EP3582969B1 - Method for operating a device for printing hollow bodies - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a device for printing hollow bodies according to claim 1.

Such as B. from the WO 2012/148576 A1 is known, in the packaging industry in a device for decorating hollow bodies each having a cylindrical outer surface, a plurality of printing units are mostly used. Each of these printing units transfers a printing ink to a printing blanket used by these printing units. The outer surface of the hollow body in question is then moved by a relative movement between the outer surface of the hollow body in question and the previously in particular multi-colored printing blanket, in particular by rolling the outer surface of the hollow body in question on this printing blanket, with a z. B. decorated multicolored print motif.

Such a device for printing or decorating hollow bodies, in particular each having a preferably cylindrical outer surface, is e.g. B. used in connection with a system usually having several workstations for the production of such hollow bodies, the printing or decoration of the hollow bodies being carried out by a printing process, which is why these hollow bodies can generally also be referred to as printed products. In such a system, the hollow bodies to be printed are in a mass production with z. B. several hundred or even a few thousand pieces per minute, e.g. B. manufactured between 1,500 and 3,000 pieces per minute. Such hollow bodies are z. B. made of metal, in particular steel or aluminum, or made of a plastic. Such hollow bodies made of metal are z. B. used as beverage cans or as aerosol cans. Such hollow bodies made of plastic are z. B. produced in the form of thermoplastic moldings and z. B. as a cup for packaging z. B. of liquid or pasty foods, especially dairy products or beverages. The respective hollow body can, however, also be a round tube body made either of plastic or aluminum, whereby a tube is understood to be an elongated, solid, but malleable container which is intended to be filled with a particularly paste-like substance. Tubes made of aluminum are z. B. manufactured in a reverse extrusion process. Tubes made of plastic are z. B. each produced as seamless tubes by extrusion. Another type of hollow bodies to be printed in an aforementioned device can be preferably cylindrical containers or vessels made of glass, e.g. B. bottles or flacons.

Beverage cans are preferably made of aluminum and are i. d. Typically so-called two-part cans, in which a circular base together with a preferably straight cylinder jacket each consist of a single workpiece, i. H. from a so-called slug or from a round blank, d. H. a circular disc, in a forming process, e.g. B. in a cold extrusion process or in a tensile compression forming process, preferably by deep drawing, in particular by ironing deep drawing, to form a hollow body open on one side, d. H. can be manufactured into a so-called raw can and in a final production step a circular lid is placed on the cylinder jacket and connected to the cylinder jacket in an airtight manner by flanging.

Tinplate cans are another type of can. Tinplate is a tin-plated steel sheet. For the production of tinplate cans, the thickness of the steel sheet is e.g. B. 0.15 mm to 0.49 mm, the thickness of the tin layer z. B. 0.2 microns to 0.8 microns, the tin coating is used for corrosion protection. Tinplate cans are so-called three-part cans. In order to produce the jacket of a tinplate can, a rectangular strip of sheet steel is bent to form a preferably straight cylinder jacket, the ends of this strip bent to a cylinder jacket in a butt joint be welded. Then a circular base and a circular cover are placed on the cylinder jacket and the edges are flanged. In order to obtain a higher resistance to impressions for the tinplate can in question, z. B. all three parts, ie the cylinder jacket, the bottom and the cover, preferably a wave profile.

An aerosol can, also known as a spray can or spray can, is a metal can for spraying liquids. In an aerosol can, the liquid filled is under pressure, the propellant gas used to dispense the liquid in question from the can in question, for. B. propane, butane, dimethyl ether or mixtures thereof or compressed air or nitrogen is used.

The aforementioned WO 2012/148576 A1 describes a device for decorating cans, an arrangement of several printing units, each with one inking unit, being provided for the multicolored decoration of a plurality of cans, each of the inking units belonging to one of the printing units having an ink fountain for providing printing ink, in each ink fountain In each case one ink fountain roller is provided for receiving the printing ink from the respective ink fountain, each inking unit having an inking ductor, the inking fountain in each case receiving printing ink from the respective inking fountain roller, with several oscillating inking rollers in a roller train following the respective inking fountain in the relevant inking unit and a plurality of ink transfer rollers each cooperating with at least one of the ink distributor rollers are provided, a plate cylinder with at least one printing plate being provided for each inking unit, with the respective plate cylinder only a single inking roller cooperates to apply the printing ink.

Through the DE 10 2014 213 807 A1 a device for printing hollow bodies according to the preamble of claim 1 is known, this device having a segment wheel rotating about its axis has several printing blankets arranged one behind the other on its circumference and, in association with this segment wheel, has several plate cylinders each carrying a printing forme or a printing cliché, a printing forme or a printing cliché being exchangeable on these plate cylinders.

The post-published DE 10 2016 201 140 A1 discloses a method of operating an apparatus for printing hollow bodies, this apparatus being a Axis rotating segment wheel with several printing blankets arranged one behind the other on its circumference and, in association with this segment wheel, has several plate cylinders each carrying a printing forme or printing block, each of these plate cylinders being supplied with a specific printing color by means of an inking unit to color its printing forme or printing block.

Through the WO 2004/109581 A2 is a device for performing a non-contact digital printing process, e.g. B. an inkjet printing process is known to individually print round objects, in particular two-part cans, without using a printing blanket, preferably several print heads are provided, each printing a single ink.

Through the DE 10 2006 004 568 A1 A short inking unit for a printing machine is known, containing a printing forme cylinder, an inking roller that interacts with the printing forme cylinder and an anilox roller contacting the inking roller, to which a device for ink supply is assigned, with at least one leveling roller between the location of the ink supply and the contact gap between the anilox roller and the Inking roller, based on the direction of rotation of the anilox roller, is arranged, the device for ink supply being designed as a chamber doctor blade.

Through the DE 101 60 734 A1 A printing machine is known which comprises at least one printing form, a dampening unit for dampening the printing form with a dampening solution, an inking unit for inking the printing form with a printing ink and a dehumidifying device with a heating roller (temperature control roller) for reducing a proportion of the dampening solution conveyed together with the printing ink , the inking unit being designed as a lifterless short inking unit, one inking unit roller of the inking unit having a first roll-off contact point at which the inking unit roller is in rolling contact with the heating roller, the inking unit roller having a second Has roll-off contact point and wherein a shortest conveying path of the printing ink from the inking unit roller to the printing form is predetermined by at most one intermediate roller.

Through the DE 32 32 780 A1 an inking unit for offset printing machines for printing on sheets or webs with a plate cylinder is known, which receives the required color from a maximum of two inking rollers with an elastic surface, which interact with an inking cylinder to which the color is fed via an ink supply system that produces a continuous ink film, The inking cylinder is followed by an inking roller with almost the same diameter as the plate cylinder, the inking cylinder being assigned a dampening unit with at least one roller that transfers the dampening solution and the transfer of the dampening solution to the inking cylinder in the direction of rotation of the same after the inking and before its contact point with the Inking roller takes place.

Through the DE 10 2006 048 286 A1 a method for driving a printing unit with a short inking unit in a processing machine with an anilox roller and an associated squeegee device and an inking roller arranged downstream of the anilox roller is known, which is followed by a plate / forme cylinder in the ink flow direction, the plate / forme cylinder with a blanket cylinder and the The blanket cylinder is in operative connection with an impression cylinder that carries the printing material, the anilox roller being driven by an individual drive, with the main drive providing a drive to a drive wheel of the printing cylinder and a drive wheel of the blanket cylinder and a second and first drive wheel of the plate / Form cylinder and a drive wheel of the inking roller and a drive wheel of the anilox roller is fed, the individual drive of the anilox roller is inactive, and the drive connection to the main drive between the first drive wheel and the second drive in the setup mode ebsrad of the plate / forme cylinder is separated, the individual drive of the anilox roller is activated and a drive torque is applied to the drive wheel of the anilox roller and the Drive wheel of the inking roller and the first drive wheel of the plate / forme cylinder is introduced.

Through the DE 196 24 440 A1 a device for filling recesses of a cylinder of a printing machine with a liquid is known, with at least two squeegee devices for filling recesses of the cylinder with the liquid being arranged on the cylinder, one application device connected to a conveying system for the liquid and one of these in the direction of rotation of the cylinder are provided downstream working doctor blades, wherein the doctor blades are attached to a beam, wherein the squeegee liquid is drained to a collecting pan.

Through the DE 89 12 194 U1 An inking unit for use in a printing machine with a working doctor blade that can be adjusted to an anilox roller and an ink pan with ink conveying means is known, the working doctor blade, the ink pan and the means for conveying the ink to the anilox roller being combined into one unit and the unit on one on the printing machine mounted carrier is releasably fastened.

Through the DE 10 2007 052 761 A1 An anilox printing unit is known which has an inking roller and an anilox roller as inking rollers, the anilox roller being mounted on pivot levers, the anilox roller and the inking roller each having bearer rings, one of which is arranged to press the bearer rings of one against the bearer rings of the other inking roller Has device springs to compensate for manufacturing tolerance-related diameter differences.

Through the DE 43 00 683 A1 an inking unit of a rotary printing machine with an inking roller with annular grooves formed in its outer surface is known.

Through the U.S. 516,620 a distribution roller with a plurality of elastic rings arranged next to one another in the axial direction is known.

Through the DE 28 51 426 A1 a device is known for printing a respective outer surface of hollow bodies, with a transport device transporting the hollow bodies to be printed around an axis of rotation being provided, with several printing units being provided, each hollow body to be printed being transportable with the transport device into a printing area of at least one of the printing units , wherein at least one of the printing units has a printing forme cylinder and an inking unit with a single inking roller.

The invention is based on the object of creating a method for operating a device for printing hollow bodies, with which an optimized production change is possible while this device is in operation.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. The dependent claims relate to advantageous developments and configurations of the solution found.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and is described in more detail below. Advantages that can be achieved with the invention are mentioned in connection with the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 1

eine Vorrichtung zum Bedrucken bzw. zur Dekoration von jeweils eine Mantelfläche aufweisenden Hohlkörpern;

Fig. 2

ein Farbwerk insbesondere für die in Fig. 1 dargestellte Vorrichtung in einer ersten Betriebsstellung;

Fig. 3

das Farbwerk insbesondere für die in Fig. 1 dargestellte Vorrichtung in einer zweiten Betriebsstellung;

Fig. 4

ein Kammerrakelsystem insbesondere für das in den Fig. 2 und 3 dargestellte Farbwerk;

Fig. 5

einen Plattenwechsler in einer ersten Betriebsstellung;

Fig. 6

den Plattenwechsler der Fig. 5 in einer zweiten Betriebsstellung;

Fig. 7

eine Speichereinrichtung für Drucktücher;

Fig. 8

eine Einrichtung für einen senkrechten Transport der Speichereinrichtung gemäß der Fig. 7;

Fig. 9

eine Einrichtung für einen waagerechten Transport von jeweils einem der Drucktücher zwischen der Speichereinrichtung gemäß der Fig. 7 und einem Montageort an einem Segmentrad in der Vorrichtung gemäß der Fig. 1;

Fig. 10

die Speichereinrichtung der Fig. 7 in ihrem an der für ihren senkrechten Transport vorgesehenen Einrichtung angeordneten Betriebszustand;

Fig. 11

die Einrichtung für einen waagerechten Transport von jeweils einem der Drucktücher gemäß Fig. 9 im Querschnitt mit einem aufgestellten Spachtel zum Abnehmen eines gebrauchten Drucktuchs vom Segmentrad;

Fig. 12

eine perspektivische Darstellung der Einrichtung für einen waagerechten Transport von jeweils einem der Drucktücher gemäß Fig. 9 mit dem aufgestellten Spachtel;

Fig. 13

die Vorrichtung zum Bedrucken bzw. zur Dekoration von jeweils eine Mantelfläche aufweisenden Hohlkörpern gemäß der Fig. 1 mit einer schematischen Darstellung der Segmente des Segmentrades;

Fig. 14

eine perspektivische Einzeldarstellung des Segmentrades mit seiner Welle;

Fig. 15

eine perspektivische Einzeldarstellung des das Segmentrad rotativ antreibenden Antriebs;

Fig. 16

eine Schnittdarstellung des Segmentrades mit seinem Antrieb im in der Vorrichtung zum Bedrucken von Hohlkörpern angeordneten Zustand;

Fig. 17

eine Produktionsabfolge zur Herstellung von einem Farbverlauf an einem Hohlkörper;

Fig. 18

eine hybride Vorrichtung zum Bedrucken von Hohlkörpern.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a device for printing or decorating hollow bodies each having a lateral surface;

Fig. 2

an inking unit especially for the in Fig. 1 shown device in a first operating position;

Fig. 3

the inking unit especially for the in Fig. 1 shown device in a second operating position;

Fig. 4

a chamber doctor blade system in particular for the Fig. 2 and 3 illustrated inking unit;

Fig. 5

a disk changer in a first operating position;

Fig. 6

the record changer of the Fig. 5 in a second operating position;

Fig. 7

a storage device for printing blankets;

Fig. 8

a device for vertical transport of the storage device according to FIG Fig. 7 ;

Fig. 9

a device for a horizontal transport of one of the printing blankets between the storage device according to FIG Fig. 7 and a mounting location on a segment wheel in the device according to FIG Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 10

the storage device of the Fig. 7 in their operating state arranged on the device provided for their vertical transport;

Fig. 11

the device for a horizontal transport of one of the printing blankets according to Fig. 9 in cross section with a spatula set up to remove a used printing blanket from the segment wheel;

Fig. 12

a perspective view of the device for a horizontal Transport of one of the printing blankets at a time Fig. 9 with the spatula set up;

Fig. 13

the device for printing or decorating hollow bodies each having a lateral surface according to FIG Fig. 1 with a schematic representation of the segments of the segment wheel;

Fig. 14

a perspective individual representation of the segment wheel with its shaft;

Fig. 15

a perspective individual representation of the drive which rotatively drives the segmented wheel;

Fig. 16

a sectional view of the segment wheel with its drive in the state arranged in the device for printing hollow bodies;

Fig. 17

a production sequence for producing a color gradient on a hollow body;

Fig. 18

a hybrid device for printing hollow bodies.

Printing in particular the outer surface of a hollow body with a z. B. multicolored print motif, ie at least one print image, takes place in a preferred embodiment in a letterpress process. Alternative printing methods are e.g. B. a screen printing process or an offset printing process or a printing formless digital printing process. The invention is described below by way of example in connection with a letterpress process. To carry out the letterpress process, a printing block is arranged as a printing form on a surface of a plate cylinder. The printing block ready for use for the printing process is a printing form with a printing relief, this printing relief being the one provided for the printing process Reproduces the print image mirrored, with only the printing relief participating in the transfer of the printing ink supplied to the plate cylinder by the inking unit to the printing blanket in a trouble-free printing operation. The printing form or the printing cliché has a plate-shaped, preferably flexible support of finite length z. B. from a steel sheet, a particularly flexible pressure body is arranged on this carrier. At least the opposite ends of the carrier in the circumferential direction of the plate cylinder can, for. B. be pre-bent or angled according to the curvature of the lateral surface of the plate cylinder in order to allow easier assembly of the printing form, that is to say here in particular the printing cliché on the plate cylinder. The carrier of the printing form or the printing plate has a thickness in the range of, for. B. 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm. The printing block including its carrier has a total thickness in the range of, for. B. 0.7 mm to 1.0 mm, preferably about 0.8 mm. The pressure body is z. B. formed from a plastic. The printing body is used for the production of the printing cliché z. B. exposed with a negative film reproducing the print image, with unexposed areas then from the printing body z. B. can be removed by washing or by means of a laser.

A device for printing or for decorating hollow bodies, in particular each having a preferably cylindrical outer surface, preferably has several, e.g. B. eight or ten or even more printing units - also called printing stations - on, at least one of these printing units, in the preferred embodiment all of these printing units each having a rotatable printing form cylinder designed as a plate cylinder. The printing units or printing stations and possibly also the printing forme cylinders in this device are each stored in a frame and can be used in the same printing process to form a multicolored printing motif on the same hollow body according to the number of printing units or printing forme cylinders involved. The storage of the printing forme cylinder or plate cylinder is in each case preferably designed as a cantilever bearing, the respective printing forme cylinder or plate cylinder on one of its end faces, for. B. is mounted on a preferably conical pin. As a rule, only a single printing cliché is arranged on the outer surface of each plate cylinder, the carrier of the printing cliché completely or at least largely, in particular more than 80%, of the circumference of the plate cylinder concerned. A length of the printing body of the printing block directed in the circumferential direction of the plate cylinder in question is preferably made shorter than the circumference of the plate cylinder in question. The printing forme or the printing cliché is arranged or at least can be arranged by means of its carrier in particular magnetically on the outer surface of each plate cylinder, ie the printing forme or the printing cliché is preferably held there magnetically, ie by means of a magnetic holding force. In an alternative or additional embodiment of the device for printing or decorating hollow bodies, each preferably having a cylindrical outer surface, at least one of the printing units or several of these printing units are each designed as a printing unit that prints without printing form in a digital printing process, such a printing unit in particular has at least one inkjet print head or a laser.

The, in particular, simultaneous transfer of several printing inks, in particular to the outer surface of the hollow body in question, requires this color transfer to take place in register in order to achieve good print quality in the printing process. For an in-register arrangement of the printing form or the printing cliché on the outer surface of the relevant printing forme cylinder or plate cylinder, in the preferred embodiment, several z. B. in their respective position adjustable dowel pins are provided which engage in corresponding recesses formed on the printing form or on the printing cliché and thereby the printing form or the printing cliché in its or its arrangement on the outer surface of the Give the printing forme cylinder or plate cylinder concerned a defined position there. In a preferred embodiment, each printing forme cylinder or plate cylinder each has a diameter in the range between 100 mm and 150 mm, in particular between 120 mm and 130 mm, an axial length of the respective printing forme cylinder or plate cylinder, for example. B. between 200 mm and 250 mm, in particular between 200 mm and 220 mm. The printing block to be arranged on the lateral surface of the plate cylinder in question has a width in the axial direction of the plate cylinder in question in the range from 150 mm to 200 mm, preferably approximately 175 mm. Each of the e.g. B. designed as a plate cylinder printing forme cylinder transfers with its printing forme or with its printing cliché in each case a certain printing ink on a printing blanket. The printing inks used are usually premixed, in particular customer-specific special colors which, with regard to their respective printability, are matched in a special way to the material of the hollow body to be printed, depending on whether a surface z. B. made of aluminum, a tinplate or a plastic is printed. In an embodiment according to the invention, a device is provided which transfers a printing ink from the printing form or the printing cliché to the outer surface of the hollow body in question. This ink-transferring device is designed as a segment wheel rotating about a particularly horizontal axis, with several, z. B. eight, ten, twelve or even more printing blankets are arranged or at least can be arranged. In an embodiment not claimed, the ink-transferring device can be designed as an alternative to the segmented wheel, depending on the printing process used, but also as a decoration drum or as a blanket cylinder or as a transfer cylinder, each of which can be rotated around an axis of rotation at least during printing. The arrangement of the printing blankets on the circumference of the segment wheel has so far taken place in that the printing blankets on the circumference of the Segment wheel each z. B. are attached by a material connection, preferably by an adhesive. The plurality of printing forme cylinders or plate cylinders are each adjusted or at least adjustable radially against the printing blankets arranged on the circumference of the relevant segmented wheel. In a particularly preferred embodiment of a device for printing or decorating one z. B. cylindrical outer surface having hollow bodies is arranged on the circumference of the segment wheel one behind the other a larger number of blankets than are provided in each case radially adjusted or at least adjustable printing forme cylinders or plate cylinders on the segment wheel. The preferably carousel-like printing ink transferring device, in particular the segment wheel has a diameter of, for. B. 1,400 mm to 1,600 mm, preferably about 1,520 mm to 1,525 mm, and has at z. B. eight associated printing forme cylinders or plate cylinders on its circumference one behind the other z. B. twelve printing blankets. The surface of each printing plate is preferably designed with a greater hardness than the hardness of the respective surface of the printing blankets. The surface of the printing blankets is preferably planar, that is to say without profiling. In an operating state in which the printing form cylinders or plate cylinders involved in the printing process are each positioned radially on the printing blankets of the rotary driven segmented wheel, the respective printing forms of these printing forme cylinders or the respective printing blocks of these plate cylinders roll on the printing blankets moved with the segmented wheel, whereby the printing blocks at least their printing relief z. B. 0.2 mm to 0.25 mm deep into the respective printing blanket and thereby produce a flattening extending in the axial direction of the segment wheel in the respective printing blanket, ie a roller strip. An intensity of the flattening is z. B. before or at the beginning of a printing process z. B. by means of a remote control by setting a contact pressure exerted by the relevant printing forme cylinder or plate cylinder on the relevant printing blanket of the segmented wheel or is set in such a way.

The hollow bodies to be printed here, e.g. B. the two-part cans to be printed, z. B. by means of a hollow body to be printed, preferably along at least part of a circular path, d. H. a circular arc around an axis of rotation transporting a transport device, preferably by means of a feed wheel, in particular by means of a mandrel wheel, continuously or at a set cycle, to at least one of the printing units belonging to the device for printing a lateral surface of hollow bodies and thus to a printing area of at least one of these printing units transported. For example, the hollow body to be printed by means of the z. B. designed as a feed wheel transport device to at least one of the z. B. on the segment wheel arranged printing blankets, or the hollow bodies to be printed are each directly and immediately by means of this transport device, d. H. without the help of a z. B. designed as a segment wheel printing ink-transmitting device in the respective printing area of at least one of these printing units transported, which is the case when the printing unit in question in a direct printing process, for. B. prints in an inkjet printing process.

That like z. B. the segment wheel likewise rotating about a preferably horizontal axis feed wheel or mandrel wheel has concentrically to its circumferential line in preferably equidistant distribution several, z. B. 24 or 36 holders z. B. each in the form of a mandrel protruding from an end face of the mandrel wheel or a spindle, each holder holding one of the hollow bodies to be printed or at least being able to hold it. A transport device designed as a mandrel wheel is sometimes also referred to as a rotary table with spindles. A mandrel wheel is z. B. in the EP 1 165 318 A1 described. A description of suitable holders, spindles or mandrels can be found e.g. B. in the WO 2011/156052 A1 . In the following, each mandrel is briefly referred to as a mandrel. A longitudinal axis of each mandrel is directed parallel to the axis of the mandrel wheel. In the case of each z. B. designed as a two-piece can to be printed hollow bodies is each of these Hollow body z. B. by means of a conveyor, e.g. B. a belt conveyor to which z. B. designed as a mandrel wheel transport device and there at a transfer station z. B. by means of vacuum suction on one of the mandrels of the mandrel wheel and then held by the mandrel in question, while the transport device designed as a mandrel wheel the respective hollow body to be printed z. B. to the segment wheel covered with at least one printing blanket and thus transported in the direction of at least one of the printing units or, in an alternative embodiment, for. B. transported directly to at least one of the printing units without a segment wheel. I. d. As a rule, a larger amount of hollow bodies to be printed are fed to the mandrel wheel with the conveyor in rapid succession. Such a conveyor is z. B. in the EP 1 132 207 A1 described.

Between an inner wall of the respective hollow body to be printed and the surface of the relevant mandrel of the mandrel wheel, there is preferably a gap with a width of less than 1 mm, e.g. B. of 0.2 mm, so that the hollow body to be printed is not held by pressing on the mandrel in question. Each mandrel is z. B. rotatable around its respective longitudinal axis by means of a motor and in particular adjustable to a certain circumferential speed, so that each hollow body held by a mandrel to be printed can be rotated in addition to the rotation of the mandrel wheel by an independently executed or at least executable rotation by the mandrel. The hollow body to be imprinted is slipped onto one of the mandrels of the mandrel wheel preferably during a standstill phase of the relevant mandrel, the relevant mandrel not rotating about its own longitudinal axis during its standstill phase. The occupancy of each mandrel with a hollow body to be printed is preferably checked, e.g. B. contactless with a sensor. If there is no assignment of a mandrel with a hollow body to be printed, the mandrel wheel z. B. moved in such a way that contact of the free mandrel in question with a blanket of the segment wheel is reliably avoided.

Two-part cans to be printed are z. B. to the mandrel wheel in a machining station upstream of the mandrel wheel, z. B. deep-drawn from a round blank. In a further processing station, the edge of each two-piece can is trimmed on its open end. Each two-part box is z. B. washed, especially their inside washed out, if necessary, the inner wall and the bottom of the two-piece box in question are also painted. At least the outer surface of each two-part box is z. B. primed, especially with a white primer. After printing on their outer surface, each two-part can is from its respective holder z. B. on the mandrel wheel z. B. removed by compressed air or by a preferably switchable magnet and fed to at least one processing station downstream of the mandrel wheel, z. B. a painting station for painting the outer surface of each printed two-piece can and / or an edge processing station. The printed two-part cans go through in particular a dryer, e.g. B. a hot air dryer in order to cure the at least one printing ink applied to its respective lateral surface.

The printing process for printing in particular the respective outer surface of z. B. held on the mandrel wheel hollow bodies, in particular two-part cans, begins with all of the printing inks required for the print image to be printed on the respective outer surface of the hollow body, e.g. B. from the respective printing block of z. B. on the segmented wheel plate cylinder can be applied to the same by one of the printing blankets arranged on the circumference of the segmented wheel. The relevant printing blanket colored with all the necessary printing inks then transfers these printing inks simultaneously during a single rotation of the hollow body to be printed on one of the mandrels of the mandrel wheel around its longitudinal axis to the circumferential surface of this hollow body in a touch contact between the printing blanket and the surface of the hollow body to be printed. During the transfer of the printing inks from the blanket to the outer surface of the hollow body, the z. B. held by one of the mandrels of the mandrel wheel to be printed hollow body with a circumferential speed of the same amount as the relevant z. B. arranged on the circumference of the segment wheel printing blanket. The respective peripheral speeds of the hollow body and printing blanket or segment wheel are therefore synchronized with one another, the z. B. held on one of the mandrels of the mandrel wheel to be printed hollow body z. B. starting from its first point of contact with the printing blanket in question during the unwinding of its outer surface on a route from the first z. B. 50 mm from the circumferential length of the blanket from its standstill in particular until reaching the circumferential speed z. B. the segment wheel is accelerated accordingly. The segment wheel carrying the printing blanket in question is therefore the z. B. on the respective mandrel of the mandrel wheel to be set circumferential speed. The circumferential speed of the printing forme cylinder carrying the printing form or of the plate cylinder carrying the printing block is or is preferably depending on the peripheral speed, for. B. set the segment wheel. The mandrel wheel and the segment wheel can, for. B. driven by the same central machine drive and optionally mechanically z. B. coupled to one another via a transmission. In the embodiment according to the invention, however, the mandrel wheel and the segment wheel are each individually driven by their own drive and their respective rotational behavior is controlled or regulated by a control unit.

In particular with reference to the device described so far for printing or for decoration, in particular of one z. B. cylindrical outer surface having hollow bodies are explained below by way of example various details. Fig. 1 shows in a simplified schematic representation and by way of example a generic device for printing or for decorating hollow bodies 01, in particular each having a preferably cylindrical outer surface, e.g. B. two-part cans 01, this hollow body 01 with a conveyor z. B. sequentially the z. B. supplied as a rotating or at least rotatable feed wheel, in particular designed as a mandrel wheel 02 transport device and held there individually on a holder on this transport device.

In the following, based on the selected exemplary embodiment for the printing press or the device for printing hollow bodies, it is assumed that this transport device is preferably designed as a mandrel wheel 02. With the mandrel wheel 02 acts a printing ink-transmitting device, for. B. a rotating or at least rotatable segment wheel 03 together, along the or the circumference of which several printing blankets are arranged one behind the other. In association with the aforementioned segmented wheel 03, a plurality of plate cylinders 04, which are radially adjusted or at least adjustable to this segmented wheel 03, are provided along its circumference, a printing forme or a printing plate being arranged on the respective outer surface of this plate cylinder 04, this printing plate being particularly suitable for executing a letterpress process is. A specific printing ink is supplied to each of the plate cylinders 04 by means of an inking unit 06 in order to color its printing form or its printing plate. In the following it is assumed by way of example that the plate cylinders each carry at least one printing plate.

Fig. 2 and 3 show in a simplified schematic representation some details of the inking unit 06 interacting with a plate cylinder 04, which z. B. for use in the in Fig. 1 The device shown for printing or for decoration, in particular, of hollow bodies 01 each having a preferably cylindrical outer surface is provided. The inking unit 06 proposed here advantageously has a very short, in particular two-roller, roller train consisting of only a few, preferably a maximum of five rollers, for the ink transport from an ink reservoir to the plate cylinder 04 in question. In the case of the two-roller roller train, this roller train consists only of a single inking roller 07 and an anilox roller 08. An inking unit 06 with a roller train consisting of a maximum of five rollers belongs to the class of short inking units. Fig. 2 shows an example of a (short) inking unit 06 with a two-roller roller train in a first one Operating position in which the inking roller 07 and the anilox roller 08 are positioned against one another, the inking roller 07 is positioned on the plate cylinder 04 and the plate cylinder 04 is also positioned radially on the device transmitting the printing ink from the plate cylinder 04 to the outer surface of the respective hollow body 01, ie on the segmented wheel 03 are. Fig. 3 shows, however, for that in the Fig. 2 The inking unit 06 shown has a second operating position in which the inking roller 07 and the anilox roller 08 are switched off from one another, the inking roller 07 is switched off from the plate cylinder 04 and the plate cylinder 04 is also switched off from the device transmitting the printing ink, ie from the segmented wheel 03. The on and off mechanism will be discussed later.

The plate cylinder 04 and the anilox roller 08 are z. B. each independently from a motor 11; 12 driven in rotation, especially in the case of the one preferably used in the Fig. 2 and 3 illustrated inking unit 06, the relevant motor 11; 12 z. B. in its respective speed of a z. B. electronic control unit is regulated or at least controllable. The z. B. designed as a segment wheel 03 printing ink-transmitting device is driven in the preferred embodiment by its own drive or in an embodiment not according to the invention by a central machine drive. The inking roller 07 is or is independently driven in rotation by a motor. In the preferred embodiment, an outer diameter d07 of the inking roller 07 and an outer diameter d04 of the at least one printing form, in particular the plate cylinder 04 carrying at least one printing block, are equal in terms of amount. At least one printing block is arranged or at least can be arranged on the lateral surface of the plate cylinder 04, so that in the embodiment with the same external diameters d04; d07, the plate cylinder 04 carrying the printing block and the inking roller 07 each have an identical circumferential length. In the preferred embodiment, in the first operating position of the inking unit 06 which interacts with the plate cylinder 04 and in which the inking roller 07 and the anilox roller 08 are adjusted to each other, the inking roller 07 is adjusted to the plate cylinder 04 and the plate cylinder 04 is also adjusted to the segmented wheel 03, at least the respective centers of the plate cylinder 04, the inking roller 07 and the anilox roller 08 are arranged along the same straight line G. To detect the rotation of the inking roller 07, a detection device z. B. is provided in the form of a rotary encoder, this rotary encoder in particular being rigidly connected to a shaft of the inking roller 07. The signal generated by the rotary encoder when the inking roller 07 rotates is used by the control unit to set the speed of the inking roller 07 by means of the rotation of the anilox roller 08 or, if necessary, to track it in such a way that the plate cylinder 04 and the inking roller 07 are synchronized or is set so that the peripheral speed of the inking roller 07 corresponds to the peripheral speed of the plate cylinder 04 within previously defined permissible tolerance limits. To achieve this goal, it can be provided that the control unit preferably adjusts the circumferential speed of the anilox roller 08 during the setting phase carried out by it in such a way that it has a lead or lag compared to the circumferential speed of the plate cylinder 04, particularly briefly - and therefore not permanently. By designing the plate cylinder 04 and inking roller 07 with the same circumferential length in terms of amount, and by setting the synchronism between the plate cylinder 04 and the inking roller 07, the effect of stenciling, which is detrimental to the printing quality, is largely avoided. The drive concept not described here according to the invention with a friction-driven inking roller 07 also has the advantage that a separate drive is not required for the inking roller 07, which saves costs and, because of the simpler mechanical construction, for. B. an exchange of the inking roller 07 facilitates maintenance or repair work. In its preferred embodiment, the inking roller 07 has a closed, preferably rubberized, lateral surface. The anilox roller 08 has a z. B. with a Ceramic coated outer surface, with a hashur of z. B. 80 lines per centimeter of axial length of the anilox roller 08 or a cell structure is formed. In order to enable the largest possible amount of printing ink to be fed into the roller train of the inking unit 06 with each of its rotations with the anilox roller 08, the outer diameter d08 of the anilox roller 08 is preferably larger than the outer diameter d07 of the inking roller 07. The anilox roller 08 should therefore have the largest possible delivery volume. In the Fig. 2 the respective direction of rotation of the segmented wheel 03, the plate cylinder 04, the inking roller 07 and the anilox roller 08 is indicated by an arrow indicating the direction of rotation.

In the preferred embodiment, at least the anilox roller 08 has a temperature control device, with the aid of which the jacket surface of the anilox roller 08 is tempered. The temperature control of the anilox roller 08 works z. B. with a introduced into the interior of the anilox roller 08 temperature control fluid, wherein the temperature control fluid z. B. is water or another liquid coolant. With the temperature control device of the anilox roller 08, the delivery volume of the anilox roller 08 can be influenced, since this influences the viscosity of the printing ink to be transported by the inking unit 06. The delivery volume of the anilox roller 08 and the viscosity of the printing ink to be transported by the inking unit 06 in turn ultimately influence an ink density of the printing ink to be applied to the cylindrical outer surface of the hollow body 01 to be printed. A thickness of a color film to be applied to the cylindrical outer surface of the hollow body 01 to be printed and formed by the printing ink is, for example, approx. B. at less than 10 microns, in particular at about 3 microns.

The ink reservoir of the inking unit 06 is z. B. designed as a chamber doctor blade system 09 acting in conjunction with the anilox roller 08. In this chambered doctor blade system 09, at least one ink pan, a doctor blade bar that is set axially parallel to the anilox roller 08 or at least that can be set, and preferably also one, advantageously form in this chamber doctor blade system 09 Pump for conveying the printing ink is a single unit. This chamber doctor blade system 09 is in the inking unit 06, ie on a frame of the inking unit 06, preferably only on one side z. B. held or stored by a suspension, so that this unit can be easily detached from the frame of the inking unit 06 laterally, ie by a movement directed axially parallel to the anilox roller 08, for. B. can be removed from the inking unit 06 by pulling on a handle arranged on this structural unit and thus interchangeable. This structural unit of the chamber doctor blade system 09 preferably forms a cantilever arm on a side frame of the inking unit 06. Fig. 4 shows in a perspective view the chamber doctor blade system 09, which is designed as a single structural unit, in cooperation with the anilox roller 08 of the inking unit 06.

After the anilox roller 08 has taken up printing ink from the ink reservoir, ie in particular from the chamber doctor blade system 09, the anilox roller 08 transports this printing ink directly and via further rollers of the roller train belonging to the inking unit 06 to the preferably only one inking roller 07. In one in the direction of rotation of the anilox roller 08 the area between the chamber doctor blade system 09 and the inking roller 07 following the chamber doctor blade system 09 attached to the anilox roller 08, a rider roller 13 is preferably employed or at least adjustable to the anilox roller 08 in order to improve the ink transport of the anilox roller 08. The rider roller 13 is arranged axially parallel to the anilox roller 08. The rider roller 13 is not regarded as belonging to the roller train of the inking unit 06, since it does not transfer any printing ink from the anilox roller 08 to another roller. The from the anilox roller 08 z. B. rotatively driven by friction rider roller 13 has z. B. a rubberized outer surface. The rider roller 13 employed on the anilox roller 08 sucks some of the printing ink picked up by the anilox roller 08 from the chamber doctor blade system 09 from the hash or the cells of the anilox roller 08 and at least partially applies this printing ink to the surface of the anilox roller 08 as it rolls on the surface of the Anilox roller 08 formed webs. As a result, the rider roller 13 rolling on the anilox roller 08 causes the anilox roller 08 releases a larger amount of printing ink to the inking roller 07. In a further episode, a z. B. a temperature control device having anilox roller 08 also improves the effectiveness of a control of the ink density in that the rider roller 13 rolling on the anilox roller 08 contributes to the provision of a larger amount of printing ink. Regardless of the specific design of the anilox roller 08, ie with or without a temperature control device, the rider roller 13 rolling on the anilox roller 08 reduces both density differences that can arise from manufacturing tolerances of the anilox roller 08 and the risk of the hash or cells of the anilox roller 08 being visible on the printing material, that is to say here on the outer surface of the hollow body 01 to be printed, as a result of an insufficiently applied ink at least in places.

In a very advantageous embodiment of the device for printing hollow bodies is preferably in a fixed assignment z. B. a plate changer 14 is provided for each plate cylinder 04, with which the printing form intended for the plate cylinder 04 in question or the printing plate intended for the plate cylinder 04 in question within z. B. the device in question for printing or for decorating hollow bodies 01 each having an in particular cylindrical outer surface, preferably automatically exchangeable. The Fig. 5 and 6th show in a perspective representation a preferred embodiment of a very advantageously designed plate changer 14 in two different operating positions for carrying out a plate change or printing forme change that can be carried out preferably automatically, reliably and preferably in register in a very short set-up time. Fig. 5 shows a first operating position, in the axially laterally next to the printing unit on the plate changer 14 z. B. presented a printing plate or can be removed from the plate changer 14. Fig. 6 shows a second operating position in which immediately in front of the plate cylinder 04 along this from the plate changer 14 from z. B. placed a printing block directly on the associated plate cylinder 04 or a printing block can be removed from the plate cylinder 04 and removed with the plate changer 14 in its first operating position. The disk changer 14 has a particularly planar, z. B. table-shaped support surface 16 on which z. B. arranged or to be arranged on the plate cylinder 04 printing cliché can preferably be placed completely. The support surface 16 is preferably arranged to be bi-directionally movable, ie movable to and fro, linearly along a transport path, in particular along the axis of rotation of the associated plate cylinder 04 between at least two defined positions. In a first position of the support surface 16 located laterally next to the printing unit, the plate changer 14 assumes its first operating position, and in a second position of the support surface 16 located directly in front of the plate cylinder 04 along it, its second operating position. In the first operating position, the support surface 16 of the plate changer 14 is at least partially in front of an end face of the relevant printing forme cylinder or plate cylinder 04. In the second operating position, the support surface 16 of the plate changer 14 is preferably at least partially below the outer surface of the plate cylinder 04 Support surface 16 of the disk changer 14 takes place, for. B. along a cross member 17 arranged longitudinally to the plate cylinder 04. The support surface 16 of the plate changer 14 thus has an axial travel path with respect to the plate cylinder 04 in question. At the positions defining the first or the second operating position of the plate changer 14, the movement of the support surface 16 is e.g. B. each limited by a stop. At least the carrier of the printing block in question is z. B. formed by a trimming carried out in particular using registration marks in such a way that the relevant printing block can be arranged in register on the support surface 16 of the plate changer 14. For this purpose, at least two edges of the carrier of the printing block in question, which are arranged at right angles to one another, are in touch contact with those arranged on the support surface 16 of the plate changer 14, in particular formed by register pins Brought stops, wherein a first edge of the carrier of the printing cliché in question hits a first register pin and a second edge of the carrier of the printing cliché in question, which is orthogonal to the first edge, hits a second register pin, one of these two register pins being changeable and preferably adjustable in its position. By setting the variable in its position register pin z. B. the relevant printing plate can be aligned in register. The adjustment of the position of the adjustable pin can be done manually or automatically. Since the printing block is fed to the plate cylinder 04 in question in register, the plate cylinder 04 z. B. no centering pin and no other register device provided.

The disk changer 14 has in its preferred embodiment, in addition to the support surface 16 for receiving a z. B. the plate cylinder 04 in particular in register to be supplied printing plates z. B. a subject in which z. B. a printing plate removed from the plate cylinder 04 can be stored. A z. B. by means of its carrier in particular magnetically held on the lateral surface of the plate cylinder 04 in question printing cliché is z. B. by means of a tool guided tangentially to the printing form, e.g. B. by means of a guided between the carrier of the printing block and the surface of the plate cylinder 04 in question is lifted from the surface of the plate cylinder 04 in question or can at least be lifted from there. The one end of the relevant printing block lifted from the lateral surface of the relevant plate cylinder 04 is introduced into the relevant compartment of the plate cylinder 04 by rotating the relevant plate cylinder 04. By continuing this rotation of the plate cylinder 04 in question, the entire printing block detached from the outer surface of the plate cylinder 04 in question is then pushed into the compartment of the plate changer 14 in question.

A printing block that is to be fed to the plate cylinder 04 in question, preferably in register, is in particular after its registration in register by a magnetic holding force on the support surface 16 of the disk changer 14 held. There is at least one stamp, preferably two stamps arranged at a distance in the longitudinal direction of the plate cylinder 04 concerned, each with a stamp directed opposite to the magnetic holding force, towards the support surface 16 of the plate changer 14, for example. B. essentially orthogonal effective direction is provided with which at least one stamp at least one end of the printing cliché held on the support surface 16 of the plate changer 14 facing the relevant plate cylinder 04 can be detached from this support surface 16 and transferred to the relevant plate cylinder 04 due to a lifting movement of the at least one stamp is. The at least one stamp is z. B. pneumatically operated or is at least so operated. To hold the printing forme or the printing block on the support surface 16 of the plate changer 14 or on the outer surface of the plate cylinder 04, magnets are used, these magnets preferably being designed as permanent magnets. The previously described configuration of the plate cylinder 04 has the advantage that a conveying device for transferring the printing cliché to the relevant plate cylinder 04 or for removing the printing cliché from the relevant plate cylinder 04 is not required and the plate changer 14 can therefore be implemented very inexpensively. In particular, a plate change can be carried out automatically with the plate changer 14 described above.

The respective adjustment and / or adjustment of the plate cylinder 04, inking roller 07 and / or anilox roller 08 and / or an adjustment of a contact pressure exerted by them takes place with an example in the Fig. 2 and 3 illustrated setting and parking mechanism, which will now be described in more detail. In the preferred embodiment, the plate cylinder 04 is in particular mounted at both ends on a load arm of a preferably one-sided first lever arrangement 18 consisting of a force arm and the load arm, the force arm and the load arm of this first lever arrangement 18, which is fixed at an angle to the force arm, jointly directed around an axis parallel to the plate cylinder 04 first axis of rotation 19 are pivotable. In an operative connection to the power arm of the first lever arrangement 18, a first drive 21, preferably controllable by a control unit, is used to exert a torque about the first axis of rotation 19. B. arranged in the form of a hydraulic or pneumatic working cylinder, whereby when this first drive 21 is actuated, depending on its direction of action, the plate cylinder 04 arranged on the load arm of this first lever assembly 18 is either turned off by a blanket of the segmented wheel 03 or turned on to the same. To limit the contact pressure exerted by the plate cylinder 04 against the relevant printing blanket of the segmented wheel 03, a first stop 22 is provided for the power arm of the first lever arrangement 18, by means of which a path covered by the pivoting movement of the plate cylinder 04 against the segmented wheel 03 is limited. The pressing force exerted by the plate cylinder 04 against the segmented wheel 03 can be adjusted with the first drive 21.

In the preferred embodiment, the inking roller 07 is also mounted, in particular at both ends, on a load arm of a, preferably one-sided, second lever arrangement 23 consisting of a force arm and the load arm, the force arm and the load arm of this second lever arrangement 23 together about the first axis of rotation 19, which is axially parallel to the plate cylinder 04 are pivotable. Likewise, in the preferred embodiment, the anilox roller 08 is also mounted, in particular at both ends, on a load arm of a preferably one-sided third lever arrangement 24 consisting of a force arm and the load arm, the force arm and the load arm of this third lever arrangement 24 together about a second axis of rotation directed axially parallel to the anilox roller 08 26 are pivotable, the second axis of rotation 26 of the third lever arrangement 24 being arranged on the second lever arrangement 23, the second axis of rotation 26 being designed to be stationary on the second lever arrangement 23. On the load arm of the first lever arrangement 18 is a preferably controllable second drive 27 which, when it is actuated, acts on the force arm of the second lever arrangement 23 arranged, by means of which the inking roller 07, depending on the direction of action of the second drive 27, can be adjusted to or from the plate cylinder 04. Arranged on the load arm of the second lever arrangement 23 is a preferably controllable third drive 28 which, when it is actuated, acts on the force arm of the third lever arrangement 24, by means of which the anilox roller 08, preferably together with the chamber doctor blade system 09, can be adjusted to or from the inking roller 07 depending on the direction of the third drive 28 this can be turned off. The second drive 27 and / or the third drive 28 are each z. B. also designed in the form of a hydraulic or pneumatic working cylinder. It can be provided that the second drive 27 and the third drive 28 z. B. be operated together and preferably simultaneously or at least can be operated. The pivoting movement of the load arm of the second lever assembly 23 is e.g. B. limited by a preferably adjustable, in particular adjustable by an eccentric first stop system 29, whereby the contact pressure exerted by the inking roller 07 against the plate cylinder 04 is limited or at least can be limited. The pivoting movement of the load arm of the third lever assembly 24 is e.g. B. limited by a preferably adjustable, in particular adjustable by an eccentric second stop system 31, whereby the contact pressure exerted by the anilox roller 08 against the inking roller 07 is limited or at least can be limited. Fig. 2 shows an example of a first operating state in which the first drive 21 and the second drive 27 and the third drive 28 are each inoperative or in their idle state, whereby the anilox roller 08 to the inking roller 07 and the inking roller 07 to the plate cylinder 04 and the plate cylinder 04 are employed on the segment gear 03. Fig. 3 shows an example of a second operating state in which the first drive 21 and the second drive 27 and the third drive 28 are each actuated or in their working state, whereby the anilox roller 08 from the inking roller 07 and the inking roller 07 from the plate cylinder 04 and the plate cylinder 04 from Segment wheel 03 are each turned off. The respective force arm and / or load arm of the three aforementioned Lever assemblies 18; 23; 24 is or are each z. B. formed as a pair of opposing lever rods or side frame walls, between which either the plate cylinder 04 or the inking roller 07 or the anilox roller 08 is arranged in the respective assignment described above. The three aforementioned lever arrangements 18; 23; 24 are each arranged in different vertical planes spaced apart from one another, so that they do not interfere with one another in their respective pivotability.

As already described and in Fig. 13 shown, are on the circumference of the segment 03 in a row usually several, z. B. eight to twelve printing blankets 33 are arranged, wherein in the printing process during the rotation of this segment wheel 03 about an axis of rotation 34 printing forms of the printing blocks of the plate cylinder 04 roll on the printing blankets 33 moved with this segment wheel 03. During the unwinding, the printing plates press at least their printing relief z. B. 0.2 mm to 0.25 mm deep into the respective printing blanket 33, whereby the printing blankets are subject to wear and tear and depending on their nature and in particular mechanical stress after a certain number of prints, e.g. B. after 50,000 printed hollow bodies 01 must be renewed. If in a device having this segment wheel 03 for printing or for decorating hollow bodies 01, that is, in a so-called decorator, in a mass production z. B. several hundred or even a few thousand pieces of this hollow body 01 per minute, z. If, for example, between 1,500 and 3,000 pieces per minute are produced, then the renewal of the printing blankets 33 arranged on the circumference of the segmented wheel 03 is due quite frequently, possibly every half hour or approximately every three quarters of an hour. In order to keep the productivity of such a device for printing or for decorating hollow bodies 01 high, a solution is sought to carry out the necessary renewal of the printing blankets 33 arranged on the circumference of the segmented wheel 03 with the shortest possible set-up time.

It is therefore proposed to provide a device for automatically changing the printing blankets 33 in association with the segmented wheel 03. In the preferred embodiment, each of these printing blankets 33 to be arranged on the segment wheel 03 is in each case on a preferably flat, tabular metal support with a material thickness of, for. B. 0.2 mm cohesively, in particular applied by an adhesive. The respective preferably magnetizable metal carrier is then, together with the printing blanket 33 arranged on it, on one of the segments 32 on the circumference of the segment wheel 03, for. B. by at least one holding magnet provided there on the circumference for each printing blanket 33 or its support, in particular correctly positioned. To support the correct positional arrangement of the respective metal carrier on the relevant segment 32 on the circumference of the segment wheel 03, z. B. on the leading edge 37 of the respective metal carrier in the direction of rotation of the segmented wheel 03 each has an acute-angled hanging leg 38, this hanging leg 38 when the respective metal carrier is arranged on one of the segments 32 on the circumference of the segmented wheel 03 into one on the circumference of this segmented wheel 03 parallel to the axis of rotation 34 directed z. B. formed as a groove recess 36 engages and comes to rest on a leading edge 39 of the relevant recess 36 in the direction of rotation of the segmented wheel 03, in particular in a form-fitting manner. The printing blankets 33 are each preferably designed as a rubber blanket. The direction of rotation of the segment wheel 03 carried out during the printing process is in the Fig. 13 indicated by a direction of rotation arrow. The hollow bodies 01, which are brought up to the segmented wheel 03 by the mandrel wheel 02 rotating about the axis of rotation 41 on a mandrel, are individually and briefly one after the other in the printing process, i.e. for a single rotation of the hollow body 01 to be printed on, through a primarily radial movement of the mandrel in question relevant currently printing blanket 33 pressed on.

The device for automatically changing the printing blankets 33 is preferably of modular construction and, as in FIG Figures 7 to 12 exemplified - as Modules e.g. B. a memory device 42 for several, z. B. up to twelve blankets 33 on ( Fig. 7 ) as well as a device 43 for vertical transport of the aforementioned storage device 42 ( Fig. 8 ) and a device 44 for the horizontal transport of one of the printing blankets 33 between the storage device 42 and an installation location on the segmented wheel 03 ( Fig. 9 ). The Fig. 10 shows the storage device 42 in its operating state arranged on the device 43 provided for its vertical transport. The storage device 42 has in a preferably cuboid housing several vertically arranged compartments, in each of which a single printing blanket 33 is stored on its back, ie lying on its carrier, preferably in a horizontal orientation, wherein in the housing z. B. at least as many compartments are provided as the associated segment wheel 03 has segments 32 for blankets 33 on its circumference. The subjects are each z. B. open at least on one of its long sides in order to enable the respective blanket 33 to be fed in or removed from the open side of the respective compartment. This storage device 42 is preferably on or on a carrier of the device 43 for the vertical transport of this storage device 42 as a light, z. B. toolless replaceable module attached or at least attachable. The device 43 for the vertical transport of the storage device 42 is z. B. designed executing a lifting movement, the vertical travel z. B. is about 200 mm. The lifting movement of the device 43 for the vertical transport of the storage device 42 is z. B. carried out by means of a preferably driven by an electric motor trapezoidal screw spindle. In order to transport the individual printing blankets 33 between the storage device 42 and an assembly location on a segment 32 of the segmented wheel 03, a device 44 for the horizontal transport of these printing blankets 33 is provided. This device 44 for the horizontal transport of the printing blankets 33 has, for. B. a carriage 46 which can be moved bidirectionally, in particular linearly, between two end points, a single printing blanket 33 being transported or at least transportable with the carriage 46. One from the storage device 42 automatically removed blanket 33 is preferably lying on its back on the carriage 46 on a z. B. is transported under the segmented wheel 03 assembly location and taken up there by a segment 32 of the segmented wheel 03. A blanket 33 to be removed from a segment 32 of the segmented wheel 03 is preferably peeled off from the relevant segment 32 with a spatula 47 that is set against the relevant segment 32 or at least that can be set there. B. transported lying on the carriage 46 to the storage device 42, the spatula 47 employed at an acute angle or tangentially to the relevant segment 32 of the segment wheel 03 in connection with a rotary movement of the segment wheel 03 directed against the spatula 47 in the preferred embodiment in particular, the metal carrier of the relevant printing blanket 33, which is held magnetically on the circumference of the segmented wheel 03, stands out from the relevant segment 32 and thus from the circumference of this segmented wheel 03. In the Fig. 11 the spatula 47 is shown both in an operating position set against the relevant segment 32 of the segmented wheel 03 and in a parked operating position, these operating positions being assumed alternatively.

The renewal or replacement of at least one of the printing blankets 33 arranged on the circumference of the segmented wheel 03 is then preferably carried out as follows:
As a result of its rotation, the segment wheel 03 conveys a printing blanket 33, which is arranged on its circumference, and is to be removed, into a position at which this printing blanket 33 can be dismantled using the device for automatically changing the printing blankets 33. The slide 46 of the device 44 for the horizontal transport of the printing blankets 33 moves along its travel path to the end point which is closest to the dismantling location of the printing blanket 33 to be removed. This position of the carriage 46 is preferably monitored by sensors and / or by a first switching element 48, e.g. B. by an inductive or capacitive proximity switch. After that will the spatula 47 is preferably positioned on the edge 37 of the metal support of the relevant printing blanket 33 to be removed, which edge is trailing in the direction of rotation of the segmented wheel 03. An at least brief rotational movement of the segmented wheel 03 against the direction of rotation carried out during the printing process peel the printing blanket 33, which is preferably held magnetically on the circumference of the segmented wheel 03, from the circumference of this segmented wheel 03, i.e. the metal carrier of the printing blanket 33 is lifted from its support on the segmented wheel 03 . The spatula 47 is then placed back from the circumference of the segmented wheel 03. The printing blanket 33 released from the relevant segment 32 of the segmented wheel 03 then falls due to gravity either directly into a storage device for worn printing blankets 33 or is transported to this storage device for worn printing blankets by means of the slide 46 of the device 44 for the horizontal transport of the printing blankets 33.

In at least one compartment, preferably in all compartments of the storage device 42 provided for several new printing blankets 33, a new printing blanket 33 glued to a metal carrier is inserted, this storage device 42 being preferably arranged in a raised upper position by the device 43 for its vertical transport . The slide 46 of the device 44 for the horizontal transport of one of the printing blankets 33 between the storage device 42 and the installation location on the segmented wheel 03 is arranged below the compartment with the new printing blanket 33. By lowering this storage device 42 carried out by the device 43 for vertical transport, the new printing blanket 33 is placed on the carriage 46 of the device 44 for horizontal transport. It is preferably sensory and / or by a second switching element 49, for. B. by an inductive or capacitive proximity switch, monitors whether the new blanket 33 has actually been placed on the carriage 46 of the device 44 for horizontal transport. If this is not the case, an error message is issued. Otherwise, ie in the error-free state, the carriage 46 moves the Device 44 for the horizontal transport of the printing blankets 33 along its travel path to the end point that is closest to the installation location of the new printing blanket 33, this position of the carriage 46 in turn being monitored preferably by sensors and / or by a third switching element 51, e.g. B. by an inductive or capacitive proximity switch. The segment wheel 03 is also already in a rotational angle position suitable for receiving the new printing blanket 33, this rotational angle position being e.g. B. is located at the base of the segment gear 03 or in its vicinity. In the preferred embodiment, the new printing blanket 33 is aligned in its position at least in register by an impact against at least stop 52 before it is mounted on the circumference of segmented wheel 03. To move the carriage 46 of the device 44 for the horizontal transport of the printing blankets 33, a drive is provided, this drive z. B. is designed as a compressed air cylinder. In order to mount the new printing blanket 33 on the circumference of the segmented wheel 03, this segmented wheel 03 rotates in its direction of rotation carried out during the printing process and thereby takes the new printing blanket 33 on its circumference. The slide 46 of the device 44 for the horizontal transport of the printing blankets 33 is then moved again to the storage device 42 for the several new printing blankets 33 in order to fetch another new printing blanket 33 if necessary.

In order to reduce set-up times, the invention proposes a device for printing hollow bodies 01, which is designed in such a way that this device has a segment wheel 03 rotatable about an axis of rotation 34, the segment wheel 03 on its circumference having several segments 32 one behind the other for receiving a printing blanket 33, wherein at least one of the printing blankets 33 arranged on one of the segments 32 is arranged to roll or at least roll off the hollow body 01 to be printed, with several printing units being provided, with at least one of the printing units being connected to at least one of the on the circumference of the segment wheel 03 arranged printing blankets 33 is employed or at least adjustable, wherein at least one of the printing units has a plate cylinder 04, in association with the The plate cylinder 04 concerned is advantageously a plate changer 14 for automatically changing a printing form on this plate cylinder 04, and a device for automatically changing at least one of the printing blankets 33 arranged on the circumference of this segment wheel 03 is arranged in association with the segment wheel 03. The plate changer 14 preferably has a support surface 16 on which the printing form to be arranged or arranged on the plate cylinder 04 can be placed, this support surface 16 being movable bidirectionally along a transport path between at least two defined positions. The printing form to be fed to the plate cylinder 04 in question is z. B. held on the support surface 16 of the disk changer 14 by a magnetic holding force. The device for automatically changing the printing blankets 33 is particularly modular, with a storage device 42 for several printing blankets 33 as well as a device 43 for vertical transport of this storage device 42 and a device 44 for horizontal transport of one of the printing blankets 33 between of the storage device 42 and one of the segments 32 of the segment wheel 03. The storage device 42 has a plurality of compartments arranged vertically one above the other in a housing, in each of which a single printing blanket 33 is stored or at least can be stored. The printing blankets 33 are each stored in the storage device 42 preferably lying on their backs and / or in a horizontal orientation. The device 43 for the vertical transport of the storage device 42 is z. B. executing a lifting movement and / or the device 44 for the horizontal transport of the printing blankets 33 has a bidirectionally movable carriage 46 between two end points, with the carriage 46 each transporting a single printing blanket 33 or at least being transportable. The plate changer 14 and the device for automatically changing the printing blankets 33 are, for. B. each controlled by a control unit, the plate changer 14 and the device for automatically changing the printing blankets 33 are each active in particular at the same time and their respective change of a printing form or a printing blanket 33 z. B. during the same Interrupt the production of this device for printing hollow bodies 01. The printing form to be arranged on the plate cylinder 04 is preferably in register with regard to its mounting position on the plate cylinder 04 on the support surface 16 of the plate changer 14 and / or the printing blanket 33 to be arranged on the circumference of the segmented wheel 03 is on the carriage 46 of the device 44 for the horizontal transport of the Printing blankets 33 are arranged in the correct position with regard to its assembly position on a segment 32 of the segment wheel 03. An inking unit 06 that transports printing ink to the plate cylinder 04 is preferably designed as a short inking unit having an anilox roller 08. With regard to a device for printing hollow bodies 01, which has a segment wheel 03 rotatable about an axis of rotation 34, the segment wheel 03 having several segments 32 one behind the other on its circumference, each for receiving a printing blanket 33, at least one of the segments being arranged on one of the segments 32 Printing blankets 33 are arranged to roll or at least roll off the hollow body 01 to be printed, with adjacent segments 32 being separated from one another by a recess 36 directed parallel to the axis of rotation 34 of the segment wheel 03, it is also advantageous that each of the printing blankets 33 are each on a plate-shaped metallic carrier is arranged, wherein the carrier together with the printing blanket 33 arranged on it is arranged or at least can be arranged on one of the segments 32 of the segment wheel 03 so as to be exchangeable as a whole, the carrier arranged on one of the segments 32 of the segment wheel 03 on this segment 32 in a m form fit and / or is held in a force fit. Each carrier of a printing blanket 33 is preferably bent at an acute angle at its leading edge 37 in the direction of rotation of the segmented wheel 03, this bevel 38, in the operating state of this carrier arranged on a segment 32 of the segmented wheel 03, against an edge 39 of the relevant am which leads in the direction of rotation of the segmented wheel 03 Circumference of the segment wheel 03 formed recess 36 is applied, wherein the bevel 38 of the carrier on this edge 39 of the recess 36 in one Is arranged positively or at least can be arranged. The plate-shaped metallic carrier is particularly flexible and, together with the printing blanket 33 arranged on it, forms e.g. B. a metal blanket. The carrier arranged on one of the segments 32 of the segment wheel 03 is held on this segment 32 by a magnetic force. On the circumference of the segment gear 03 are one behind the other z. B. eight to twelve segments 32 each arranged for receiving a blanket 33. In association with the segment gear 03 is z. B. a device for automatically changing the printing blankets 33 is provided, the device for automatically changing the printing blankets 33 is preferably modular and as modules a storage device 42 for several printing blankets 33 and a device 43 for vertical transport of the aforementioned storage device 42 and a device 44 for the horizontal transport of one of the printing blankets 33 between the storage device 42 and one of the segments 32 of the segment wheel 03. The storage device 42 has in a housing in particular a plurality of compartments arranged vertically one above the other, in each of which a single printing blanket 33 is stored or at least can be stored. In the housing of the storage device 42, for. B. at least as many compartments are provided as the associated segment wheel 03 has segments 32 for blankets 33 on its circumference. In the preferred embodiment, the device 43 for the vertical transport of the storage device 42 is designed to perform a lifting movement and / or the device 44 for the horizontal transport of the printing blankets 33 has a carriage 46 which can be moved bidirectionally between two end points, with one in each case being the carriage 46 individual printing blanket 33 is transported or at least can be transported.

There is also a method for operating a device having a segment wheel 03 for printing hollow bodies 01, a printing blanket 33 being arranged on at least one segment 32 of the segment wheel 03 having several segments 32 one behind the other on its circumference, with at least one being on one of the Segments 32 arranged printing blanket 33 during a rotation of the Segment wheel 03 rolls on the hollow body 01 to be printed, with a device advantageously provided in association with segment wheel 03 for automatically changing printing blankets 33, as a result of a command given to its control unit, printing blanket 33 to be arranged on the relevant segment 32 of segment wheel 03 automatically to a memory device 42 removes and transported to the relevant segment 32 of the segment wheel 03. The device for automatically changing printing blankets 33 has a device 44 for horizontal transport of the printing blankets 33 with a movable carriage 46, the printing blankets 33 to be transported being transported lying on the carriage 46. In this case, a printing blanket 33 lying on the carriage 46 is preferably arranged in the correct position with regard to an assembly position on one of the segments 32 of the segment wheel 03. In particular, a plurality of printing blankets 33 are stored in the storage device 42, the printing blankets 33 each being stored individually one after the other on the carriage 46 of the device 44 for the horizontal transport of the printing blankets 33 and being transported one after the other to one of the segments 32 of the segmented wheel 03. A printing blanket 33 to be arranged on one of the segments 32 of the segmented wheel 03 is arranged on the relevant segment 32 in particular by a form fit produced between the relevant segment 32 and the printing blanket 33 when this segmented wheel 03 rotates. A arranged on one of the segments 32 of the segment wheel 03 printing blanket 33 is preferably by a z. B. magnetic frictional connection held on the segment 32 concerned. A printing blanket 33 removed from one of the segments 32 of the segmented wheel 03 is likewise preferably transported away from the relevant segmented wheel 03 with the device 44 for the horizontal transport of the printing blankets 33. It is preferably provided that the device 44 for the horizontal transport of the printing blankets 33 alternately transports away a printing blanket 33 removed from one of the segments 32 of the segmented wheel 03 and a new, ie unused, printing blanket 33 from the storage device 42 to a free segment 32 of the segmented wheel 03 transported, ie to a segment 32 on which no printing blanket 33 is currently arranged. By means of a switching element 49 z. B. monitors whether a blanket 33 to be removed or removed from the storage device 42 has actually and / or correctly positioned on the slide 46 of the device 44 for horizontal transport.

Fig. 14 shows in a perspective view again the segmented wheel 03 of the device for printing hollow bodies 01, wherein on the circumference of this segmented wheel 03 one behind the other, z. B. twelve segments 32 for receiving one blanket 33 each are arranged. This segment wheel 03 is preferably made of a casting material, for. B. made of cast iron, and has a mass z. B. of more than 500 kg, in particular of about 1,000 kg or more. The segment wheel 03 has an outer diameter in the range of, for. B. 1,400 mm to 1,600 mm. The segment wheel 03 is with its shaft 53 in a frame 66 of this device for printing hollow bodies 01 preferably at both ends z. B. each stored in particular double-row rolling bearings 63 and rotatively driven by a drive. This drive, which rotatively drives the segmented wheel 03, is designed as an electric motor 58 with a stator 61 and a rotor 62 having a hollow shaft 54, the hollow shaft 54 being or at least being able to be arranged coaxially with the shaft 53 of the segmented wheel 03. In the arranged in the device for printing hollow bodies 01 state - like the sectional view of FIG Fig. 16 shown - the shaft 53 of the segment wheel 03 protrudes into the installation space of the motor 58 and the shaft 53 of the segment wheel 03 and the rotor 62 of the motor 58 are rigidly connected to one another. The segment gear 03 is preferably on both sides z. B. rigidly connected to its shaft 53 by means of clamping elements 67 and thereby fixed on the shaft 53. The motor 58 provided for the rotary drive of the segmented wheel 03 is preferably designed as a multi-pole, electrical direct drive with a number of poles, e.g. B. greater than twenty and / or designed as a permanent magnet brushless DC motor and exemplified in the Fig. 15 shown in perspective. This motor 58 has z. B. a cooling device or is at least connected to such, wherein the cooling device is designed as a liquid cooling. Fig. 15 shows two on housing 59 of motor 58 formed connections for this liquid cooling, namely a connection for the coolant inflow 56 and another connection for the coolant outflow 57. In an advantageous embodiment, this motor 58 is designed as a torque motor. A preferably digital control unit controlling or regulating it is provided for this motor 58, whereby the control unit, by positioning the shaft 53 of the segmented wheel 03 in the stator of the motor 58, sets a position on the circumference of this segmented wheel 03 relative to a position on the outer surface of one to be printed Hollow body 01 is preferably set or at least adjustable with a positioning accuracy of less than 0.1 mm. Likewise, z. B. at the end of the shaft 53 opposite the motor 58, a rotary encoder 64 is provided, the rotary encoder 64 having a high angular resolution of z. B. has 27 bits and detects an angular position of the shaft 53 of the segmented wheel 03 and provides a measured value corresponding to the angular position of the shaft 53 of the segmented wheel 03 of the control unit controlling or regulating the motor 58. The motor 58 and / or the rotary encoder are preferably each connected to the control unit controlling or regulating the motor 58 via a control bus.

The aforementioned embodiment of the rotary drive of the segmented wheel 03 has the advantage that this drive is designed to be decentralized as well as gearless and clutchless. This drive of the segment wheel 03 is therefore compact and free of play. In conjunction with the control unit of this drive, a position on the circumference of this segmented wheel 03 relative to a position on the outer surface of a hollow body 01 to be printed can easily be set with a positioning accuracy of less than 0.1 mm, which has a very advantageous effect on the achievable print quality . Likewise, i. V. m. the double-row bearing of the segment wheel 03 ensures a very good concentricity of this segment wheel 03, whereby a uniform transfer of ink from the respective inking units 06 to the relevant printing blankets 33 arranged on the circumference of the segment wheel 03 is ensured. With the solution described here, the segment gear 03 also has high acceleration and thus short run-up times of 10 s or less can be achieved. The proposed drive for the segment gear 03 also has the advantage of being low-noise and low-maintenance. Overall, this results in a very efficient drive for the segment gear 03.

Thus, according to the invention, a so-called "on-the-fly change of production" can be carried out; H. a change is made from a first printing process to a second printing process without interrupting production. If it is not necessary to change the printing blanket, production is switched over while the segment wheel 03 continues, i. H. continuously rotated and continuously printed hollow body 01. In a machine arrangement in which a few thousand pieces of this hollow body 01 per minute, e.g. If, for example, between 1,500 and 3,000 pieces are produced per minute, an uninterrupted change of production means an enormous increase in efficiency. Even if at least one of the printing blankets has to be changed with the change in production, the set-up times for the decorator can be shortened considerably using the following process.

Thus, a method for operating a device for printing hollow bodies 01 is proposed, this device having a segment wheel 03 rotating about its axis 34 with several printing blankets 33 arranged one behind the other on its circumference and preferably in a star-shaped association with this segment wheel 03, ie several on its periphery each has a plate cylinder 04 carrying a printing forme or a printing block 68, each of these plate cylinders 04 being supplied with a specific printing ink to color its printing forme or printing block 68 by means of an inking unit 06, preferably designed as a short inking unit, with an in particular two-roller roller train. Depending on a printing process to be carried out to print the hollow body 01, a selected number of plate cylinders 04 are attached to the segmented wheel 03, e.g. B. turned radially or turned off from this segment gear 03. In a first printing process, a first subset of each of a colored printing forme or a colored printing cliché 68 bearing plate cylinders 04 positioned on the rotating segmented wheel 03, each printing ink on several of the printing blankets 33 arranged on this segmented wheel 03. At the end of the first printing process, at least some of the in the first printing process are attached to the segmented wheel 03 adjusted plate cylinder 04 is parked by this rotating segmented wheel 03. With continued uninterrupted rotation of the segmented wheel 03, a second subset of plate cylinders 04 each carrying an inked printing forme or an inked printing cliché 68 is now placed on this segmented wheel 03, in particular radially, so that these plate cylinders 04 each have printing ink to carry out a second printing process different from the first printing process several of the printing blankets 33 arranged on this segment wheel 03 are transferred. The printing blankets 33 in turn transfer the respective printing ink to the rotating segment wheel 03 z. B. by means of a mandrel wheel 02 brought to the printing hollow body 01.

In a preferred embodiment, when the first printing process is terminated, those inking units 06 which each supplied printing ink to the first subset of plate cylinders 04 in the first printing process are turned off by this first subset of plate cylinders 04. In addition, at the start of the second printing process, those inking units 06 which each supply printing ink to the second subset of plate cylinders 04 in the second printing process are adjusted to this second subset of plate cylinders 04.

The segment wheel 03 is - as described above - preferably independently, ie at least independently of the plate cylinders 04 and / or the inking units 06, from a z. B. designed as a direct drive motor 58 rotatively driven. The plate cylinders 04 that are set or at least adjustable to the segmented wheel 03 are each independently, ie at least independently of the segmented wheel 03, driven in rotation by a motor 11. The inking units 06 each have exactly one to the relevant plate cylinder 04 hired or adjustable or by this plate cylinder 04 switched off or adjustable inking roller 07 and z. B. on each printing ink to the respective inking roller 07 promoting anilox roller 08, the respective inking roller 07 and possibly the relevant anilox roller 08 each independently, ie separately driven by a motor 12 in rotation. Alternatively, the respective inking roller 07 z. B. each arranged in the same inking unit 06 anilox roller 08 are driven rotatively by friction. The mentioned separate drives 11; 12; 58, ie the motor 58 independently rotating the segment wheel 03 and / or the respective motor 11 independently rotating the respective plate cylinder 04 and / or the motor 12 independently rotating the respective inking roller 07 and / or the anilox roller 08 each independently controlled or regulated by a control unit. The respective adjustment and / or adjustment of the relevant plate cylinder 04 and / or the relevant inking units 06 is also controlled by the control unit independently of one another, depending on the printing process to be carried out.

To shorten set-up times, at least one person who is not involved in the ongoing printing process, i.e. H. plate cylinder 04 currently not positioned on the rotating segmented wheel 03 the respective printing form or the respective printing cliché 68 during this ongoing printing process, each using a z. B. previously described disk changer 14 is preferably changed automatically. To change at least one of the printing blankets 33 arranged on the segmented wheel 03, the segmented wheel 03 is brought to a standstill and at least one printing blanket 33 arranged on this segmented wheel 03 is changed automatically using a device for automatically changing the printing blankets 33.

Furthermore, with the device for printing hollow bodies 01 described above, a method for printing hollow bodies 01 can be carried out in which on each of the hollow bodies 01 printing ink is transferred from one of the printing blankets 33 arranged one behind the other on the circumference of a segmented wheel 03 rotating about its axis 34, in which at least two plate cylinders 04 are used, arranged one after the other in the direction of rotation of the segmented wheel 03, each carrying a printing cliché 68, in which a first printing ink applied to a first printing blanket 33 of the printing blankets 33 arranged on the circumference of the segment wheel 03 and from there to the printing plate 68 of one of the first plate cylinder 04 in the direction of rotation of the segment wheel 03 downstream second plate cylinder 04 is split back, that is, transferred by split back. With a second inking unit 06 positioned on the second plate cylinder 04, a second printing ink different from the first printing ink is applied to its printing block 68. The first printing ink applied by split-back and the second by the second inking unit 06 on the printing block 68 of the second plate cylinder 04 are then jointly transferred to a second printing blanket 33 of the printing blankets 33 arranged on the circumference of the segmented wheel 03. The different printing inks applied to the printing block 68 of the second plate cylinder 04 are applied to this printing block 68 in different adjacent areas, the printing inks applied to the printing block 68 of the second plate cylinder 04 mixing in their respective boundary area 71. The printing inks 69 applied to the printing cliché 68 of the second plate cylinder 04 are then transferred to the second printing blanket 33, with the image of the mixing that took place in their respective border area 71.

To color the printing plates 68 z. B. in each case a short inking unit employed on the respective plate cylinder 04, ie an inking unit 06 with a roller train consisting of a maximum of five rollers or, in the preferred embodiment, an inking unit 06 with two rollers 07; 08 existing roller train is used, the respective plate cylinder 04 only having a single inking roller 07 assigned. In the respective inking units 06, in particular an inking roller 07 is used, the circumferential length of which corresponds to the circumferential length of the respective plate cylinder 04. In the preferred embodiment, the outer diameter d04 of the plate cylinder 04 carrying the relevant printing block 68 and the outer diameter d07 of the inking roller 07 positioned on this plate cylinder 04 are equal in terms of amount.

To color the first plate cylinder 04 z. B. a fully encased inking roller 07 is used. To color the second plate cylinder 04 z. B. a fully encased inking roller 07 or preferably a coated inking roller 07 with incorporated on its outer surface depressions are used, these depressions in particular depending on the print image to be printed and / or z. B. are formed in the axial direction and / or in the circumferential direction. For printing the hollow body 01 can, for. B. printing blankets 33 are used with incorporated depressions. The depressions in the outer surface of the inking roller 07 used to color the second plate cylinder 04 and / or in the blankets 33 used to print the hollow bodies 01 are each z. B. introduced by mechanical engraving or by milling or by lasers.

In the preferred embodiment, the first inking unit 06 inks at least one flat first print image point formed on the printing block 68 of the first plate cylinder 04 and the second inking unit 06 inks at least one flat second print image point formed on the printing block 68 of the second plate cylinder 04. Due to its position and size, the second print image area formed on the printing block 68 of the second plate cylinder 04 includes the area into which the respective area of the at least one first print image area formed on the printing block 68 of the first plate cylinder 04 is transferred or split back. The inking roller 07 of the second inking unit 06 which inks the printing block 68 of the second plate cylinder 04 has in its lateral surface on the respective surface corresponding to the at least one first print image location of the printing block 68 arranged on the first plate cylinder 04 a recess in the manner described above.

The respective circumferential speeds of both the first plate cylinder 04 and of the inking the printing cliché 68 arranged on this first plate cylinder 04 as well as the respective circumferential speeds of the second plate cylinder 04 and of the inking the printing cliché 68 arranged on this second plate cylinder 04 inking roller 07 are z. B. set synchronously with one another by a control unit, in particular with regard to a common reference point. The plate cylinder 04 and the associated inking roller 07 are therefore each in synchronism. In order to produce the intended color gradients, this synchronization must be given for all printing units 73 and inking units 06 involved in the production at any point in time of the relevant production process, that is to say also immediately after a machine stop. In addition, the respective circumferential speeds of the hollow bodies 01 to be printed and of the segment wheel 03 are synchronized with one another.

With this method, color gradients, so-called iris printing effects, are produced when executing a letterpress process, with which the depth of design that can be achieved in the print can be increased and / or security features can also be produced. With specifically used color gradients, completely new types of decorations can be produced on hollow bodies 01 in their axial direction and / or circumferential direction. This succeeds with the method described even using short inking units, including those with a z. B. only two-roller compactor.

Fig. 17 shows, in three phases, a production sequence for producing a color gradient on a hollow body 01, in this device for printing hollow bodies 01 at least two inking units 06 each with an inking roller 07 are used, the respective circumferential length of which corresponds to the stretched length of the printing block 68 used in the same inking unit 06. In a first production phase ( Figure 17a ) is in a first inking unit 06 with a first z. B. fully coated inking roller 07, a first printing ink 69 is applied to a first printing block 68 arranged on a first plate cylinder 04. On a first printing blanket 33, which cooperates with the first plate cylinder 04 and is arranged on the segmented wheel 03 rotating about its axis 34, after the first printing cliché 68 has rolled on this first printing blanket 33, the in FIG Figure 17a Paint application shown both in a section and in a plan view. In a second production phase ( Figure 17b ) is in a second inking unit 06 with a second z. B. an inking roller 07 having a recess in the circumferential direction, a second printing ink 69 is applied to a second printing block 68 arranged on a second plate cylinder 04. On a second printing blanket 33, which cooperates with the second plate cylinder 04 and is also arranged on the rotating segmented wheel 03, after the second printing plate 68 has rolled on this second printing blanket 33, the result shown in FIG Figure 17b Paint application shown both in a section and in a plan view. Figure 17c shows an example of a third production phase in which both the first printing ink 69 and the second printing ink 69 are applied in adjacent areas on the printing block 68 arranged on the second plate cylinder 04, the first printing ink 69 being applied to the second printing block 68 by splitting back has been. A joint transfer of the two printing inks 69 to the second printing blanket 33 interacting with the second plate cylinder 04 results in the printing blanket shown in FIG Figure 17c Color application shown both in a section and in a top view, with a color mixture due to splitting and thus a color gradient or an iris printing effect being formed in the respective border area 71 of the two printing inks 69 applied to the second printing blanket 33. This color gradient can now be transferred further to the hollow bodies 01 to be printed.

Another very advantageous method for printing hollow bodies has the process steps that each of the hollow bodies 01 printing ink 69 is transferred from one of the printing blankets 33 arranged one behind the other on the circumference of a segment wheel 03 rotating about its axis 34, with several of them being along the circumference of the Segment wheel 03 arranged printing units 72; 73 each printing ink 69 is applied to the respective printing blanket 33. In the direction of rotation of the segmented wheel 03, a first subset of the printing units 73 applies printing ink 69 in a contact process, preferably in a letterpress process or also in a screen printing process or in an offset printing process on the printing blanket 33 in question, and a second subset of the printing units 72 carries printing ink 69 in each case a digital printing process on the relevant printing blanket 33 without printing form, with all of the respective printing units 72; 73 printing inks 69 ultimately to be transferred to the relevant hollow body 01 are initially collected on the relevant printing blanket 33 and then transferred together from the relevant printing blanket 33 to the relevant hollow body 01. The at least one printing ink 69 is arranged in a digital printing process without printing form on the relevant printing blanket 33 with respect to the zenith of the segmented wheel 03 preferably within an angular range ϕ of ± 45 ° and thus in an upper area of this segmented wheel 03. Advantageously, at least one inkjet print head 74 or a laser is used for the at least one printing ink 69 that applies to the relevant printing blanket 33 in a digital printing process without printing form. It is particularly advantageous if a double array is used for each of the at least one printing ink 69 in a digital printing process without printing form on the printing blanket 33 in question, i.e. a printing unit 72 in which two preferably the same printing ink is applied to the printing blanket 33 in question applying printing devices, e.g. B. two inkjet print heads 74 are arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction of the segment wheel 03. As an alternative to the double array, a single array or another multiple array can be used. Thus, the at least one printing ink 69 is each in a digital printing process In particular, at least one of the printing inks cyan and / or magenta and / or yellow and / or black is applied to the printing unit 72 applying printing formless to the relevant printing blanket 33. From each of the printing units 73 applying the printing ink 69 in a letterpress process or in a screen printing process or in an offset printing process to the printing blanket 33 in question, a specific premixed, e.g. B. customer-specific or product-specific special color applied. For precise angular position control of segmented wheel 03, it is advantageous if segmented wheel 03 is rotatively driven by a direct drive designed as a motor 58. As described above, in the preferred embodiment, the hollow bodies 01 to be printed are brought to the rotating segmented wheel 03 by a mandrel wheel 02 rotating in the opposite direction to the segmented wheel 03 about an axis 41, the relevant printing blanket 33 with the printing inks 69 collected on it for transferring these printing inks 69 rolls on the relevant hollow body 01. Furthermore, in order to shorten set-up times, at least one printing blanket 33 arranged on the segmented wheel 03 can be automatically changed using a device for automatically changing the printing blankets 33. The first subset of z. B. printing units 73 that print in a letterpress printing process each use an inking unit 06 which is employed on the respective plate cylinder 04 and has a roller train consisting of a maximum of five rollers, ie preferably a short inking unit. Alternatively or additionally, the first subset of z. B. printing units 73 that print in a letterpress printing process each have an inking unit 06 that is set against the respective plate cylinder 04, each with only a single inking roller 07.

Fig. 18 shows in a schematic representation the device for printing hollow bodies 01 with a multicolored, z. B. four-color each in a digital printing process printing formless printing unit 72 and with several, z. B. six printing units 73 each printing in a letterpress process or in a screen printing process or in an offset printing process. The result is a hybrid device for printing hollow bodies 01, which is very advantageous In the same way, smaller print runs or batch sizes of hollow bodies 01, which can be efficiently produced in the device for printing hollow bodies 01, require a more frequent decor change.

List of reference symbols

01

Hollow body; Two-part box

02

Mandrel wheel

03

Segment wheel

04

Plate cylinder

05

-

06

Inking unit

07

Inking roller

08

Anilox roller

09

Chamber doctor blade system

10

-

11

engine

12

engine

13

Rider roll

14th

Record changer

15th

-

16

Support surface

17th

traverse

18th

Lever assembly, first

19th

Axis of rotation, first

20th

-

21st

Drive, first

22nd

Stop, first

23

Lever assembly, second

24

Lever assembly, third

25th

-

26th

Axis of rotation, second

27

Drive, second

28

Drive, third

29

Stop system, first

30th

-

31

Stop system, second

32

Segment (03)

33

Blanket

34

Axis of rotation (03)

35

-

36

Recess

37

Edge (33)

38

Suspension legs (33)

39

Edge (36)

40

-

41

Rotation axis (02)

42

Storage facility

43

Facility

44

Facility

45

-

46

Sledge

47

spatula

48

Switching element, first

49

Switching element, second

50

-

51

Switching element, third

52

attack

53

wave

54

Hollow shaft

55

-

56

Connection for the coolant supply

57

Connection for the coolant drain

58

engine

59

casing

60

-

61

stator

62

rotor

63

roller bearing

64

Rotary encoder

65

-

66

frame

67

Clamping element

68

Printing cliché

69

Printing ink

70

-

71

Border area

72

Printing unit (digital printing process)

73

Printing unit (letterpress, screen printing or offset printing process)

74

Inkjet printhead

d04

outer diameter

d07

outer diameter

d08

outer diameter

G

Straight

ϕ

Angular range

Claims (7)

1. A method for operating a device for printing on hollow bodies, wherein said device comprises a segmented wheel (03), rotating about its axis and having a plurality of printing blankets (33) arranged in a row along its periphery, and a plurality of plate cylinders (04), associated with said segmented wheel (03) and each bearing a printing form or a printing plate, wherein a particular printing ink is supplied, in each case by means of an inking unit (06), to each of these plate cylinders (04) for the purpose of inking up the printing form or the printing plate thereof, wherein based upon a printing process to be implemented for printing on the hollow bodies (01), a selected set of plate cylinders (04) is thrown onto the segmented wheel (03) or thrown off of said segmented wheel (03), wherein in a first printing process, each of a first subset of plate cylinders (04), each bearing an inked-up printing form or an inked-up printing plate and each being thrown onto the rotating segmented wheel (03), transfers printing ink onto a plurality of the printing blankets (33) arranged on said segmented wheel (03), wherein upon completion of the first printing process, at least some of the plate cylinders (04) that were thrown onto the segmented wheel (03) during the first printing process are thrown off of said segmented wheel (03), wherein each of the plate cylinders (04) that is or at least can be thrown onto the segmented wheel (03) is rotationally driven separately by a motor (11), wherein each of the inking units (06) has exactly one ink form roller (07) that is or can be thrown onto the relevant plate cylinder (04) or is or can be thrown off of said plate cylinder (04), wherein upon completion of the first printing process, at least some of the plate cylinders (04) that were thrown onto the segmented wheel (03) during the first printing process are thrown off of the rotating segmented wheel (03) and a second subset of plate cylinders (04), each bearing an inked-up printing form or an inked-up printing plate, is thrown onto said rotating segmented wheel (03), and each transfers printing ink onto a plurality of the printing blankets (33) arranged on said segmented wheel (03), wherein each of the printing blankets (33) in turn transfers the respective printing ink onto hollow bodies (01) to be printed, which are advanced to the rotating segmented wheel (03), characterized in that as rotation of the segmented wheel (03) continues without interruption, for the implementation of a second printing process the second subset of plate cylinders (04), each bearing an inked-up printing form or an inked-up printing plate, is thrown onto said rotating segmented wheel (03) and each transfers printing ink onto a plurality of the printing blankets (33) arranged on said segmented wheel (03), wherein each of the printing blankets (33) in turn transfers the respective printing ink onto hollow bodies (01) to be printed, which are advanced to the rotating segmented wheel (03), wherein the respective printing form or the respective printing plate on at least one plate cylinder (04) that is involved in the first printing process and is not involved in the ongoing second printing process is changed during said ongoing printing process, wherein each respective ink form roller (07) is rotationally driven separately by a motor, wherein the respective motor (11) that separately drives the rotation of the respective plate cylinder (04) and the motor (12) that separately drives the rotation of the respective ink form roller (07) are each controlled or regulated independently of one another by a control unit.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective printing form or the respective printing plate on the at least one plate cylinder (04) that is involved in the first printing process and is not involved in the ongoing second printing process is changed during the ongoing printing process, in each case using a plate changer (14).
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each respective printing form or each respective printing plate on the at least one plate cylinder (04) that is involved in the first printing process and is not involved in the ongoing second printing process is changed automatically during the ongoing printing process.
4. The method according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that upon completion of the first printing process, each of those inking units (06) that supplied printing ink to the first subset of plate cylinders (04) in the first printing process is thrown off of said first subset of plate cylinders (04), and/or in that at the start of the second printing process, each of those inking units (06) that supply printing ink to the second subset of plate cylinders (04) in the second printing process is thrown onto this second subset of plate cylinders (04).
5. The method according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4, characterized in that the segmented wheel (03) is rotationally driven separately by a motor (58).
6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the motor (58) that separately drives the rotation of the segmented wheel (03) is controlled or regulated independently of the other motors (11; 12) by the control unit.
7. The method according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6, characterized in that the respective throwing on and/or throwing off of the relevant plate cylinders (04) and/or of the relevant inking units (06) are controlled independently of one another by the control unit, in each case based upon the printing process to be implemented.

Images