EP3645292B1 - Table for a flatbet printer or a flatbet cutting plotter - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a table for a flatbed printer or a flatbed cutting plotter.

Tables for flatbed printers and flatbed cutting plotters are known in various designs and are used to hold the workpieces, for example paper, cardboard, plastics and, in the case of cutting plotters, also leather, immovably on the tabletop. The well-known tables, usually with a tabletop made of metal such as aluminum, have a plurality of spaced-apart bores under which spaces are arranged and communicate with the bores to allow air to flow through the spaces through a vacuum source that is connected to the spaces To suck up holes and to suck up and hold an overlaid workpiece on the surface of the table. In order to enable easy transport, positioning and detachment before and after the processing of the workpiece, compressed air can be blown into the spaces instead of a vacuum and thereby a Air cushions are generated under the workpieces, which makes it easier to move and lift them off the table.

When working on the known tables, in most cases only a small part of the perforated surface of the table top is covered with workpieces. The workpieces are often only in the area of the operating side and do not cover the entire number of bores there either, but only a small part of them. The holes that are not covered then have to be covered with foil or paper strips, which is painstakingly detailed work, so that the entire table does not have to be placed under a cost-intensive vacuum so that the workpieces can also be held in place with a non-positive fit. This problem has been known for a long time and various options for partially eliminating suction air under the uncovered bores have been proposed.

In the WO 2010/061221 A1 a printer table is described as an example for covering bores, in which further bores are made along at least one edge of the table, which can be pressurized with air independently of the first bores for sucking in or lifting the workpieces. These bores are used to hold a cover medium (paper, film, etc.) in which areas are cut out, within which workpieces to be processed are now placed on the table and held on to it. With this help mask consequently not covered by the bores covered by the workpieces, thereby limiting the amount of suction air required. Although this device limits the amount of suction air, the effort involved in preparing the printer before it can be put to work is immense. In particular, if a larger number of non-area-covering workpieces does not have to be processed, since a new mask then has to be created again and again. From the U.S. 2002/0110400 a printer with a vacuum plate is also known. In this vacuum plate, under the holes arranged in the vacuum plate, there are arranged cylindrical rods running in X and Y, in which rods penetrating holes are formed at regular intervals. The rods can be rotated from the outside and are located inside a space that can be placed under negative pressure. When all of the holes on the rods are aligned vertically, a vacuum is applied to all of the holes. If one of the rods is unscrewed and the connection to the holes with the rod above or below is interrupted, partial areas of the printer plate can be freed from the vacuum. This device has an extremely complicated structure and the loss of compressed air at the connection points, both between the rods and the bores made there and the table top, is extremely large. A commercial application is almost impossible.

From the more well-known JP H01206644 a vacuum table top is known in which individual rows of holes running in the Y-direction can be separated from the vacuum source by screwing in locking pins. The operation of this vacuum plate is complex and only possible with tools. Commercial use on a table on which different workpieces are always to be processed is hardly possible.

From the US 2002/0110400 A1 a printer table is also known in which a further perforated plate is also arranged above the perforated table top, the underside of which can be connected to a vacuum source, which can be displaced relative to the table top in order to be able to move the upper perforated plate by a displacement device arranged centrally in the table to close or open the passage to the holes in the table top. This device does not disclose any valves that can be shifted individually by the operator for each row of holes, which would be able to close or open the flow from a connecting channel to a distribution channel. From the more well-known DE 20 2005 008 581 U1 a recording for medium to be printed in a printing machine is known, in which the connection of the bores in the table top with the underlying vacuum space can be closed by inflatable hoses. The hoses are connected to a pressure line in the form of a control channel in which a plurality of rows of bores can be closed by inflating the hose by displacing a piston.

A row of valves that can be closed by the operator is not disclosed.

DE 33 16 421 A1 describes a solution with a single control valve that can connect one or more chambers to a vacuum source. The valving action achieved with just one valve is not easily recognizable.

One object of the present invention is to create a table in which, after the workpieces have been placed, at least the bores lying to the side of the placed workpieces in the X-direction and not covered by the workpieces can be closed. Another object of the present invention is to provide a table in which both the X- and Y-directional bores not covered by workpieces can be exempted from connection with a suction source.

This problem is solved by a table with the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous configurations of the table are defined in the dependent claims.

By attaching easy-to-use valves in the area of the branches from the connecting channel to the distribution channels on the operator's side of the table, it is possible to disconnect or reconnect each row of boreholes in the Y-direction from the suction or compressed air flow.

The usually large, uncovered surface of the table that remains behind the workpieces in the Y-direction can then be covered in a conventional manner with one or more large-surface masks are covered. These no longer have to be cut out individually, as they can also partially overlap.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, by using valves on one of the two lateral edges of the table, one or more rows of holes running in the X-direction can also be separated from the compressed air or suction air source. The valves are actuated after the workpieces to be processed have been placed and the uncovered rows of holes between the workpieces are therefore visible at the push of a button, either manually or when using controlled valves electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically.

Shut-off elements that can be rotated by toggle buttons and are arranged in a bore in or via the connecting channel can be manufactured and assembled inexpensively. The buttons are always in line with the holes, so that after the workpieces have been placed, all uncovered holes are visible and can be closed by pressing the button that is in line. The valves can be constructed of metal, plastic, or a combination of metal or plastic parts. They can be actuated with minimal effort and can all be opened again together, for example by swiping a finger over them, so that the corresponding rows of holes can be switched off when new, differently shaped workpieces are placed on them.

In the particularly advantageous embodiment of the table, valves are arranged not only on the front but also on at least one of the side edges. The valves arranged there are not mounted in the connecting channel, but in an intermediate plate arranged under the perforated table top and essentially identical to the intermediate plate arranged above it. Switching levers running in the X-direction, penetrating the intermediate plate and penetrating elongated holes around the bores provided therein are pivotably arranged in the intermediate plate. These make it possible to block or open one or more rows of holes running in the X-direction from the compressed or suction air. Consequently, all bores not covered by workpieces can be separated from or connected to air flows.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung der vorderen Kante eines Tisches für Flachbettprinter oder Flachbett-Schneidplotter,

Figur 2

eine Explosionsdarstellung der Elemente des Tisches gemäss Figur 1,

Figur 2.1

eine Explosionsdarstellung der Elemente des Tisches gemäss Figur 1 mit einem Verbindungskanal mit integriertem Ventilblock,

Figur 3

eine vergrösserte in perspektivischer Darstellung aufgeschnittene vordere Ecke des Tisches; Ventil in Saug- bzw. Druckstellung,

Figur 3.1

eine vergrösserte in perspektivischer Darstellung aufgeschnittene vordere Ecke des Tisches; Ventil in Saug- bzw. Druckstellung gemäss Figur 2.1,

Figur 4

eine vergrösserte in perspektivischer Darstellung aufgeschnittene vordere Ecke des Tisches; Ventil geschlossen,

Figur 4.1

eine vergrösserte in perspektivischer Darstellung aufgeschnittene vordere Ecke des Tisches; Ventil geschlossen gemäss Fig. 2.1,

Figur 5

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Ventilkörpers von vorne,

Figur 6

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Ventilkörpers von hinten,

Figur 7

eine Explosionsdarstellung der Elemente eines Tisches mit Ventilen an der Vorder- und an der Seitenkante,

Figur 8

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Tisches gemäss Figur 7,

Figur 9

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Tisches gemäss Figur 7 mit teilweise aufgeschnittener vorderer Ecke,

Figur 10

ein vergrössertes Detail an der Vorderkante des Tisches,

Figur 11

ein vergrössertes Detail an der Seitenkante des Tisches und

Figur 12

Taste 35 in fixierter Position im Verbindungskanal 13 mit Fixierkante 54

Figur 13

eine vergrössert perspektivisch dargestellte Ansicht einer Taste mit optischen Markierungen.

The invention is explained in more detail on the basis of two illustrated exemplary embodiments. Show it:

figure 1

a perspective view of the front edge of a table for flatbed printers or flatbed cutting plotters,

figure 2

an exploded view of the elements of the table according to figure 1 ,

Figure 2.1

an exploded view of the elements of the table according to figure 1 with a connecting channel with integrated valve block,

figure 3

an enlarged front corner cut away in perspective of the table; valve in suction or pressure position,

Figure 3.1

an enlarged front corner cut away in perspective of the table; Valve in suction or pressure position according to Figure 2.1 ,

figure 4

an enlarged front corner cut away in perspective of the table; valve closed,

Figure 4.1

an enlarged front corner cut away in perspective of the table; Valve closed according to Figure 2.1 ,

figure 5

a perspective view of the valve body from the front,

figure 6

a perspective view of the valve body from behind,

figure 7

an exploded view of the elements of a table with valves on the front and side edges,

figure 8

a perspective view of the table according to figure 7 ,

figure 9

a perspective view of the table according to figure 7 with partially cut open front corner,

figure 10

an enlarged detail on the front edge of the table,

figure 11

an enlarged detail on the side edge of the table and

figure 12

Button 35 in fixed position in connection channel 13 with fixing edge 54

figure 13

an enlarged perspective view of a button with optical markings.

For the sake of better clarity, only the table 1 with the table top 3 without the tools, ie the portal with the print heads or the cutting heads that can be moved thereon, and the frame which supports the table 1, are shown in the figures. As in the conventional tables 1, the table top 3 is made of metal, for example an aluminum plate, and there are a large number of rows running perpendicular to the surface of the table top 3 through these bores 5 in the X direction and in the Y direction. The bores 5 open out under the tabletop 3 into distribution channels 7, which are formed, for example, by a corrugated sheet-like plate 9 with arched or trapezoidal “peaks” and “valleys” (cf. 2 ). The plate 9 is with the bottom connected to the table top 3 and the valleys of the plate 9 are below the bores 5. They form the distribution channels 7 and thus connect a row of bores 5 arranged in the Y-direction.

At the front edge 11 of the table 1, i.e. the side on which the operator usually stands, a number of valves 15 corresponding to the number of rows of bores 5 running in the Y-direction are inserted in a connecting channel 13. The connecting channel 13 can comprise a rectangular profile tube, e.g. made of aluminum, which is closed at the front by a cover 17 and which is connected on its underside via a feed pipe 19 to a suction source or a compressed air source.

In the first example, the valves 15 are inserted in a valve block 21 in cylindrical guide bores 23 running in the Y-direction. The valve block 21 rests tightly on the connecting channel 13 and is connected via a first recess 25 formed in the connecting channel 13 on the upper side of the connecting channel 13 to a second recess 27 on the valve 15 (cf. also figure 5 and 6 ). The valve 15 comprises a cylindrical tubular portion 29 which is rotatably mounted in the cylindrical guide bore 23 with little play and in which the second recess 27 is made and comprises further an operating portion 31 connected to the tubular portion 29. As shown in FIG. The actuation area 31 has, for example, a V-shaped cross section and is arranged in alignment with the axis A of the tubular area 29 ( figures 5 and 6 ). If the actuation area or the V-shaped button is 35, as in figure 3 shown, pivoted counterclockwise on the valve block 21, the second recess 27 of the tubular portion 29 comes to lie over the first recess 25 on the valve block 21. Consequently, air can be sucked in through the connecting channel 13 through the two recesses 25 and 27 from the feed pipe 19, which is under negative pressure. Air is sucked in through the holes 5 in the table top 3. If the operator pivots the button 35 clockwise so that its right wing rests or hits the surface of the vacuum tube 13, the second recess 27 is separated from the casing 37 of the tubular area 29 is covered and no more air can be sucked in through the holes 5 (cf. 4 ).

The V-shaped keys, with both sides pointing upwards, can be easily pivoted from the "open" position to the "closed" position with the touch of a finger and with minimal effort (cf. 1 ).

In a second embodiment of the connecting channel 13 , the valve block 21 placed on the connecting channel 13 in the first exemplary embodiment is integrated into the connecting channel 13 . Consequently, the valves 15 how out Figure 3.1 visible, led directly in the connecting channel 13. This eliminates the first recess 25 in the connecting channel 13 and the air can be guided directly through the second recess 27 on the valve 15 .

Out of figure 12,13 it can be seen that the end faces of the valves 15 and the button 35 may have markings, for example "+" or "-" or the colors "red" and "green", which enable the operator to see whether the connections the bores 5 to the suction means are open or closed. Furthermore, a latching lug 53 can be formed on the v-shaped button 35 at the apex, which serves to fix the button 35 in the intended working position by latching on the fixing edge 54 on the connecting channel 13 and that the button 35 in one or the other position is securely locked.

In the figure 1 two workpieces 49 are shown on the surface of the tabletop 3 in a hatched representation. These cover the bores 5′ lying under the workpiece 49, ie covered, but not the other bores 5. So that no air can get through the covered, ie exposed holes 5 is sucked in or blown out during blowing, starting from the left, the first three keys 35a, 35b and 35c are turned clockwise. Due to the folding, all bores 5 in the row running in the Y-direction are closed by the valves 15 . The same applies to the button 35d between the two workpieces 49. When the processing of the two workpieces 49, for example printing, is complete, the vacuum source is switched off and the workpieces 49 can be lifted off. Compressed air can be supplied temporarily through the feed pipe 19 to facilitate lifting. If, in turn, workpieces 49 of the same dimensions have to be placed at the same place on the tabletop 3, the valves 15 remain in the set manner. However, if a workpiece 49 that is larger or smaller is placed, the bores 5 not covered by the workpiece 49 are closed again after placement. This can be done in a simple manner by the operator first bringing all buttons 35 into the open position ( 3 ), i.e. in the sucking position, moving his finger from right to left like on a piano keyboard. The workpieces 49 are then placed and all rows of holes 5 in the Y direction that are not covered by the workpiece 49 are closed individually by tilting the buttons 35.

The distribution channel 13 and the valve block 21 can of course form a unit instead of being constructed from two elements, as shown in Fig. 2a, 3a, 4a.

In accordance with the embodiment of the invention Figures 7 to 11 an additional intermediate plate 39 comes to rest between the perforated table top 3 and the corrugated plate 9 . The intermediate plate 39 has the same dimensions as the table top 3 and it is congruently perforated by holes 5, which, when the table top 3 and the intermediate plate 39 are placed one on top of the other, are aligned. Consequently, when the two plates 3, 39 are placed one on top of the other and connected to one another, all the bores 5 in the table top 3 are in turn connected to the channels 7 formed by the corrugated plate 9.

In order to also be able to turn rows of holes 5 in the X direction on and off from the vacuum or compressed air from the vacuum or pressure source, the intermediate plate 39 has oblong holes under the rows of holes 5 running or lying in the X direction 41 embedded. The elongated holes 41 lie between the surface of the intermediate plate 39 and parallel to it. Cylindrical rods 43 are pushed into the cylindrical elongated holes 41 . In the bars 43 are equally spaced as embedded in the table top 3 and the intermediate plate 39 drill holes 45. At the end of the perforated rods 43 that comes to rest outside of the intermediate plate 39, a change-over lever 47, which can be designed analogously to the V-shaped button 35, is formed. Are the bars 43, as in figure 7 shown on the rod 43, with vertically running boreholes 45, the intermediate plate 39 and the rods 43 can suck in air from the environment through the table top 3 or, conversely, release it to them (switching lever 47a) in 8 . If the rods 43 are turned, the air flow in the associated rows of holes 5 is interrupted (switching lever 47b). The switching lever 47 can have the same shape as the V-shaped buttons 35 on the actuating area 31 of the valves 15, with which the bores 5 running in the Y-direction can be closed. Alternatively, the rods 43 could be designed to be axially displaceable for opening or closing the bores 5 in order to interrupt the connections from the distribution channels 7 (not shown).

With the embodiment of the invention according to Figures 7 to 11 it is now possible to also close the uncovered rows of holes, which are away from the operator and run in the X-direction, without having to put on masks etc. To do this, as in the first embodiment according to the Figures 1 to 7 , the bores 5 arranged in the Y-direction are closed and then the non-covered bores 5' arranged in the X-direction are also closed with the switching levers 47 (cf. 8 . the switching levers 47a, 47b, 47c and the last four switching levers 47d to 47g). The second embodiment makes it possible to separate all uncovered bores 5 from the suction or compressed air source. This makes it possible to hold workpieces 49 distributed over the table 1 with a very small amount of vacuum or to lift them off the table top 3 with compressed air after the end of the machining.

The rods 43 can close or open the bores 5 for the air flow either by rotation or by an axial displacement.

Of course, the means running in the X-direction for interrupting the connection between the distribution channels 7 and the bores 5 in the table top 3 can also be provided in combination with the design of the connecting channel 13 according to FIGS. 2a, 3a and 4a.

As an alternative to the manually actuated valves 15 or the manually actuated rods 43, they can also be actuated by appropriately designed, automatically operated valves, such as solenoid valves, which can be actuated at the push of a button or by controlling «open» or «closed» (no illustration).

Claims (8)

1. A table for a flatbed printer or a flatbed cutting plotter, comprising a table panel (3) with a plurality of bore holes (5) penetrating the table panel (3), said bore holes (5)arranged spaced apart in rows in the X- and Y-direction above distribution channels (7) running below the table panel (3), which distribution channels (7) are connected with a vacuum source and/or with a compressed air source,
   wherein

   the distribution channels (7) each connect a row of bore holes (5) which are arranged in the Y-direction,

   the distribution channels (7) are interruptibly connected on the operator side on the front edge (11) of the table to a connection channel (13), and wherein

   in the region of the branch points of the connection channel (13) to the distribution channels (7), a number of valves (15), which corresponds to the number of rows of bore holes (5) running in the Y-direction, for opening and closing the air flow from the connection channel (13) to the distribution channels (7) is inserted wherein

   the valves (15) have a pipe-shaped region (29) which is connected to an actuation region (31), wherein

   the sheath (37) of the pipe-shaped region (29) has a recess (27) and the end of the pipe-shaped region (29) facing away from the actuation region (31) is open and is connected to a distribution channel (7), and wherein

   the recess (27) in the pipe-shaped region (29) is connectible to the connection channel (13).
2. The table according to Claim 1, characterized in that in the region of the branch points on the connection channel (13) to the distribution channels (7), the valves (15) for opening and closing the air flow are individually actuatable for each distribution channel (7).
3. The table according to Claim 2, characterized in that the valves (15) are actuatable manually or automatically via actuation elements (35) on the connection channel (13).
4. The table according to Claim 3, characterized in that the actuation elements (35) are formed as toggle switches or switchable keys (35).
5. The table according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the pipe-shaped region (29) of the valve (15) is inserted in a guide bore hole (23) in a valve block (21) or in the connection channel (13) and is rotatably mounted there, and that the guide bore hole (23) opens out into the distribution channel (7).
6. The table according to Claim 1, characterized in that on one of the side edges of the table (1) running at right-angles to the front edge (11), additional means for interrupting the flow of air through rows of bore holes (5) running in the X-direction to the connection channels (13) are formed.
7. The table according to Claim 6, characterized in that below the table panel (3) an interim panel (39) is arranged, which has bore holes (5) with identical hole arrangements as the table panel (3), and that the bore holes (5) align in the interim panel (39) with the bore holes (5) in the table panel (3), that in the interim panel (39), long cylindrical holes (41) which run in the X-direction are formed, which intersect the bore holes (5) in the interim panel (39), in which rods (43) equipped with bore holes (45) are mounted, with which the flow of air from the bore holes (5) in the table panel (3) to the distribution channels (7) is interruptible.
8. The table according to Claim 7, characterized in that the rods (43) in the long holes (41) are rotatably or axially movable, in order to close or open the flow of air, and that in order to actuate the rods (43), actuation elements such as switch levers (47) are arranged on one or two opposing edges of the table (1).

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