EP4098447B1 - Processing machine with a drying device and method for operating a drying device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a processing machine with a drying device, in particular a printing material or sheet processing or substrate processing machine, especially a printing press, and a method for operating a drying device in a processing machine.

In particular, high-performance drying devices with radiation dryers are usually cooled. In particular, UV emitters installed in a UV module on printing material processing machines, for example sheet-fed printing presses, are cooled during operation. Cooling of a UV radiator is also necessary at higher outputs so that it does not reach the transformation temperature of the glass tube and thus sags or even puffs up.

Exhaust air cooling systems for cooling UV radiators are known. Ambient air flows past the UV emitter through an air inlet opening in the housing, with the air inlet opening also being the radiation outlet opening. The disadvantage is that the UV radiator, as a result of the structural design, is primarily cooled on the top. The underside is generally significantly hotter, as there is insufficient convection. The heat dissipation on the underside takes place in addition to heat radiation through heat conduction from the glass tube to the well-cooled top. From the DE 694 13 439 T2 and the EP 1 625 016 B1 it is known to blow a UV radiator from the air duct of the housing profile by means of supply air cooling. This supply air cooling is significantly more effective than exhaust air cooling and significantly reduces the glass tube temperature on the top of the UV lamp. However, that's on the temperature of the underside of the glass tube only has an insufficient influence, since the heat conduction in the glass tube from the bottom to the top is limited.

From the DE 101 25 770 A1 an irradiation device is known, wherein the radiation source in the irradiation device is arranged to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis in connection with an intake air cooling system. The disadvantage of this solution is that it works with an intake air cooling system and has moving parts that are prone to failure, making it complex and uneconomical.

From the JP 4 - 132940 U , the KR 10 - 1031749 B1 , the EP 2 697 066 B1 , the JP 2014 - 42884 A and the EP 3 168 861 A1 it is known to encapsulate drying devices with a disc against ambient air, with various air ducts being realized in the housing. A disadvantage of these solutions is that no large volume flow of ambient air flowing around the radiation source is achieved. There is also no effective extraction of ozone-polluted ambient air.

From the DE 10 2008 058 056 A1 a UV irradiation device is known, in which a first flow of cooling air is sucked into the housing on the sides via air inlet openings in the outer wall in order to cool the bulkhead system from the outside. The cooling air is routed along the housing wall into a central suction duct and from there, via a collector, to a fan that promotes the entire flow of cooling air for the UV irradiation device. A second flow of cooling air is collected in the area of the radiation source by a long-necked suction duct and fed into the collector via a throttle. A disadvantage of this solution is that this exhaust air cooling does not adequately cool the underside of the radiation source.

From the FR 2 774 156 A1 a device for accelerating drying by means of an infrared radiator which generates heat is known. An air generation system leads low-temperature air to reduce the temperature inside the case.

The DE 102 47 464 A1 shows a dryer device with an infrared radiator, with a main dryer assembly being arranged downstream of an after-dryer assembly. The dryer device is sealed off from cold ambient air.

From the JP 2000 - 157925 A an ultraviolet curing apparatus using a UV ray tube is known. For cooling, on the one hand, the distance between the reflectors and the radiator is adjusted via the length of the radiator. On the other hand, an air pipe is used, which directs cooling air directly onto the radiator. At this time, the cooling air discharged from the air duct is configured to increase in amount as it is farther from an exhaust side.

The KR 20100008087 A FIG. 12 shows a cooling device for a UV lamp using blown air to cool substrate in order to prevent in advance damage that may be caused by malfunction of the shutter members of the housing.

The object of the invention is to create an alternative processing machine with a drying device or an alternative method for operating a drying device in a processing machine. In particular, the cooling on preferably high-performance dryers in processing machines, such as substrate or printing material processing machines, should be improved. Particularly preferably, the cooling of a UV radiator should also be further improved on the underside.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by a device having the features of the independent device claim and a method having the features of independent method claim solved. Advantageous configurations result from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

The invention has the advantage that an alternative processing machine with a drying device or an alternative method for operating a drying device in a processing machine is created. In particular, the cooling on preferably powerful dryers in processing machines, such as substrate or printing material processing machines, in particular printing presses or sheet processing machines, is improved. The cooling of a UV radiator on the underside is also particularly preferably further improved.

The drying device is preferably used in a sheet-processing or substrate-processing machine, especially a printing press, or such a machine is equipped with one or more such drying devices. The drying device can preferably also be used optionally as an intermediate dryer or as a final dryer, for example in a delivery. In this case, a tabular substrate, for example sheet metal, can be processed as the substrate. However, material in rolls or sheets can also be processed, in particular printed or painted.

An exhaust air cooling has the particular advantage that ozone generated by UV radiation is simultaneously extracted from the drying device, for example a UV module. On the one hand, ozone is harmful to human health, on the other hand, ozone absorbs UV radiation and thus reduces the curing effect of the drying device, in particular the UV module. A blown air system results in improved air flow with the favored exhaust air cooling.

Ambient air is preferred, in particular that which is outside of the drying device or that is in contact with a printing material Ambient air, guided in a targeted manner by additional directed air and/or blown air in such a way that both the ambient air and the additional air or blown air are optimally guided as cooling air around the radiation source before the common cooling air is removed as exhaust air through one or more air outlet openings, in particular sucked off , becomes.

Furthermore, the radiation source can be cooled indirectly and/or directly on the underside by air streams introduced on one side or preferably on both sides, for example blown air streams or blasted air jets, with the additional air, for example blown air, being introduced or blown in in particular outside the radiation area of a UV module . If air is preferably introduced or blown in on both sides, it can meet, for example, in the middle below the UV module or below the radiation source. Alternatively or additionally, the radiation source, in particular a UV emitter, can also be partly blown directly on from below. Preferably, however, blown air is guided parallel to or in the plane of the air inlet opening of the housing, so that the blowing device is not in the beam path of the radiation from the radiation source. The blown air is thus preferably generated at least approximately parallel to the web of processing material or a web of printing material.

In particular, by constricting the ambient air, this is transported as cooling air in the drying device, in particular in the UV module, in an improved or optimized manner to the underside of the radiation source, and its underside is therefore better cooled. Furthermore, the cooling is advantageously more turbulent and, surprisingly, the upper side of the radiation source is also cooled better, which has been proven by investigations, specifically using temperature measurements.

For example, the additional air or blown air over the entire length of a drying device, for example the UV module, or the radiation source introduced or blown. This can be done by air guiding elements, such as metal sheets, and/or blown air openings, in particular nozzles. The air introduced or blown in on both sides, for example, can be either a partial mass or at least approximately all of the cooling air discharged in the UV module. The air volume flow of the air that is additionally introduced or blown in by the blast air system can preferably be between 20% and 50% of the total cooling air volume flow. Accordingly, the proportion of inflowing ambient air can be between 80% and 50%. In particular, a ratio of at least approximately 1/3 of air that is additionally introduced or blown in by the blast air system and of at least approximately 2/3 of inflowing ambient air is sought.

The radiation sources, in particular UV emitters, can thus be operated particularly advantageously with even higher power or the air mass flow can be reduced with the same cooling. Another advantage is that a bending or blowing up of a UV radiator can be avoided more reliably.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the blown air system is designed as an add-on module or additional module, which can be designed to be detachably or non-detachably connectable to a UV module of a dryer. The blown air system can be designed to be placed on any UV module of a dryer. In this case, the add-on module comprises, in particular, separate air guiding elements or air guiding channels, which are provided for influencing or adjusting the ambient air volume flow flowing around the radiation source. An add-on module or additional module can easily be used to retrofit dryers. Furthermore, a disc spaced apart from the housing of the UV module could also be provided in the beam path of the radiation source, as long as a sufficient air volume flow flowing into at least one air inlet opening is ensured.

Fig. 1:

Ausschnitt einer Auslage einer bogenverarbeitenden Maschine mit einem über einem Bogenförderweg angeordneten drei UV-Module aufweisenden Trockner;

Fig. 2:

Bogenführungszylinder mit als Zwischentrockner angeordnetem UV-Modul;

Fig. 3:

UV-Modul eines Trockners mit einem sich längserstreckenden UV-Strahler und zugeordnetem Blasluftsystem;

Fig. 4:

Querschnitt des UV-Moduls mit deaktiviertem Blasluftsystem;

Fig. 5:

Querschnitt des UV-Moduls mit aktiviertem Blasluftsystem;

Fig. 6:

Querschnitt des UV-Moduls mit alternativem aktivierten Blasluftsystem;

Fig. 7:

UV-Modul eines Trockners mit einem sich längserstreckenden UV-Strahler und zugeordnetem alternativen Blasluftsystem;

Fig. 8:

Querschnitt des UV-Moduls mit alternativem Blasluftsystem;

Fig. 9:

Langgestreckter UV-Strahler mit ausschließlich zwischen Elektroden wirkendem Kühlsystem;

Fig. 10:

Langgestreckter UV-Strahler für großformatige Maschinen;

Fig. 11:

Alternative Ausführungsform eines UV-Strahlers.

The invention is to be explained below by way of example. The associated drawings show the following schematically:

Figure 1:

Detail of a delivery of a sheet processing machine with a dryer having three UV modules arranged above a sheet conveying path;

Figure 2:

Sheet guiding cylinder with UV module arranged as intermediate dryer;

Figure 3:

UV module of a dryer with a longitudinally extending UV radiator and associated blown air system;

Figure 4:

Cross-section of the UV module with the air blast system deactivated;

Figure 5:

Cross-section of the UV module with activated air blast system;

Figure 6:

Cross-section of the UV module with alternative activated air blast system;

Figure 7:

UV module of a dryer with a longitudinally extending UV radiator and associated alternative blast air system;

Figure 8:

Cross-section of the UV module with an alternative air blast system;

Figure 9:

Elongated UV emitter with cooling system acting exclusively between electrodes;

Figure 10:

Elongated UV emitter for large format machines;

Figure 11:

Alternative embodiment of a UV radiator.

Substrates or printing materials are conveyed through the machine in processing machines such as printing material processing machines, in particular printing presses or sheet-fed processing machines, for example sheet-fed printing machines, in particular sheet-fed offset rotary printing machines, preferably in aggregate and in-line construction. In sheet processing machines, for example, sheets of printing material are gripped by cylinders or drums at the front edge and conveyed or transported through the machine while the cylinders are rotating. Between The sheets of printing material are transferred to cylinders when the gripper closes. In printing presses, the substrates run through various printing units on the conveying path, in which they are each printed with a printing color corresponding to the desired motif. Each of the printing units can, for example, include a plate cylinder, which is inked by an inking unit with the printing ink used. This inked plate cylinder transfers the printing ink appropriate to the motif onto a rubber cylinder provided with a rubber blanket, which forms a printing gap with a printing cylinder of a sheet-fed printing press that conveys the substrate sheet. When passing through the printing gap, the corresponding motif is transferred from the inked rubber blanket of the rubber cylinder to the substrate sheet.

After the last printing unit of the printing press, the finished printed sheets of printing material can be laid out in a delivery of a sheet-fed printing press to form a delivery stack. The last printing unit can also be followed, for example, by one or more varnishing units which provide the printed sheets of printing material with a protective varnish or glossy varnish. UV inks are preferably used in the printing units and UV varnishes in the coating units. A printing machine can contain a turning device for double-sided perfecting printing. Alternatively, however, other printing methods, for example with variable motifs, can also be used. A drying device or an intermediate dryer in the machine is designed in particular as a UV drying device and includes, for example, one or more UV modules 1.

The 1 shows, for example, part of a delivery of a sheet-fed printing press with a drying device arranged above a sheet conveying path, in particular with a dryer, which has a plurality of UV modules 1. In addition, the drying device can also have a hot-air dryer, among other things. In the display, not shown, are arranged on chains and are driven by these endlessly revolving gripper carriage 5 provided which the processed sheet 4 at the front edge from take over the last cylinder and promote it on the sheet conveyor path to the delivery pile. In particular, the UV modules 1 are arranged at a specified distance from the sheet conveying path, so that the circulating gripper carriage 5 can move unhindered. During the promotion or transport through the delivery, the sheets 4 can be guided over sheet guide plates 6, with an air cushion being able to be formed between the sheet 4 and the sheet guide plates 6. Alternatively, the UV modules 1 can also be arranged in the ascending branch of the circulating chains and/or in a delivery extension. Alternatively or additionally, a drying device can also be arranged below the sheet conveying path.

On the way to the delivery pile, the sheets 4 are guided past the UV modules 1 drying or curing the sheets 4 . The UV modules 1 each have UV emitters 2 whose UV radiation is directed onto the surface of the sheet 4 directly or via reflectors 3 . The treated sheet surface, in particular the printed UV ink and/or the applied UV varnish, is dried or cured by this UV radiation acting on the sheet 4 . Mercury vapor lamps are preferably used as radiation sources in the UV modules 1 . Additionally or alternatively, emitters with other wavelengths, such. B. infrared dryer, are used. For example, slide-in shafts into which the UV modules 1 can be inserted can be provided in the machine or delivery. The UV modules 1 can be fixed in these slots, making it possible to replace the UV modules 1, e.g. B. wear of the UV lamp 2 is guaranteed. The UV modules 1 work in particular with exhaust air cooling.

The 2 shows a drying device, in particular a UV module 1, on a sheet-guiding cylinder 7 of a sheet-processing machine, for example the sheet-fed printing press described above. The UV module 1 is assigned to the sheet guiding cylinder 7 of a work, in particular as an intermediate dryer. The sheet guiding cylinder 7 preferably contains gripper systems, which are used here in particular as Clamping grippers are formed with gripper fingers and gripper pads. The gripper fingers fix the leading edge of the sheet by a gripping movement on the gripper pads, so that the sheet 4 is fixed for transport on the lateral surface of the sheet guiding cylinder 7 rotating in the direction shown. For example, the UV module 1 can be arranged in a printing, coating, drying or processing unit etc. of the machine. The UV module 1 can be used as an intermediate dryer, in particular between printing units of the machine for drying one or more inks or lacquers, in particular UV inks or UV lacquers. The intermediate dryer can also be plugged into an insertion shaft of the machine and can therefore be designed to be exchangeable. The UV modules 1 can be interchangeable between the slide-in shafts of the intermediate dryer and the delivery. The UV module 1 designed as an intermediate dryer works in particular with exhaust air cooling.

The 3 shows a UV module 1, which accommodates a UV radiation source, in particular a gas discharge tube filled with mercury vapor, extending longitudinally transversely to the conveying direction of the processing material, for example the printing material or sheet 4. The UV module 1 can, for example, be assigned to an insertion shaft of the machine, which preferably also has electrical or pneumatic connections for supply. The corresponding electrical or pneumatic connections can be provided in the slide-in slot, for example. A blown air system 13 is assigned to the UV module 1, which extends in particular over the maximum material width to be processed by the machine, for example the width of the printing material. The blast air system 13 has an overpressure supply, which includes, for example, an overpressure connection or preferably an overpressure generator. For example, the overpressure generators can be embodied as fans, in particular as axial fans 14, preferably distributed over the width of the printing material. Fans, in particular axial fans 14, can be supplied with electricity separately or together with the UV module 1. on the dem On the side facing the processing material or printing material, the UV module 1 has an air inlet opening 10 for the ambient air, ie the air that comes into contact with the substrate or printing material or is in the beam path of the UV module 1 . The air inlet opening 10 is here in particular at the same time the radiation outlet opening of the UV radiator 2 of the UV module 1.

The 4 shows the cross section of the UV module 1 according to section AA of the previous figure with deactivated blast air system 13. The UV module 1 can in particular have a housing profile 8 in which an exhaust air duct 12 is preferably arranged. For example, an extrusion profile of the UV module 1 can typically be made of aluminum. The reflectors 3 installed in known shutters 9 reflect the radiation of the UV radiator 2 to the substrate or printing material. For this purpose, the shutters 9 are preferably provided in the housing profile 8 along the UV radiator 2 . The shutters 9 are preferably designed to be movable and/or liquid-cooled. The shutters 9 each have, for example, an axis of rotation which is arranged parallel to the extension of the UV radiator 2 and about which the shutters 9 can move. In the case of a preferably joint displacement of the shutter 9, the air inlet opening 10 of the housing profile 8 is in particular closed. During operation, the shutters 9 are accordingly held in a position that releases the air inlet opening 10 .

The ambient air that is sucked in between the shutters 9 or reflectors 3 and the UV emitter 2 flows through the air inlet opening 10 facing the substrate or printing material and thereby cools the UV emitter 2. The cooling air then flows between the shutters 9 in the exhaust air duct 12 of the housing profile 8. For this purpose, the exhaust air duct 12 is preferably connected on one side to a suction air source that can be controlled or regulated, for example, and which sucks the exhaust air into the exhaust air duct 12 . The exhaust air duct 12 preferably extends over the entire length of the UV emitter 2 so that the air heated by the UV emitter 2 can be sucked off into the exhaust air duct 12 through distributed openings.

For example, provision can be made for connecting the exhaust air duct 12, which extends along the radiation source, in particular the UV radiator 2, to the space surrounding the UV radiator 2 via slotted holes spaced apart from one another. The elongated holes are preferably dimensioned in such a way that they differ from one another in terms of their opening areas. In particular, the opening areas of the elongated holes between the ends of an elongated UV emitter 2 are dimensioned smaller than the elongated holes provided at the respective ends of the UV emitter 2 . The opening areas of the elongated holes between the ends of the elongated UV radiator 2 are very preferably dimensioned to be continuously smaller, in particular without local maxima towards the suction air source of the exhaust air duct 12 . More preferably, the opening areas of the elongated holes assigned to the ends of the elongated UV emitter 2 are dimensioned differently from one another, with the opening area of at least one elongated hole of the end of the UV emitter 2 facing the suction air source of the exhaust air duct 12 preferably being dimensioned smaller than an opening area of at least one elongated hole the end of the UV radiator 2 facing away from the suction air source of the exhaust air duct 12. The slots facing the respective ends of the UV radiator 2 can also include two, three or four slots.

The air flows resulting from operation with activated exhaust air cooling and deactivated blast air system 13 are shown here in principle or schematically. In this case, cooling takes place primarily on the upper side of the UV radiator 2, while the lower side facing the processing material is cooled less than the upper side. In the operating mode, for example, a warm-up can take place. This operating mode can also be provided during operation, for example when the UV module 1 is operated at low power, especially when the glass tube temperature is low, for example with a lamp power of less than 140 to 120 W/cm.

The figure 5 shows the cross section of UV module 1 with activated blast air system 13, here in particular the attachable blast air system 13. One or more fans, here in particular axial fans 14, generate an air flow in air ducts 15 to the air inlet opening 10 facing the processing material or printing substrate. At least approximately orthogonally to the ambient air flow 11 flowing in through the air inlet opening 10 , a blast air jet 17 is preferably generated on both sides of the air inlet opening 10 by blast air openings 16 . The blown air jets 17 can each be formed by individual blown air openings 16 or by continuous slot nozzles, which extend, for example, over the length of the radiation source, in particular at least between electrodes 19 of a UV emitter 2 . In particular, cooling outside the electrodes 19 of a mercury vapor lamp is reduced or eliminated in order to avoid excessive cooling. In a further development, the gap formed by the blast air openings 16 can also be designed to be adjustable, so that, for example, a setting for performance classes and/or an adaptation to installation spaces or machines can be carried out. A gap of 1 mm to 10 mm, particularly preferably of 2 mm to 6 mm and very particularly preferably of at least approximately 4 mm, opened by the blown air openings 16, is preferably set.

The blown air jets 17 generated by the blown air system 13 are in particular aligned towards one another in one plane in such a way that they influence, in particular narrow or constrict, the ambient air flow 11 flowing into the housing profile 8 . The blown air jets 17 are preferably guided toward one another in one plane in such a way that they would preferably meet in the middle of the air inlet opening 10 , for example exactly below the UV radiator 2 . The ambient air flow 11 is preferably influenced in such a way that the ambient air flow 11 cools the underside of the UV radiator 2 facing the processing material or printing material with increased intensity. The blast air system 13 generates in particular a cross flow to the flow of ambient air 11 .

The 6 shows a UV module 1 with an alternative blown air system 13 that can also be attached, for example. The blown air system 13 also has one or more fans, in particular axial fans 14, which generate an air flow flowing in air ducts 15 to the air inlet opening 10 facing the substrate or printing material. The blast air system 13 has blast air openings 16 here, which do not blow directly onto the UV radiator 2 but instead constrict or constrict the inflowing ambient air flow 11 below the UV radiator 2 or before it reaches the UV radiator 2 . Since the air ducts 15 or blown air openings 16 can sit at least partially in the beam path of the UV radiator 2, they can also be made of a radiation-transmissive material.

The 7 shows a UV module 1 with a longitudinally extending UV radiator 2 and associated alternative blast air system 13. Instead of a separate air generator, the blast air system 13 has at least one compressed air connection 18, air ducts 15 and one or more blast air openings 16. In particular, each air duct 15 extending across the format width transversely to the conveying direction of the processing material is assigned at least one compressed air connection 18, which applies a higher pressure than the ambient pressure to the respective air duct 15. In the air duct 15, the overpressure can develop across the format width and exit via the blast air openings 16 as a blast air jet 17.

The 8 shows the cross section of the UV module 1 according to the section AA of the previous figure with the alternative blown air system 13. The compressed air supplied via the respective compressed air connection 18 is distributed over the respective air duct 15 and exits via the blown air openings 16 in the area of the air inlet opening 10 of the UV -module 1 off. The blast air jets 17 can each be generated by individual blast air openings 16 or by continuous slot nozzles, which extend, for example, over the width of the processing material or printing material. The Blown air jets 17 are in particular aligned towards one another in a plane in such a way that they influence, in particular narrow or constrict, the ambient air flow 11 flowing into the housing profile 8 . The influencing of the ambient air flow 11 preferably takes place analogously in such a way that the ambient air flow 11 cools the underside of the UV radiator 2 facing the processing material or printing material with increased intensity.

The 9 shows an elongate UV emitter 2 designed as a mercury vapor lamp, for example, with a cooling system or blast air system 13 acting exclusively between electrodes 19. The UV emitter 2, designed as a medium-pressure mercury vapor lamp, for example, has the two ends arranged in a glass body 20 that are contacted or .Energized electrodes 19 on. The electrodes 19 can be controlled, for example, by an integrated or external pilot control device. Each of the two spaced-apart electrodes 19 lies at least partially in a plane E1, E2 which the elongated UV radiator 2, for example the mercury vapor lamp, intersects as an idealized common normal (as an orthogonal vector). The planes E1, E2 are to be understood as idealized parallel planes spaced apart from one another in space, with the surfaces of the electrodes 19 at least touching the planes E1, E2. A cooling area B of the cooling system or blast air system 13 is located in particular exclusively between the mutually facing electrode surfaces spanning the planes E1, E2. The cooling area B of the cooling system or blast air system 13 with a maximum cooling capacity is preferably formed or limited here by the two levels E1, E2.

The cooling system or blown air system 13 of the radiation source, in particular of the UV radiator 2, has a maximum cooling capacity here exclusively in a cooling area B between the planes E1, E2 formed by the electrodes 19. A constant cooling capacity is preferably generated over the entire cooling area B, with the Cooling area B particularly preferably extends completely between the facing surfaces of the electrodes 19. However, the maximum cooling capacity in cooling area B can be controlled or regulated according to the desired requirement in terms of intensity or effect. Adjacent to the cooling area B, in particular outside of the planes E1, E2, the cooling capacity of the cooling system or the blown air system 13 is reduced compared to the maximum cooling capacity or is preferably zero. Between the planes E1, E2 or in the cooling area B, the glass body 20 has a larger diameter compared to the edge areas. Outside the planes E1, E2, the glass body 20 enclosing the electrodes 19 tapers, with the tapered ends of the glass body 20 carrying in particular the pins 21 for making electrical contact with the electrodes 19. The electrodes 19 are therefore preferably physically largely outside the cooling area B of the cooling system or blast air system 13. This embodiment is particularly preferably used in medium-format machines, such as sheet-fed printing presses. Medium format machines, for example, can process processing material with a width of at least approximately 1 m.

The 10 shows an alternative elongated UV radiator 2, which is particularly suitable for large-format machines. Large-format machines, such as sheet-fed presses, can, for example, process processing material with a width of more than 1 m, for example approximately 1.4 m or 1.6 m or even more. The UV radiator 2 is characterized in that the planes E1, E2 intersect the tapering areas of the glass body 20. The maximum diameter of the glass body 20 is thus only reached within the cooling area B delimited by the planes E1, E2. In particular when the shutters 9 are closed, this prevents the ambient air then flowing in from the side from cooling the electrodes 19 too much. Excessive cooling when the shutters 9 are closed, for example when the machine is at a standstill or when printing is interrupted or paused, would result in the UV radiator 2 being blown out. Due to the special shape of the glass body 20, in particular in connection with the appropriately dimensioned cooling area B, the functionality of the UV radiator 2 can be ensured both when the shutters 9 are open and when they are closed.

The 11 shows an alternative embodiment of a UV radiator 2. The glass body 20 only tapers outside of the planes E1, E2. The planes E1, E2 thus intersect the glass body 20 in the area of the maximum diameter. The planes E1, E2 delimiting the cooling area B of the cooling system or blast air system 13 are also spanned here by the mutually facing surfaces of the electrodes 19 of the UV radiator 2.

Regarding the mode of operation: So that the radiation source, in particular a UV radiator 2, is also well cooled on the underside, air is preferably blown in on both sides, in particular outside the radiation area of the UV module 1. This air preferably meets in the middle below the UV module 1 , in particular approximately in the middle of the UV radiator 2 . The underside of the UV radiator 2 is thus greatly cooled. Furthermore, the cooling becomes more turbulent overall and the upper side of the UV radiator 2 is also better cooled.

The additional air is preferably introduced or blown in exclusively between electrodes 19 of the UV radiator 2 or over the length of the UV module 1 . This can be done using metal sheets and/or blast air nozzles.

The air that is preferably introduced or blown in on both sides can be either a partial mass or also at least approximately all of the cooling air acting in the UV module 1 . Preferably, however, a proportion of 80% to 50% of the cooling air is formed by the inflowing ambient air flow 11 and a proportion of 20% to 50% of the cooling air is formed by the air introduced by the blast air system 13 . In particular, a proportion of 1/3 of the air or blown air 17 additionally introduced by the blown air system 13 and a proportion of 2/3 of the inflowing ambient air flow 11 is aimed for.

For example, the UV radiator 2 can be operated with a power of between approximately 80 W/cm and approximately 200 W/cm. The blown air system 13 can be activated or switched on depending on the power. In particular, the blown air system 13 can only be activated at a medium output, for example at approximately 120 to 140 W/cm. In this case, the blown air system 13 can be completely deactivated below a radiator output of, for example, 120 to 140 W/cm. At 120 to 140 W/cm, the blast air system 13 can just be activated, for example. The effect of the blast air system 13 can preferably be increased with the radiator power. In particular, the effect of the blast air system 13 can just start at a radiator output of 120 to 140 W/cm and can be increased up to a maximum radiator output of 200 W/cm, preferably linearly or depending on the function, so that the effect of the blast air system 13 with a radiator output of 200 W /cm is 100%.

In the case of a function-dependent control, the blown air can be adjusted in particular according to a characteristic map, which can have local maxima and/or minima, for example. The blown air can be set as a function of a curve defined, for example, between 120 W/cm and 200 W/cm. A function for operating the blast air system 13 as a function of the radiator power can be predetermined and/or modified, in particular as a function of the machine. However, the effect of the blown air system 13 can also be set individually and/or also be controlled or regulated, for example, according to the radiator output. The current radiator power can be known to a control device, in particular the machine control, or can be determined by a sensor system. By reducing the effect of the blown air system 13 or by switching off the blown air system 13 when the lamp output is low, for example below 140 W/cm, the UV lamp 2 is reliably prevented from being blown out.

List of reference numbers used

1

UV module

2

UV emitters

3

reflectors

4

arc

5

gripper carriage

6

sheet guide plate

7

sheet guiding cylinder

8th

housing profile

9

shutter

10

air inlet opening

11

ambient airflow

12

exhaust duct

13

air blast system

14

axial fan

15

air ducts

16

blast air opening

17

blast air jet

18

compressed air connection

19

electrodes

20

vitreous

21

pins

E1

first floor

E2

second level

B

cooling area

Claims (15)

1. Processing machine having a drying device (1),

   wherein the drying device (1) comprises a radiation source (2) accommodated in a housing (8),

   wherein shutters (9) are provided adjacent to the radiation source (2) in the housing (8),

   wherein the housing (8) has at least one air inlet opening (10) for ambient air (11) so that, once the ambient air (11) has entered the housing (8), it flows around the radiation source (2),

   wherein the housing (8) has an air outlet opening (12) for exhaust air (11, 17) and

   wherein associated with the drying device (1) is a blower air system (13), by means of which the ambient air (11) flowing into the air inlet opening (10) is and/or can be actively influenced at a distance from the radiation source (2),

   characterized in that

   the blower air system (13) can be controlled by a control device based on the current emitter output of the radiation source (2) or can be regulated by a control device based on the current emitter output of the radiation source (2), which is determined by a sensor system.
2. Processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the blower air system (13) has at least one air flow opening (16) that expels an air flow (17) at least approximately orthogonally to the direction of flow of the ambient air (11) flowing into the air inlet opening (10).
3. Processing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the radiation source (2) is configured as an elongated UV emitter (2) having two electrodes (19) lying spaced apart from one another, each in one plane (E1, E2), wherein the elongated UV emitter (2) is arranged as a normal to the planes (E1, E2), and wherein the blower air system (13) generates air flows (17) exclusively in a region (B) that lies between the planes (E1, E2) or is bounded by the planes (E1, E2).
4. Processing machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the blower air system (13) has at least two opposing air flow openings (16) arranged adjacent to the air inlet opening (10) .
5. Processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the blower air system (13) has one or more air flow openings (16) arranged outside of the air inlet opening (10).
6. Processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the blower air system (13) comprises a compressed air connection (18) and/or at least one air generator (14), air ducts (15), and a plurality of air flow openings (16).
7. Processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the air outlet opening (12) is formed by an exhaust air duct (12) in the housing (8), which is connected to a suction air source and has one or more openings to the space surrounding the radiation source (2).
8. Processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein the drying device comprises a UV module (1), which can be arranged in a delivery, in a drying tower, and/or as an interdeck dryer in a printing press and/or which is embodied as insertable into plug-in slots.
9. Processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein the blower air system (13) is configured as an add-on module to be added on to a UV module (1) or as an auxiliary module for a UV module (1).
10. Processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, wherein the blower air system (13) has blower air openings (16), the opening gap of which is adjustable.
11. Method for operating a drying device (1) in a processing machine,

    wherein the drying device (1) comprises a radiation source (2) extending inside a housing (8),

    wherein the radiation source (2) cooperates with shutters (9),

    wherein the housing (8) has at least one air inlet opening (10) for ambient air (11) so that, once the ambient air (11) has entered the housing (8), it flows around the radiation source (2),

    wherein the housing (8) has an air outlet opening (12) for the exhaust air (11, 17) flowing around the radiation source (2) and

    wherein a blower air system (13) associated with the drying device (1) actively influences or deflects the ambient air (11) flowing into the air inlet opening (10) before it reaches the radiation source (2),

    characterized in that

    the blower air system (13) is switched on and/or switched off based on the output of the radiation source (2).
12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the blower air system (13) directs an air flow or expels blower air (17), which restricts or constricts, in a region (B), the ambient air (11) flowing into the housing (8) through the air inlet opening (10).
13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the blower air system (13) directs an air flow or expels blower air (17), which, together with the inflowing ambient air (11), forms the cooling air and subsequently the exhaust air, wherein the proportion of the air flow volume introduced by the blower air system (13) is between 20% and 50% of the common cooling air flow volume or is at least approximately 33% of the common cooling air flow volume.
14. Method according to claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein the blower air system (13) is switched on when an emitter output of at least approximately 120 to 140 W/cm is reached and/or is switched off when an emitter output drops below at least approximately 120 to 140 W/cm.
15. Method according to claim 11, 12, 13 or 14, wherein the blower air system (13) is operated in such a way that the effect of the blower air system (13) increases, linearly or in a functionally dependent manner, up to the maximum output based on the emitter output, and/or wherein at an emitter output of at least approximately 200 W/cm, the effect of the blower air system (13) is at 100%.

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