EP3927551A1

EP3927551A1 - Handling carriage for the cylinder of a printing unit in a printing machine

Info

Publication number: EP3927551A1
Application number: EP20706094.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Eric Vernay
Original assignee: Bobst Lyon SAS
Current assignee: Bobst Lyon SAS
Priority date: 2019-02-20
Filing date: 2020-02-19
Publication date: 2021-12-29
Also published as: KR102643195B1; JP2022521290A; FR3092789A1; US20220072845A1; CN113453904A; JP7206409B2; TW202037495A; US11691409B2; FR3092789B1; TWI728714B; CN113453904B; KR20210116601A; WO2020169256A1

Abstract

A movable carriage (9) for handling a rotary cylinder (10) in a printing unit (2) of a printing machine (100), comprises: - a frame (90) that is movable in a horizontal plane; - a support member (91) mounted on the frame, configured to support and hold the cylinder (10) such that its axis of rotation is oriented in a transverse direction; - a first drive device (902) configured to move the support member (91) in translation relative to the frame (90) in a vertical direction; - an actuator (92) mounted on the support member (91) and configured to cooperate with a cylinder (10) positioned at a distance above the support member (91); - a second drive device (910) configured to move the actuator (92) in translation relative to the support member (91), in a longitudinal direction; - a control circuit configured to control a first sequence including, successively: - raising of the support member (91); - longitudinal translation of the support member (91) in a first direction; - lowering of the support member (91); - longitudinal translation of the actuator (92) in the first direction.

Description

Title of the invention: HANDLING TROLLEY FOR PRINTER GROUP CYLINDER IN A MACHINE

PRINTING

[0001] [The invention relates to printing machines, and in particular to cylinder exchange processes in printing units of printing machines as well as to the carriages intended for carrying out this exchange.

[0002] The invention also relates to a cylinder of a printing unit in a printing machine, configured to be handled by such a carriage.

[0003] A flexographic printing machine is used in the printing industry

packaging for printing a continuous strip or plate member type media, such as a sheet of cardboard. The machine comprises several successive printing units, which are placed one after the other, each of the printing units printing a different color.

A printing unit comprises in particular a plate cylinder, around which is wound and is stretched a flexible plate having patterns in relief. The cliché cylinder directly prints the patterns with the same color by contact during each of its rotations. The cliché prints the sheet after having been coated with ink, thanks to a screen cylinder provided with cells, called anilox, and an inking device, provided with a doctor blade chamber, an ink reservoir, and at least one pump.

[0005] The anilox cylinder has on its circumferential surface, cells

intended to retain the ink to be deposited on the cliché of the cliché cylinder. The volume of these cells varies depending on the work you want to do. Thus, it is necessary to provide for the use of different anilox cylinders for each specific job that one wishes to perform. As

For example, a screen cylinder used for printing comprising large areas, that is to say large areas inked uniformly, is not suitable for finer prints not comprising large areas. This involves exchanging these anilox cylinders depending on the print quality that is to be obtained on the support. [0006] State of the art

[0007] Document EP 1464490 describes a method and a device for loading and exchanging the cylinders of the printing units of a printing machine.

[0008] A first drawback is that an operator is obliged to enter between the printing units to exchange the anilox rolls, which requires special attention on his part as to his safety.

[0009] Another drawback lies in the relatively long time required to perform the operation of exchanging the anilox rolls, which further immobilizes the operation of the machine, and thus reducing its productivity.

[0010] An additional drawback is that the exchange of cylinders requires the intervention of two operators.

[0011] Disclosure of the invention

[0012] The invention aims to resolve one or more of these drawbacks. The invention thus relates to <XXX Final Claims copied here. XXX>

[0013]

[0014]

[0015] The invention also relates to the following variants. The person skilled in the art understands that each of the characteristics of the following variants can be combined independently with the above characteristics, without constituting an intermediate generalization.

[0016] Brief description of the drawings

[0017] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description which is given below, by way of indication and in no way limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] [Fig.1] is a side view of a flexographic printing machine;

[0019] [Fig.2] is a side view of a printing unit of the printing machine of Figure 1 associated with a cylinder handling carriage;

[0020] [Fig.3] is a partial perspective view of the lower part of the printing machine of Figure 1 associated with a handling carriage; [0021] [Fig.4] is a partial perspective view of a handling trolley according to one embodiment of the invention, in the deployed position;

[0022] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of a handling trolley according to a

embodiment of the invention, in the retracted position;

[0023] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of a support member of the carriage of

manipulation of Figure 5;

[0024] [Fig.7],

[0025] [Fig.8],

[0026] [Fig.9],

[0027] [Fig.10] and

[0028] [Fig.1 1] are schematic side views of the handling of a cylinder by a support member of a carriage at different phases of a process of loading the cylinder into a printing unit;

[0029] [Fig.12] is a rear view of the upper part of a carriage according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0030] [Fig.13] is a top view of the carriage of Figure 12;

[0031] [Fig.14] is a side sectional view of the carriage of Figure 12 detailing an actuator;

[0032] [Fig.15] is a top view of an actuator arm of the carriage of the

Figure 12, in the gripping position;

[0033] [Fig.16] is a partial sectional view of a cylinder resting on a slide of a printing unit;

[0034] [Fig.17] is a side view of the cylinder of Figure 16, in section at a flange;

[0035] [Fig.18],

[0036] [Fig.19],

[0037] [Fig.20],

[0038] [Fig.21] and [0039] [Fig.22] are side views of different positions of an actuator and of a support member at different stages of placing a cylinder in a printing unit.

The direction X is a longitudinal direction and is defined by making

reference to the direction of travel or drive of the plate elements in the packaging manufacturing machine, in the receiving station of plate elements, along their median longitudinal axis. The Y direction is a transverse direction and is defined as being the direction perpendicular in a horizontal plane to the direction of travel of the plate elements. The Z direction is a vertical direction, perpendicular to the transverse direction Y. The upstream and downstream directions are defined with reference to the direction of movement of the sheet elements, along the longitudinal direction throughout the packaging manufacturing machine. , from the entry of the machine to the exit of the machine and the reception station of the sheet elements.

[0041] Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0042] As shown in FIG. 1, a flexographic printing machine 100 comprises a margin station 1 followed by printing stations or printing units positioned one after the other 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. The sheets to be printed 102 are transported in the longitudinal direction and in the direction of cardboard travel (Arrow F) through these different stations by means of suction conveyors 7.

[0043] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a printing unit 2 (the printing units 3 to 6 being identical here). The printing unit 2 comprises a printing cylinder 8, a pressing cylinder 19, an anilox cylinder 10 known by the designation of anilox and a doctor blade chamber 13. The printing cylinder 8, the pressing cylinder 19, the anilox cylinder 10 and the chamber blade 13 cooperate with each other. The printing unit 2 comprises a reserve station 11 for anilox cylinders 17 in the lower part of the printing machine 100. The printing machine 100 comprises a handling carriage 9 for the anilox cylinders 17. [0044] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the lower part of the printing machine 100. The reserve station 11 comprises supports 110 intended to support the ends of the anilox cylinders 17. A storage station 14 is also provided in the lower part. of the margin station 1. This storage station 14 can include locations for three anilox cylinders 17. This storage station 14 comprises here two adjacent reserve stations and provided with supports 110 similar to those of the printing units 2 to 6.

The carriage 9 for handling anilox rolls is common to the printing units 2 to 6 and to the margin station 1. The carriage 9 is movable in a horizontal plane. The carriage 9 is in particular configured to pass through the reserve stations 11 of the various printing units 2 to 6. The carriage 9 is here guided in translation in the longitudinal direction by means of a guide system 103. The guide system 103 comprises rails or raceways 104 extending in the longitudinal direction.

[0046] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lower part of a carriage 9 for handling anilox rolls 10 or 17. The carriage 9 comprises a frame 90 in its lower part. The frame 90 is movable in a horizontal plane including the longitudinal direction. The chassis 90 moves in the longitudinal direction by being driven by a motor 900. The chassis 90 comprises a safety device 901, provided with bumpers at its front and rear parts, a pressure against these bumpers being able to induce a emergency stop of the truck 9.

A support member 91 is mounted on the frame 90. The support member 91 is here generally in the form of a plate. The support member 91 is configured to support and hold a cylinder 10 so that the axis of rotation of this cylinder is oriented in the transverse direction. The support member 91 here comprises bearing surfaces 911, positioned at its transverse ends. The bearing surfaces 911 have here U-shaped recesses, in order to be able to hold a cylinder 10 in a stable manner with its axis of rotation oriented in the transverse direction Y. A drive device 902 is configured to drive the support member 91. in translation with respect to frame 90 in the vertical direction. The drive device 902 thus makes it possible to maintain the support member 91 either in the retracted position, or in various deployed positions. The retracted position of the support 91 makes it possible in particular to move the carriage 9 under the printing units 2 to 6. The deployed positions make it possible in particular to handle a cylinder 10 in the reserve stations 11 or inside the printing units 2 to 6. A such drive device 902 has a structure, for example based on a geared motor and a chain transmission plus a ball screw and nut.

In order to be able to have a reduced vertical bulk when the support member 91 is retracted, the support member 91 is here advantageously mounted on the frame 90 by means of a pantograph mechanism 903. The control mechanism pantograph 903 thus comprises two intersecting slides supporting the support member 91.

[0049] The carriage 9 further comprises an actuator 92, not illustrated in FIG. 4 for the sake of readability. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the carriage 9 provided with an actuator 92. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the support member 91 provided with the actuator 92, viewed from a different orientation. As detailed below, the actuator 92 is mounted on the support member 91. The actuator 92 is configured to cooperate with a cylinder 10 when the latter is positioned remotely above the support member 91. , as detailed below. A drive device 910 is configured to drive the actuator 92 in translation relative to the support member 91, in the longitudinal direction X.

[0050] A control circuit, not illustrated, is configured to control the

displacements of the movable frame 90 and the displacements of the support member 91. The control circuit is also configured to control

the actuator 92.

[0051] Figs. 7 to 11 are schematic side views of the handling of a cylinder 17 involving the frame 90 and the support member 91 during the first steps of loading this cylinder 17 into the printing unit 2. The subsequent steps of loading the cylinder 10 in the printing unit 2, implementing the actuator 92, will be detailed later. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, cylinders 17 rest on supports 110 of a reserve station 11 positioned under the printing unit 2. This sequence may correspond to an exchange of an anilox cylinder. An anilox cylinder exchange is for example necessary during a change of work requiring the use of an anilox cylinder 17 having a configuration of its cells more adequate than the configuration of the cells of the previous anilox cylinder to perform this new work. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, an anilox cylinder 10 has been previously removed from the printing unit 2.

[0053] In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 8, the carriage 9 is positioned in the longitudinal direction, so that the bearing surfaces 911 are placed under one of the cylinders 17. The drive device 902 then raises the support member 91 until the bearing surfaces 911 come into contact with each other. contact with the cylinder 17 then raise this cylinder 17 above its support 110.

[0054] In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 9, the carriage 9 is moved in the longitudinal direction X to place the cylinder 17 present on the surfaces 911 vertically to the space 23 available between two printing units 2 and 3. A protective cover 21 is open, in order to free an access with a view to placing the cylinder 17 opposite the cylinder 8 and the doctor blade chamber 13. Such a protective cover 21 is provided in particular to limit ink splashes during the operation of the machine 100. An operator can thus penetrate inside the printing unit 2 during the operation of the machine 100. The drive device 902 then raises the support member 91 until the cylinder 17 is positioned above the slides. 22. The slides 22 take for example the form of rails oriented in the longitudinal direction X, and positioned with a transverse spacing corresponding substantially to the length of the cylinder 17.

[0055] In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 10, the carriage 9 is moved in the longitudinal direction X to place the cylinder 17 with its ends vertically to the slides 22.

[0056] In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 11, the drive device 902 then lowers the support member 91 until the cylinder 17 comes in. support by its ends on the slides 22, and until the contact between the surfaces 911 and this cylinder 17 is eliminated.

[0057] FIG. 12 is a rear view of the upper part of the carriage 9 according to one embodiment of the invention. More precisely, FIG. 12 illustrates the actuator 92 and the support member 91 on which the actuator 92 is mounted. Fig. 13 is a top view of the upper part of the carriage 9. FIG. 14 is a side sectional view of carriage 9, detailing part of actuator 92.

[0058] The actuator 92 here comprises grippers 93 and 94 disposed at transverse ends of the actuator 92. The grippers 93 and 94 are movable relative to the support member 91 in the direction

longitudinal. The grippers 93 and 94 are here slidably mounted relative to the support member 91 in the longitudinal direction. The grippers 93 and 94 can for example be slidably mounted on respective guide rails (not shown) of the support member 91.

The drive device 910 drives the grippers 93 and 94 to slide in the longitudinal direction. The grippers 93 and 94 are driven in longitudinal sliding by mechanisms

drive screws and ball nuts respectively. Screw and ball nut mechanisms make it possible in particular to drive the actuator 92 with a mechanism having a small footprint. The gripping members 93 and 94 notably include vertical uprights 934 and 944 respectively. The grippers 93 and 94 are guided in longitudinal sliding relative to the support member 91, through these vertical uprights 934 and 944. As best illustrated in FIG. 14, the vertical uprights are hollowed out in their downstream part, in order to facilitate the passage of the actuator 92 between the cylinders 17 present in a reserve station 11.

The grippers 93 and 94 have respective lugs 931 and 941. These lugs 931 and 941 are positioned at one end

longitudinal upstream of the grippers 93 and 94. The end

longitudinal upstream gripping members 93 and 94 are here movable in the transverse direction relative to the support member 91. In this embodiment, the gripping members 93 and 94 respectively comprise arms 932 and 942. The lugs 931 and 941 project transversely outwards with respect to the arms 932 and 942 respectively.

These arms 932 and 942 are mounted to pivot about vertical axes 930 and 940 respectively. A pivoting of the arms 932 and 942 thus makes it possible to modify the transverse position of the pins 931 and 941 respectively. The pivoting of the arms 932 and 942 is exerted by respective jacks 936 and 946, controlled by the control circuit.

The axes 930 and 940 are here fixed on a cross member 920. The cross member 920

extends in a transverse direction and secures the upper ends of the uprights 934 and 944. Such a cross member 920 makes it possible to stiffen the actuator 92. In the present case, the arms 932 and 942 are cantilevered transversely with respect to in amount 934 and 944 respectively. Such a cross member 920 thus makes it possible to stiffen the actuator 92 in the face of pivoting torques exerted on the arms 932 and 942.

In the example illustrated, the actuator 92 is provided with at least one sensor for determining the presence of an object near the end of the arms 932 and 942. In the example, the actuator 92 comprises inductive sensors to determine the presence of a flange of a cylinder 17 near the pins 931 and 941. An inductive sensor 933 is in particular fixed on the end of the arm 932, and an inductive sensor 943 is in particular fixed on the end of arm 942.

[0064] FIG. 15 illustrates the gripper 93 in engagement with a flange 173 of a cylinder 17. In this configuration, the arm 932 is pivoted so as to introduce the lug 931 in a bore 174 of the flange 173. The bore 174 is offset with respect to the axis of rotation of the cylinder 17. The introduction of the lug 931 in the bore 174 does not disturb the subsequent gripping of the bearing 172 by a disengageable bearing of the printing unit.

An example of cylinder 17 configured to cooperate with the actuator 92 is illustrated with reference to Figs. 16 and 17. FIG. 16 is a partial sectional view of such a cylinder 17. The cylinder 17 has an anchoring surface 175 in its middle part. The cylinder 17 has a bearing 170 at each of its transverse ends (the transverse direction here corresponds to the direction Y detailed previously, that is to say the axis of rotation of cylinder 17). A coupling piece 171 is attached to the end of the seat 170. The piece

coupling 171 allows the printing unit to drive cylinder 17 in rotation. A bearing 172 is fitted on the surface 170. The bearing 172 is used to ensure the rotational guidance of the cylinder 17 relative to the printing unit. A disengageable bearing (not illustrated) of the printing unit is thus configured to grip a peripheral surface of the bearing 172.

The cylinder 17 is further configured to roll on the slides 22, resting on the bearings 172. The cylinder 17 can thus be guided to slide in the longitudinal direction, through the contact between the slides 22 and the bearings 172.

The flange 173 is here fixed to the bearing surface 170. The configuration of the flange 173 is here best illustrated in FIG. 17. At least one bore 174, in this case two opposed bores 174 provided in the flange 173 allow the lug 931 to selectively engage with the flange 173. When the lug 931 is engaged with the flange 17, The gripping member 93 can drive the cylinder 17 in translation in the longitudinal direction. Of course, the lug 941 can selectively engage with a similar flange at the other transverse end of the cylinder 17. The inductive sensors possibly positioned at the ends of the arms 932 and 942 notably allow the control circuit to determine whether the lugs 931 and 941 are engaged or not with the flanges 173 of a cylinder 17.

The flange 17 here comprises flats 176, which allow the slide 22 to guide this flange 17 sliding in the longitudinal direction. The flats 176 make it possible to keep the bores 174 always in the same orientation during the translation of the cylinder 17 on the slides 22 for locking the pins 931 and 941 and to introduce the cylinder 17 into the machine in the working position (200).

[0068] Figs. 18 to 22 are side views of different positions of

the actuator 92 and the support member 91 at different stages of an installation of a cylinder 17 in a printing unit. [0069] In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 18, the cylinder 17 rests on the bearing surfaces 911 of the support member 91. The control circuit has previously controlled a rise of the support member 91, so that the support member 91 is positioned substantially at the same. height than the slides 22 of a printing unit. The grippers 93 and 94 are kept in the retracted position, so as not to interfere with the flanges of the cylinder 17. The position of a bearing for driving the cylinder 17 in rotation by the printing unit is illustrated by the circle 200. This bearing 200 is positioned in an upstream position relative to the support member 91. The control circuit is configured to control the movement of the support member 91 longitudinally relative to the printing unit in the upstream direction.

[0070] In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 19, the support member 91 has led the cylinder 17 to a position where its ends are positioned vertically to the slides 22, with a distance from the slides 22. The cylinder 17 is therefore still supported by the bearing surfaces 911 The control circuit then controls a descent of the support member 91.

[0071] The descent of the support member 91 is continued until the

cylinder 17 is supported at its ends by the slides 22, as illustrated in FIG. 20. The descent of the support member 91 is made so that the pins 931 and 941 of the grippers 93 and 94 are positioned at the height of the bores 174 of the flanges 173. Furthermore, the members of

grips 93 and 94 are moved longitudinally so as to position the pins 931 and 941 vis-à-vis the bores 174 of the flanges 173 (optical sensors can be implemented to ensure precise longitudinal positioning of the pins 931 and 941 relative to the bores 174, by longitudinal displacement of the actuator 92). The control circuit then controls the passage of the grippers 93 and 94 in the deployed or locked position. The pins 931 and 941 then engage in the bores 174 of the flanges 173. The control circuit is then configured to control the actuator 92 to drive the cylinder 17 to slide in the upstream direction. The actuator 92 thus slides in the upstream direction relative to the support member 91. The sliding of the cylinder 17 on the slides 22 is continued until the bearing surfaces of the cylinder 17 are positioned at the level of the bearings 200 of the printing unit, as illustrated in FIG. 21. When the printing unit determines that the cylinder 17 is in position, the bearings 200 can come to lock on the bearings 172 of the cylinder 17.

The control circuit is configured to implement an order

reverse operations to ensure unloading of cylinder 17 from the printing unit.

[0074] The actuator 92 according to the invention thus makes it possible to load or unload

automatically a cylinder in a printing unit. Such manipulation by the actuator 92 makes it possible to limit the intervention of operators in the printing unit and makes it possible to reduce the cycle time for loading or unloading the cylinder. In addition, the configuration of the actuator 92 illustrated is particularly compact, favoring its displacement in the longitudinal direction in the reduced space available in the printing unit. Longitudinal movements of the actuator 92 can in fact be achieved by keeping the support member 91 stationary. The actuator 92 can thus perform cylinder manipulations, where the support member 91 could not access due to its bulk.

In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator 92 further comprises a guide system and a drive mechanism at each end of the cylinder 17, which allows to have a linear translation without risk of offset between the side left and right, as can be the case with manual movement by two operators.

Different examples of cylinder loading / unloading scenario can be implemented by means of a carriage 9 according to the invention. For example, the carriage 9 can be ordered to replace a cylinder in use in a printing unit with another cylinder stored in a storage station. To this end, the control circuit can command the following sequence to carriage 9:

- recover a cylinder initially in place in the printing unit;

- place the recovered cylinder in an empty space of a storage 11;

- recover another cylinder stored in a location of the storage station 11;

- load this other cylinder into the printing unit;

- restart the printing cycle of the printing unit with this other cylinder.

[0077] The carriage 9 can be implemented according to this scenario to change the

cylinders of one or more printing units during the same stopping phase of the printing cycle.

According to another example scenario, the carriage 9 can be controlled to switch a cylinder in the working position in a printing unit with another cylinder in the working position in another printing unit. To this end, the control circuit can command the following sequence to carriage 9:

- recovering a first cylinder initially in place in a first printing unit;

- place the first cylinder recovered in an empty space in a storage station 11;

- recover a second cylinder initially in place in a second printing unit;

- load this second cylinder into the first printing unit;

- recover the first cylinder in the storage station 11;

- Load this first cylinder into the second printing unit;

- restart the printing cycle of the printing unit.

[0079] According to another example scenario, the carriage 9 can be controlled to carry out the cleaning of a cylinder initially in use in a printing unit. For this purpose, the control circuit can control the following sequence of carriage 9:

- recover the cylinder initially in use in the printing unit;

- place the cylinder in a washing station;

- clean the cylinder in the washing station.

Claims

[Claim 1] [Mobile handling trolley (9) of a rotary cylinder (10) in a printing unit (2) of a printing machine (100), comprising:

- a movable frame (90) in a horizontal plane;

- a support member (91) mounted on the frame, configured to support and hold the cylinder (10) so that its axis of rotation is oriented in a transverse direction;

- a first drive device (902) configured to drive the support member (91) in translation relative to the frame (90) in a vertical direction;

- an actuator (92) mounted on the support member (91) and configured to cooperate with a cylinder (10) positioned remotely above the support member (91);

- a second drive device (910) configured to drive the actuator (92) in translation relative to the support member (91), in a longitudinal direction;

a control circuit configured to control a first sequence including successively:

- a rise of the support member (91);

- a longitudinal translation of the support member (91) in a first direction;

- a descent of the support member (91);

- a longitudinal translation of the actuator (92) in the first direction.

[Claim 2] A mobile cart (9) according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to control a second sequence including successively:

- a longitudinal translation of the actuator (92) in a second direction opposite to the first;

- a rise of the support member (91);

- a longitudinal translation of the support member (91) in the second direction;

- a descent of the support member (91).

[Claim 3] A movable cart (9) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuator (92) comprises first and second grippers (93, 94) disposed at first and second transverse ends of the actuator ( 92), the first and second gripping members (93, 94) being movable relative to the support member (91) in the longitudinal direction, the first and second gripping members each having a movable end in the transverse direction.

[Claim 4] A mobile cart (9) according to claim 3, wherein the first and second grippers (93, 94) each comprise an arm mounted to pivot (932, 942) about a vertical axis (930, 940) .

[Claim 5] Mobile trolley (9) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the first and second gripping members (93, 94) each have a lug (931, 941) at their movable end, the lug being projecting from its gripping member according to the direction

transverse.

[Claim 6] Mobile cart (9) according to any of the

Claims 3 to 5, wherein the actuator (92) includes an optical sensor configured to adjust the stroke of the actuator (92) relative to the position of the rotary cylinder (17).

[Claim 7] Mobile trolley (9) according to any of the

preceding claims, wherein the support member (91) comprises at least one longitudinal guide rail, and wherein the actuator (92) is slidably mounted on the guide rail.

[Claim 8] Mobile trolley (9) according to claims 3 and 7, wherein the first and second gripping members (93,94) are mounted on the same cross member (920) slidably mounted on the rail and driven in translation by the second drive device (910).

[Claim 9] Mobile cart (9) according to any of the

preceding claims, wherein the support member (91) is mounted to the frame (90) via a pantograph mechanism (903).

[Claim 10] Printing machine (100), comprising:

- a mobile cart (9) according to any one of the claims

previous;

- a rotary cylinder (17); - a printing unit (2) comprising two slides (22) spaced apart in a transverse direction, the two slides (22) interfering with the rotary cylinder (17) held on the support member (91), during the descent of the 'support member (91) during the first sequence.

[Claim 11] Rotary cylinder (17) for use in a group

printer, including:

- a middle part;

- first and second flanges (173) fixed on either side of the middle part, the flanges having at least one bore offset from the axis of rotation of the rotary cylinder (17).

[Claim 12] A rotary cylinder (17) according to claim 11, comprising a flat (176) parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary cylinder (17).

[Claim 13] Rotary cylinder (17) according to claim 11 or 12,

comprising a set of cells for receiving ink.]