EP4003734B1 - Flexographic printing machine for printing a substrate web - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a flexographic printing machine for printing a substrate web according to the preamble of claim 1.

In the field of packaging printing, thin and stretchable sheet-like foils, in particular plastic foils, are often used as the printing material. In order to avoid stretching due to different tension and/or heat input and/or pressure, such films are often printed in printing presses with a central cylinder. Several printing units are distributed in a star shape around the circumference of the central cylinder in order to apply different motifs and colors, in particular printing fluids, to the printing material. In particular, thin and flexible webs of printing material can be precisely held and guided during the entire printing process. This is necessary in particular for high register accuracy. The printing units are often designed as flexographic printing units with raised printing forms and/or printing plates. The printing forms are usually produced on a photopolymer and in particular have flexible and elastic properties.

Due to the use of thin and low-viscosity inks, the printing process is particularly suitable for non-absorbent and rough substrate surfaces, such as are often typical in the packaging sector.

Through EP 3 251 850 A1 is a printing machine, in particular a flexographic printing machine with a central cylinder, with a roll winder and a roll unwinder arranged side by side on the same side of the central cylinder.

Next is through EP 3 078 496 B1 a printing press, in particular

Flexographic printing machine known with a roll winder and a roll unwinder. Furthermore, a horizontally arranged dryer with a dryer section is known from the document.

through the DE 40 10 261 A1 a rotary printing press with a central cylinder and one or more printing units arranged around the central cylinder is known. In particular, the rotary printing machine has a horizontally arranged dryer unit. A plurality of deflection means are arranged in the dryer and a substrate web is turned over several times in the dryer. In particular, the rotary printing machine has a tempering roller, which is arranged downstream of the dryer unit on the transport path at a greater distance and, above all, with guide elements located in between.

through the WO 95/20492 a central cylinder flexographic printing machine is known. The flexographic printing machine has a horizontally aligned drying unit with a number of guide elements.

through the DE 32 28 681 A1 a device for drying a printed web is known. In particular, the device has two dryer sections and a plurality of deflection means are arranged in each dryer section.

through the EP 1 790 471 A2 discloses a device for drying a web printed in a printing machine, in particular a rotary printing machine, with two dryer sections. The drying device is oriented vertically and has a plurality of guide elements which are offset from one another. In addition, the device has deflection means for drying between the dryer sections. The invention is based on the object of creating a flexographic printing machine for printing on a substrate web.

The JP S57 157 785 A discloses a flexographic printing machine with a central cylinder and a plurality of printing units arranged on the central cylinder. A central cylinder is arranged between roll unwinders and roll winders. In addition, the flexographic printing machine discloses a dryer unit with two dryer sections.

The U.S. 6,176,184 B1 discloses a flexographic printing machine with a central cylinder and a plurality of printing units arranged on the central cylinder. A dryer unit is aligned horizontally and has several guide elements.

The WO 2008/034759 A1 discloses a flexographic printing machine with a central cylinder and a plurality of printing units arranged on the central cylinder. A dryer unit is aligned horizontally and has several guide elements.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1.

The advantages that can be achieved with the invention are, in particular, that the arrangement of a roll winder and a roll unwinder opposite the central cylinder enables a more compact design of the printing press. In particular, in the preferred embodiment, the central cylinder is arranged between the roll unwinder and the roll winder. An overall length of the machine can thereby be reduced by 20% or more. The space savings result in a cost advantage for printers. Furthermore, the more compact arrangement results in a shorter transport path for the substrate web. In particular, the transport path of the substrate web is reduced by up to 5 meters or more.

A further advantage that can be achieved with the invention consists in particular in the fact that in a preferred embodiment the roll unwinder is arranged on the side of the dryer unit and the roll winder is preferably arranged on the opposite side of the central cylinder, preferably on the side of the inspection device. In particular, this arrangement can advantageously make the flexographic printing machine more compact. In particular, this arrangement allows for a shorter transport route.

A further advantage that can be achieved with the invention is, in particular, that the horizontal arrangement of a dryer unit with at least two sections results in an even more compact construction of the printing press. Furthermore, an even more efficient and improved drying of the printing material is possible. The substrate web is preferably deflected between the at least two dryer sections and efficient drying is thus possible. Despite the more compact design, the transport path of the substrate web in the dryer unit is lengthened by at least one additional section. In particular, drying and solvent migration are improved in this way.

A further advantage that can be achieved with the invention consists in particular in the fact that a web tension can be adjusted by a tempering roller, in particular a cooling roller, which is preferably arranged immediately downstream of the dryer unit. Due to the close arrangement of the temperature control roller, for example between 10 cm and 100 cm, after the last guide element, the web tension in the dryer can also be adjusted at the same time, which is why additional draw rollers can be dispensed with and this also contributes to the more compact design. Furthermore, the heat introduced by the dryer unit can be dissipated again into the printing material. Advantageously, due to the proximity and/or immediate arrangement of the tempering roller, the heat can be dissipated directly after the dryer unit and additional guide elements can be dispensed with.

Due to the offset arrangement of the guide elements, the web can be fed directly into the dryer unit. In this way, it is particularly advantageous to dispense with a guide element outside the dryer unit, which contributes to a more compact design. In addition, the offset arrangement ensures small deflection angles. Due to the fact that at least two guide elements are present, the web guide is compact with little contact surface. A good printing result can be achieved despite the more compact design of the machine.

A further advantage that can be achieved with the invention consists in particular in the fact that several machine parts, in particular roll winders, roll unwinders, central cylinders, forme cylinders and draw rollers, have their own drives. In particular, the flexographic printing machine can be designed to be more compact due to its own drives, which are preferably connected via a virtual master axis.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is described in more detail below.

Fig. 1

eine schematisch Darstellung einer Flexodruckmaschine mit einem Zentralzylinder;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung einer horizontal orientierten Trocknereinheit.

Show it:

1

a schematic representation of a flexographic printing machine with a central cylinder;

2

Figure 12 is a schematic representation of a horizontally oriented dryer unit.

A printing press 01, preferably a flexographic printing press 01 and/or a central cylinder printing press 01 (central impression cylinder (CI)), is embodied in particular as a web-fed printing press 01 for printing a web-type printing substrate 02. Printing press 01 is understood to mean a machine that applies or is capable of applying at least one printing fluid to a printing substrate 02. Printing press 01, in particular flexographic printing press 01, preferably has at least one unwinder 100 with a printing substrate source 101, preferably at least one first printing assembly 200 with at least one central cylinder 201, preferably at least one first dryer unit 300, preferably at least one inspection system 400, and preferably at least one winder 500 . Printing material source 101 is preferably embodied as a substrate roll 101 and/or a printing material roll 101. Printing press 01 may have at least one second printing assembly, for example, and at least one second dryer unit, for example. A maximum production speed is, for example, 5 m/s or 7 m/s, preferably 6 m/s.

For the sake of simplicity, the expression "printing ink" or "printing fluid" should be understood above and below - unless explicitly differentiated and named accordingly - in the sense of a liquid or at least free-flowing coloring fluid to be printed in the printing press 01, which does not only refer to the colloquially associated with the term "printing ink" rather higher-viscosity coloring fluids for use in rotary printing machines, but in addition to these higher-viscosity Dyeing fluids in particular also low-viscosity dyeing fluids such as "inks", especially inkjet inks, but also powdered dyeing fluids such. B. toner includes. In the foregoing and in the following, colorless lacquers are also meant in particular when printing fluids and/or inks and/or printing inks are mentioned. In the foregoing and in the following, means for the pretreatment (so-called precoating) of a printing substrate 02 are also preferably meant when printing fluids and/or inks and/or printing inks are mentioned. As an alternative to the term pressure fluid, the term coating agent is to be understood synonymously. In particular, the printing fluid in flexographic printing machines preferably has thin and low-viscosity properties compared to printing fluids from other printing processes.

Printing substrate 02 is preferably a sheet-like material such as paper and/or cardboard and/or a thin, flexible or rigid film. Furthermore, packaging materials with rough surfaces and fabrics can be printed. A working width of printing press 01, in particular flexographic printing press 01, is preferably between 600 mm and 1,200 mm, preferably up to 1,050 mm. Above and below, the working width is the maximum width that a printing substrate 02 may have in order to still be able to be processed with the at least one printing unit 200 of printing machine 01; this therefore corresponds to the maximum width that can be processed with the at least one printing unit 200 of printing machine 01 Width of the respective printing substrate 02. Printing substrate webs and/or printing substrates 02 with a maximum printing substrate weight of 120 g/m ² or less are preferably used.

In the case of a web-fed printing press 01, the unwinder 100 is designed as a roll unwinder 100 and the winder 500 as a roll winder 500. At least printing substrate 02 is preferably aligned in roll unwinder 100, preferably at least with respect to one edge of this printing substrate 02 a printing material roll 101 and is preferably aligned in an axial direction A with respect to its edges. The axial direction A is preferably a direction A that extends parallel to a rotation axis 207, in particular a rotation axis 207 of the central cylinder 201, a horizontally running direction A. The axial direction A, i.e. transverse direction A, is oriented orthogonally to a direction T provided for the transport of printing substrate 02, in particular web-type printing substrate 02, in particular transport direction T, and/or orthogonal to a planned transport path for printing substrate 02 through the at least one first printing assembly 200. In the case of a curved transport path, transport direction T is preferably that direction T which is tangential to a respective reference point, in particular tangential to the transport path and/or tangential to the transport path provided for printing substrate web 02, in particular substrate web 02. More preferably, the transport direction T is tangential at every location on the transport path provided for the substrate web 02.

At least one device 104 for increasing the adhesion of the printing fluid, in particular a device 104 for corona discharge, is arranged downstream of the printing substrate roll 101 and at least one deflection means 102 in the transport path of the substrate web 02. In particular, system 104 is located upstream of the at least one printing unit 200, in particular upstream of the at least one printing unit 200, and after unwinding substrate web 02 from printing substrate roll 101. The device 104 preferably comprises a deflection means 105 and a device for treating the substrate web 02 with a corona voltage.

The transport path provided for transporting the at least one printing substrate 02, and in particular the printing substrate web 02, runs downstream of the at least one device provided for the printing substrate roll 101, preferably via at least one deflection means 102 through the at least one first printing unit 200, where the printing substrate 02 and in particular the printing substrate web 02 preferably by means of at least one printing color is provided with a printed image on one side. The spatial area provided for the transport of a printing substrate 02, which the printing substrate 02 and in particular the printing substrate web 02 occupies at least partially when it is present, is the transport path. The transport path is defined by at least one transport means, in particular by at least one printing material guide element. The at least one printing substrate guide element is preferably embodied in each case as at least one roller and/or at least one cylinder and/or at least one support and/or at least one other device for guiding the printing substrate 02 and in particular the printing substrate web 02 when printing press 01 is in a printing operating state. The at least one printing unit 200 has, for example, at least one pressure roller 206 and/or deflection roller 206 embodied as a printing material guide element. The at least one pressure roller 206 and/or deflection roller 206 is preferably arranged on central cylinder 201 in such a way that a substrate web 02, in particular a printing substrate web 02, is arranged, for example, passing printing units 202 in precise register.

Other areas of the printing press 01 also have such printing material guide elements. For example, the dryer unit 300 has at least one deflection means 302 and at least one guide element 301 and the at least one roll unwinder 100 has at least one deflection means 102 and the inspection system 400 has at least one deflection means 402 and the at least one roll winder 500 has at least one deflection means 503 as such a transport means and/or such a printing material guide element.

Printing press 01 also has a direction G. The direction G indicates the general direction of the transport path provided for the printing substrate 02 through the printing machine 01 and points from the at least one roll unwinder 100, in particular the beginning of the printing machine 01, to the at least one roll winder 500, the end point of the printing machine 01. The direction G, preferred the transport direction G of the overall machine is preferably oriented orthogonally to the transverse direction A and parallel to the bottom of the printing machine 01. In particular, the direction G is formed and/or oriented horizontally.

In the preceding and in the following designates a vertical direction V, a direction that is preferably orthogonal to the plane spanned by the transverse direction A and direction G. The vertical direction V with the transverse direction A and the direction G preferably form a Cartesian coordinate system. In particular, in the case of a transport direction G that runs parallel to the floor, the vertical direction V preferably points away from the floor on which the printing press 01 is standing.

The at least one first printing unit 200 is preferably embodied as a flexographic printing unit 200 with at least one central cylinder 201 and has at least one, preferably several, preferably at least four, more preferably at least eight, printing units 202 over the circumference of the at least one central cylinder 201. In a particularly preferred embodiment, printing press 01 has exactly eight printing units 202. The at least one printing unit 202 is preferably arranged to be feedable by motor and/or by manual operation via adjusting spindles. The at least one printing unit 202 preferably has at least one anilox roller 203, at least one forme cylinder 204, and at least one doctor blade device 205.

The at least one anilox roller 203 of one of the printing units 202 has a plurality of cells, distributed evenly over the anilox roller 203, for applying ink to the at least one forme cylinder 204. In particular, a screen frequency is between 200 cells/cm and 600 cells/cm. For example, the anilox roller 203 is designed as a chrome roller or a ceramic roller. The at least one forme cylinder 204 is preferably configured with an elastic, raised printing forme. A printing length is preferably up to 500 mm or up to 1100 mm, preferably up to 800 mm. the at least one doctor blade device 205 is preferably embodied in a closed design. In a In a preferred embodiment, the forme cylinder 204 and/or each forme cylinder 204 has its own drive and/or direct drive. Each of these drives is preferably arranged coupled to a virtual master axis.

The central cylinder 201 preferably has its own first drive motor assigned to the first central cylinder 201, which is preferably embodied as an electric motor and which is more preferably embodied as a direct drive and/or individual drive of the central cylinder 201. The central cylinder 201 preferably has a diameter d201 between 1 meter and 3 meters, preferably between 1.5 meters and 2 meters or larger. In particular, the at least one central cylinder 201 has at least three times, preferably at least four times, the diameter d201 of a diameter d204 of the at least one forme cylinder 204 of one of the printing units 202. A plane E201 is spanned by the vertical direction V and the axis of rotation 207 of the central cylinder 201 . The at least one printing unit 202, in particular the plurality of printing units 202, are arranged uniformly on the respective opposite side of the at least one central cylinder 201. Specifically opposite to level E201. The multiple printing units 202 are preferably arranged in a star shape around the at least one central cylinder 201. A contact pressure in the printing operation is preferably between 0.1 MPa and 0.5 MPa.

The at least one dryer unit 300 is preferably arranged downstream of the at least one printing unit 200 in the transport path provided for the substrate web 02. The at least one dryer unit 300 is preferably arranged in the vertical direction V above the at least one printing unit 200, more preferably above the axis of rotation 207 of the at least one central cylinder 201. In particular, the at least one dryer unit 300 is more preferably arranged on the side of the roll unwinder 100, separated by the plane E201. Dryer unit 300 has at least one, preferably at least two, more preferably exactly two, dryer sections 304 for guiding through substrate web 02. The at least one is preferred, preferably at least two, more preferably exactly two Dryer sections 304 surrounded by a housing 317. Upstream and/or downstream of a dryer section 304 is at least one deflection means 302 for changing the transport direction T of the substrate web 02 and/or for changing the transport path provided for the substrate web 02. In particular, the at least one deflection means 302 is arranged such that the substrate web 02 is aligned for being fed into and/or out of the dryer section 304 without a large deflection angle on at least a first and/or one and/or a last guide element 301 of the respective dryer section 304. The at least one deflection means 302 is more preferably arranged in each case such that the at least one deflection means 302 lengthens a monotonically increasing arrangement of the guide elements 301.

For each dryer section 304, the at least one dryer unit 300 comprises at least one, preferably several, at least four, more preferably at least seven guide elements 301. The at least one guide element 301, in particular the several guide elements 301, preferably defines the transport path provided for the substrate web 02 in a dryer section 304 before. In particular, the at least one guide element 301, in particular the plurality of guide elements 301, is offset from one another in a transport direction T and/or the direction G and more preferably also in a vertical direction V. In the case of at least two guide elements 301, the distance, in particular an offset V301 of the axes of rotation 305 of the guide elements 301, parallel to direction G, between the guide elements 301 is preferably between 10 cm and 30 cm. More preferably, the distance, in particular the offset V301 parallel to the direction G, is the same in the case of a plurality of guide elements 301. In the case of a plurality of guide elements 301, the guide elements 301 are preferably arranged in a vertical direction V at least in the first dryer section 304, preferably in all dryer sections 304, monotonically increasing. In particular, the intended transport path for substrate web 02 is preferably convex. In particular convex to a straight connection from a first to a last guide element 301 of a dryer section 304. In another embodiment, the plurality of guide elements 301 are preferably arranged such that there is an approximately logarithmically increasing transport path in the vertical direction V for the substrate web 02 through the respective dryer section 304 .

At least two consecutive dryer sections 304 of the dryer unit 300 are preferably arranged opposite one another. Opposite means, in particular, that the substrate web 02 is fed through the at least one dryer unit 300 with a rotated and/or turned substrate web 02, in particular a rotated and/or turned printed surface of the substrate web 02. In particular, substrate web 02 is rotated by the at least one deflection means 302, which is arranged downstream of the respective dryer section 304 and upstream of the next dryer section 304 in each case. At least one deflection means 302 is preferably arranged between each dryer section 304 in such a way that the at least one substrate web 02 is arranged rotated by at least one deflection means 302 in front of each dryer section 304 and/or the substrate web 02 and/or the transport path provided for the substrate web 02 is between 135° and is arranged deflected by 225°, preferably by 180°. For example, substrate web 02 and/or the transport path provided for substrate web 02 is deflected at an angle of approximately 90° by one deflection means 302 each, so that substrate web 02 or the transport path provided for substrate web 02 is diverted by the at least two deflection means 302 is deflected by 135° to 225°, preferably by 180°. In a further embodiment, two dryer sections 304 have a common deflection means 302 and/or more than two deflection means 302, and the substrate web 02 is preferably deflected by the at least one deflection means 302 by a total of 135° to 225°, preferably by 180°. In particular, an upwardly oriented printed surface of substrate web 02 is turned downward after being deflected by the at least one deflection means 302. In one embodiment, the at least one deflection means 302 is arranged such that the printed surface that has already dried in the first dryer section 304 comes into contact with the deflection means 302. The at least one deflection means 302 is preferably cylindrical over the entire working width in transverse direction A. In particular, the at least one deflection means 302 is not driven and is embodied as an idle deflection roller 302. The at least one deflection means 302 is preferably arranged such that it can rotate about an axis of rotation. Two dryer sections 304 are preferably arranged separated by two deflection rollers 302 .

At least one nozzle 306, preferably a plurality of nozzles 306, is assigned to substrate web 02 or to the transport path provided for substrate web 02 through the respective dryer section 304. The plurality of nozzles 306 in each dryer section 304 are arranged pointing towards the substrate web 02 and/or towards the transport path of the substrate web 02 from above and from below. A distance between the substrate web 02 and/or the transport path is preferably less than 20 cm, preferably less than 10 cm. In particular, the multiple nozzles 306 are preferably on multiple nozzle boxes 307; 308; 309 arranged. In particular, the nozzle boxes 307; 308; 309 or the sections on the nozzle boxes 307; 308; 309 are preferably arranged offset in the vertical direction V and are arranged to depict the preferably convex configuration of the transport path of the substrate web 02. In particular, the nozzles 306 of a nozzle box 308 located above the substrate web 02 and/or above the transport path of the substrate web 02 are arranged such that, compared to a straight line connecting a first and last nozzle 306 in the transport path, the nozzle arrangement is concave. In particular, each dryer section 304 has at least one, preferably two, nozzle boxes 307; 308; 309 on. In the particularly preferred embodiment with two dryer sections 304, the first dryer section 304 preferably has a nozzle box 308 above and a nozzle box 307 below the substrate web 02 and/or the transport path provided for the substrate web 02. The second dryer section 304 also has a nozzle box 309 above and a nozzle box 308 below the substrate web 02 and/or the transport path of substrate web 02. Above and below means in particular an indication in the mainly vertical direction V. Each nozzle box 307; 308; 309 its own gas inlet 311; 312; 313 on. For example, the particularly preferred embodiment having two dryer sections 304 has lower, middle, and upper nozzle boxes 307; 308; 309 on. The nozzle boxes 307; 308; 309 lower, middle and upper gas inlets 311; 312; 313 on. The at least one housing 317 particularly preferably has at least two, a lower and an upper gas outlet 314; 316 on. In an embodiment of the dryer unit 300 with a plurality of dryer sections 304 there may also be fewer or more gas outlets or gas inlets. The nozzle box 308 is particularly preferably configured as a common nozzle box 308 in the two dryer sections 304 . The common nozzle box 308 of the two successive dryer sections 304 has multiple nozzles 306 with multiple nozzle openings. In particular, the nozzle openings of the common nozzle box 308 of the at least two successive dryer sections 304 are arranged pointing away from one another. In particular, in an embodiment with a plurality of dryer sections 304, the two successive dryer sections 304 preferably always have a common nozzle box 308 with nozzle openings pointing away from one another.

The plurality of nozzles 306 are preferably evenly spaced across the dryer section 304 . For example, the nozzles 306 are on a nozzle box 307; 308; 309 staggered. In particular, as a result of the turning and/or rotation and/or deflection of substrate web 02 between two dryer sections 304, the multiple nozzles 306 of the common nozzle box 308 are arranged so as to face the printed side of substrate web 02. Preferably, the multiple nozzles 306 are preheated by means of drying gas, e.g. B.Trocknungsluft, and a gas inlet can be supplied and/or supplied. In one embodiment, each dryer section 304 has a common gas duct for drying the substrate web 02 and for migration of solvents. In a more preferred embodiment, each nozzle box 307; 308; 309 its own gas inlet. In a further preferred embodiment, two consecutive dryer sections 304 always have a common supply of drying air. The entire dryer unit 300 preferably has a common drying inlet. In another embodiment, the dryer unit 300 is designed as an infrared dryer.

In particular, the at least one dryer unit 300 is preferably arranged in a horizontal alignment and/or horizontal orientation. Horizontal alignment means in particular a largely horizontal, in particular predominantly horizontal component, in particular the component parallel to direction G, the transport direction T of substrate web 02 in dryer unit 300, preferably in each dryer section 304. In particular, the transport direction T is tangential to the transport path provided for the substrate web 02 in a dryer section 304. Its horizontal component, which is oriented parallel to direction G, predominates in at least 80%, preferably 90%, more preferably 100%, of the transport path in the respective dryer section 304

More preferably, a horizontal orientation of the at least one dryer unit 300 also means the dimensions of the individual dryer sections 304. In particular, the length L304 of the dryer section 304 is greater than the height H304 of the respective dryer section 304. In particular, the length L304 of the dryer section 304 is the distance from the first to the last guide element 301, in particular the respective axes of rotation 305 of the guide elements 301, of a dryer section 304 denoted parallel to the direction G. The height H304 of the dryer section 304, in particular the height H304 between the first and the last guide element 301, in particular the respective axes of rotation 305 of the guide elements 301, of the respective dryer section 304 parallel to the vertical direction V is referred to. For example, the L304 is between 1 meter and 3 meters and the H304 between 10 cm and 50 cm. The at least one horizontally oriented and/or aligned dryer unit 300 with the at least one guide element 301 is preferably arranged in a vertical direction V above printing unit 200.

At least one temperature control roller 350 is arranged downstream of the at least one last, preferably the second, dryer section 304. The at least one temperature control roller 350, preferably at least one cooling roller 350, is arranged downstream of the at least one horizontally arranged dryer unit 300 and upstream of the inspection system 400. More preferably, the at least one tempering roller 350 is arranged between the at least one dryer unit 300 and level E201. At least one force gauge 353 is preferably arranged between the last dryer section 304 and the at least one tempering roller 350. In particular, the at least one force gauge 353 is arranged on at least one roller. The at least one tempering roller 350 preferably has a diameter of between 200 mm and 350 mm, more preferably between 250 mm and 300 mm. The temperature of the at least one temperature control roller 350 is preferably set to 18° C. to 24° C., preferably cooled, by means of a temperature control medium, in particular water. In particular, the temperature control medium is conducted and/or flows through the at least one temperature control roller 350 in the transverse direction A by means of temperature control channels. In particular, a distance A31 parallel to direction G from the dryer unit 300, in particular from the axis of rotation 305 of the last guide element 301, to the axis of rotation 351 of the at least one tempering roller 350 is short, in particular shorter than the length L304 through the respective last dryer section 304. In particular, a Distance A31 parallel to direction G from the last guide element 301 of the last dryer section 304 to the axis of rotation 351 of the at least one tempering roller 350 is preferably half as short, even more preferably a quarter as short as the length L304 of the respective last dryer section 304. The distance is preferably A31 between 10cm and 100cm. The distance A31 is more preferably between 10 cm and 50 cm. In a further In a preferred embodiment, the distance A31 is less than half as short and/or less than a third as short and/or less than a quarter as short as the length L304 of the respective last dryer section 304. In particular, the at least one tempering roller 350 has at least one Pressure roller 352 arranged employed. In particular, pressure roller 352 is engaged to press substrate web 02 against the at least one tempering roller 350. The at least one tempering roller 350 is preferably arranged to be driven by an electric motor. The at least one tempering roller 350 is arranged to be driven by a drive, preferably an electric motor. The drive is preferably arranged with speed and/or position and/or torque control. In particular, the at least one temperature control roller 350 is arranged to control and/or regulate the web tension of substrate web 02, preferably in operative connection with the at least one force gauge 353. The drive is also preferably designed as a direct drive and/or a separate drive and is coupled to other drives on printing press 01 by means of a virtual master axis.

The at least one printing press 01 also has an inspection system 400 arranged downstream of the dryer unit 300 in the transport path of the substrate web 02. In particular, inspection device 400 has at least one sensor device 403 for register inspection and/or one sensor device 401 for printed image analysis. An exact match of a printed image on the front and back of a printing material 02 printed on both sides is a register (DIN 16500-2). According to DIN 16500-2, a register is, for example in multi-color printing, a precisely fitting combination of individual print images, which were printed by different printing units 202, into one image. Above and below, a printed image describes a representation on printing substrate 02, which corresponds to the sum of all printed image elements, wherein the image elements are and/or can be transferred to printing substrate 02 during at least one work stage and/or at least one printing operation.

The inspection device 400 is preferably arranged in the vertical direction V above the printing unit 200 and in particular above the central cylinder 201. The inspection device 400 is preferably arranged in the transport path between the roll winder 500 and the dryer unit 300 .

Sensor device 401 for printed image analysis and/or sensor device 403 for register inspection is preferably at a distance of at least 5 mm, preferably at least 8 mm, and more preferably at most 20 mm from substrate web 02 and/or the transport path provided for substrate web 02 of a maximum of 15 mm. Sensor device 401 for analyzing the printed image and/or sensor device 403 for register inspection therefore preferably points to the transport path and/or one of sensor devices 401; 403 assigned deflection means 402, which preferably defines the transport path, a minimum distance that corresponds to the thickness of the respective printing substrate web 02 and additionally at least 5 mm.

The sensor device 401 and/or the sensor device 403 is/are preferably used as an image sensor 401; 403 designed, in particular as a line scan camera, more preferably as a contact image sensor (CIS, Contact Image Sensor). Sensor device 401 and/or sensor device 403 preferably comprises at least one sensor, at least one lens assigned to the respective sensor and/or at least one light source assigned to the respective sensor. In a preferred embodiment, the sensor device 401 and/or the sensor device 403 comprises a multiplicity of sensors and the respectively associated lenses and/or light sources. The at least one sensor is preferably designed as a CCD sensor and/or CMOS sensor. The sensor is preferably embodied as a photodiode and/or preferably defines a picture element, in particular a pixel, in each case, the pixel preferably being embodied as rectangular, in particular square. A photodiode is preferably a semiconductor diode which, for example, converts visible light into an electrical voltage in particular by means of an internal photoelectric effect. The sensor is preferred for detecting at least brightness information of the respective printed image and converting the respective brightness information into electrical voltage.

Printing press 01 also has at least one roll winder 500. The at least one roll winder 500 is preferably arranged downstream of the at least one inspection system 400. The at least one roll winder 500 comprises a substrate roll 501, in particular a printing material roll 501, on which substrate web 02 is wound after printing. Furthermore, the at least one printing substrate roll 501 and/or the location of the at least one roll winder 500 provided for the printing substrate roll 501 has an axis of rotation 502. Roll winder 500 also includes at least a plurality of deflection means 503 for guiding and aligning substrate web 02.

The at least one roll unwinder 100 and the at least one roll winder 500 are preferably each arranged on the opposite side of the at least one central cylinder 201. In particular, the at least one roll unwinder 100 and the at least one roll winder 500 are spatially separated by the at least one printing unit 200. In particular, at least the at least one central cylinder 201 of at least one printing unit 200 is arranged in such a way that the axis of rotation 207 of the at least one central cylinder 201 is arranged in between in the direction G.

Preferably, the roll unwinder 100 is disposed on the drying unit 300 side. The roll winder 500 is arranged opposite, preferably separated by the central cylinder 201 . Preferably, the roll winder 500 is located on the side and preferably below the inspection device 400.

The roll unwinder 100 and the roll winder 500 preferably each have their own drive or individual drives and/or direct drives. In a preferred embodiment, the own drives of the roll unwinder 100 as well as of the roll winder 500 are designed as electric motors and are preferably arranged coupled to other machine parts, for example, by means of a virtual guide axis.

In a preferred embodiment, the flexographic printing machine 01 has multiple individual drives and/or direct drives. The individual drives and/or direct drives are preferably arranged coupled by means of a virtual master axis. At least the drives of the central cylinder 201 as well as the roll winder 500 and the roll unwinder 100, more preferably also the drives of the at least one temperature control roller 350 and the forme cylinder 204, are preferably arranged coupled via the master axis by means of the preferably virtual master axis.

In particular, distances are arranged between the at least one roll unwinder 100 and the printing unit 200 and between the at least one roll winder 500 and the printing unit 200. The distances should preferably be viewed parallel to the G direction. The shortest distance A21 between the roll unwinder 100, in particular the axis of rotation 103 of the printing substrate roll 101 or the rotational axis 103 of the position of the roll unwinder 100 provided for the printing substrate roll 101, and the at least one central cylinder 201, in particular a point on the lateral surface of the central cylinder 201, is not preferred greater than four times the diameter d201 of the central cylinder 201. More preferably not greater than three times and/or twice the diameter d201 of the central cylinder 201.

The shortest distance A52 between the roll winder 500, in particular the axis of rotation 502 of the substrate roll 501 or the axis of rotation 502 of the position of the roll winder 500 provided for the substrate roll 501, and the central cylinder 201, in particular a point on the lateral surface of the central cylinder 201, is not greater than four times the diameter d201 of the central cylinder 201. More preferably, the distance A52 is no greater than three times and/or twice the diameter d201 of the at least one central cylinder 201.

Reference List

01

Printing machine, flexographic printing machine, central cylinder printing machine, web printing machine

02

Printing material, printing material web, substrate web, in web form

100

unwinder, roll unwinder

101

substrate source, substrate roll, substrate roll

102

deflection means

103

axis of rotation (101)

104

Furnishings

105

deflection means (104)

200

Printing unit, printing unit, flexographic printing unit

201

central cylinder

202

printing unit

203

anilox roller

204

form cylinder

205

squeegee device

206

pressure roller, deflection roller

207

axis of rotation (201)

300

dryer unit

301

guide element

302

Deflection means, deflection pulley, idling

303

-

304

dryer section

305

axis of rotation (301)

306

jet

307

Nozzle box, lower

308

Nozzle box, middle

309

Nozzle box, upper

310

-

311

Gas inlet, lower

312

Gas inlet, middle

313

Gas inlet, upper

314

Gas outlet, upper

315

-

316

Gas outlet, lower

317

housing (300)

350

Tempering roller, cooling roller

351

Axis of rotation (350)

352

pressure roller

353

force meter

400

inspection facility

401

Sensor device for print image analysis, image sensor

402

Deflection means (400)

403

Sensor device for register inspection, image sensor

500

winder, reel winder

501

substrate roll, printing material roll

502

axis of rotation (501)

503

Deflection means (500)

A

direction, transverse direction, axial

G

direction, transport direction(01)

T

direction of transport

V

direction, vertical

d201

diameter (201)

d204

diameter (204)

L304

Length (304)

H304

Height (304)

V301

offset (301)

A31

Distance (351) to (305)

A52

Distance (502) and (201)

A21

distance (201) and (103)

Claims (15)

1. Flexographic printing press (01) for printing a substrate web (02), comprising at least one printing unit (200) and comprising at least one central cylinder (201), wherein a plurality of printing couples (202) are arranged around the periphery of the at least one central cylinder (201), wherein the flexographic printing press (01) has at least one roll winder (500), wherein the at least one flexographic printing press (01) has at least one roll unwinder (100), and wherein the at least one roll unwinder (100) and the at least one roll winder (500) are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the at least one central cylinder (201), wherein the at least one central cylinder (201) is arranged between the at least one roll unwinder (100) and the at least one roll winder (500), characterized in that a horizontally aligned dryer unit (300) having at least one guide element (301) is arranged above the printing unit (200) in a vertical direction (V), in that the at least one horizontally aligned dryer unit (300) has at least two dryer sections (304), in that one dryer section (304) is arranged separated from the next dryer section (304) by at least one diverting means (302), and in that the shortest distance (A21) between the at least one roll unwinder (100) and the at least one central cylinder (201) is no greater than twice the diameter (d201) of the central cylinder (201), and the shortest distance (A52) between the at least one roll winder (500) and the at least one central cylinder (201) is no greater than twice the diameter (d201) of the central cylinder (201).
2. Flexographic printing press according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexographic printing press (01) has at least one temperature control roller (350), and in that the at least one temperature control roller (350) is arranged downstream of the last dryer section (304) of the at least one dryer unit (300).
3. Flexographic printing press according to claim 2, characterized in that the distance (A31) from the last guide element (301) of the last dryer section (304) of the at least one dryer unit (300) to the at least one temperature control roller (350) is between 10 cm and 100 cm.
4. Flexographic printing press according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that an inspection device (400) for inspecting perfecting register and/or for print image analysis is arranged downstream of the dryer unit (300) in the transport path of the substrate web (02).
5. Flexographic printing press according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4, characterized in that the at least two dryer sections (304) have at least two guide elements (301), and in that the at least two guide elements (301) are arranged offset from one another in a direction (G) and in the vertical direction (V).
6. Flexographic printing press according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5, characterized in that at least one diverting means (302) is arranged between each dryer section (304) such that the at least one substrate web (02) is rotated upstream of each dryer section (304) by at least one diverting means (302) and/or the substrate web (02) and/or the transport path provided for the substrate web (02) is diverted by between 135° and 225°.
7. Flexographic printing press according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6, characterized in that each dryer section (304) has a plurality of nozzles (306), and in that the plurality of nozzles (306) of each dryer section (304) are arranged pointing from above and from below onto the substrate web (02) and/or onto the transport path of the substrate web (02).
8. Flexographic printing press according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7, characterized in that the distance (A31) from the last guide element (301) of the last dryer section (304) of the at least one dryer unit (300) to the at least one temperature control roller (350) is half as short as the length (L304) of the transport path of the substrate web (02) through the respective last dryer section (304), and in that is referred to as the length (L304) the length of the transport path of the substrate web (02), parallel to the direction (G), from the first guide element (301) to the last guide element (301) of the last dryer section (304) in the direction of transport (T).
9. Flexographic printing press according to claim 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8, characterized in that the at least one temperature control roller (350) is driven by at least one drive, and in that the at least one temperature control roller (350) is arranged for open-loop and/or closed-loop control of the web tension of the substrate web (02).
10. Flexographic printing press according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9, characterized in that two dryer sections (304) are arranged separated by two diverting rollers (302).
11. Flexographic printing press according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10, characterized in that the at least two dryer sections (304) are enclosed by at least one housing (317).
12. Flexographic printing press according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12, characterized in that a dynamometer (353) is arranged between the at least one temperature control roller (350) and the last dryer section (304) .
13. Flexographic printing press according to claim 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12, characterized in that the at least one temperature control roller (350) is arranged between the at least one dryer unit (300) and a plane (E201), and in that the plane (E201) is spanned by the vertical direction (V) and the axis of rotation (207) of the central cylinder (201).
14. Flexographic printing press according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13, characterized in that the shortest distance (A21) between the axis of rotation (103) of the printing material source (101) and a point on the lateral surface of the central cylinder (201) is no greater than twice the diameter (d201) of the central cylinder (201), and the shortest distance (A52) between the axis of rotation (502) of the substrate roll (501) and a point on the lateral surface of the central cylinder (201) is no greater than twice the diameter (d201) of the central cylinder (201).
15. Flexographic printing press according to claim 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14, characterized in that the at least one temperature control roller (350) is arranged downstream of the at least one horizontally arranged dryer unit (300) and upstream of the inspection unit (400).

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