ES2374784B1 - PRINTER MACHINE - Google Patents

Abstract

Printing machine # Includes a rotating, water-cooled printing drum (4) that supports a substrate (S), printing groups (5) and drying groups (26); a water distribution device (7); a first air circulation device (8) associated with said drying groups (26); a drying tunnel (10) for drying the printed substrate (S) and a second air circulation device (11) associated with said drying tunnel (10), said water distribution device (7) being arranged, said first and second air circulation devices (8, 11) and said drying tunnel (10), on an upper platform with respect to said printing unit (3), and distributed so that a passageway (19) is defined therebetween which enables the accessibility of an operator to said devices, with means of access being provided to said upper aisle (19).

Description

Printer machine

Technical field

The present invention concerns a printing machine, and more specifically a fl exographic printing machine, which comprises, according to standard constitution, the following units or devices: a central, water-cooled rotating printing drum supporting a laminar substrate; printing groups and drying groups; a water distribution device; a first air circulation device (associated with said drying groups); a drying tunnel for drying the printed sheet substrate and a second air circulation device associated with said drying tunnel.

The invention provides a characteristic distribution of the aforementioned units or devices in the whole machine that facilitate their accessibility in particular for maintenance, also providing a particular constitution of the drying tunnel.

Background of the invention

In the known photographic printing machines, the said integrating units and particularly the air circulation and drying tunnel devices are generally located in an upper part in relation to the central printing drum, associated with one or more support structures basically provided for its support. In this way, access to said elements or devices, both for maintenance and for an action in case of failure, becomes complicated and, in general, auxiliary means such as stairs or elevators are required to access certain elements.

In some cases a platform, of small dimensions, has been defined above the upper level of the central printing drum, but it has not been designed to allow adequate access to said units or devices.

The invention offers an alternative to this problem, through a particular distribution of said units and devices, on a higher platform of the machine.

In addition, a special structure of the drying tunnel is proposed, which also favors the tasks of laying the laminar substrate and any necessary intervention on it.

Brief exposition of the invention

The invention proposes for this purpose a fl exographic printing machine, of the type that integrates:

a printing unit which comprises a water-cooled rotating printing drum (to guarantee its diametral stability) and arranged to support a laminar substrate, a plurality of printing groups provided for printing successive inks on said substrate, the same being supported in said printing drum, and a plurality of drying groups arranged to dry the ink printed by each printing group;

a water distribution device for cooling the printing drum;

a first air circulation device, with regulated temperature, associated with said drying groups;

a drying tunnel to dry the printed substrate; Y

a second air circulation device, with its means for heating, associated with said drying tunnel.

According to the proposal of this invention said water distribution device, the first and second air circulation devices and the drying tunnel are arranged at a higher level with respect to said printing unit, distributed on a wide platform and distributed of so that an upper aisle is defined between them, which enables optimum accessibility of the operators to any of said units or devices, with means of access to said upper aisle being provided from the basal zone or lower level of the machine, by Example a ladder.

It is further provided that said cooling unit is also located at said upper level and accessible from said upper aisle, said cooling unit including a cooling roller arranged to cool the printed substrate once it has been dried by the drying tunnel. .

Also located on said platform or upper level of the machine is provided a quality control unit which comprises, in an exemplary embodiment, an image capturing device to control the quality of the printed substrate. Said quality control unit is intended to verify the quality of the printed substrate once cooled by said cooling unit, said quality control unit being easily accessible from said upper aisle.

At the same lower level as the printing unit, an unwinder unit is provided to unwind the substrate from a first coil and a winding unit to wind the printed substrate into a second coil.

The drying tunnel is arranged longitudinally next to one of the sides of the machine and separated by said aisle, one of its ends remaining next to a passage opening for the material that accesses or is coming from the drum.

The drying tunnel comprises a plurality of support rollers that define an elongated arc floor suitable for supporting and guiding the substrate inside the drying tunnel. Above each of said rollers there is a drying screen. The drying screens are cantilever mounted and linked at one end to a tunnel wall that is articulated to be tiltable together with a cover portion, perpendicular to said wall.

This arrangement allows very easy access to the laminar band to dry, with the ends of the drying screens being free, for any necessary intervention on it during the machine's operating cycle.

In a preferred embodiment, said upper level defines a platform delimited by a railing, with at least one access opening from a ladder.

The machine is also characterized by defining an enclosure adjacent to a first side of the central printing drum of the machine where all the drive motors, both of the drum and of the rollers of the printing groups, are disposed, extending above said enclosure a part of the above mentioned platform.

In this way, a second side of the printing drum, where a protective fairing defines a vertical wall of the machine, is completely smooth, in order to extract, for example, the sleeves of the printing rollers through suitable openings in a bed of a the machine, and on the other side, and within the aforementioned enclosure all the motors are included, including the traction drive to the central axis of the printing drum.

It is also characteristic of the machine that it is proposed that the drum drive motor and the brake are located in a coaxial arrangement, protruding towards said first side of the machine, inside the aforementioned enclosure below the upper platform.

Other features of the invention will appear more clearly in the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Brief description of the drawings

Detailed description of an embodiment example

The printing machine of this invention comprises the following units or devices known per se, in combination:

•

a printing unit 3, ipographic, which includes a printing drum 4, central, rotating, advantageously cooled by water and adapted to support a substrate S, a plurality of printing groups 5 arranged to print successive inks on said substrate S, the itself supported on said printing drum 4, and a plurality of drying groups 26 arranged to dry the printed ink, with a drying group 26 for each printing group 5;

•

a water distribution device 7 for cooling the central printing drum 4;

•

a first air circulation device 8 associated with said drying groups 26 of the printing groups 5, and provided, in a preferred embodiment, with means for regulating the air temperature;

•

a drying tunnel 10 to dry the printed substrate S; Y

•

a second air circulation device 11 associated with said drying tunnel 10, also advantageously provided with means for regulating the air temperature.

The invention proposes in a first and main aspect that said water distribution device 7, said first and second air circulation devices 8, 11, an electrical cabinet 29 for air circulation devices, said drying tunnel 10, and several other devices supporting the printing unit, are arranged at a higher level with respect to said printing unit 3, and distributed on a raised platform 6, which is accessed through a ladder 24, so that an upper aisle 19 is defined between them that enables a broad passage in general so that an operator can easily and / or comfortably access said devices (7, 8, 10, 11, 29) for inspection and / or to perform any maintenance task, with means of access being provided to said upper aisle 19 from the lower level of the machine.

Said platform 6 located at said upper level is delimited by a railing or panel 21, with at least one access opening from the ladder 24.

In Figs. 1 to 3 it can be seen that the drying tunnel 10 is arranged longitudinally next to one of the sides of the machine and separated by said passage 19, one of its ends being left next to a passage opening 51 for the material from the printing drum 4. Through said passage opening 51 it is also possible to access the upper part of the drum 10 for any maintenance work.

The printing machine further comprises a cooling unit 23 located at said upper level and accessible from the upper aisle 19 including said cooling unit 23 a cooling roller 13 which is intended to cool the printed substrate S once dried by the drying tunnel 10.

It is also provided in an example of implementation of this printing machine the inclusion of a quality control unit 14 applied to inspect the quality of the printed substrate S once cooled by said cooling unit 23, said quality control unit being located at said upper level and accessible from the upper aisle 19. In an exemplary embodiment said quality control unit 14 comprises an image capturing device superimposed on the development of the printed substrate S to control the quality of the printed substrate S.

In Fig. 4 it can be seen that the proposed printing machine further comprises an unwinder unit 1 for unwinding the substrate S from a first coil 2 and a winding unit 15 for winding the substrate S printed on a second coil 16, said being winding and unwinding units 1, 15 arranged at the same lower level as the printing unit 3.

As can be seen in said Fig. 4, the machine also integrates a plurality of support rollers 17 to support and guide the substrate S from one unit to the other, some of said support rollers 17 raising the substrate S to near the level above to enable a step 22 for operators below the substrate S between the unwind unit 1 and the printing unit 3.

In Fig. 5 the open drying tunnel is shown, being able to see that it comprises a plurality of support rollers 41 to support and guide the substrate inside the drying tunnel 10 and a plurality of drying screens 40, with a screen 40 superimposed on a respective roller 41, said support and guiding rollers 41 being as well as the drying screens 40 cantileverly mounted and linked at one end to a tunnel wall to which a tilting cover 42 is articulated , together with a front cover portion 43, perpendicular to said cover, where there is at least one gripping element 44.

In another aspect of the invention it is provided that below the platform 6 an enclosure is defined adjacent to a first side of the printing drum 4 of the machine, which is accessed by the door 50 and where all the motors are arranged for actuating both the drum 4 and the rollers 5 of the printing groups. Thus, on the other side of the printing machine 3, there are no protruding parts and the side of the machine and in particular the printing groups for maintenance tasks (replacement of print shirts, adjustments, etc.) can be accessed. through door 25.

In yet another aspect of this invention it is provided that the drum drive motor and the brake are located in a coaxial arrangement on said first side of the central drum of the machine, inside said enclosure above which the platform extends 6.

Claims (13)

1. Printer machine, of the type comprising: a printing unit (3) including a rotating water-cooled printing drum (4) and arranged to support a substrate (S), a plurality of printing groups (5) arranged to print successive inks on said supported substrate (S) in said printing drum (4), and a plurality of drying groups (26) arranged to dry the printed ink by each printing group (5); a water distribution device (7) for cooling the printing drum (4); a first air circulation device (8) associated with said drying groups (26); a drying tunnel (10) for drying the printed substrate (S); Y a second air circulation device (11) associated with said drying tunnel (10); characterized in that said water distribution device (7), said first and second air circulation devices (8, 11) and said drying tunnel (10), are arranged at a higher level with respect to said printing unit (3) , and distributed so that an upper aisle (19) is defined between them that enables the accessibility of an operator to said devices, with means of access being provided to said upper aisle (19).

2.

Printing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a cooling unit (23) located on said upper level and accessible from the upper aisle (19), said cooling unit (23) including a cooling roller (13) arranged for cooling the printed substrate (S) once dried by the drying tunnel (10).

3.

Printing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises a quality control unit (14) for controlling the quality of the printed substrate (S) once cooled by said cooling unit (23), said quality control unit being located on said upper level and accessible from the upper hall (19).

Four.

Printing machine according to claim 3, characterized in that said quality control unit (14) comprises an image capturing device for controlling the quality of the printed substrate (S).

5.

Printing machine according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises an unwinder unit (1) for unwinding the substrate (S) from a first coil (2) and a winding unit (15) for winding the substrate (S) printed on a second coil (16), said winding and unwinding units (1, 15) being arranged at the same lower level as the printing unit (3).

6.

Printing machine according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of support rollers (17) to support and guide the substrate from one unit to the other, some of said support rollers (17) raising the substrate (S) to near of the upper level to enable a passage for said operator below the substrate (S) between the unwinding unit (1) and the printing unit (3).

7.

Printing machine according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of support rollers (18) for supporting and guiding the substrate inside the drying tunnel (10).

8.

Printing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that said drying tunnel (10) comprises a plurality of drying screens (40), cantilevered and connected at one end of the tunnel wall, from which a cover ( 42) tilting together with a cover portion (43), perpendicular to said cover.

9.

Printing machine according to claim 8, characterized in that said drying tunnel (10). it is arranged longitudinally next to one of the sides of the machine and separated by said passage (19), one of its ends being left next to a passage opening (51) for the material from the printing drum (4).

10.

Printing machine according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that said upper level defines a platform (6) delimited by a railing (21), with at least one access opening from a ladder (24).

eleven.

Printing machine according to claim 10, characterized in that it includes an enclosure adjacent to a first side of the printing drum of the machine, wherein all the drive motors of both the drum are arranged

(4) as of the rollers of the printing groups (5), a part of said platform extending above said enclosure. 12. Printer machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the drum drive motor (4) and the brake are located in coaxial arrangement on said first side of the central drum of the machine. SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application no .: 201000757 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 01.06.2010 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

 Category

 @ Documents cited  Claims Affected

A A A A A A  CN 102173184 A (SHANGHAI HUANYE MACHINERY CO) 07.09.2011, Summary of the WPI database. Recovered from EPOQUE, figure 1. WO 9520492 A1 (GRACE W R & CO) 03.08.1995, figure 1. EP 0393336 A1 (GRAPHIC MACHINE SERVICE SRL) 24.10.1990, Summary of the EPODOC database. Recovered from EPOQUE, figure 1. EP 1318015 A2 (OF E M SRL) 11.06.2003, figure 1. EP 0943431 A1 (LEMO MASCHB GMBH) 22.09.1999, page 4, line 12 - page 6, line 11; figures. EP 0150047 A2 (FISCHER & KRECKE KG) 31.07.1985, Summary of the EPODOC database. Recovered from EPOQUE, figure 3.  1-12 1-12 1-12 1.5-7 1 1

  Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

  This report has been produced � for all claims � for claims no:

Date of realization of the report 08.02.2012  Examiner G. Villarroel Álvaro  Page 1/4

REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Application number: 201000757 CLASSIFICATION OBJECT OF THE APPLICATION B41F5 / 24 (2006.01) B41F23 / 04 (2006.01) B41F13 / 22 (2006.01) Minimum documentation sought (classification system followed by classification symbols) B41F Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, search terms used) INVENTIONS, EPODOC State of the Art Report Page 2/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201000757 Date of Written Opinion: 08.02.2012 Statement

Novelty (Art. 1 LP 11/198)

Claims Claims 1-12 IF NOT

Inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 198)

Claims Claims 1-12 IF NOT

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Basis of Opinion.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published. State of the Art Report Page 3/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201000757 1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number Publication Date

D01

CN 102173184 A (SHANGHAI HUANYE MACHINERY CO) 07.09.2011

D02

WO 9520492 A1 (GRACE W R & CO) 03.08.1995

D03

EP 0393336 A1 (GRAPHIC MACHINE SERVICE SRL) 24.10.1990

D04

EP 1318015 A2 (OF E M SRL) 06.11.2003

D05

EP 0943431 A1 (LEMO MASCHB GMBH) 22.09.1999

2. Statement motivated according to articles 29. and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/198, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement The state of the art concerning the flexographic central drum machines clearly shows the arrangement of various elements above said drum, located on a platform accessible through a ladder and passable by the operator, resulting in an obvious solution if it is considered that These facilities need maintenance and supervision. Air installations for cooling the printed substrate and cooling tunnels have been found in this position (see documents cited D01 to D05), and it is not possible to determine whether water distribution devices for cooling the central drum are also included in the same platform or Quality control units with image collectors, so R1 is considered to have novelty and inventive activity, and therefore also R2 to R4. The unwinding and winding units located at the same level as the printing unit as known in R5 are known and widely used in the sector (see for example documents D01 to D03). Also known are the support rollers to support and guide the substrate from some units to others as indicated in R6, and rollers to perform the function mentioned within the drying tunnel (R7). These claims, while depending on independent claim R1, possess inventive activity. Claims R8 and R9 for relying on a claim that has inventive activity are considered to also possess it and are not subject to search. With respect to R11 and R12, even if a person skilled in the art can conclude that they are known in isolation, they are also considered to have inventive activity due to the established dependency relationship. It is thus concluded that the invention as a whole complies with the requirements of patentability, novelty and inventive activity, according to articles 4.1 and 6.1 of patent law 11/1986. State of the Art Report Page 4/4