EP3507098A1 - Poste de durcissement et procédé de durcissement de l'encre d'impression d'une impression directe sur des contenants - Google Patents

Poste de durcissement et procédé de durcissement de l'encre d'impression d'une impression directe sur des contenants

Info

Publication number
EP3507098A1
EP3507098A1 EP17722448.2A EP17722448A EP3507098A1 EP 3507098 A1 EP3507098 A1 EP 3507098A1 EP 17722448 A EP17722448 A EP 17722448A EP 3507098 A1 EP3507098 A1 EP 3507098A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
curing
leds
light
printing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP17722448.2A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP3507098B1 (fr
Inventor
Peter Lindner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Krones AG
Original Assignee
Krones AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Krones AG filed Critical Krones AG
Publication of EP3507098A1 publication Critical patent/EP3507098A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3507098B1 publication Critical patent/EP3507098B1/fr
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F23/00—Devices for treating the surfaces of sheets, webs, or other articles in connection with printing
    • B41F23/04—Devices for treating the surfaces of sheets, webs, or other articles in connection with printing by heat drying, by cooling, by applying powders
    • B41F23/0403—Drying webs
    • B41F23/0406—Drying webs by radiation
    • B41F23/0409—Ultraviolet dryers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F23/00—Devices for treating the surfaces of sheets, webs, or other articles in connection with printing
    • B41F23/04—Devices for treating the surfaces of sheets, webs, or other articles in connection with printing by heat drying, by cooling, by applying powders
    • B41F23/044—Drying sheets, e.g. between two printing stations
    • B41F23/045—Drying sheets, e.g. between two printing stations by radiation
    • B41F23/0453—Drying sheets, e.g. between two printing stations by radiation by ultraviolet dryers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F23/00—Devices for treating the surfaces of sheets, webs, or other articles in connection with printing
    • B41F23/04—Devices for treating the surfaces of sheets, webs, or other articles in connection with printing by heat drying, by cooling, by applying powders
    • B41F23/0486—Particular types of dryers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
    • B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
    • B41J11/0021—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using irradiation
    • B41J11/00212—Controlling the irradiation means, e.g. image-based controlling of the irradiation zone or control of the duration or intensity of the irradiation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
    • B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
    • B41J11/0021—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using irradiation
    • B41J11/00214—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using irradiation using UV radiation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/407—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
    • B41J3/4073—Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/407—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
    • B41J3/4073—Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects
    • B41J3/40733—Printing on cylindrical or rotationally symmetrical objects, e. g. on bottles

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a curing station and a method for curing printing ink of direct printing on containers having the features of the preamble of claim 1 and 12 and a direct printing machine for printing on containers with at least one printing station and at least one curing station.
  • the direct printing is usually printed on the container outer surface by means of an ink jet printing process, for example for marking and / or for advertising the container contents.
  • an ink jet printing process for example for marking and / or for advertising the container contents.
  • To cure the printing ink of the direct printing is then followed by irradiation in a curing station with UV light, whereby the ink is crosslinked scratch and waterproof.
  • the containers are usually transported with a conveyor to a UV light unit and there irradiated with UV light.
  • a UV light unit In such curing stations, the containers are usually transported with a conveyor to a UV light unit and there irradiated with UV light.
  • the use of mercury vapor lamps as UV lamps is known since they have a sufficiently high irradiation power for the desired container throughput.
  • WO 2012/028215 discloses a method and an apparatus for treating containers with a plurality of printing modules and a drying and sterilization module in which the print is cured or dried with a UV lamp.
  • UV lamps are complex and inflexible, since they usually require a long warm-up time, are subject to a strong heat, due to the UV-C radiation require privacy and ozone is produced during the treatment. Consequently, the UV lamp must be cooled consuming and sucked the surrounding air and filtered. Because UV lamps cool for longer after being turned off, there is a risk of injury and burn to the user when responding quickly to a machine alarm. In addition, after starting the machine, the UV lamp must first be heated to operating temperature before the desired UV spectrum is emitted. In addition, the radiation power can not be regulated and there is also no way to flexibly adapt the light field to the container shape or the size of the direct pressure.
  • Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a curing station and a direct printing machine, which is less expensive and more flexible to use.
  • the invention provides a curing station with the features of claim 1.
  • Advantageous embodiments are mentioned in the subclaims.
  • the at least one UV light unit has the 2D arrangement of UV LEDs as the light source, the UV light is generated more efficiently by means of LED technology and can be switched particularly quickly. As a result, the UV light unit develops less heat and can be switched on and off particularly quickly without preheating time.
  • the LEDs can be controlled individually, so that the UV light field to the actual requirements when curing individually to the container shape or the Size of the direct print is adjusted.
  • a particularly high radiant power can be achieved with the 2D arrangement of UV LEDs.
  • the containers can be guided past the adjustment of the UV light field particularly close to the UV light unit, without the surface area closest to the UV light source being excessively irradiated or heated. Consequently, overall less radiation power is required than in the known UV lamps. Due to the narrowband radiation characteristics of UV LEDs, it is also easier to take protective measures in machine protection by the lenses only filter out the spectrum of UV LEDs or attenuate to a level harmless to humans.
  • UV LEDs are particularly advantageous in emergency situations in which, for example, the machine intervenes, i. the machine guard must be opened. Due to the compared to e.g. Mercury vapor lamps lower operating temperature there is a much lower risk of injury or burns.
  • UV LEDs increases the machine availability because after eliminating a fault in the direct printing press can be restarted immediately, without a warm-up and transient phase of high or low pressure lamps would have to wait.
  • the UV light unit with the 2D arrangement of UV LEDs thus requires less effort and can be used more flexibly.
  • Direct printing may refer to a print that is directly applied to a container with a direct print head.
  • the direct print head can be designed to deliver individual print drops directly onto a container.
  • the direct print head can be controlled via digital control signals to deliver the print drops on the container.
  • the direct print head may include one or more rows of nozzles to deliver the print drops onto the container.
  • the curing station can be arranged downstream of a direct printing machine for applying the direct pressure to the containers or integrated into these.
  • a direct printing station and the curing station can be locked to a direct printing machine.
  • the curing station or the direct printing machine can be arranged in a beverage processing plant and preferably downstream of a filling plant for filling a product into the containers and / or a closer.
  • the curing station or the direct printing machine can also be arranged upstream of the filling process and / or directly downstream of a container production process.
  • the containers may be intended to contain drinks, toiletries, pastes, chemical, biological and / or pharmaceutical products.
  • the containers may be provided for any flowable or fillable media.
  • the containers can be made of plastic, glass and metal, but also hybrid containers with material mixtures are conceivable.
  • the containers may be bottles, cans and / or tubes.
  • the containers may be mold containers having at least one surface deviating from the rotational symmetry about the container longitudinal axis.
  • the mold containers may comprise at least one relief-type surface area.
  • the feed dog may be designed as a carousel, which is rotatable about a vertical axis. "Vertical” can mean here that this is the direction that is directed to the center of the earth. It is also conceivable that the conveyor is designed as a linear transporter. In addition, the transporter may comprise two or more Umlenksterne with a guided thereby conveyor belt, so that thus linear and circular arc-shaped transport sections are formed for container transport.
  • the transporter may comprise container receptacles, which are arranged, for example, on the circumference of the carousel or on the conveyor belt.
  • the container receptacles may each comprise a turntable, for receiving the container bottom and / or a centering bell for receiving the container mouth.
  • the container receptacles can be designed with direct drives or a control curve to rotate the container relative to the curing station during curing. This allows different sides of the container to be cured.
  • the transporter can be designed to transport the containers continuously or intermittently.
  • the direct printing may include or be a printed image applied to the containers by ink jet printing.
  • the ink of the direct print may be a print ink curable by the UV light field of the UV light unit.
  • the ink can be curable with UV light.
  • UV light can here mean ultraviolet light.
  • the printing Coloring may include color pigments, a polymerizable matrix, monomers, oligomers, UV initiators, water or solvent.
  • the printing ink can comprise monomers and / or oligomers which can be crosslinked by radicals formed by the UV initiator by means of UV light or by electron beams.
  • the ink may have a color consisting of yellow, cyan, magenta, black or white or any mixed color thereof.
  • the UV light unit may include a support with the UV LEDs disposed thereon.
  • the UV light unit may include a circuit board or the like, with which the UV LEDs can be electrically controlled individually or in groups.
  • the UV_Leuchtigma may include a heat sink and / or a fan for cooling the UV LEDs.
  • the UV LEDs can be designed to emit a UV light spectrum, preferably for curing the printing inks, a UV-B and / or UV-C light spectrum in a wavelength range between 200 nm-315 nm, furthermore preferably between 240 nm and 315 nm.
  • the UV LEDs are designed to emit for pinning a UV-A light spectrum in a wavelength range of 315 nm - 410 nm.
  • the UV light unit comprises various UV LED types of the UV-A, UV-B and / or UV-C type, which are preferably designed to UV-C and / or UV-B light for curing after application of all printing inks and / or UV-A light for pinning between the application of different printing inks radiate.
  • the UV light unit comprises UV LEDs with different UV light spectra, which can also be controlled differently in order to better cure different printing inks.
  • the 2D array of LEDs may be a random 2D array or a regular 2D grid array in which the UV LEDs are distributed on a flat or curved surface.
  • the 2D array of UV LEDs may be a hexagonal or matrix array of multiple UV LEDs. Due to the 2D arrangement of UV LEDs, it is possible to irradiate the containers over a longer transport section with UV light and thereby achieve the desired curing of the printing ink.
  • the light field may be meant by all UV LEDs of a UV light unit which are switched on in operation.
  • the curing station may include a control unit to control or regulate the UV light unit, the container receptacles and / or the feed dog.
  • the control unit can be connected via electrical lines to the UV light unit, the container receptacles and / or the feed dog.
  • the UV LEDs of the at least one UV light unit can be designed to be controllable individually or in groups in order to control the UV light field as a function of transport positions of the containers relative to a curing and / or pinning section of the curing station. This makes it possible for the UV LEDs in the region of the curing and / or pinning section to emit UV light only where a container is actually located.
  • the UV LEDs between the transport positions of the container can be turned off and thereby cool. As a result, less cooling is required and the UV light unit operates more efficiently.
  • the fact that "the UV LEDs can be controlled individually or in groups” here means that the UV LEDs can be controlled individually or in groups, digitally or analogically, in order to switch them on, switch them off and / or switch them into an arbitrarily dimmed state
  • the same curing effect can be achieved with a lower irradiation power, resulting in less ozone and also lower-power UV LEDs
  • the size, the radiation pattern, the ultraviolet light spectrum, and the intensity of the UV light field can be adapted to the required irradiation effect on the container in a particularly simple manner.
  • the curing portion may be a portion of the transport path of the carrier provided for curing the ink on the containers.
  • the curing section may be arranged downstream of at least one printing station with direct printing heads. In other words, this may be a section of the transport path on which all printing inks of the direct printing have already been applied to the containers during operation with the printing station.
  • the pinning section may be arranged between two printing stations and / or between two direct printing heads and may be provided to cure a first printing ink before another printing ink is applied. This allows the first ink to be cured with the UV light unit before the subsequent second ink is printed. Consequently, the two inks do not run into each other and a better print image is created. As a result, the UV light unit can also be used for pinning in addition to curing.
  • a control unit may be configured to change the UV light field by power control of at least one of the UV LEDs. This makes it possible the UV light field via a stored in the control unit control procedure to the container shape and / or on the Flexible adaptation of direct pressure and / or carrying it with the container transport. It is conceivable that the power control of the UV LEDs is effected via a change of at least one current, at least one voltage or by a pulse / pause ratio of a PWM signal.
  • control unit may be configured to change the power of the UV LEDs based on transport positions of the container relative to the curing and / or pinning portion of the curing station to carry the UV light field with the transport of the container.
  • control unit may be connected to a transmitter, which detects the transport positions of the container at the Transportuer.
  • the encoder may be a rotary encoder on a carousel axis to detect the rotational position of the carousel and thus the container receptacles.
  • it may be a light barrier, a camera or the like to detect the container at the feed dog and to determine the transport positions.
  • the control unit may be designed to change the power of the UV LEDs based on a distance of the respective UV LED to a container to be cured in order to homogenize the UV light field acting on the ink on the container. As a result, a tank area removed from the UV light unit can be cured just as quickly as a nearby tank area. In addition, the distance between the UV lamp unit and the container can be reduced, since the radiation power is reduced to the near container area accordingly so that the container or the direct printing is not damaged by the UV light. It is also conceivable that the control unit is designed to change the power of the UV LEDs based on local surface orientations of the container surface relative to the UV light field. This compensates for the alignment of different surface areas on the container to the applied UV light field.
  • At least one UV sensor can be assigned to the UV LEDs in order to detect and / or regulate a radiation intensity of one or more of the UV LEDs, and in particular is connected to the control unit. This makes it possible to compensate for variations in the radiation output of the UV LEDs due to production or aging. It is conceivable that the UV sensor is a photodiode or transistor that is sensitive to UV light. The UV sensor can be oriented with a light entry surface in the direction of at least one associated UV LED.
  • the transporter can be designed for transporting the container with container receptacles, on each of which one of the UV light units is arranged to run along.
  • the UV light units can be used very flexible, for example, for pinning between the Print two inks and then cure.
  • the curing can take place along with the transport of the container along a Aushärteabitess.
  • the Transportuer be designed as a carousel, each container receiving radially inside or outside a curing station is assigned. It is also conceivable that each container receptacle on the carousel are assigned a printing station for printing the direct printing and a curing station for curing the direct printing.
  • the container receptacles and / or the UV light units are enclosed with a treatment labyrinth, preferably wherein the respective UV light unit with the control unit is controlled such that the UV light field between two direct print heads can be activated and deactivated at the position of a direct print head , This can be pinned between the pressure of two inks, so that different inks do not run into each other.
  • little or no scattered light from the UV light units reaches the direct print heads as a result of the treatment labyrinth.
  • the treatment labyrinth may comprise shielding elements which form an enclosure for the container receptacles and / or the UV light unit.
  • the shielding elements may form one or more access openings for printing and / or curing the printing ink.
  • the at least one UV light unit can be arranged stationarily on the curing unit.
  • the UV light unit can be designed to carry the UV light field with the transport of the container, preferably by switching the UV LEDs.
  • the supply lines without rotary distributor can be easily guided to the UV light unit.
  • “Stationary” may here mean that the UV light unit is fixedly connected to a machine base or a support frame of the curing station It is conceivable that when the carrier is designed as a carousel, the UV light unit is arranged radially inside or outside a transport path of the conveyor In a linear transporter, the UV light unit may be arranged laterally along a transport path The transport path may be a distance along the transport positions of the containers, in other words, the path along which the container receivers are moved during transport with the transporter the UV light unit can be designed to emit the UV light in the direction of the container receptacles and / or transversely to a transport direction of the transportor.
  • the feed dog may be a carousel with a hollow shaft, wherein the at least one UV light unit is arranged centrally on the hollow shaft.
  • the lighting unit can be stationary. arranges and with a stand through the hollow shaft protrude.
  • the UV LEDs can be arranged outside the hollow shaft, preferably vertically above a carousel plane, in order to radiate UV light onto the containers in the container receptacles.
  • a radiation direction of the UV light can be transverse, preferably perpendicular to a carousel axis.
  • the UV light unit comprises a chimney-type heat sink, which is arranged centrally on the hollow shaft and on which the UV LEDs are arranged.
  • a fan is arranged on the chimney-like heat sink.
  • the invention for solving the problem provides a direct printing machine for printing on containers with the features of claim 10.
  • the direct printing machine may include the features described above individually or in any combination.
  • the use of the 2D array of UV LEDs to create the UV light field to cure the ink requires less effort and flexibility. This also applies to the printing station.
  • the at least one printing station is designed as a separate unit may mean here that the printing station and the curing station each comprise a separate support frame for supporting on a floor.
  • the own conveyor of the printing station can also be designed as a carousel or as a linear conveyor.
  • the printing station can be connected via a further conveyor with the curing station.
  • the print station may include one or more direct print heads to print the direct print onto the containers, preferably by the inkjet principle.
  • the direct printing heads may each comprise at least one row of nozzles with printing nozzles in order to apply the printing ink as ink droplets to the containers.
  • the feed dog may include rotatable container receptacles to rotate the containers relative to the direct print heads. This allows the containers to be fully printed.
  • the container receptacles may each comprise a direct drive, a turntable, for receiving the container bottom and / or a centering bell for receiving the container mouth for rotating the container.
  • the at least one printing station is attached to the feed dog of the curing station. This makes the direct printing machine very compact become.
  • the feed dog can be used both for applying the printing ink and for curing.
  • several printing stations are each associated with at least one direct print head on the feed dog.
  • the printing stations can also be designed as satellite printing stations.
  • the printing stations with the carousel can be designed to run along the feed dog and preferably each be associated with a container receptacle. In this way, we print and cure a container in a printing station on the carousel with all printing inks.
  • the invention provides a method for curing the printing ink of a direct printing on containers with the features of claim 1 1 to solve the problem.
  • Advantageous embodiments are mentioned in the subclaims.
  • the method may comprise the features previously described in relation to the curing station and / or the direct printing machine mutatis mutandis, individually or in any combination.
  • UV light unit by the 2D-arrangement of UV LEDs, a UV light field for curing the ink is produced by LED technology, the UV light is generated more efficiently and can be switched very fast. As a result, the UV light unit develops less heat and can be switched on and off particularly quickly without preheating time.
  • the UV LEDs can be controlled individually, so that the UV light field to the actual requirements when curing individually to the Container shape or the size of the direct pressure is adjusted.
  • the containers can be guided particularly close to the UV light unit without excessively irradiating a surface area closest to the UV light source. Therefore, overall less radiation power is required than in the known UV light sources. The method thus requires less effort and is more flexible.
  • control technology can ensure that the UV light unit is always switched off when a container from a treatment labyrinth / chamber area is conveyed and stray light could reach one of the direct print heads.
  • the UV light units can run along with the transport of the containers, the UV light fields being generated as a function of transport positions of the containers and / or the container receptacles relative to a curing and / or pinning section of the curing station. the.
  • the UV light unit can be used particularly flexibly, for example for pinning between the printing of two printing inks and then for curing.
  • the at least one UV light unit can be arranged stationary, wherein the UV light field is carried along with a transport movement of the container by the UV LEDs are controlled in dependence of the transport movement, preferably switched on and off.
  • the UV light unit can carry the UV light field with the transport of the container.
  • the UV illumination unit has a mixed assembly of different UV light spectra. So it is possible to differentiate UV curing inks with the right spectrum and the right dose of each required spectrum to expose.
  • the UV LEDs can be driven based on a distance of the respective UV LED to a container to be cured in order to homogenize the UV light field acting on the ink on the container. As a result, a tank area removed from the UV light unit can be cured just as quickly as a nearby tank area.
  • a UV sensor can measure a radiation intensity of one or more of the UV LEDs and regulate the emission intensity over it. This makes it possible to compensate for variations in the radiation output of the UV LEDs due to production or aging.
  • Figure 1A shows an embodiment of a printing station and a curing station in one
  • Figures 1 B - 1 C detailed views of the curing station of Figure 1 A in a side view and in a plan view.
  • Figure 2A shows another embodiment of a printing station and a curing station in a plan view
  • FIGS. 2B - 2C are detail views of the curing station of Figure 2A in a side view and in a plan view;
  • FIGS. 2D-2E show the printing station and the curing station of FIG. 2A with an additional treatment labyrinth in operation in a plan view;
  • Figure 3 shows another embodiment of a curing station with a carousel as
  • FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a curing station with a linear conveyor as a conveyor in a plan view
  • Figure 5 shows another embodiment of a curing station with a linear conveyor as a conveyor in a plan view
  • FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a UV LED of Figures 1-5 with a UV sensor in a plan view.
  • FIGS. 1A-1C show an embodiment of a printing station 120 and a curing station 100 in a plan view.
  • the containers 102 On display are the containers 102, which are transferred with the feed star 104 to the feed dog 101 and are received there in the container receptacles 103.
  • the feed dog 101 is here designed, for example, as a carousel, which rotates in the direction T about a vertical axis and thereby passes the containers 102 for applying a direct pressure to the printing station 120 and to the UV light unit 1 10. Subsequently, the containers 102 are transferred to the discharge star 105 and fed to further treatment steps.
  • the printing station 120 comprises a plurality of direct printing heads 121 Y , 121 M , 121 c , 121 K and 121 w , each having one or more nozzle rows, which operate on the inkjet principle.
  • the containers 102 are successively printed with a plurality of raster images in the colors yellow, magenta, cyan, black and white, which overlap to a direct color print, which identifies the contents of the container 102.
  • the printing inks can each be cured with UV light and can therefore be dried very quickly.
  • the container 102 in addition by the container receptacles 103 with respect to the direct print heads 121 Y, 121 M, 121 c, 121 K and 121 rotated w.
  • the container receptacles 103 each have a turntable 103b rotatable with a direct drive and a centering bell 103a.
  • the UV light unit 1 10 comprises a carrier plate 1 1 1 and a matrix arrangement of UV LEDs 1 12 for generating a UV By the UV light field 1 13 with the transport direction T of the container 102 can be carried by the UV LEDs corresponding to the control unit 106 on and off or dimmed.
  • the inks harden so that they no longer run and are scratch-resistant.
  • the structure of the UV light unit 1 10 is shown in more detail in Figures 1 B from the side and in the figure 1 C from above.
  • FIG. 1B it can be seen that the UV LEDs 12 are mounted in a matrix arrangement on the carrier plate 11.
  • the 2D arrangement extends, for example, over the entire height of the containers 102 along the curing section A shown in FIG. 1A.
  • all the UV LEDs 12 operate at a wavelength in the UV light spectrum, preferably in the UV-B or UV radiation. C range.
  • the structure of the UV light unit 1 10 may contain a mixed assembly of different UV LED types with different UV light spectra to process different set UV-curing inks can.
  • the required UV light spectra can be activated as needed as well as in the right position. For example, a front pressure of 280nm hardened while a back pressure of 31 onm is fixed.
  • UV-LEDs 12a are switched off, either because they are not opposite the container 102 or outside a direct-injection zone 102a which does not extend over the full height of the container 102 but only on the right side container belly.
  • the higher intensity UV LEDs 12b and the lower intensity UV LEDs 112c are turned on.
  • the UV light field 1 13 acting on the direct print 102a is homogenized and the curing takes place particularly uniformly.
  • the UV light field 1 13 is carried along with the container transport in the direction T.
  • the UV LEDs 1 12 of the UV light unit 1 10 with the control unit 106 individually or in groups depending on the respective transport position Pi, P 2 , P 3 of the container 102 relative to the Aushärteab mustard A and the UV light unit 1 10 controlled ,
  • the UV light field 1 13 thus moves virtually with the transport movement of the container 102 with.
  • the containers 102 can be rotated in the container receptacles 103 during transport in the direction T with the turntables 103 b, for example, to cure a direct back pressure, not shown here.
  • the UV light unit 1 10 comprises the matrix arrangement of UV LEDs 1 12, the UV light field 1 13 can be carried along with the transport movement of the container 102 during curing and thus acts over a longer period in the ink of the direct pressure 102 a , Consequently, the ink can be sufficiently cured with less radiation line of the UV LEDs 1 12, without ozone is produced or a high heat output must be cooled.
  • the UV LEDs 1 12 are very fast switchable and the UV light field 1 13 can be adapted directly to different direct print sizes. A preheating time is also not necessary.
  • the UV LEDs also work in UV-A and / or UV-B, so that the screen is less expensive. Consequently, the curing station 100 or the direct printing machine 120, 100 is less complicated and more flexible.
  • FIGS. 2A-2E show another embodiment of a printing station 220 and a curing station 200.
  • the exemplary embodiment differs essentially in that, instead of the stationary UV light unit 110 of FIGS. 1A-1C, the UV light units 210 are arranged to follow the container receptacles 203.
  • the printing station 220 with the direct printing heads 221 Y , 221 M , 221 c , 221 K and 221 w corresponds in structure and function to the printing station 120 from FIGS. 1A-1C.
  • a container receptacle 203 with the associated curing station 210a can be seen in a lateral view or in a plan view, in which the container 202 is just hardening. This is done after printing with the last direct print head 221 w in the curing area A during transport.
  • the UV light unit 210 includes a carrier 21 1 and a matrix array of UV LEDs 212 that generates the UV light field 213 to cure the ink.
  • the UV light unit 210 is arranged on the carousel 201 and is transported along with the respective container receptacle 203 in the transport direction T thereof.
  • the UV light units 210a are deactivated by the control unit 206, so that no ink could be cured in the print nozzles and thus a malfunction could be caused.
  • the UV light units 210 are so controlled by the control unit 206 in the pinning sections B-1-B 4 , that is, depending on the transport position of the respective containers 202 between the direct print heads 221 Y , 221 M , 221 c , 221 "and 221 W in that, with the UV LEDs 212, the ink being printed is lightly pinned to avoid running with the subsequently applied ink.
  • control unit 206 controls the performance of the UV LEDs 212 based on the transport position of the respective container receptacle 203 individually or in groups so that they in the curing section A based on a distance of the respective UV LED 212 to the container 202 a homogeneously acting UV light field 213 generate. This is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2B and 2C. Since, in this example, the direct pressure 202a is only applied to the container belly, the upper UV LEDs 212 are deactivated so as not to generate unnecessary heat output. On the other hand, the two higher intensity side UV LED groups 212b and the lower intensity UV LEDs 212c are turned on. As can be seen in more detail in FIG.
  • the curing section A spans a larger area of the transport path subsequent to the printing station 220 up to the discharge star 205, so that the printing ink on the container 202 can be irradiated for a longer time. As a result, a sufficient curing effect is achieved even with a lower radiation power of the UV LEDs 212.
  • the UV light units 210 comprises both UV LEDs 212 in the UV-A region for pinning and in the UV-B and / or UV-C region for curing.
  • the turntables 203b of the container receivers 203 are rotatable with a direct drive. Therefore, upon curing, it is possible to rotate the containers 202 to cure the ink of a direct pressure applied to the container rear.
  • each container receptacle 203 is associated with a UV light unit 210
  • the curing station 200 of Figures 2A - 2C can be used very flexible.
  • FIGS. 2D-2E show the printing station 220 and the curing station 200 of FIG. 2A with an additional treatment labyrinth 230 in operation in a plan view.
  • the treatment labyrinth 230 with the shielding elements 231 a, 231 b and 232 is arranged at the feed dog 201 between the individual container receptacles 203.
  • the shielding elements 231 a, 231 b form an enclosure for the container receptacles 203 and the shielding elements 232 corresponding to the UV lighting units 210.
  • chambers each with a UV light unit 210 and a container receptacle 203 are formed, which shield the scattered light from the adjacent chambers.
  • the shielding 231 a, 231 b, 232 are formed such that each chamber, a first access opening 233 for the direct print heads 221 and a second access opening for the associated UV lamp unit 210 is formed.
  • FIG. 2D it can be seen that the containers 202 are cured just after the last direct print head 221 w , the UV light units 210 a between the last direct print head 221 w and the discharge star 205 being activated. Conversely, the remaining UV light units 210b are currently deactivated, since partially containers 202 are printed by the direct print heads 221 through the access openings 230 at the respective treatment positions. This prevents print ink from being cured directly at the direct print heads 221, thereby impairing their function.
  • the feed dog 201 has been slightly further rotated and that the containers 202 are located at positions between the direct print heads 221.
  • scattered light from the UV light units 210a is shielded by the treatment labyrinth 230, preferably by the shielding elements 231a, 231b, so that it can not reach the inactive direct print heads 221.
  • the UV light units 210a may be activated to pin the ink through the access openings 234 between the individual direct print heads 221. This achieves an even sharper print result.
  • FIG. 3 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a curing station 300 with a carousel as a conveyor 301 in a plan view.
  • the embodiment differs from that in the figure 1A - 1 C essentially in that the feed dog is designed as a carousel 301 with a hollow shaft 301 a and the UV light unit 310 is centrally located in the hollow shaft 301 a and not peripherally on the outer periphery ,
  • the printing station is not arranged on the conveyor 301 of the curing station 300 but as a separate unit, not shown here, with its own conveyor.
  • the printing station is arranged upstream of the curing station, so that the container already provided with the ink 302 be passed with the feed star 304 to the container receptacles 303 of the curing station 300.
  • the UV light unit 310 is formed with a columnar, hollow heat sink 31 1, which forms a chimney and zwangsbellusterbar via the fan 314.
  • the UV LEDs 312 are arranged radially outward on the outside of the heat sink 31 1 above the carousel plane.
  • the UV light field is radiated substantially radially outwardly and the ink is cured on the containers 302.
  • the container receptacles 303 are designed to be rotatable so that the containers 302 can be rotated about their longitudinal axes.
  • the performances of the UV LEDs are controlled individually or in groups by a control unit, not shown here, based on transport positions of the containers 302 relative to the curing section A.
  • the UV light field travels with the transport of the containers in the direction T, without the UV light unit 310 having to be rotated for this purpose.
  • the UV lamp unit 310 can be driven without a rotary distributor and thus has a particularly simple design.
  • FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a curing station 400 with a linear conveyor 401 as a conveyor in a plan view. It can be seen that the containers 402 are already transported by a printing station, not shown, provided with printing ink with the linear conveyor 401 along the UV light unit 410 along and thereby cured.
  • the UV light unit 410 here also includes a matrix array of UV LEDs 412 that produce a UV light field to cure the ink.
  • UV LEDs 412a are off since they are not opposite the container 402.
  • the UV LEDs 412 are turned on at different intensities based on a distance of the respective UV LEDs 412b to the container 402 to homogenize the UV light field applied to the ink on the container 402. As a result, the curing takes place particularly evenly.
  • the UV light field is carried along with the container transport by switching the UV LEDs 412.
  • the UV LEDs 412 of the UV light unit 410 are controlled individually or in groups as a function of the respective transport position of the containers 402 relative to the curing section A or the UV light unit 410 with a control unit not shown here.
  • the UV light field thus moves virtually with the transport movement of the container 402. Consequently, it is also possible for a linear transporter 401 to use a curing station 400 with a 2D arrangement of UV LEDs 412. As a result, the curing station 400 is less complex and flexible.
  • FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a curing station 500 with a linear conveyor 501 as a conveyor in a top view.
  • the embodiment differs from that in FIG. 4 only in that here two UV light units 510a, 510b are arranged opposite to the linear conveyor 501.
  • Both UV light units 510a, 510b are each formed with a carrier 51 1 a, 51 1 b and a matrix arrangement of UV LEDs 512a, 512b.
  • Both UV light units 510a, 510b work like the UV light unit 410 previously described with reference to FIG. 4 and are accordingly controlled by a control unit, not shown here, so that the UV light fields are carried along with the transport of the containers 502.
  • both sides of the container can be cured simultaneously and without rotation of the containers.
  • the curing station 500 operates particularly efficiently. It is also conceivable that, in the case of the curing stations 100, 200, 300 in FIGS. 1A-3, two opposite UV lighting units are arranged along the transport path.
  • FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a UV LED 1 12, 212, 312, 412, 512, as can be used in the curing stations 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 of FIGS.
  • the UV sensor 15 can be seen, which measures the emission intensity of the UV light and transmits a corresponding signal to the control units. Since the radiation power of UV LEDs fluctuates due to production and aging, this can be detected with the UV sensor 15 and compensated for via a corresponding preferably current regulation or change in the PWM.
  • UV sensor 15 'at the feed dog 102, 202, 302, 402, 502 opposite to the UV LED 1 12, 212, 312, 412, 512 is arranged, whereby the radiation intensity in the forward direction is particularly well detected.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Supply, Installation And Extraction Of Printed Sheets Or Plates (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Coating Apparatus (AREA)

Abstract

Poste de durcissement (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) servant à faire durcir l'encre d'impression d'une impression directe (102a, 202a) sur des contenants (102, 202, 302, 402, 502), qui comprend un convoyeur (101, 201, 301, 401, 501) destiné à transporter les contenants (102, 202), de préférence dans des logements (103, 203, 303) pour contenants, et au moins une unité d'éclairage à ultraviolets (110, 210, 310, 410, 510) servant à faire durcir l'encre d'impression, caractérisé en ce que ladite au moins une unité d'éclairage à ultraviolets (110, 210, 310, 410, 510) comprend un agencement en 2D de LED à ultraviolets (112, 212, 312, 412, 512) destinées à générer un champ lumineux UV (113, 213) pour durcir l'encre d'impression.
EP17722448.2A 2016-09-02 2017-05-10 Poste de durcissement et procédé de durcissement de l'encre d'impression d'une impression directe sur des contenants Active EP3507098B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102016216627.1A DE102016216627A1 (de) 2016-09-02 2016-09-02 Aushärtestation und Verfahren zum Aushärten von Druckfarbe eines Direktdrucks auf Behältern
PCT/EP2017/061110 WO2018041422A1 (fr) 2016-09-02 2017-05-10 Poste de durcissement et procédé de durcissement de l'encre d'impression d'une impression directe sur des contenants

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EP3507098A1 true EP3507098A1 (fr) 2019-07-10
EP3507098B1 EP3507098B1 (fr) 2021-05-05

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US (1) US11383508B2 (fr)
EP (1) EP3507098B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN109641446B (fr)
DE (1) DE102016216627A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2018041422A1 (fr)

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DE202017105318U1 (de) * 2017-09-04 2018-12-06 Krones Ag Behandlungsmaschine für Behälter
DE102019208132A1 (de) * 2019-06-04 2020-12-10 Heraeus Noblelight Gmbh Anordnung mit belichtungseinrichtung und messeinrichtung, beinhaltend eine elektrische messschaltung und eine selektionsschaltung
US20210369889A1 (en) * 2020-05-26 2021-12-02 Sg Gaming, Inc. Playing card cleaner
US11787203B2 (en) * 2020-09-10 2023-10-17 Ink Cups Now Llc. System and method for hollow vessel printing
DE102022101561A1 (de) * 2022-01-24 2023-07-27 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Verfahren zum strahlungsgehärteten Reliefdruck auf Behälter
DE102022123022A1 (de) * 2022-09-09 2024-03-14 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Direktdruckvorrichtung mit UV-Leuchtvorrichtung

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JP2003285456A (ja) 2002-01-28 2003-10-07 Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd 光定着器及びその照度補正方法並びに感熱プリンタ
GB0304761D0 (en) 2003-03-01 2003-04-02 Integration Technology Ltd Ultraviolet curing
CN101142238A (zh) * 2004-01-07 2008-03-12 肯特治疗股份有限公司 旋转式紫外固化方法和设备
DE102005051470A1 (de) 2005-10-21 2007-04-26 Bizerba Gmbh & Co. Kg Aktivierungsvorrichtung für aktivierbare Indikatoren zur Warenkennzeichnung, Vorrichtung zur Bereitstellung von aktivierten Indikatoren und Verfahren zur Aktivierung von Indikatoren
EP2447070A4 (fr) 2009-06-26 2012-11-21 Nk Works Co Ltd Dispositif de rayonnement ultraviolet et dispositif d'impression
DE102009031479A1 (de) 2009-07-01 2011-01-05 Krones Ag Vorrichtung zum Anbringen von Etikettenstreifen an Behältnissen
DE102010044244A1 (de) 2010-09-02 2012-03-08 Khs Gmbh Verfahren sowie Vorrichtung zum Behandeln von Behältern
CN104736922B (zh) * 2012-10-24 2016-12-07 豪雅冠得股份有限公司 光照射装置
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DE102015200986A1 (de) 2014-02-20 2015-08-20 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag Intellectual Property Vorrichtung zum Bedrucken und Strahlungsbehandeln einer gekrümmten Oberfläche eines Objekts
CN105015160A (zh) 2014-04-17 2015-11-04 北京慧眼智行科技有限公司 一种可自动调节固化功率的光固化设备
DE102014216576A1 (de) * 2014-08-21 2016-02-25 Krones Ag Behälterbehandlungsmaschine mit einer Inspektionsvorrichtung
CN204322719U (zh) * 2014-11-14 2015-05-13 汕头东风印刷股份有限公司 一种led uv油墨固化装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN109641446A (zh) 2019-04-16
DE102016216627A1 (de) 2018-03-08
WO2018041422A1 (fr) 2018-03-08
CN109641446B (zh) 2020-10-30
US11383508B2 (en) 2022-07-12
EP3507098B1 (fr) 2021-05-05
US20210354482A1 (en) 2021-11-18

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