheet guide for adhering the printed sheet to the surface of the impression cylinder in the or each printing unit and the or each coating unit is arranged in front of an inkjet print head.

In an advantageous development, modular printing units are designed such that the electrostatic sheet guide is arranged before and / or after the printing nip of a roll laying the printing sheet on the impression cylinder and that for selected printing substrates additionally air blowing elements and / or mechanical elements in front of the inkjet print head to be ordered.

In an advantageous development, modular printing units are designed such that additional sheet guiding elements are arranged in front of a UV LED dryer and / or in front of an optical control unit.

In an advantageous embodiment, modular printing units are designed so that the modular printing unit is pivotable, movable and / or positionable in hybrid printing in a working position close to the surface of the impression cylinder, in pure offset printing jobs in a detent position and for maintenance in a maintenance position.

In an advantageous development, modular printing units are designed such that all module units are freely positionable within the modular printing unit, wherein the modular printing unit can also be constructed from one or more modular units.

In an advantageous embodiment, modular printing units are designed so that one, several or each of the individual module units with means for shielding against all or particular disturbing influences emanating from adjacent modular units are provided.

Embodiments of the invention will be described, without being limited thereto, with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1:

die Anordnung von erfindungsgemäßen Einrichtungen im Zusammenhang einer schematischen Darstellung einer hybriden Bogenoffsetdruckmaschine,

Fig. 2:

eine erfindungsgemäße Inkjet-Druckeinrichtung in einer ersten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 3:

eine erfindungsgemäße Inkjet-Druckeinrichtung in einer zweiten Ausführungsform und

Fig. 4:

eine erfindungsgemäße Inkjet-Druckeinrichtung in einer dritten Ausführungsform,.

Showing:

Fig. 1:

the arrangement of devices according to the invention in the context of a schematic representation of a hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine,

Fig. 2:

an inkjet printing device according to the invention in a first embodiment,

3:

an inkjet printing device according to the invention in a second embodiment and

4:

an inkjet printing device according to the invention in a third embodiment,.

The inventive device for pressure-free printing is integrated within a sheet-fed printing machine with at least one pressure-formless printing device D, which serves to print the sheet with a variable, individualizing printed image or variable, individualizing image components such as numbering, coding or addressing.
The printing of the sheet with the dynamic or one of sheet to sheet variable so individualizing printed image or image components is preferably carried out inline for printing sheets with a static so from sheet to sheet constant print image. The latter print image is printed in the standard printing units or coating units of the sheet-fed press. The following description will be made with respect to additional use of printing formless printing devices within the sheetfed offset printing press. The printing formless printing devices are in this case preferably designed as inkjet printheads.

The term individualizing refers not only to the different printing of each individual sheet but also to the different image application to groups of successive printed sheets. Thus, a group individualization by means of pressure-free printing devices.

In the designation of coating media processed by the printing formless printing device, terms such as ink, ink, ink or varnish are used. Thus, in principle, all the coating media required for printing formless coating in the form of a pattern impression are always included and are not restricted to particular special terms.

Printed products produced in offset and digital printing are common in the market. The static information content of the printed image, which remains constant from printed sheet to sheet, is produced inexpensively and in high-quality offset printing. In addition, the variable or variable from sheet to sheet information of the printed image before or after the offset printing in digital printing i. applied with pressure-free printing process.

The invention thus relates to a sheet-fed offset printing machine, according to FIG. 1 can be equipped with one or more modular, so constructed from individual modules modular printing units 8 for the hybrid printing, so the mixed pressure in the offset printing process in conjunction with impressions or partial images or codings in the inkjet printing process.
The sheet-fed offset printing press has a sheet feeder 1 in the basic structure, one or more printing units 3 and / or coating units 4, sheet transport devices and a sheet delivery 6.
The printed sheets are separated when printing from the sheet feeder 1 via a contact area 2 on a sheet-guiding impression cylinder 7, as well as on other impression cylinders 7 and transfer modules 10, each having a transfer cylinder and a sheet guide path, conveyed to the sheet delivery 6.

One of the transfer modules in FIG. 1 is designed as a turning module 10.1 for carrying out a trailing edge of the sheet to be conveyed. Such a turning module 10.1 can be arranged at any point of a transfer module 10, but is usually used only at one or two positions within such a sheet-fed offset printing press.

For hybrid printing, one or more modular printing units 8 can be used in a contact area 2, in a jib 6, a printing unit 3 or a coating unit 4 for the individualizing impression.

Each of the mentioned modular printing units 8 is suitable for the modular recording of, for example, at least one printing-form-free printing unit D or an inkjet printing head 11. These are installed in conjunction with a sheet distance sensor 15 and / or a sheet guiding unit 9 and / or a UV LED or IR dryer 12 and / or an optical control unit 13 and designed according to the processing requirement. For this purpose, a powder device may also come, which is not shown here. The aggregates mentioned are also referred to below as modular units 9, 11, 13, 14 and 15.
The invention relates to a hybrid printing machine such as those in Fig. 1 is shown schematically.

Based on FIG. 2 The principles of the modular printing unit 8 will now be explained in more detail. Here, the modular units 9, 11, 13, 14 and 15 are shown within a chamber 16. The modular units 9, 11, 13, 14 and 15 together with the chamber 16 form a modular printing unit 8. This modular printing unit 8 is assigned to a counter-pressure cylinder 7. At the counter-pressure cylinder 7, the printed sheets to be printed by gripper systems are held on the front edge and moved forward on the surface of the counter-pressure cylinder 7 in the sheet transport direction R.

To FIG. 2 the modular printing unit 8 is further downstream of a conveying gap S in the direction of rotation R of the impression cylinder 7. The conveying gap S is formed by a roller 14 or a cylinder and the impression cylinder 7.

The roller 14 may be formed as a pressure roller. The roller 14 may also be the forme cylinder of a coating unit 4 or the blanket cylinder of an offset printing unit 3.

The counter-pressure cylinder 7 has at least one gripper system 7.1 for the sheet transport, which is arranged in a cylinder channel 7.2 in the direction of rotation of the counter-pressure cylinder at the rear edge of the cylinder channel 7.2. In FIG. 2 the impression cylinder 7 is shown with two cylinder channels 7.2 between which in turn extend two work surfaces 7.3 over the entire width of the impression cylinder 7 in the axial direction of the cylinder surface. On the said work surfaces 7.3 resting sheet B are performed during printing.

A modular printing unit 8 can extend at its respective installation location over the entire format width, that is to say over the entire working length of the impression cylinder 7, parallel to the conveying gap S with the roller 14. With respect to the working width, one or more of the various modular units 9, 11, 12, 13 and / or 15 can each carry within the above-mentioned chamber 16, which in turn can be positioned within the chamber 16 or together with the chamber 16 with respect to the impression cylinder 7. Thus, one or more inkjet printheads 11 may be placed within a modular printing unit 8 or in conjunction with a plurality of juxtaposed modular printing units 8 across the sheet width.

Likewise, it can be provided that the working width of a modular printing unit 8 is designed to extend only over a partial region of the width of the working surfaces 7.3 of the counter-pressure cylinder 7. This in turn is also related to the fact that the work surfaces 7.3 need not be covered in their entire width of the sheet B.

Thus, if the entire width of a printed sheet B is not covered by a single or a juxtaposition of identical or equivalent modular printing units 8, the orientation of the individual module units 9, 11, 12, 13, 15 within the modular printing units 8 can be adapted to the printing object to be produced and processed on the printed sheet B.

However, if a plurality of identical or equivalent modular printing units 8 are provided, they can be adapted together or relative to one another to the printing subject to be processed.
For example, an inkjet printhead 11 and an associated LED dryer 12 can be quickly manually or motor-positioned by coupling. This positioning can be done depending on the extent of the chamber 16 within the chamber 16 or together with the chamber 16 parallel to the printing nip S or in the circumferential direction along the surface contour of the impression cylinder 7.

In this context, it is also provided that all module units 9 and / or 11 and / or 12 and / or 13 and / or 15 can be positioned both individually and independently of each other. On the other hand, the modular units 9 and / or 11 and / or 12 and / or 13 and / or 15 both individually and independently activated (ie put into operation) and disabled (ie can be put out of order.

1. a) Bogenführungselemente 9 (wie etwa Blasrohre oder anders geartete Blasvorrichtungen) halten den Druckbogen plan auf dem Zylinder 7, so dass der Inkjet-Druckkopf 11 nah zum Bedruckstoff positioniert werden kann, um eine hohe Druckqualität zu erzielen.
2. b) Ein Bogenabstandssensor 15 erfasst die Distanz zum Bedruckstoff. Danach erfolgt eine manuelle oder mechanische Regulierung des Abstandes der modularen Druckeinheit 8 bzw. den Moduleinheiten 9, 11, 12, 13 und/oder 15 relativ zum Bedruckstoff in Abhängigkeit der Bedruckstoffdicke bzw. den gegebenen Laufeigenschaften des Bedruckstoffes.
3. c) Die Aufnahme für den Inkjet-Druckkopf 11 in der modularen Druckeinheit 8 ist so ausgelegt, dass verschiedene auf dem Markt erhältliche Inkjet-Druckköpfe angebracht werden können.
4. d) Abhängig von der Art eingesetzten Tinte können in der modularen Druckeinheit 8 ein UV-LED- oder ein IR-Trockner 12 angebracht werden, mittels dessen die Tinte härtet bzw. trocknet.
5. e) Schließlich überprüft eine dem Inkjet-Druckkopf 11 in der modularen Druckeinheit 8 nachgelagerte optische Qualitätskontrolleinheit 13 das Vorhandensein des durch einen Inkjet-Druckkopf 11 aufgedruckten Druckbildes. Diese Einheit kann bei Bedarf auch zur Überprüfung der Inhalte bzw. der Druckqualität des Inkjetdruckbildes eingesetzt werden.
   Diese Aufgabe kann auch von einem Inspektionssystem in der Bogenoffsetdruckmaschine übernommen werden, sofern die Option in der Druckmaschine vorhanden ist und für die Überwachung von individualisierenden Druckverfahren ausgelegt ist.
6. f) Nicht näher dargestellt ist in Figur 1 die Anordnung einer Moduleinheit für das Aufbringen von Puder. Diese ist in der modularen Druckeinheit 8 vorzugsweise dem Inkjet-Druckkopf 11 nachgeordnet positioniert und zum Überstreichen des Druckbereiches des Inkjet-Druckkopfes 11 ausrichtet. Damit kann das Ablegen und Anhaften noch feuchter Inkjet-Tinte an Nachbarbogen im Bogenstapel sicher verhindert werden.

The functionalities of the various modular units 9, 11, 12, 13 and 15 are as follows:

1. a) sheet guide elements 9 (such as blowpipes or other type blowing devices) keep the sheet flat on the cylinder 7, so that the inkjet printhead 11 can be positioned close to the substrate to achieve a high print quality.
2. b) A sheet distance sensor 15 detects the distance to the substrate. This is followed by a manual or mechanical regulation of the distance of the modular printing unit 8 or the modular units 9, 11, 12, 13 and / or 15 relative to the printing substrate as a function of the printing substrate thickness or the given running properties of the printing substrate.
3. c) The receptacle for the inkjet printhead 11 in the modular printing unit 8 is designed so that various available on the market inkjet printheads can be attached.
4. d) Depending on the type of ink used, a UV LED or an IR dryer 12 may be mounted in the modular printing unit 8, by means of which the ink hardens or dries.
5. e) Finally, an optical quality control unit 13 downstream of the inkjet printhead 11 in the modular printing unit 8 checks the presence of the printed image printed by an inkjet printhead 11. If required, this unit can also be used to check the contents or print quality of the inkjet print image.
   This task can also be taken over by an inspection system in the sheet-fed offset printing machine, provided that the option is present in the printing press and is designed for monitoring individualizing printing processes.
6. f) is not shown in detail FIG. 1 the arrangement of a module unit for the application of powder. This is preferably positioned downstream of the inkjet print head 11 in the modular printing unit 8 and aligned for sweeping over the printing area of the inkjet print head 11. Thus, the deposition and adhesion of still wet inkjet ink to adjacent sheets in the sheet stack can be safely prevented.

The sheet guiding elements 9 are in the FIGS. 2 to 4 shown formed as blowpipes. It is also shown in each case a sheet guiding element 9 associated with the counter-pressure cylinder 7 in front of the conveying gap S.
The sheet guiding elements 9 can also be designed as mechanical guide elements or electrostatic sheet guiding devices can be used at this point.

The sheet guiding elements 9 are thus used both near the working area of each of the inkjet printing heads 11 and in the area of the feeding of the printing material to the or each of the inkjet printing heads 11.
Furthermore, they may be arranged in a plane with and in front of and / or after one or each of the inkjet printheads 11.
Additional sheet guide elements 9 can be used to improve the respective function before the optical quality control unit 13 and the LED dryer 12 are used.

In the FIGS. 2 to 4 Various possible arrangements of modular printing units 8 are shown. In this case, three basic variants for embodiments are shown, as the respective modular units 9, 11, 12, 13 and / or 15 can be arranged in combination with each other within modular printing units 8.

In this context, as a particularly advantageous embodiment, the shielding of individual or some of the module units 9, 11, 12, 13 and / or 15 relative to each other is expressed by the fact that different module units 9, 11, 12, 13 and / or 15 in different chambers 16, 16.1, 16.2 of the modular printing units 8 can be accommodated.

• Ein erstes Bogenführungselement 9 ist dem Förderspalt S direkt vorgeordnet
• Ein zweites Bogenführungselement 9 ist innerhalb der Kammer 16 dem Förderspalt S direkt nachgeordnet
• Ein / mehrere Bogenabstandssensoren 15 sind an den Inkjet-Druckköpfen 11 angeordnet
• Ein / mehrere Inkjet-Druckköpfe 11 sind dem zweiten Bogenführungselement 9 nachgeordnet
• Ein / mehrere UV-LED- oder IR-Trockner 12 sind dem / den Inkjet-Druckköpfen 11 in einer direkten Zuordnung nachgeordnet
• Eine / mehrere Qualitätskontrolleinheiten 13 sind dem / den UV-LED- oder IR-Trocknern 12 nachgeordnet
• Es kann vorgesehen sein, danach noch eine Pudereinrichtung anzuordnen.

In a first embodiment according to FIG. 2 a modular printing unit 8 with a single chamber 16 for receiving modular units 9, 11, 12, 13, 15 is constructed as follows, wherein the arrangements in the direction of rotation R of the impression cylinder 7 are described ordered:

• A first sheet guiding element 9 is arranged directly upstream of the conveying gap S.
• A second sheet guiding element 9 is arranged directly downstream of the conveying gap S within the chamber 16
• One or more sheet gap sensors 15 are disposed on the inkjet printheads 11
• One / more inkjet printheads 11 are arranged downstream of the second sheet guiding element 9
• One / more UV LED or IR dryers 12 are arranged downstream of the / the inkjet printheads 11 in a direct assignment
• One or more quality control units 13 are arranged downstream of the UV LED or IR dryers 12
• It can be provided, then to arrange a powder device.

Thus, in the simplest design illustrated here, all modular units 9, 11, 12, 13, 15 housed in a single chamber enclosing them 16 or on a common carrier and can be handled accordingly easy for assembly, disassembly and positioning.

The printed sheet B can thus matched by this arrangement to the print area to be processed by the sheet guiding element 9 relative to the impression cylinder 7 and can be printed depending on the measurement of the sheet distance sensor 15 of the inkjet print head 11. The downstream UV LED or IR dryer 12 ensures rapid drying of the individualizing inkjet image depending on the printing ink used in the inkjet printing head 11. Thereupon, by means of the quality control unit 13, monitoring of the printing result can take place immediately after printing and drying.

1. 1. Kammer 16.1
   • Ein erstes Bogenführungselement 9 ist dem Förderspalt S direkt vorgeordnet
   • Ein zweites Bogenführungselement 9 ist innerhalb der Kammer 16.1 dem Förderspalt S direkt nachgeordnet
   • Ein / mehrere Bogenabstandssensoren 15 sind an den Inkjet-Druckköpfen 11 angeordnet
   • Ein / mehrere Inkjet-Druckköpfe 11 sind dem zweiten Bogenführungselement 9 nachgeordnet
2. 2. Kammer 16.2
   • Ein / mehrere UV-LED- oder IR-Trockner 12 sind dem / den Inkjet-Druckköpfen 11 in einer direkten Zuordnung nachgeordnet
3. 3. Kammer 16.3
   • Q Eine / mehrere Qualitätskontrolleinheiten 13 sind dem / den UV-LED- oder IR-Trocknern 12 nachgeordnet
   • Es kann vorgesehen sein, danach noch eine Pudereinrichtung anzuordnen.

In FIG. 3 another embodiment of a modular printing unit 8 is shown. This modular printing unit 8 has three chambers 16.1, 16.2 and 16.3 for receiving different modular units 9, 11, 12, 13 and 15 and is constructed as follows:

1. 1st Chamber 16.1
   • A first sheet guiding element 9 is arranged directly upstream of the conveying gap S.
   • A second sheet guiding element 9 is arranged directly downstream of the conveying gap S within the chamber 16.1
   • One or more sheet gap sensors 15 are disposed on the inkjet printheads 11
   • One / more inkjet printheads 11 are arranged downstream of the second sheet guiding element 9
2. 2nd Chamber 16.2
   • One / more UV LED or IR dryers 12 are arranged downstream of the / the inkjet printheads 11 in a direct assignment
3. 3rd Chamber 16.3
   • Q One or more quality control units 13 are arranged downstream of the UV LED or IR dryers 12
   • It can be provided, then to arrange a powder device.

This arrangement has the advantage that within the housing 16 between the chambers 16.1 and 16.2 and between the chambers 16.2 and 16.3 in each case a partition is present, the working areas of the modular units 9, 15, 11, and the module unit 12, and the module unit 13th separates each other.

Thus, the module units of the UV LED or IR dryer 12 are sealed off in a separate chamber 16.2 and can not exert any interference on the located in the chamber 16.1 inkjet printhead 11 or located in the chamber 16.3 quality control unit 13.

In addition, it is also possible to design the installation situation of each of the module units 9, 11, 12, 13 and 15 independently. This refers to the assembly and disassembly, the adjustability in their position, the power supply and connectability to control systems.
The entire modular printing unit 8 can be positioned by means of its housing 16 or also each individual modular unit 9, 11, 12, 13 and 15 in the respective chamber 16.1 to 16.3, in which it is arranged.

1. A. modulare Druckeinheit 8.1 mit Kammer 16.1
   • Ein erstes Bogenführungselement 9 ist dem Förderspalt S direkt vorgeordnet
   • Ein zweites Bogenführungselement 9 ist innerhalb der Kammer 16.1 dem Förderspalt S direkt nachgeordnet
   • Ein / mehrere Bogenabstandssensoren 15 sind an den Inkjet-Druckköpfen 11 angeordnet
   • Ein / mehrere Inkjet-Druckköpfe 11 sind dem zweiten Bogenführungselement 9 nachgeordnet
   • Eine / mehrere Qualitätskontrolleinheiten 13 sind dem / den UV-LED- oder IR-Trocknern 12 nachgeordnet
2. B. Modulare Einheit 8.2 mit Kammer 16.2
   • Ein / mehrere dritte Bogenführungselemente 9 sind innerhalb der Kammer 16.2 angeordnet
   • Ein / mehrere UV-LED- oder IR-Trockner 12 sind dem / den dritten Bogenführungselementen 9 in einer direkten Zuordnung nachgeordnet

In FIG. 4 a modular printing unit 8 is shown, which consists of two modular units 8.1 and 8..2 for accommodating different module units within each one chamber as follows:

1. A. modular pressure unit 8.1 with chamber 16.1
   • A first sheet guiding element 9 is arranged directly upstream of the conveying gap S.
   • A second sheet guiding element 9 is arranged directly downstream of the conveying gap S within the chamber 16.1
   • One or more sheet gap sensors 15 are disposed on the inkjet printheads 11
   • One / more inkjet printheads 11 are arranged downstream of the second sheet guiding element 9
   • One or more quality control units 13 are arranged downstream of the UV LED or IR dryers 12
2. B. Modular unit 8.2 with chamber 16.2
   • One / more third sheet guiding elements 9 are arranged within the chamber 16.2
   • One / more UV LED or IR dryers 12 are arranged downstream of / the third sheet guiding elements 9 in a direct assignment

The illustrated independent chambers of the modular printing unit 8.1 and the modular unit 8.2 are thus in turn the variable recording of modular units 9, 11, 12, 13, 15 and can be mounted separately, disassembled, maintained and positioned in an advantageous manner.
In the second independent chamber of the modular unit 8.2, the arrangement of quality control units 13 can take place, in which case also one or more sheet guiding elements 9 are to be provided within the modular unit 8.2.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

sheet feeder

2

plant area

3

printing unit

4

coating unit

5

display area

6

sheet delivery

7

Impression cylinder

7.1

gripper system

7.2

cylinder gap

7.3

working surface

8th

modular printing units

8.1

modular printing unit

8/2

modular unit

9

Sheet guiding element / sheet guiding device

10

Arch guideway

10.1

beater

11

Inkjet printhead

12

UV LED or IR dryer

13

(optical) quality control unit

14

Roller / drum / pressure device

15

Arc distance sensor

16

chamber

16.1

chamber

16.2

chamber

D

pressure-free printing unit

R

Sheet running direction

S

nip

Claims (13)

Printing formless printing unit in a hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine for the individualizing the sheet to be processed printing, wherein at least one inkjet print head (11) in a printing unit (3), in a coating unit (4), in a contact area (2) and / or in a display area (5) the hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine is integrated, printed in the hybrid sheet-fed offset printing press sheets with a static single- or multi-color printed image in the offset printing process and with a variable, individualizing printed image by the inkjet printing process,
characterized,
that a modular printing unit (8) is provided, which has at least one inkjet print head (11) and the structure of which is variable,
wherein the modular printing unit (8) is formed in its functional structure from further module units (9, 12, 13, 15) and
wherein the modular units (9, 11, 12, 13, 15) in dependence on a given print job and one or more selectable framework conditions based at least on the basis of a parameter set
predetermined print volume, quantity of print to be printed, quality requirement for the print, substrate material, coating material, drying conditions configurable and positionable in the hybrid sheet-fed offset printing press can be selected and arranged. Pressure-free printing unit in a hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that
in that the modular printing unit (8) is designed to be composed of the following modular units
1 to n sheet guiding elements (9) and / or
1 to n inkjet printheads (11) and / or
1 to n arc distance sensors (15) and / or
1 to n UV LED dryers or 1 to n IR dryers (12) and / or
1 to n optical quality control units (13) and / or
1 to n powderers. Pressure-free printing unit in a hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized by sheet guiding elements (9) which hold the sheets by means of electrostatics and / or air blowing elements and / or mechanical elements on the surface of the printing sheet leading impression cylinder (7) adjacent or against the surface of the impression cylinder (7) out. Pressure-free printing unit in a hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine according to claim 3,
characterized,
that within a modular printing unit (8) the sheet guiding elements (9) are arranged over the entire printing sheet width and / or that the sheet guiding elements (9) over a freely selectable printing width, eg the width of one or more inkjet print heads (11) and / or in pressure-free zones of the static printed image are arranged. Pressure-free printing unit in a hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine according to claim 3 or 4,
characterized,
that within a modular printing unit (8), the sheet guiding elements (9) are arranged so that the printed sheets are smoothly guided on the surface of the impression cylinder (7). Pressure-free printing unit in a hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine according to one or more of claims 1 to 5,
characterized,
in that within a modular printing unit (8) an electrostatic sheet guide for adhering the printing sheet to the surface of the impression cylinder (7) in the or each printing unit (3) and the or each coating unit (4) is arranged in front of an inkjet printing head (11). Pressure-free printing unit in a hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine according to one or more of claims 1 to 6,
characterized,
in that the electrostatic sheet guide is arranged before and / or after the printing nip (16) which forms a roller (14) laying the printing sheet on the counter-pressure cylinder (7) and in addition that for selected substrates additional air-blowing elements and / or mechanical elements before Inkjet printhead (11) can be arranged. Pressure-free printing unit in a hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine according to one or more of claims 1 to 7,
characterized,
in that additional sheet guiding elements (9) are arranged in front of a UV LED dryer (12) and / or in front of an optical quality control unit (13) within a modular printing unit (8) within a modular printing unit (8). Pressure-free printing unit in a hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine according to one or more of claims 1 to 8,
characterized,
in that powder elements are arranged after a UV LED dryer (12) and / or after an optical quality control unit (13) within a modular printing unit (8). Pressure-free printing unit in a hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the modular printing unit (8) at hybrid printing in a working position close to the surface of the impression cylinder (7), in pure offset printing jobs in a detent position and for maintenance in a maintenance position is pivotable, movable and / or positionable. Pressure-free printing unit in a hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine according to one or more of patent claims 1 to 10,
characterized,
in that all modular units (9, 11, 12, 13, 15) are freely positionable within the modular printing unit (8), wherein the modular printing unit (8) can also be constructed from one or more modular printing units (8.1 and 8.2). Pressure-free printing unit in a hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine according to one or more of claims 1 to 11,
characterized,
in that one, several or each of the individual module units (9, 11, 12, 13, 15) is provided with means for shielding against all or particular disturbing influences emanating from adjacent module units (9, 11, 12, 13, 15). Pressure-free printing unit in a hybrid sheet-fed offset printing machine according to one or more of claims 1 to 12,
characterized,
in that one or more modular printing units (8) are provided in order to refine printed sheets either statically in the coating unit (4) or with units for carrying out a cold foil transfer,
and / or that one or more modular printing units (8) are provided for individual finishing by means of inserted inkjet printing heads (11) when using special inkjet inks or inkjet varnishes.

Images