ES2388242T3 - Feeding device for feeding a printing mold, which has at least one suspension leg offset at its front end in the production direction, to a gravure cylinder of a printing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

Feeding device (09) for feeding a printing mold (16), which has at least at its anterior end (24) in the direction of production (P) a seated suspension leg, to a gravure cylinder (02) of a printing unit (01), with a flat support (63) on which the printing mold (16) to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder (02) is placed or at least can be placed, presenting the support (63) , on its side directed to the rotogravure cylinder (02), a edge (64) extending in the axial direction of the rotogravure cylinder (02), at least one retaining device (68) being held that retains the printing mold (16) to be fed to the gravure cylinder (02), retaining or at least being able to retain with the at least one retention device (68) in this edge (64) the at least one printing mold (16) placed in the edge (64) of the support (63), characterized in that the edge (64) is configured Adopted as a suspension edge (64) in which the impression mold (16) to be fed to the gravure cylinder (02) can be suspended, with its stripped suspension leg configured at the front end (24), presenting the support (63), in an area directed to the rotogravure cylinder (02), a groove (66) extending in the axial direction of the rotogravure cylinder (02) at least one width (B) of the printing mold ( 16) to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder (02), the suspension edge (64) being configured in this slit (66), the at least one retention device (68) being arranged so that it acts on the edge of suspension (64) of the support (63), the at least one retention device (68) being configured as a clamping piece fixedly connected with a shaft (71), which can be rotated, by a turning movement of the shaft (71), the clamping piece from a position that releases the slit (66) to a position that holds the suspension leg 20 of the printing mold (16) placed in the suspension edge (64) of the support (63).

Description

Feeding device for feeding a printing mold, which has at least one suspension leg offset at its front end in the production direction, to a gravure cylinder of a printing unit

Feeding device for feeding a printing mold, which has at least one suspension leg offset at its front end in the production direction, to a gravure cylinder of a printing unit.

The invention relates to a feeding device for feeding a printing mold, which has at least one suspension leg offset at its front end in the production direction, to a gravure cylinder of a printing unit according to the preamble of the claim 1.

From EP0678383A1 a feeding device is known for feeding a printing mold having at least one suspension leg offset at its front end in the production direction to a gravure cylinder of a printing unit, presenting this feeding device a flat support on which the printing mold to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder is placed or at least can be placed, the support, on its side directed to the rotogravure cylinder, having a edge extending in the axial direction of the cylinder of intaglio, at least one retention device being present that retains the printing mold to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder, being retained or at least being able to retain the printing mold placed on the edge of the support in this edge with the at least one retention device

A device and a method for placing a printing plate in a gravure cylinder are known from EP2110247A2.

From EP2014467A2 a device is known for feeding a printing mold having at least one suspension leg offset at its front end in the production direction to a gravure cylinder of a printing unit, as well as the use of a ribbon of rollers to serve as an aid in the assembly of this printing mold on the coating surface of the rotogravure cylinder.

From EP1644193A2 a device is known for removing and / or removing a liner from the printing cylinder with a compression device having a roller, the roller being arranged on a crossbar so that, by means of a drive, it can be positioned or positioned alternately in a cylinder or in a lining of the printing cylinder which is located on the cylinder, the compression device or the cross member carrying the roller being able to move together so that a separation of the roller from the cylinder can alternatively be increased.

From DE102006059772A1 a device is known for making a change of printing plates in a rotogravure cylinder of a printing machine, the device presenting a rolling element having several rollers for the compression of at least one printing plate in the Rotogravure cylinder during the change of printing plates, extending, in parallel to the lamination element, a ribbon carrying several alignment elements, being able to align in registration between in each case two contiguous alignment elements in each case a printing plate before tensioning it in a tension channel of the gravure cylinder.

From DE19620997A1 a method and a device for axial positioning of a printing plate are to be fed to a gravure cylinder of a printing unit, a gripping unit being provided in the form of, for example, two slats. suction

From DE4440239C2 a rolling element is known for the compression of a flexible printing plate in the rotogravure cylinder of a printing mechanism of a printing press during plate change, the rolling element being composed of several arranged rollers along the lining of the rotogravure cylinder that can be placed individually in it, at least one first roller can be placed during the assembly of the printing plate and at least a second roller during the disassembly of the printing plate in the area of the gravure cylinder printing plate.

From WO93 / 04863A1 a device and a method for removing printing plates from a printing machine are known, a plate removal device having an activatable retention means being provided, this retention means being arranged in a carriage that can move, along a guide, approximately the entire length of the device.

The invention is based on the objective of creating a feeding device for feeding a printing mold, which has at least one suspension leg offset at its front end in the production direction, to a gravure cylinder of a printing unit, this feeding device being especially suitable for feeding a large printing mold.

The objective is achieved, according to the invention, thanks to the features of claim 1. The advantages that can be achieved with the invention consist especially in that, with the device of

Proposed feeding, a large print mold can be fed safely and reliably to the gravure cylinder of a printing unit. Examples of embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and described below in a manner

detailed. They show: fig. 1, a first variant embodiment of a printing unit; fig. 2, a second variant embodiment of a printing unit; fig. 3, a third variant embodiment of a printing unit; fig. 4, a fourth variant embodiment of a printing unit; fig. 5, one of the feeding devices arranged in one of the printing units according to figures 1

to 4 together with a roller strip that acts in conjunction with this feeding device;

fig. 6, another representation of a feeding device and a roller strip that acts in conjunction with this feeding device; fig. 7, an arrangement of adjustment means in the roller strip according to Figure 5 or 6; fig. 8, an enlarged detail of the representation of Figure 7; fig. 9, a sectional representation of the roller strip; fig. 10, a first operational state of the roller strip arranged in a printing unit; fig. 11, a second operating state of the roller strip arranged in a printing unit; fig. 12, another representation in section of the roller strip arranged in a printing unit; fig. 13, a third operational state of the roller strip arranged in a printing unit with a mold of

impression to be fed to the gravure cylinder;

fig. 14, a printing unit with feeding devices arranged in this in each case with the ribbon of rollers associated with the corresponding feeding device; fig. 15, a feeding device with a carriage that can move linearly; fig. 16, a support belonging to the feeding device for a printing mold to be fed

to the gravure cylinder; fig. 17, a retention device for retaining the printing mold on the support; fig. 18, a first operative position of the retention device shown in Figure 17; fig. 19, a second operative position of the retention device shown in Figure 17; fig. 20, the carriage of the feeding device with suction grip elements; fig. 21, the transport device of the feeding device as an individual module;

fig. 22, the carriage of the feeding device in a position away from the molding device;

fig. 23, the carriage of the feeding device in an operative position that engages the printing mold that is arranged on the support; fig. 24, the carriage of the feeding device in an operative position that feeds the printing mold to the

gravure cylinder; fig. 25, a sectional representation of the supports belonging to the feeding device; fig. 26, a representation of the supports belonging to the feeding device in the state provided in

the gravure cylinder;

fig. 27, the feeding device and an extraction device that acts in conjunction with it and is arranged separately from this; fig. 28, a sectional representation of the extraction device; fig. 29, a perspective representation of the extraction device; fig. 30, a device for capturing the extraction device in a first operational state; fig. 31, the pick-up device of the extraction device in a second operational state; fig. 32, in a cut representation in a cut representation, a print mold removed from the cylinder

gravure and retention between the feeding device and the extraction device;

fig. 33, in a perspective view, the printing mold removed from the gravure cylinder and retained between the feeding device and extraction device; fig. 34, a module intended for arrangement in a superior printing mechanism having a device

of transport and a car;

fig. 35, a suction grip element disposed in the carriage of the module shown in Figure 34 in a first operational position; fig. 36, a device for alignment in diagonal and lateral registration of a printing mold that has

to feed the gravure cylinder arranged in the upper printing mechanism;

fig. 37, the suction grip element disposed in the carriage of the module shown in Figure 34 in a second operational position; fig. 38, the suction grip element disposed in the carriage of the module shown in Figure 34 in a

third operational position;

fig. 39, the printing mold to be fed to the gravure cylinder arranged in the mechanism of superior printing in its retained state by a roller strip compression element; fig. 40, the printing mold to be removed from the gravure cylinder arranged in the mechanism of

upper print with its rear end loose from the gravure cylinder;

fig. 41, the printing mold to be removed from the gravure cylinder arranged in the mechanism of superior print and that is driven against a guiding element of the feeding device; fig. 42, a detail of the feeding device arranged in the upper printing mechanism with its

braking device or retention device for the printing mold to be removed from the cylinder

gravure; fig. 43, a device for capturing an extraction device that acts in conjunction with the device for feeding arranged in the upper printing mechanism;

fig. 44, a perspective representation of the extraction device shown in Figure 43 as a module;

fig. 45, the printing mold to be removed from the gravure cylinder disposed in the upper printing mechanism with its front end released from the gravure cylinder;

fig. 46, the printing mold completely removed from the rotogravure cylinder arranged in the upper printing mechanism and retained by a capture device of the extraction device;

fig. 47, a perspective representation of the operational situation shown in Figure 46;

fig. 48, a detail of Figure 34 with a sensor that can be placed independently of the roller in its deactivated operating position;

fig. 49, a detail of Figure 34 with a sensor that can be placed independently of the roller in its activated operating position.

A printing press, for example, an offset printing press, has at least one printing unit 01, preferably several printing units 01. At each printing unit 01 at least one printing mechanism is provided in each case in a frame 08, the printing mechanism being formed by a rotogravure cylinder 02 loaded with or at least that it can be loaded with at least one printing mold 16 (Figure 5) and a transfer cylinder 03 which acts together with this intaglio cylinder 02, leading through a printing material 04, for example, a web of material or a printing sheet, at least during a printing process carried out by the printing press, through a printing gap formed by the transfer cylinder 03 and a counterposition cylinder placed in this transfer cylinder 03. The counterpressure cylinder 03 acting in conjunction with the t cylinder Transfer 03 can also be configured as a transfer cylinder 03, with which another gravure cylinder 02 acts together so that, from the two pairs of cylinders, which are each composed of a gravure cylinder 02 and a transfer cylinder 03 acting in conjunction with this intaglio cylinder 02, a double printing mechanism is configured. In addition, at least one inking mechanism 06 belongs to each printing mechanism, which, during the printing process, applies at least one printing mold 16 of the rotogravure cylinder 02 belonging to the corresponding printing mechanism. If the printing unit 01 is operated in a wet offset procedure, that is, in a printing procedure in which a wetting means is used during the printing process, a wetting mechanism is also provided in the printing mechanism 07 (Figures 3 and 4) which, during the printing process, apply the wetting means on the at least one printing mold 16 of the rotogravure cylinder 02 belonging to the corresponding printing mechanism.

The at least one printing mold 16 to be arranged on one of the gravure cylinders 02 of the printing unit 01 is configured as a thin and flexible rectangular plate, this plate being able to have a width B of up to 2,400 mm in the direction axial of the corresponding gravure cylinder 02 and a length of up to 1,300 mm oriented in the circumferential direction of the corresponding gravure cylinder 02. The printing mold 16 is preferably made of a metallic material and has, for example, a thickness in the range between 0.2 mm and 0.5 mm, preferably between 0.3 mm and 0.4 mm. It can be seen that, especially the large print molds 16 with a width B of more than

1,500 mm and a length of more than 1,000 mm, are not without problems in handling. In particular, the process of arranging a large print mold 16 on a coating surface of the corresponding gravure cylinder 02 requires special care not to damage during this process neither the print mold 16 nor components of the printing unit. print 01.

As an aid for the change of the at least one printing mold 16 in the rotogravure cylinder 02 belonging to the corresponding printing mechanism, especially for the assembly and / or, if necessary, also for the disassembly of this at least a printing mold 16 in or from the corresponding gravure cylinder 02, a feeding device 09 is associated with each printing mechanism, the corresponding feeding device 09 being arranged in the frame 08 of the corresponding printing unit 01 in each case fixed to the frame, or, if necessary for the change of the at least one printing mold 16, being able to be placed, preferably tangentially, at least in the gravure cylinder 02 belonging to the corresponding printing mechanism , for example, by a rotating movement, a lifting movement or a pushing movement. The corresponding feeding device 09 has at least one plane 14 tangential to the rotogravure cylinder 02, preferably several, for example, planes 14; 17; 18 (Figure 5) arranged vertically on top of each other so that, from at least one of these planes 14; 17 of the corresponding feeding device 09, at least one printing mold 16 can be fed to the associated intaglio cylinder 02 and, preferably in another plane 18 of the corresponding feeding device 09, at least one printing mold 16 can be accommodated removed from the cylinder of gravure 02 associated. Feeding the at least one printing mold 16 to the associated gravure cylinder 02 and / or removing the at least one printing mold 16 from the gravure cylinder 02

correspondingly preferably takes place in an automated manner by means of at least one transport device 21; 26 that can be controlled by a control unit (figure 5). The control unit is carried out, for example, by a control station belonging to the printing unit 01. The feeding device 09 can be configured, for example, as a print mold store in which the different planes 14; 17; 18 arranged on top of each other are configured in each case as a box.

Figure 1 shows, by way of example, a printing unit 01 operated in a dry offset printing process with several double printing mechanisms, four especially, arranged in the same frame 08, especially one above the other essentially vertical, the printing material 04 being configured as a band of material being driven through, for example, after the deflection in a first lower diverting cylinder 11, vertically through this printing unit 01 and, thereby, through of the printing interstices of the double printing mechanisms and, for example, being removed from this printing unit 01 in a second upper bypass cylinder 12. A transport direction T of the printing material 04 therefore runs, at least during the printing process, essentially orthogonally to a foundation 13 on which this printing unit 01 is based. In the example shown in Figure 1 , the gravure cylinders 02 and the transfer cylinders 03 that act together with them in each case have in each case an equal diameter. Along the contour of the corresponding rotogravure cylinder 02, two printing molds are arranged one after the other preferably in each case. In the axial direction of the rotogravure cylinder 02, several printing molds 16 can also be arranged in each case, for example , four or six printing molds 16, so that each intaglio cylinder 02 is provided or at least can be provided with, for example, eight or twelve printing molds 16. The feeding devices 09 associated in each case with the cylinders of Corresponding gravure 02 are preferably oriented essentially horizontally, for example, they are fixedly arranged between facing walls of the frame 08 of the printing unit 01 and are placed or at least can be placed tangentially to the corresponding gravure cylinder 02. One end of the feeding devices 09 which is further away from the transport plane of the printing material 04 running in the printing unit 01 is directed to a control side of this printing unit 01. A printing unit 01 with at less a double printing mechanism has at least two control sides that are arranged, preferably, symmetrically facing the transport plane of the printing material 04.

Figure 2 shows a printing unit 01 that is configured essentially the same as the printing unit 01 so that for the same elements of these two printing units 01 the same reference numbers are also used in each case. Unlike the printing unit 01 of Figure 1, the corresponding gravure cylinders 02 of the printing unit 01 of Figure 2 have a diameter that is only half the diameter of the transfer cylinders 03 that act in conjunction with these in each case. There is talk of a printing mechanism with a gravure cylinder 02 of single size and a transfer cylinder 03 of double size in each case. The corresponding intaglio cylinder 02 is provided or at least can be provided along its contour with only a single printing mold 16 in each case, but can be arranged instead in the entire axial direction of this intaglio cylinder 02, several, for example, four or six, printing molds 16 next to each other. The transfer cylinder 03 acting in conjunction with one of these gravure cylinders 02 transfers with each of its turns in each case two of the printing images accepted by the gravure cylinder 02 corresponding to the printing material 04 driven vertically to through print unit 01.

The printing unit 01, shown by way of example in Figure 3, differs from the printing unit 01 shown in Figure 2 because the printing mechanisms of the printing unit 01 shown in Figure 3 belong in each case a wetting mechanism 07, for example, a three-cylinder spray wetting mechanism, since this printing unit 01 performs the printing process in a wet offset process.

Figure 4 shows as an alternative to the printing units 01 shown by way of example in Figures 1 to 3, with an essentially vertical transport direction T of the printing material 04, a printing unit 01, placed on a foundation 13 , with a double printing mechanism, the printing material 04 being conducted in the printing unit 01 of Figure 4, during the printing process, in a horizontal transport direction T and, thereby, fundamentally parallel to the surface of the foundation 13, through this printing unit 01. In the case of the printing unit 01 of Figure 4, the diameter of the gravure cylinder 02 and the diameter of the transfer cylinder 03 acting together in each case with the corresponding gravure cylinder 02 they are configured in each case with the same size, the gravure cylinder 02 is provided, along its contour and also in its direction axial, preferably with only a single printing mold 16 in each case. At the same time, associated with the corresponding gravure cylinders 02, in the frame 08 of this printing unit 01 there is in each case an inking mechanism 06 and, if necessary, also a wetting mechanism 07. In addition, preferably, to each gravure cylinder 02 of the printing unit 01 of figure 4, a feeding device 09 is also associated in each case at least for the assembly of at least one printing mold 16, being placed or

less being able to place these feeding devices 09 preferably in each case in an inclined orientation with respect to the horizontal in a fundamentally tangential way to the corresponding gravure cylinder 02, placing an inclination angle, referred to the horizontal, for example, in the interval between 15 ° and 60º. The operating side of this printing unit 01 is located on the side of the printing unit 01 in which the feeding devices 09 arranged in the printing unit 01 can in each case be provided with at least one printing mold 16 which The corresponding intaglio cylinder 02 must be fed, which is possible, in Figure 4, from the right.

Figure 5 shows, in a simplified schematic representation, a feeding device 09 which, for example, in a printing unit 01 according to Figures 1 to 3, is arranged above cylinders of the inking mechanism 06 belonging to one of the rotogravure cylinders 02 essentially horizontally and placed tangentially in the corresponding intaglio cylinder 02. The feeding device 09 has at least a first plane 14 tangential to the intaglio cylinder 02, from which at least one printing mold 16 can be fed to the associated intaglio cylinder 02. Preferably, with a separation a several planes 14 are arranged; 17 vertically on top of each other, from which at least one printing mold 16 can be fed in each case to the associated intaglio cylinder 02. Preferably, with another separation b vertically below the planes 14; 17 mentioned above from which at least one printing mold 16 can be fed in each case to the associated intaglio cylinder 02, at least one additional plane 18 belonging to the corresponding feeding device 09 is provided, in which at least one mold can be accommodated number 16 removed from the associated gravure cylinder 02. In a configuration variant of the feeding device 09, they can be arranged in each plane 14; 17; 18, in the axial direction of the associated intaglio cylinder 02, several printing molds 16 next to each other, the corresponding intaglio cylinder 02 being able to be fed or extracted therefrom, in relation to these planes 14; 17; 18, printing molds 16 either jointly and simultaneously or individually and selectively. In a first embodiment of the feeding device 09, associated with at least one plane 14 from which at least one printing mold 16 can be fed to the associated intaglio cylinder 02, a first controllable transport device 21 is provided which, by For example, by means of a carriage 22 which can preferably be moved in a linear manner and hooks to a rear end 23, seen in the direction of production P, of the print mold 16 stored in the corresponding plane 14, feeds the stored print mold 16 in the corresponding plane 14, with its front end 24 in front, seen in the production direction P, to the intaglio cylinder 02 to which this feeding device 09 is associated. The rear end 23, seen in the production direction P, of the Printing mold 16 preferably has a suspension leg with approximately right angles. The front end 24 of the printing mold 16 preferably has a suspension leg with edges that form an acute angle of, for example, 30 ° to 60 °, especially 45 °. Preferably, it is provided that the first transport device 21 alternately feeds, from one of the different planes 14; 17, in each case at least one printing mold 16 to the associated intaglio cylinder 02. If at least one other plane 18 belonging to the corresponding feeding device 09 is provided in which at least one printing mold 16 can be housed removed from the associated gravure cylinder 02, associated with this plane 18, a second controllable transport device 26 is preferably provided. that at least one impression mold 16 is to be removed from this intaglio cylinder 02 to be removed from the associated intaglio cylinder 02. This second transport device 26 is configured, for example, in the form of a carriage that can be moved preferably linearly, which preferably grips the rear end 23 of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the gravure cylinder 02 and, a then, it completely removes the printing mold 16 to be extracted from this intaglio cylinder 02. In Figure 5, the double arrows, associated in each case with one of the transport devices 21; 26, indicate the direction of the corresponding movement that the transport device 21 can perform; 26 corresponding and running parallel to planes 14; 17; 18 corresponding.

In addition, as can be seen in Figure 5, the intaglio cylinder 02 acting in conjunction with the feeding device 09 has at least one channel 27 that runs below its cladding surface and extends in the axial direction of this cylinder. of gravure 02, which has, on the coating surface of this gravure cylinder 02, an opening 28 preferably formed in the form of a groove with a groove width, for example, in the range between 2 mm and 5 mm. During assembly of a print mold 16 on the coating surface of the gravure cylinder 02, the front end 24 and the rear end 23 of this print mold 16 are introduced through the opening 28 in the same channel 27 of this rotogravure cylinder 02 and are retained there if the printing mold 16 practically completely surrounds the contour of this intaglio cylinder 02. If several printing molds 16 are arranged or arranged, one behind the other in the circumferential direction , in the rotogravure cylinder 02, their corresponding anterior end 24 and rear end 23 are introduced into different channels 27 of the intaglio cylinder 02 and are retained there, these channels 27 being arranged in the corresponding intaglio cylinder 02 displaced from each other in their circumferential direction, for example, with a 180º offset, if two printing molds must be arranged behind each other ion 16 of equal length in the contour of the gravure cylinder 02.

To assist in the assembly of at least one printing mold 16 on the coating surface of the rotogravure cylinder 02, associated with this intaglio cylinder 02, a roller strip 31 is provided which extends in the axial direction of this intaglio cylinder 02 , the roller strip 31 presenting at least one compression element 32, for example, a rolling element, especially a roller, the at least one compression element 32 being able to be placed, by means of a controllable adjustment means 33, in the corresponding gravure cylinder 02, and can also be removed again from it. Figure 5 shows, with a continuous line, the operating state of the compression element 32 removed from the gravure cylinder 02 and, with a dashed line, the operating state of the compression element 32 placed in the gravure cylinder 02 is indicated. In figures 2 and 3 an arrangement of the roller strip 31 is shown in a printing unit 01 associated with a corresponding feeding device 09.

In addition, as an aid for disassembly, that is, especially as an aid for the removal of at least one printing mold 16 from the coating surface of the rotogravure cylinder 02 is provided, associated with this intaglio cylinder 02, preferably an element of guide 34 which extends in the axial direction of this intaglio cylinder 02, the guide element 34 having at least one compression element 36, for example, a rolling element, especially a roller, being able to position the less a compression element 36 disposed in a guiding plane of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the coating surface of the rotogravure cylinder 02 by means of an adjustment means 37 controllable in the direction of the corresponding intaglio cylinder 02 and also being able to back again, however, preferably reaching this compression element 36 at its final position with a s eparation of the coating surface of the rotogravure cylinder 02 and, therefore, not being placed on the coating surface of the rotogravure cylinder 02. Figure 5 shows an operational state of the compression element 32 in which this compression element 36 is positioned forward, by actuating its adjustment means 37, even in the guiding plane of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the coating surface of the gravure cylinder 02, whereby a rear end 23, released from the lining surface of the rotogravure cylinder 02, of the at least one printing mold 16 to be removed from the rotogravure cylinder 02 is fed, during a rotation of the rotogravure cylinder 02 around its axis of rotation M against its production direction P, to the plane 18 of the corresponding feeding device 09 in which the at least one printing mold 16 removed from the intaglio cylinder 02. The guiding element 34 with its compression element 36 will be explained in even more detail in relation to Figures 40 to 42 and 45.

Figure 6 shows, in a perspective view, a gravure cylinder 02 that can be arranged in a printing unit 01, for example, according to Figures 1 to 4, with a plane 14; 17 preferably placed tangentially in this intaglio cylinder 02 of a feeding device 09 to feed at least one printing mold 16 to this intaglio cylinder 02. In the example shown in Figure 6, the plane 14; 17 of the feeding device 09 is formed by a simple support table. Associated with this intaglio cylinder 02 is a roller strip 31 arranged, preferably fixed to the frame, in the printing unit 01, the roller strip 31 and the plane 14 extending; 17 of the feeding device 09 in the axial direction of the rotogravure cylinder 02 in each case at least by the width B of the corresponding printing mold 16 that can be arranged on this intaglio cylinder 02. The roller strip 31 has at least one element compression 32, preferably several, for example, ten or more compression elements 32 arranged next to each other, which, in the operating state shown in Figure 6, due to an actuation of at least one adjustment means 33, are placed in the intaglio cylinder 02, the adjustment means 33 in Figure 6 being covered, at least partially, by means of a housing 44 (Figure 9), for example, by a cladding plate. The housing 44 of the roller slat 31 is configured, for example, in the form of a crossbar that extends in the axial direction of the gravure cylinder 02 between facing walls of the frame 08 of the printing unit 01 or, for example, is arranged on a crossbar of this type.

Figure 7 shows the roller strip 31 shown in Figure 6 with its housing 44 partially open so that the adjustment means 33 adjusting the compression elements 32 can be observed. In the preferred embodiment variant, to each compression element 32 exactly one adjustment means 33 is associated so that the roller strip 31 has as many adjustment means 33 as compression elements 32. The compression elements 32 are configured in each case, for example, as a roller, with a axis 43 of each roller in each case, for example, in a stirrup 38 (figure 8) fixedly connected with the corresponding adjustment means 33. Several rubber rings 39, for example, five or more (Figure 8), which are arranged with an axial separation from each other are preferably placed on the corresponding coating surface of each roller.

By actuating the adjustment means 33, the compression elements 32 can be placed, preferably radially, against the gravure cylinder 02.

Figure 8 shows in an enlargement a part of the roller strip 31 shown in Figures 6 and 7. The adjustment means 33 of the compression elements 32 are fixedly arranged in the housing 44 of the roller strip

31. The adjustment means 33 are configured in each case, for example, as a pneumatic cylinder, in particular, as a double-acting pneumatic cylinder having two pressure chambers acting on the same piston, one of these chambers being provided. of pressure for a placement of the compression element 32 connected with the corresponding adjustment means 33 in the rotogravure cylinder 02, and the other of these two pressure chambers being arranged for a removal of the compression element 32 connected with the adjustment means 33 corresponding to the intaglio cylinder 02. With this, each pneumatic cylinder has two connections in each case for a pneumatic duct. To enable a joint placement of all compression elements 32 of the roller strip 31 in the intaglio cylinder 02, all connections that supply a pressure means to the corresponding pressure chamber, which deals with the placement of the compression element 32 connected to the corresponding adjustment means 33 in the intaglio cylinder 02, are connected to the same source of compressed air, preferably, by means of a common compressed air duct. Likewise, all the connections that supply a pressure medium to the corresponding pressure chamber, which is responsible for removing the compression element 32 connected to the corresponding adjustment means 33 of the intaglio cylinder 02, are connected to the same source of compressed air, preferably, by means of a common compressed air duct, to enable a joint withdrawal of all the compression elements 32 of the roller strip 31 with respect to the intaglio cylinder 02. The stirrup 38 which houses the corresponding compression element 32 is connected fixedly, in each case, by means of a rod 41, with the piston of the corresponding pneumatic cylinder. The piston of the corresponding pneumatic cylinder is arranged in the pneumatic cylinder, preferably, secured against rotation by at least one guide element 42.

Figure 9 is a sectional representation of the roller strip 31 shown in Figures 6 to 8, the cutout being arranged in an orthogonal plane to the longitudinal extension of the roller strip 31. At least one, however, preferably, each of The adjustment means 33 which adjust in each case at least one compression element 32 is fixedly arranged in the housing 44, the axis 43 of the corresponding compression element 32 being accommodated whose separation from the gravure cylinder 02 can be modified by means of corresponding adjustment in the stirrup 38 fixedly connected with the rod 41. On a longitudinal side of the roller strip 31, that is to say, on its side which runs parallel to the axial direction of the associated gravure cylinder 02 and having an oriented surface extension fundamentally radially to the intaglio cylinder 02, therefore, on the front side of the roller strip 31 or on its rear side, it is di preferably placed next to or in the housing 44 of the roller strip 31 a protection strip 46 covering an access to at least one compression element 32, especially a finger protection strip 46, which is movably placed by at least one guiding element 47 connected to the housing 44 of the roller strip 31. The movement that the finger protection strip 46 can make is preferably a lifting movement, the elevation of the finger protection strip 46 running. especially radially with respect to the gravure cylinder 02, but it is limited by at least two different radial separations of the gravure cylinder 02. The finger protection strip 46 is actuated to carry out its lifting movement, for example, by two adjustment means 48, in each case one of the two adjustment means 48 being arranged on one of the two front sides that are arranged rented in the axial direction of the rotogravure cylinder 02, preferably, in the housing 44 of the roller strip 31 (figures 7 and 8). The adjustment means 48 for carrying out the lifting movement of the finger protection strip 46 are, moreover, different from the at least one adjustment means 33 for placing the at least one compression means 32 in the cylinder of gravure 02 or for the removal of this compression element 32 from the gravure cylinder 02. The adjustment means 48 for carrying out the lifting movement of the finger protection strip 46 can also be operated independently of the at least one means of adjustment 33 for the placement of at least one compression element 32 in the gravure cylinder 02 or for the removal of this compression element 32 from the gravure cylinder 02. The adjustment means 48 of the finger protection strip 46 are configured , like the at least one adjustment means 33, for the placement or removal of the at least one compression element 32 of the roller strip 31, prefer possibly, in each case as a pneumatic cylinder, in particular, in each case as a double-acting pneumatic cylinder, so that two connections for each case are also provided for the adjustment means 48 of the finger protection strip 46 a pneumatic duct in each case. A piston rod 49 of the corresponding pneumatic cylinder is connected in each case with a connecting element 51 (Figures 7 and 8), in which the finger protection strip 46 is fixedly arranged so that, in case of a movement of the corresponding piston rod 49, the finger protection strip 46 performs its lifting movement between a position P1 further away from the gravure cylinder 02, especially an end position, and a position P2 closer to the gravure cylinder 02, especially a final position. An adjustment path s made by the finger protection strip 46 with its lifting movement is, for example, in the range between 4 mm and 20 mm, in particular approximately 10 mm to 12 mm (Figure 12). . The finger protection strip 46 is configured, at least in its edge directed to the intaglio cylinder 02, for example, as a piece of beaded sheet metal. The finger protection strip 46 is coated, at least partially, for example, with Teflon or other sliding material, for sliding

with reduced friction in its at least one guide element 47. In the preferred embodiment variant, preferably several adjustment elements 33 for the placement or removal of the preferably several compression elements 32 and the adjustment means 48 of the protection strip for the fingers 46 they are arranged in the same plane E1 that extends in the axial direction of the gravure cylinder 02, the adjustment means 33 being able to be operated for the placement or removal of the at least one compression element 32 and the adjustment means 48 for the finger protection strip 46 individually and independently of one another, that is, alternately. The compression elements 32 of the roller strip 31 and the finger protection strip 46 perform their corresponding linear movement in each case in two planes E1; E2 different planes and parallel to each other with a separation e, these two planes E1 being oriented; E2 preferably fundamentally radial to the coating surface of the rotogravure cylinder 02, and one of these two planes being E1; E2 the plane E1 in which the adjustment means 33 are arranged for the placement or removal of the at least one compression element 32 and the adjustment means 48 of the finger protection strip 46. The separation e between the two planes E1 ; E2 parallel to each other is, for example, in the range between 10 mm and 40 mm, preferably between 20 mm and 30 mm. The movement made by the compression elements 32 of the roller strip 31 and / or the finger protection strip 46 is then considered essentially radially oriented to the coating surface of the gravure cylinder 02 if a longitudinal extension of these planes E1; E2 in which the corresponding movement is carried out, starting from a cut-off point with a radial beam leaving the rotation axis M of the corresponding gravure cylinder 02, an acute angle not exceeding 30 ° is deviated from this radial beam, preferably, less than 15º (figure 11).

Figure 10 shows the roller strip 31 in its arrangement in a gravure cylinder 02, this gravure cylinder 02 being placed in a transfer cylinder 03. It is indicated that this transfer cylinder 03 is placed in another transfer cylinder 03, thereby indicating that the arrangement shown of cylinders of printing mechanisms 02; 03 preferably belongs to a double printing mechanism. Therefore, Figure 10 refers to an assembly situation such as that shown, for example, in Figures 1 or 4. Also if in Figure 10 the printing mechanism cylinders 02; 03 have a diameter of equal size, an expert can simply transfer and use there the arrangement shown of the roller strip 31 also to a printing unit 01 according to figures 2 or 3, in which a simple gravure cylinder 02 acts together with a double 03 transfer cylinder. Figure 10 shows the roller strip 31 arranged in or at least near the connecting element between the intaglio cylinder 02 and the transfer cylinder 03 in an operative position in which all its compression elements 32 are placed in the intaglio cylinder 02. The finger protection strip 46, configured, for example, in an integrated manner in the housing 44 of the roller strip 31, is separated from the coating surface of the intaglio cylinder 02 in its final position P1 furthest from the rotogravure cylinder 02, which is also shown in Fig. 9. The finger protection strip 46 extends in the axial direction of the rotogravure cylinder 02 over virtually the entire length of the coating surface of this cylinder gravure 02, that is, for more than 90% of this length, however, at least for the width B of a printing mold 16 that can be arranged on this intaglio cylinder 02. On the two front sides of the roller strip 31, preferably in its housing 44, retaining elements 52 are arranged, by means of which the roller strip 31 is fixedly arranged in the frame 08 of the printing unit 01. On the two front sides of the roller strip 31, a stop 53 is preferably provided in each case, these two stops 53 being arranged apart from each other in the axial direction of the gravure cylinder 02 so that a width is formed between them free w corresponding to the width B of at least one printing mold 16 that can be arranged on this intaglio cylinder 02. To feed a pressure means, for example, compressed air, to the adjustment means 33; 48 belonging to the roller strip 31 is provided a connection element 54 connected or at least connectable to a source of pressure medium and preferably arranged in the frame 08 of the pressure unit 01, from which at least one conduit duct can be driven pressure means, for example, flexible, at least to one front side of the roller strip 31. The compressed air fed to the adjustment means 33; 48 has a working pressure, for example, in the range between 2 bar and 6 bar. The compressed air ducts, connected with the corresponding connection element 54 and which, for example, lead by means of diversions to the adjustment means 33; 48 correspondingly, are preferably placed in the housing 44 of the roller strip 31 in a case that extends through, preferably in the axial direction of the gravure cylinder 02, and is arranged above the adjustment means 33; 48. All the adjustment means 33 associated with the compression elements 32 and / or all the adjustment means 48 associated with the finger protection strip 46 are fed, through their corresponding pressure medium conduit, preferably in each case together with the pressure medium and are requested with pressure or also downloaded synchronously.

Figure 11 shows the same mounting situation of the roller strip 31 as in Figure 10, but with the difference that the finger protection strip 46, configured, for example, in an integrated manner in the housing 44 of the slat rollers 31, is now separated from the coating surface of the rotogravure cylinder 02 in its final position P2 closest to the rotogravure cylinder 02. The mobile finger protection strip 46, preferably adapted in shape drag between the two stops 53 arranged in each case on the two front sides of the roller strip 31, closes in this operating state, in connection with the housing 44 of the

roller strip 31, an access to the connecting element formed by the intaglio cylinder 02 and the transfer cylinder 03 to avoid the risk of injury to an operator when the operator is on the operating side of the printing unit 01 during a rotation of the printing mechanism cylinder 02; 03, especially when the production of the printing machine is underway.

Figure 12 shows, in a representation in orthogonal section to the axial direction of the cylinder of printing mechanisms 02; 03, a detail of the arrangement of cylinders of printing mechanisms 02; 03 shown in Figures 10 and 11, the roller strip 31 being arranged, viewed from the corresponding control side of the printing unit 01, so as to block access to the connecting element formed by the gravure cylinder 02 and the transfer cylinder 03. In the operating state shown in Figure 12, the at least one compression element 32 of the roller strip 31 placed in the stirrup 38 is placed against the gravure cylinder 02 by the adjustment means 33 associated with it Compression element 32. The rod 41 connected to the piston of the adjustment means 33 configured as a pneumatic cylinder moves, as a result of an application of the piston with compressed air, in the direction of the coating surface of the gravure cylinder 02. In the sectional representation of figure 12 can also be seen the adjustment means 48 provided for actuating the finger protection strip 46, as well as the connecting element 51 on which the finger protection strip 46 is fixedly arranged. The finger protection strip 46 is slidably arranged on a guide element 47. In the operational state shown in Figure 12 , the finger protection strip 46 is in its final position P1 furthest from the gravure cylinder 02. This is obtained, between a edge of the finger protection strip 46, preferably rounded and, thereby not configured with sharp edges, and directed to the gravure cylinder 02, and the coating surface of the gravure cylinder 02 an interstitial shaped opening 56 with a gap width p, the gap width p being located, for example, in the interval between 4 mm and 20 mm, especially in approximately 10 mm to 12 mm. The roller strip 31 has, in its preferred embodiment, another rigid protection strip 57, that is, non-mobile, fixedly connected, for example, with the housing 44 of the roller strip 31, with which an opening 58 is delimited in interstitium form between a edge of this protection strip 57 directed to the transfer cylinder 03 and the coating surface of the transfer cylinder 03 in its gap width q, this gap width also being located, for example, in the interval between 4 mm and 20 mm, especially in approximately 10 mm to 12 mm.

Figure 13 shows, in a perspective representation, the arrangement of cylinders of printing mechanisms 02; 03 shown in Figures 10 to 12, acquiring the intaglio cylinder 02 with the at least one opening 28 preferably formed in the form of a groove in its cladding surface an angular position in which the front end 24, seen in the production direction P, from the printing mold to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder 02 can be fed to the corresponding channel 27 disposed in this rotogravure cylinder 02. The feeding of the printing mold 16 preferably takes place with one of the feeding devices 09 shown in the Figures 1 to 5. To feed the printing mold 16 to the rotogravure cylinder 02, the printing mold 16 to be arranged on the rotogravure cylinder 02 is driven through between the two stops 53 arranged in each case on both sides front of the roller strip 31. The compression elements 32 of the roller strip 31 are now in their operating state Attracting from the gravure cylinder 02. Also the finger protection strip 46 is now in its final position P1 further away from the gravure cylinder 02.

Figure 14 shows a printing unit 01 corresponding in its structure mainly with the printing unit 01 shown in Figure 4. Unlike the printing unit 01 shown in Figure 4, the transport direction T of the material Print 04 runs in reverse. In the case of the printing unit 01 shown in Figure 14, the feeding devices 09 can be provided, from the left, in each case with at least one printing mold 16 to be arranged on the corresponding gravure cylinder 02 of so that the control side of this print unit 01 is on the left side of its representation. From figure 14 the arrangement of the roller strip 31 explained by means of figures 5 to 13 can be detached in the printing unit 01. Each of the roller slats 31 shown in figure 14 is disposed in each case in a feed plane , along which a printing mold 16 is to be placed on the corresponding gravure cylinder 02 from the feeding device 09 essentially tangentially to the coating surface of the corresponding gravure cylinder 02. The planes E1; E2, in which the compression elements 32 of the roller strip 31 and the finger protection strip 46 perform their corresponding movement oriented to the coating surface of the rotogravure cylinder 02, are preferably arranged essentially orthogonal to the plane of feed that runs from the printing mold 16 to be arranged on the corresponding gravure cylinder 02.

In the case of the roller strip 31 described above to aid in the assembly of at least one printing mold 16 on the coating surface of a gravure cylinder 02 of a printing press, the roller strip 31 being presented, in a first plane E1 extending in the axial direction of the gravure cylinder 02, at

less a compression element 02 that can move in this plane E1, the roller strip 31 having a protection strip 46 which extends in the axial direction of the gravure cylinder 02 and covers an access to at least one compression element 32, the protection strip 46 being positioned so that it can move, the movement of the protection strip 46 is performed as a linear lifting movement and / or the protection strip 46 can preferably be moved in a second plane E2 different from the first plane E1 in which the at least one compression element 32 can move, the first plane E1 and the second plane E2 being arranged parallel to each other with a gap e. In this case, in the first plane E1 extending in the axial direction of the gravure cylinder 02 several compression elements 32 may be provided, at least one adjustment means being associated with each of these compression elements 32 in each case. 33 controllable. Also, at the protection strip 46, at least one controllable adjustment means 48 is associated for carrying out its lifting movement. In this case, the at least one controllable adjustment means 33 associated with at least one compression element 32 and / or the at least one controllable adjustment means 48 associated with the protection strip 46 can in each case be operated alternately and independently from one another by a control unit, for example, by a command post associated with the printing unit, in particular, they can be operated remotely. Advantageously, the at least one controllable adjustment means 33 associated with at least one compression element 32 and / or the at least one controllable adjustment means 48 associated with the protection strip 46 are each configured as a pneumatic cylinder of double action, each of these pneumatic cylinders presenting in each case two pressure chambers that act on the same piston, being able to request and also requesting the two work surfaces of this piston for its reliable deviation alternately with a pressure, for example, in the interval between 2 bar and 6 bar. All controllable adjustment means 33 associated with at least one compression element 32 and / or all controllable adjustment means 48 associated with protection strip 46 can preferably be operated together in each case. The protection strip 46 is preferably slidably placed in at least one guide element 47, the guide element 47 being arranged on or next to a housing 44 of the roller strip 31, at least in a cover plate covering the adjustment means 33; 48. The protection strip 46 is covered, preferably at least partially, with Teflon or a layer that reduces friction between the protection strip 46 and its guide element 47.

In the following, particularities of the feeding device 09 shown schematically only in each case in Figures 1 to 5 are explained in detail. The explanations are by way of illustration and are not restrictive for a printing unit 01 according to Figures 4 and 14. In the case of the printing units 01 of Figures 4 and 14, the printing material 04 passes essentially horizontally through the printing gap formed by two transfer cylinders 03 that roll one above the other, therefore which can be said here of an upper printing mechanism and a lower printing mechanism arranged in each case in the printing unit 01.

Next, a feeding device 09 arranged in a lower printing mechanism will first be explained by means of Figures 15 to 33. In this exemplary embodiment, it is based on the fact that the gravure cylinder 02 to which the corresponding feeding device 09 is associated is only provided or has to be provided with a single printing mold 16 and, consequently, only has under its coating surface a single channel 27 extending in the axial direction of this intaglio cylinder 02. Thus, the width B of the printing mold 16 corresponds practically to the table length of this intaglio cylinder 02 and the length of the mold Printing 16 corresponds practically to the perimeter length of this intaglio cylinder 02. Accordingly, it is preferably a thin, flexible, plate-shaped and large print mold 16 with a width of at least 1,500 mm and a length of at least 1,000 mm.

At the beginning of the process of placing a new printing mold 16 on the rotogravure cylinder 02 of the printing mechanism, indicated by way of illustration, of the printing unit 01, it is rotated, in a rotogravure cylinder 02 which is currently not involved in production, to a first angular position in which the opening 28 of its channel 27 is directed to the feeding device 09 (figure 23). This first angular position is, in the production direction P of the intaglio cylinder 02 (Figure 5), a sector away from a contact point A from the front end 24 of the printing mold 16 on the coating surface of this intaglio cylinder 02 (figure 24), this sector covering an angle of rotation of the intaglio cylinder 02 in the range between 2º and 45º.

In the preferred embodiment of the feeding device 09 arranged above the inking mechanism 06, a carriage 61 of a transport device 62 of this feeding device 09 is then moved from a position away from the gravure cylinder 02 to a nearby position or at least closer to the intaglio cylinder 02. The carriage 61 of the transport device 62 preferably arranged above a printing mold 16 to be fed to the intaglio cylinder 02 covers, in the axial direction of the intaglio cylinder 02, the minus the width B of the printing mold 16 and makes a linear movement between its position away from the gravure cylinder 02 and its position closest to the gravure cylinder 02, being a travel path f of the carriage 61 of the shortest transport device 62 that the length of the printing mold 16 and, for example, amounting to only 10% to 30% of the length ud of printing mold 16. The transport path f of the carriage 61 of the transport device 62 is preferably in the range between 150 mm and 250 mm. The carriage 61 of the transport device 62 is placed on its front sides directed in each case to one of the two side walls of the frame 08 of the printing unit 01, preferably, in a linear unit belonging to the transport device 62, being provided at least one drive, although preferably two drives 69 synchronized with each other, that is, on each front side of the carriage 61 is a drive 69, these drives 69 being configured, for example, in each case, as a pneumatic cylinder and being able to I will act remotely.

At a distance of 10 mm to 50 mm below the travel path f of the carriage 61 of the transport device 62 is the first of several planes 14; 17; 18 arranged vertically on top of each other (figure 5). In this first plane 14 there is a flat, essentially rectangular and table-shaped support 63 (figure 16), in which the printing mold 16 to be fed is placed or at least preferably placed only to the gravure cylinder 02. The support 63 has, on its side directed to the gravure cylinder 02 in the first plane 14 tangential to the gravure cylinder 02, a edge 64 extending in the axial direction of the gravure cylinder 02, in the that the printing mold 16 to be fed to the intaglio cylinder 02 can be suspended with its offset leg set at the front end 24, so that the suspension leg offset from the print mold 16 to be fed to the cylinder of intaglio 02 is placed or can be placed in this suspension edge 64, especially in diagonal register in relation to the intaglio cylinder 02. This suspension edge 64 pu It is possible to limit the support 63 on its side directed to the intaglio cylinder 02, or the support 63 has, in an area directed to the intaglio cylinder 02, a groove 66 which extends in the axial direction of the intaglio cylinder 02 at least by the width B of the printing mold 16 to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder 02, in which the suspension edge 64 is configured. Since, on the operating side of the printing unit 01, the available free structural space is very limited, the support 63 extends parallel to the length of the printing mold 16 to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder 02 by a length g, which is especially equivalent to only between 20% and 50% of the length of this mold of print 16, that is, the length g of the support 63 is in the range between 250 mm and 600 mm, preferably between 400 mm and 450 mm. A printing mold 16 to be fed to the intaglio cylinder 02 and is placed in the suspension edge 64 of the support 63 with its suspension leg hangs from this support 63 preferably more than its half.

The printing mold 16 configured as a thin and flexible plate to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder 02 is placed, with its offset leg set at its front end 24, in the suspension edge 64 of the support 63 and, in the preferred embodiment, for the correct alignment in lateral registration, slides against a fixed lateral stop 67 arranged frontally, for example, at one end of the groove 66, hanging from the support 63 a part away from the gravure cylinder 02 of this printing mold 16. The suspension of the printing mold 16 causes, along this printing mold 16 to be fed to the intaglio cylinder 02, a bulge oriented against the force of gravity. In order to securely retain the settling suspension leg configured at the front end 24 of the printing mold 16 to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder 02 in the suspension edge 64 of the support 63, at least one retaining device 68 is provided which acts on the suspension edge 64, preferably, several retention devices 68 are arranged next to each other in the axial direction of the gravure cylinder 02, for example, two retention devices 68 arranged with a separation k from each other, being retained with these retention devices 68 in each case the offset leg placed in the suspension edge 64 of the support 63 of the printing mold 16 to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder 02 and is already oriented in lateral registration, and thereby holds the entire print mold 16 in relation to the holder 63 in a fixed position. In case of several devices Withholding s 68 arranged next to each other, these can preferably be operated together or alternatively, individually.

Figure 17 shows in a partial section the retention device 68 according to Figures 15 or 16 arranged so that it acts on the suspension edge 64. This retention device 68 is configured, for example, as a holding piece fixedly connected with a shaft 71, rotating the shaft 71, which can be controlled in its rotational movement by the control unit that controls the positioning process, the clamping piece from a position that releases the recess 66 (figures 17 and 18), for example , by a rotation in the interval between 90 ° and 180 °, to a position that retains the offset leg of the print mold 16 placed in the suspension edge 64 of the support 63 (Figure 19). A change between these two positions is indicated in Figure 17 by the two arrows associated with the tree 71. The clamping piece may, for example, have a finger-shaped element that holds on the support 63, for example, in a joint in drag, the printing mold 16 placed in the suspension edge 64 of the support 63. The shaft 71 is preferably integrated in the support 63 or is arranged so that it runs below it in the axial direction of the gravure cylinder 02. With this, the at least one retention device 68 is configured, for example, as a retainer that acts in conjunction with the suspension edge 64 of the support 63.

In what has been described so far, a feeding aid 09 for feeding a printing mold 16 having, at least at its anterior end 24 in the production direction P, a leg of feed has to be considered a fundamental aid for the placement process. suspension offset to a gravure cylinder 02 of a printing unit 01 has a flat support 63 on which the printing mold 16 to be fed to the gravure cylinder 02 is placed or at least can be placed, the support 63 being present, in its side directed to the rotogravure cylinder 02, a suspension edge 64 extending in the axial direction of the rotogravure cylinder 02, at least one retaining device 68 being held that retains the printing mold 16 to be fed to the cylinder of intaglio 02, the at least one retention device 68 being arranged so that it acts on the suspension edge 64 of the support 63, being able to retain e with the at least one retaining device 68 the printing mold 16 placed in the suspension edge 64 of the support 63 in this suspension edge 64, the retention of the printing mold 16 placed in the edge of the printing can preferably be remotely operated hanger 64 of support 63. Even a large print mold that hangs from support 63 is securely retained, which is very useful especially in the case of a support 63 arranged inclined, and can be fed to the cylinder of Gravure 02 automatically aligned in record reliably.

Figures 20 and 21 show, in each case in a perspective representation, the carriage 61 of the transport device 62 without cover plate. The carriage 61 has, along the width B of the printing mold 16 to be fed to the intaglio cylinder 02, preferably several suction gripping elements 72 that can be controlled, these suction gripping elements 72 being arranged with a fixed position in the axial direction of the gravure cylinder 02. In an advantageous configuration of the carriage 61, they are arranged, associated to the center of the width B of the printing mold 16 to be fed to the gravure cylinder 02 as well as to its two edges laterally, in each case preferably double grip elements, in each case with two suction grip elements 72 controlled together in each case (Figure 21). The suction gripping elements 72 can be placed in the carriage position 61 away from the gravure cylinder 02 from a rest position removed from the support 63 through a downward movement in a printing mold 16 to be fed to the cylinder of intaglio 02 and placed on support 63 (figure 22). The downward movement of the suction gripping elements 72 is driven in each case by a drive disposed in the carriage 61, being associated, for example, to each double gripping element in each case exactly one drive 73. Therefore, a actuation direction of the drive 73 is oriented essentially perpendicular to the printing mold 16 which is placed on the support 63 and must be fed to the gravure cylinder 02 and, thus, also perpendicular to the travel path f of the carriage

61. The drives 73 are preferably configured in each case as a pneumatic cylinder.

Once the suction gripping elements 72 have been placed in the printing mold 16 to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder 02 by activating the drives 73, a gripping plate, preferably made of an elastomer and placed on the Printing mold 16, of the corresponding suction gripping element 72, is evacuated by actuating a vacuum pump connected to the interior of the corresponding gripping plate by means of a conduit. A subpressure generated inside the gripping plate is, for example, in the range of -0.7 bar to -1.0 bar, preferably between -0.9 bar and -1.0 bar. A sensor arranged, for example, on or next to the corresponding suction grip element 72 checks whether the desired subpressure has been set. A preferably electrical test signal generated by the sensor is fed to a control unit that controls the placement process.

Once the desired subpressure has been adjusted inside the corresponding grip plate, the control unit that controls the placement process allows the retention device 68 to act in conjunction with the suspension edge 64, for example, by means of a turning its shaft 71, release the suspension leg of the print mold 16 that is placed on the support 63 and must be fed to the gravure cylinder 02 that is retained by this retaining device 68 in the suspension edge 64 of the support 63 This operational state is shown in Figure 23. The at least one suction grip element 72 has the impression mold 16 that is placed on the support 63 and must be fed to the gravure cylinder 02. The at least one device of retention 68 is rotated in its position that releases the suspension leg of the printing mold 16 which is placed on the support 63. The roller strip 31, arranged in the plane of feed between the support 63 and the coating surface of the rotogravure cylinder 02, along which a printing mold 16 is to be placed on the intaglio cylinder 02 essentially tangentially on the cylinder coating surface of corresponding gravure 02 is in the operational state in which the protection strip 46 which is arranged on the side of the roller strip 31 directed to the support 63 acquires its position P1 further away from the coating surface of the gravure cylinder 02 and, thereby, opens access to the coating surface of this intaglio cylinder 02 to a printing mold 16 to be arranged on the rotogravure cylinder 02. Also the at least one compression element 32 of the roller strip 31 it is still in its removed state from the coating surface of the gravure cylinder 02, that is, in its position m s away from the coating surface of the gravure cylinder 02.

Next, the transport device 62 transports, by moving its carriage 61 along the travel path f to a position close to the gravure cylinder 02, the printing mold 16 to be arranged on the gravure cylinder 02 a this intaglio cylinder 02, raising the at least one suction grip element 72, if necessary, from the groove 66 configured in the support 63, the offset leg of this printing mold 16 configured at the front end 24 and placed in the suspension edge 64 of the support 63, and placing this suspension leg at the point of contact A with the coating surface of this gravure cylinder 02. To prevent during the elevation of the printing mold 16 to be fed to the intaglio cylinder 02 a damage thereof, for example, due to the scratching of carriage elements 61, at least one spacer 74 is provided on the side of the ca rro 61 directed to the printing mold 16 to be fed, that is, on the lower side of this carriage 61 (figures 18 or 19), several separators 74 are preferably provided separated in the axial direction of the gravure cylinder 02, being arranged these separators 74, in particular, aligned with each other, and each separator 74 being configured, for example, as a roller, the roller preferably having several rolling rings on its coating surface. Since the plane 14 in which the at least one suction grip element 72 retains the printing mold 16 to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder 02 runs tangentially to the coating surface of this intaglio cylinder 02, the front end 24 of this printing mold 16 bends outwardly at the point of contact A with the coating surface of this gravure cylinder 02 a measure of the coating surface of this gravure cylinder 02 corresponding to a height h of the Suspended suspension leg, so that the front end 24 of this printing mold 16 is retained under a bending tension on the coating surface of this gravure cylinder 02.

Meanwhile, at least one compression element 32 of the roller strip 31 has also been placed on the coating surface of the intaglio cylinder 02 activated by a control signal from the control unit. The rotogravure cylinder 02 is now rotated in its production direction P until the settling suspension leg configured at the front end 24 and placed on the coating surface of this intaglio cylinder 02 is engaged in the opening of the channel 27 belonging to this intaglio cylinder 02, favoring the engagement by the elastic flexure tension caused by the flexion at the front end 24 of this printing mold 16. The rotation of the rotogravure cylinder 02 in its production direction P continues. Upon advancing this rotation, the printing mold 16 is laminated on the lining surface of the rotogravure cylinder 02 through the at least one compression element 32 of the roller strip 31. The at least one suction grip element 72 holds fixedly the printing mold 16 that has been grasped until this printing mold 16 is pressed and, thereby, securely retained, by the at least one compression element 32 of the roller strip 31 against the coating surface of the cylinder of intaglio 02. Because the at least one suction grip element 72 still provisionally retains the print mold 16, a retention force is exerted on this print mold 16 which acts along its length and which leads to this printing mold 16 is rigidly placed on the coating surface of the rotogravure cylinder 02. Only once the at least one compression element 32 of the roller strip s 31 presses the printing mold 16 against the coating surface of the rotogravure cylinder 02, the underpressure generated inside the gripping plate of the corresponding suction gripping element 72 is eliminated, whereby the suction gripping element 72 It is released from the printing mold 16. Then, this suction grip element 72 is again placed in its rest position removed from the support 63 by a lifting movement. Also the carriage 61 of the transport device 62 can again move from its position close to the gravure cylinder 02 back to its position away from the gravure cylinder 02, in particular, to protect the suction grip elements 72 during a production of the printing unit 01, for example, of an ink spray mist produced by the rotogravure cylinder 02 in connection with the inking mechanism 06.

Figure 25 shows a sectional representation of the support 63 belonging to the feeding device 09 which has already been shown in perspective in Figure 16. The support 63 is sized shorter than the length extending in its production direction P of the mold of print 16 to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder 02, for example, the support 63 is less than half the length of the print mold 16 to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder 02. In, for example, the foreground 14, the at least one retaining device 68 is shown in its operative position especially for holding a suspension leg at the front end 24 of a printing mold 16. With a separation b below the first plane 14 of the support 63 in which a new printing mold 16 is to be placed or at least to be fed to the gravure cylinder 02, another lower plane 18 of this arrangement is arranged Feed unit 09, at least one printing mold 16 can be housed in this other plane 18 removed from the rotogravure cylinder 02. This lower plane 18 for housing at least one print mold 16 removed from the rotogravure cylinder 02 also has a support 76, although this support 76 is configured shorter than the support 63 associated with the first plane 14. The support 76 defining the lower plane 18 is preferably configured angled at its end directed to the gravure cylinder 02 to configure a mouth of opening 77, with an angle of curvature a, referred to the lower plane 18, in the range between 10 ° and 45 °, preferably between 15 ° and 30 °. The supports 63; 76 of the feeding device 09 are arranged in the

preferred embodiment, parallel to each other at least in sections.

Figure 26 shows the upper support 63, in which a new printing mold 16 is to be placed or at least to be fed to the gravure cylinder 02, and the lower support 76, in which it is placed or at least can be a printing mold 16 removed from the intaglio cylinder 02, in its integrated state in a printing unit 01. The two supports 63; 76 which run parallel to each other by a piece are arranged inclined, for example, with respect to a horizontal one, an inclination angle being placed, for example, in a range between 15 ° and 60 ° and, preferably, between 30 ° and 45 °. A procedure for removing a used print mold 16 from the rotogravure cylinder 02 begins since the rotogravure cylinder 02 is rotated to an angular position where the at least one opening 28 of the channel 27 of this intaglio cylinder 02 which It is preferably formed in the form of a groove in the lining surface of this gravure cylinder 02 and is directed to the opening mouth 77 configured between these two supports 63; 76. A retaining device, arranged in the channel 27 of the rotogravure cylinder 02 and which can preferably be operated remotely, releases the suspension leg that is retained at the rear end 23 of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the cylinder gravure 02, so that this suspension leg is released from the opening 28 of the channel 27 of this gravure cylinder 02 and, due to the elasticity of the flexible printing mold 16, in the form of an iron and rolled around the table of the intaglio cylinder 02, jumps into the opening mouth 77 configured between the two supports 63; 76. A sensor 78, arranged, for example, at or next to the opening mouth 77 and facing the rear end 23 of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the rotogravure cylinder 02, checks, preferably without contact, whether the leg of suspension at the rear end 23 of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the rotogravure cylinder 02 has actually been released from the channel 27 after actuation of the retention device provided in the channel 27 of the rotogravure cylinder 02. In the case of a affirmative result of the check, the control unit that controls the withdrawal process authorizes the continuation of the withdrawal process.

After the authorization signal is presented, the rotogravure cylinder 02 rotates against its production direction P practically a complete turn, for example, 300 ° to approximately 355 °, so that the printing mold 16 to be removed from the coating surface This gravure cylinder 02 is progressively removed from this gravure cylinder 02 with its rear end 23 released from the gravure cylinder 02 in front along the lower support 76 on which the print mold 16 is placed or at least can be placed removed from the intaglio cylinder 02. During this extraction process, the at least one compression element 32 of the roller strip 31 is placed against the coating surface of the intaglio cylinder 02, whereby the printing mold 16 is retained in the coating surface of the rotogravure cylinder 02 while a part of this printing mold 16 is still on the coating surface of the rotogravure cylinder 02. At the end of the extraction rotation of the printing mold 16, the rotogravure cylinder 02, with the at least one opening 28 preferably formed in the form of a groove in its coating surface, acquires a second angular position in which the front end 24, seen in the production direction P, of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the gravure cylinder 02, which is still retained in the channel 27, is located a sector in the production direction P of the intaglio cylinder 02 after a pressure point D of the at least one compression element 32 of the roller strip 31 against the coating surface of this intaglio cylinder 02 (figure 24), this sector covering an angle of rotation of the rotogravure cylinder 02 in the range of, for example, 2º to 30º, preferably, between 5º and 15º.

At the latest when the gravure cylinder 02 acquires its second angular position which is, in the production direction P, after the pressure point D of the at least one compression element 32 of the roller strip 31, the control unit activates a retention device or braking device that acts in connection with the lower support 76 in which the printing mold 16 is removed or placed from the gravure cylinder 02, presenting this braking device or retention device a seal 81 that can be displaced by a controllable drive 79 and a bearing 82, preferably stationary, against which the seal 81 can be placed by activating drive 79 (Figure 25 or 26). This drive 79 is realized, for example, by a pneumatic cylinder. The seal 81 has a preferably flat surface 83 directed to the printing mold 16 to be removed, for example, made of an elastomeric material, with this surface 83 being able to retain the print mold 16 to be removed from the gravure cylinder 02 between this surface 83 and the bearing 82 if the drive 79 has displaced the seal 81 in the direction of the bearing 82 and, thereby, against a positioning surface of the printing mold 16. The positioning surface is an un-illustrated surface of the mold of printing 16, the printing mold 16 being placed, in its state disposed on the rotogravure cylinder 02, with its placement surface on the coating surface of the corresponding intaglio cylinder 02. This clamping can be adjusted with a different intensity by means of a seal force exerted by the drive 79 on the printing mold 16 to be removed from the gravure cylinder 02 and can reach from an increased friction value that hinders a sliding movement of the print mold 16 to be removed until a total blockage of a movement of the print mold 16 to be removed is blocked. In the first case, the provision presented by the

drive 79, the seal 81 and the bearing 82 acts as a braking device that hinders the sliding movement of the printing mold 16 to be removed, in the latter case, acts as a retention device that fixes the printing mold 16 The direction of operation of the seal force exerted by the drive 79, that is, the force exerted on the positioning surface of the printing mold 16, is indicated in Figure 25 by an arrow directed to the bearing 82. The bearing 82 it is configured, for example, as at least one sliding skate, for example, made of a plastic, and oriented parallel to the direction of travel of the printing mold 16 to be removed, this sliding skate being arranged with a separation j vertical with respect to the lower support 76 on which the printing mold 16 is removed or at least can be placed removed from the gravure cylinder 02, being placed The separation j, for example, in the range between 5 mm and 20 mm. The printing mold 16 displaced by the rotation of the rotogravure cylinder 02 along the lower support 76 and to be removed from the rotogravure cylinder 02 is retained or held a brief moment of time in its movement at the latest in the instant the channel 27 that holds the suspension leg at the front end 24 of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the gravure cylinder 02, when the rotational movement of the gravure cylinder 02 continues, moves from the second angular position of the rotogravure cylinder 02, against its production direction P, at the pressure point D of the at least one compression element 32 of the roller strip 31. Therefore, the braking device or retention device is activated so that the suspension leg at the front end 24 of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the gravure cylinder 02 is released from the channel 27 and this suspension leg is pressed out d and the opening 28 of this channel 27 when the rotational movement of the gravure cylinder 02 continues. Once the suspension leg at the front end 24 of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the gravure cylinder 02 has been released from the channel 27, the braking device or retention device controlled by the control unit is deactivated by a descent of the seal 81 in the direction of the lower support 76 or by a total decrease of this seal 81 in the lower support 76, whereby the lower plane 18 of the feeding device 09 is released again, so that this suspension leg offset at the front end 24 of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the gravure cylinder 02 can easily pass the lower support 76 in a direction of movement that moves away from the gravure cylinder 02.

Figure 27 shows, in a simplified sectional representation, the feeding device 09 arranged in the printing unit 01 essentially above the inking mechanism 06 of a lower printing mechanism. Also shown is the roller strip 31 which acts in conjunction with this feeding device 09 and, in particular, in the operating state of the compression element 32 placed in the rotogravure cylinder 02 in which the protection strip 46 acquires its highest position. away from the gravure cylinder

02. The upper support 63 in this feeding device 09, on which the printing mold 16 to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder 02 is placed or at least partially placed, as well as the lower support 76 of this feeding device 09, in which the printing mold 16 removed from the rotogravure cylinder 02 is placed or at least can be placed, can be placed in each case in a horizontally inclined orientation essentially tangentially in the corresponding intaglio cylinder 02, placing the angle of inclination, referring to the horizontal, for example, at approximately 30 °, and being inclined downwardly starting from a point directed to the gravure cylinder 02 towards the operating side of the printing unit 01. Separated and with a lag both vertical and horizontal below the feeding device 09, an extraction device 84 is arranged in relation to this feeding device 09, which is only partially shown in figure 27. Figure 28 shows completely this extraction device 84 in a side view. Figure 29 shows the same extraction device 84 in a perspective representation. The extraction device 84 is attached or at least can be joined by a retainer 86 preferably with the frame 08 of the printing unit 01.

The extraction device 84 has an arm 87 that can be deployed vertically in the direction of the feeding device 09 along an adjustment path z by means of a linear unit 88 preferably pneumatically operated (Figure 28), which, in the operative situation shown in figure 27, is deployed and, therefore, tends against the feeding device 09, which has reduced the horizontal offset between the feeding device 09 and the extraction device 84 and has assumed its measurement minimum vmin. This minimum measure vmin is, for example, in the range between 200 mm and 500 mm.

Figure 30 shows a pickup device 89 configured at the upper end of the arm 87 of the extraction device 84, which shows, for a rear end 23 of a printing mold 16 removed from the gravure cylinder 02, a first guiding element 91 and a second guiding element 92, the two guiding elements 91 being arranged; 92 mainly in the form of a funnel with respect to each other and, in particular, so that the rear end 23 of the printing mold 16 removed from the gravure cylinder 02 is inserted into the funnel configured by the two guiding elements 91; 92 and, thereby, the feedback device 89 is fed. The two guiding elements 91; 92 are made in each case, for example, by flexible sheet metal parts

or by molded plastic parts. The first guiding element 91 is, for example, rigidly connected with the arm 87 of the extraction device 84, while a lower end of the second guiding element 92 is rotatably positioned around an axis 93 arranged horizontally and oriented parallel to the

axial direction of the rotogravure cylinder 02. By this turning movement, a funnel opening angle configured by the two guide elements 91 can be reduced or enlarged; 92 and, in particular, depending on whether the second guide element 92 is placed closer to the arm 87 of the extraction device 84 or removed from it. The turning movement of the second guide element 92 can preferably be carried out by means of a drive that can be activated remotely. The second guiding element 92 has, for example, in its middle section, an angular-shaped piece that configures a hook 94 with which the second guiding element 92 engages behind, essentially in shape drag, the rear end 23 of the printing mold 16 that has been removed from the gravure cylinder 02 and has been introduced into the funnel configured by the two guiding elements 91; 92 when this second guide element 92 is placed in the arm 87 of the extraction device 84 (figure 31). In this operational state, the second guide element 92 placed on the arm 87 of the extraction device 84 retains the rear end 23 of the print mold 16 removed from the gravure cylinder 02 in the pickup device 89.

Once the rear end 23 of the print mold 16 removed from the rotogravure cylinder 02 has been retained in the pickup device 89, the arm 87 is retracted again, deployed by the adjustment path z and extended against the feeding device 09, of the extraction device 84, preferably, in a controlled manner by the control unit that controls the extraction process, whereby the horizontal offset between the feeding device 09 and the extraction device 84 is extended and acquires its maximum measurement vmax ( figure 32). This maximum measure vmax is, for example, in the range between 400 mm and 1,000 mm.

Figures 32 and 33 show in each case the operating situation in which the printing mold 16 removed from the gravure cylinder 02 has been grabbed at its rear end 23 by the pickup device 89 and has been removed outside the gravure cylinder 02 and to a large extent, that is, up to more than 50%, preferably, up to more than 70%, of the feeding device 09, the front end 24 of the printing mold 16 being removed from the gravure cylinder 02 still in or on the support 76 lower feeding device

09. The feeding device 09 has a transport length for the printing mold 16 to be removed from the intaglio cylinder 02 (Figure 32), the transport length beginning and at a cut-off point of the plane 18 belonging to the device of feeding 09 in which the printing mold 16 can be housed extracted from the gravure cylinder 02 with the contour line of the gravure cylinder 02, and extending at least along the length of this plane 18. A sum formed by the transport length and of the feeding device 09 and the maximum measure vmax of the horizontal offset between the feeding device 09 and the extraction device 84 is dimensioned greater than the length of the printing mold 16 to be extracted from the gravure cylinder 02, while a sum formed by the length of transport and of the feeding device 09 and the minimum measure vmin of the horizontal offset between the device Feed 09 and the extraction device 84 are preferably smaller than the length of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the gravure cylinder 02. The extraction device 84, especially its collection device 89, has, in parallel to the width B of the printing mold 16 to be extracted from the rotogravure cylinder 02, a width x which is preferably much smaller than the width B of the printing mold 16 and, for example, only amounts to between 20% and 50%, especially about 25% of the width B of the printing mold 16.

In the perspective representation of Fig. 33 it can be seen that the flat support 63 of the feeding device 09 in which the printing mold 16 to be fed to the gravure cylinder 02 is placed or at least partially placed, presents side directed to the control side of the printing unit 01, at least one recess 96, although preferably several, for example, two recesses 96 arranged apart from each other, through which the printing mold 16 extracted from the gravure cylinder 02 which has been completely separated from the intaglio cylinder 02 caught at its rear end 23 by the pick-up device 89 can be hooked at its front end 24 which is still in or on the lower support 76 of the feeding device 09 and then preferably, on the one hand, both of the feeding device 09 and also of the extraction device 84 can be removed. The withdrawal process then concludes.

Next, by means of figures 34 to 47, the feeding device 09 arranged in a superior printing mechanism (figures 14; 32) is explained in detail, being taken as a basis again, and as before by way of illustration and without character restrictively, a printing unit 01 according to figures 4 and 14. In the upper printing mechanism the placement process and the removal process are conveniently developed to the lower printing mechanism explained by means of figures 15 to 33. However, There are also differences that result in the force of gravity acting against the process of placement and removal to be carried out in the upper printing mechanism, which will be explained in more detail in the following description. For the same components and modules, the same reference numbers as previously used in the description of the lower printing mechanism are used.

Also the feeding device 09 arranged in a superior printing mechanism, preferably, by

Below a inking mechanism 06 there is a carriage 61 of a transport device 62, which, in this feeding device 09, can be moved from a position away from the gravure cylinder 02 to a position closer to the gravure cylinder 02. The carriage 61 of the transport device 62, arranged in the upper printing mechanism preferably below a printing mold 16 to be fed to the gravure cylinder 02, covers, in the axial direction of the gravure cylinder 02, at least the width B of the printing mold 16 and preferably performs a linear movement between its position away from the gravure cylinder 02 and its position closest to the gravure cylinder 02, the travel path f of the carriage 61 of the transport device 62 being shorter than the length of the printing mold 16 and assuming, for example, between 10% and 30% of the length of the printing mold 16. The r The displacement offset f of the carriage 61 of the transport device 62 is preferably in the range between 150 mm and 250 mm. The carriage 61 of the transport device 62 is placed on its front sides directed in each case to one of the two side walls of the frame 08 of the printing unit 01, preferably, in a linear unit belonging to the transport device 62, being provided at least one drive 69, preferably, however, two drives 69 synchronized with each other, that is, on each front side of the carriage 61 is a drive 69, these drives 69 being configured, for example, in each case as a pneumatic cylinder and can be operated remotely. For consultation of other details refer to figures 15 and 20 to 23.

Figure 34 shows, in a perspective representation as a module, the transport device 62 to be arranged in the upper printing mechanism with its carriage 61 and preferably several suction grip elements 72 disposed therein, these elements being arranged of suction grip 72 stationary in the axial direction of the gravure cylinder 02. Figure 35 shows, in an enlarged detail, a part of this module in its state disposed in the printing unit 01, the less a suction grip element 72 in the carriage 61 of the transport device 62 against the printing mold 16 to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder 02 and is arranged, for example, in a close-up 14 of the feeding device 09. As can be seen in Figure 36, the printing mold 16 to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder 02 has been oriented diagonally in its arrangement. in, for example, the first plane 14 of the feeding device 09 in, preferably, two stop surfaces 97 separated from each other and protruding orthogonally in this first plane 14, these stop surfaces 97 being placed on the side directed to the intaglio cylinder 02 of a support 63 disposed in the first plane 14 of the feeding device 09 and being arranged aligned in the axial direction of the rotogravure cylinder 02. The front end 24 of the printing mold 16 to be fed to the cylinder of intaglio 02 is placed against these stops 97 preferably only with its two corners in the range of a few millimeters, for example, 1 mm to 5 mm, the stops 97, which in each case actuated by a drive can be removed, at least temporarily 99 controllable, for example, a pneumatic cylinder, from the feed plane of the printing mold 16 to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder 02, which is indicated in figure 36 by an arrow representing this movement. To align the printing mold 16 to be fed to the intaglio cylinder 02 in lateral registration, at least one lateral stop 98 (FIG. 36) is provided, against which the impression mold 16 to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder is placed 02 and is arranged in the foreground 14 of the feeding device 09.

Once the at least one suction grip element 72, which, in relation to the intaglio cylinder 02, has been aligned in diagonal and lateral registration, has grasped the printing mold 16 to be fed to the cylinder of intaglio 02, the transport device 62 conveys, by moving its carriage 61, this printing mold 16 in the direction of the coating surface of the intaglio cylinder 02 (Figure 37). In its position closest to the gravure cylinder 02, that is, in a final position for the carriage 61 displaced by the linear unit along the travel path f of, for example, 200 mm long, the front end 24 of the printing mold 16 to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder 02 is located a short distance c in front of the compression element 32 or, preferably, in front of the protection strip 46 of the roller strip 31 which acts in conjunction with the feeding device 09 , this separation c being in the range of a few millimeters, for example, 2 mm to 20 mm. The at least one suction grip element 72 disposed in the carriage 61 retains the front end 24 of the print mold 16 to be fed to the gravure cylinder 02 away with a separation d from the coating surface of the gravure cylinder 02, placing this separation d, for example, in the range of 10 mm to 30 mm. The at least one suction grip element 72 disposed in the carriage 61 now performs a second stroke and places the front end 24 of the printing mold 16 to be fed to the gravure cylinder 02 against the coating surface of this gravure cylinder 02 (figure 38). In this sense, the stroke made by the at least one suction grip element 72 is preferably greater than the distance d anteriorly acquired by the front end 24 of the printing mold 16 to be fed to the gravure cylinder 02 from the surface of lining of the rotogravure cylinder 02 before performing this stroke, so that the out-of-suspension suspension leg comes into contact with the lining surface of the gravure cylinder 02 with an applied bending tension. The printing mold 16 is pressed by the at least one suction gripping element 72 in a bulge facing the gravure cylinder 02 and thereby bending at least at its front end 24. At this time, the rotogravure cylinder 02 acquires an angular position in which the

opening 27 that opens the channel 28 of this intaglio cylinder 02 is located, in the production direction P of this intaglio cylinder 02, a short section away from the contact point A of the suspension leg offset at the front end 24 of the printing mold 16 to be fed to the intaglio cylinder 02 on the coating surface of this intaglio cylinder 02, this sector covering an angle of rotation of the rotogravure cylinder 02, for example, in the range between 2 ° and 30 °, preferably, between 5th and 15th.

As shown in Fig. 39, as the placement process continues, the gravure cylinder 02 continues to rotate in its production direction P, whereby the discarded suspension leg that is under bending tension engages at the front end 24 of the printing mold 16 to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder 02 in the opening 27 that opens the channel 28 of this intaglio cylinder 02. The compression element 32 of the roller strip 31 acting in conjunction with the feeding device 09 is placed against the coating surface of this intaglio cylinder 02. If a protection strip 46 is attached with the roller strip 31, the protection strip 46 assumes its position furthest from the coating surface of this intaglio cylinder 02. By continuing the rotation of the rotogravure cylinder 02, the compression element 32 of the roller strip 31 completely laminates the printing mold esion 16 to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder 02 on the coating surface of this intaglio cylinder 02 until the suspension leg is also placed at the rear end 23 of this printing mold 16 in the opening 27, for example, on the same channel 28. This concludes the placement process. As soon as the compression element 32 of the roller strip 31 is disposed with its pressure point D in the printing mold 16 to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder 02, the at least one suction grip element 72 is removed from this printing mold 16. The carriage 61 of the transport device 62 preferably moves, after releasing the printing mold 16, again to its position away from the gravure cylinder 02.

Unlike the withdrawal process in the lower printing mechanism, during the withdrawal in the upper printing mechanism the transport device 62 is used with its linear unit and its carriage 61. At the beginning of the withdrawal process in the upper printing mechanism , the carriage 61 of the transport device 62 moves to its position close to the gravure cylinder 02 (figure 40). There, at least one roller 101 disposed in the carriage 61 of the transport device 62 is deployed, after actuation of a controllable adjustment device, for example, by means of a lifting movement in the direction of the gravure cylinder 02, this can be regulated roller 101, by means of a control of its adjustment device, at several races of different height and this roller 101 being in its first race, especially maximum, that is, in the final position of its race, at a distance i from the Coating surface of this intaglio cylinder 02, this distance being located i, for example, in the range between 10 mm and 50 mm. Preferably, in the carriage 61 of the transport device 62, in the axial direction of the rotogravure cylinder 02, several rollers 101 are provided separated from each other, for example, arranged aligned, which can be deployed together or, alternatively, in a manner individually, for example, by means of a lifting movement in each case in the direction of the gravure cylinder 02. The roller adjusting device 101 is preferably carried out in connection with the drives 73 that move the gripping elements by suction 72.

The gravure cylinder 02 disposed in the upper printing mechanism of the printing unit 01 is rotated to a first angular position in which the opening 28 of its channel 27 is directed to the feeding device 09 (Figure 40). This first angular position is located, in the production direction P of the gravure cylinder 02, a sector away from the pressure point D of the compression element 32 of the roller strip 31 placed against the coating surface of this gravure cylinder 02, this sector covering an angle of rotation �, referred to the axis of rotation M of the gravure cylinder 02, in the range between 5 ° and 45 °. A retention device, preferably arranged so that it can be operated remotely in the channel 27 of the rotogravure cylinder 02, releases the suspension leg retained therefrom at the rear end 23 of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the rotogravure cylinder 02, so that this suspension leg is released from the opening 28 of the channel 27 of this intaglio cylinder 02 and jumps due to the elasticity of the printing mold 16 in the form of an iron wrapped around the gravure cylinder 02 table and it rests elastically against the at least one roller 101 disposed in the carriage 61 of the transport device 62 preferably fully deployed in its stroke. A sensor 78, arranged, for example, laterally on or next to this roller 101 and oriented towards the rear end 23 of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the rotogravure cylinder 02, checks, preferably without contact, whether the suspension leg at the rear end 23 of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the rotogravure cylinder 02 has actually been released from the channel 27 after an activation of the retention device provided in the channel 27 of the rotogravure cylinder 02. In case the check If yes, the control unit that controls the withdrawal process authorizes the continuation of this withdrawal process.

Figures 48 and 49 show, in a perspective representation, a detail of the carriage 61 of the transport device 62 belonging to the upper printing mechanism shown, for example, in Figure 34, showing another variant for the arrangement of the sensor 78 , in which with this sensor 78 it is checked whether the leg

of suspension at the rear end 23 of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the rotogravure cylinder 02 has actually been released from the channel 27 after an activation of the retention device arranged in the channel 27 of the rotogravure cylinder 02. In the variants shown in figures 48 and 49, an adjustment means 103 that can be operated autonomously is associated with the sensor 78 and is also arranged in the carriage 61, this adjustment means 103 being configured, for example, as a pneumatic working cylinder, the sensor 78 being preferably arranged at one end of a piston rod 104 that can be displaced by the adjustment means 103, the piston rod 104 being able to be disposed between two guide rods 106 that serve as protection against rotation. The sensor 78 acquires, depending on a drive of the adjustment means 103, alternatively two different operating positions defined in a fixed manner, assuming one of the operating positions when the adjustment means 103 is activated, that is, it is requested with compressed air, and the other operating position is acquired when the adjustment means 103 is deactivated, for example, it is not requested with compressed air, that is, it is connected without pressure. Figure 48 shows the sensor 78 in the operating position in which the adjustment means 103 is deactivated, while Figure 49 shows the sensor 78 in the operating position in which the adjustment means 103 is activated and, thereby, the piston rod 104 is deployed from the work cylinder. The two operating positions differ in the corresponding distance of the sensor 78 in the activated or deactivated state of the adjustment means 103 to the suspension leg released from the channel 27 at the rear end 23 of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the Rotogravure cylinder 02. Now, a control concept performed by the control unit and active during the withdrawal process may provide that the roller adjusting device 101 is activated first, so that, in case of a correct withdrawal process that is to say, a smooth development of the withdrawal process, the roller 101 associated with the sensor 78 is first placed in the suspension leg released from the channel 27 at the rear end 23 of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the gravure cylinder 02, after which the adjustment means 103 associated with this sensor 78 is activated, this adjustment means 103 modifying the position of the sensor 78 and, thereby, displaying it as or maximum as long as roller 101 has been deployed by its adjustment device. Thus, the roller 101 and the sensor 78 are either at the same height or the sensor 78 remains slightly behind the roller 101. Therefore, a stroke of the sensor 78 is in each case less than or equal to the current stroke. of the roller 101. Once the sensor 78 has performed its above-described check, it is preferably retracted again by its adjustment means 103, that is, it is brought to its deactivated operating position. Therefore, the roller 101 and the sensor 78 can be placed individually and independently from each other remotely controlled by the control unit relatively relative to the printing mold 16 to be removed.

Once the authorization signal is presented, the gravure cylinder 02 is rotated, against its production direction P, practically a complete turn, for example, between 300 ° and approximately 355 °, so that the printing mold 16 which This gravure cylinder 02 has to be removed from the coating surface 02, with its rear end 23 loose from the gravure cylinder 02 in front, it is first driven against a guiding element 102 and then, along it, progressively withdraws from this intaglio cylinder 02, this guiding element 102 being preferably connected to the feeding device 09 (figure 42). The guiding element 102 is connected, in particular, with the support 76 of the feeding device 09 in which the printing mold 16 is placed or removed from the gravure device.

02. During this withdrawal process, the printing mold 16 to be removed from the intaglio cylinder 02 is supported by the roller 101 deployed in its lifting movement, the adjustment device of this roller 101 having reduced its stroke at this time preferably to a partial career. This partial stroke is preferably still so large that a tangent G placed at the pressure point D of the compression element 32 of the roller strip 31 placed against the coating surface of this intaglio cylinder 02 protrudes at least by sections of the roller 101 ( figure 41). The partial stroke is, for example, in the range between 10% and 50% of the total stroke, that is, in the range between 5 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 15 mm and 25 mm below the first stroke of the roller 101, referred to its lowest or retracted rest position, the roller 101 presenting, during its first stroke, the separation i of the coating surface of the rotogravure cylinder 02 (Figure 40). The support of the printing mold 16 during the aforementioned partial stroke of the roller 101 causes a bulge oriented against the gravity force of this printing mold 16 to be removed from the gravure cylinder 02 along its length. The printing mold 16 to be removed from the intaglio cylinder 02 is therefore pressed by the at least one roller 101 parallel to its width B. During this removal process, the at least one compression element 32 of the Roller strip 31 is positioned against the coating surface of the rotogravure cylinder 02, whereby the printing mold 16 is retained on the coating surface of the rotogravure cylinder 02 while still a part of this printing mold 16 is in the coating surface of the rotogravure cylinder 02. At the end of the rotation that the printing mold 16 removes, the rotogravure cylinder 02 acquires, with the at least one opening 28 preferably formed in the form of a groove in its coating surface, a second angular position in which the front end 24, seen in the production direction P and still retained in the channel 27, of the printing mold 16 to be removed Rising from the intaglio cylinder 02 is located a sector, in the production direction P of the intaglio cylinder 02, after a pressure point D of the at least one compression element 32 of the roller strip 31 against the coating surface of this intaglio cylinder 02, this sector covering an angle of rotation of the cylinder of

intaglio 02, for example, in the range between 2º and 30º, preferably between 5º and 15º.

Similarly to the particularities of the lower printing mechanism, in the upper printing mechanism there is also provided an extraction device 84 preferably connected to the frame 08 of the printing unit 01, which in this case has a pickup device 89 , which, for a rear end 23 of a printing mold 16 removed from the gravure cylinder 02, also has a first guiding element 91 and a second guiding element 92, the two guiding elements 91 being arranged again; 92 mainly in the form of a funnel with respect to each other and, in particular, so that the rear end 23 of the printing mold 16 removed from the gravure cylinder 02 is inserted into the funnel formed by the two guiding elements 91; 92 and, thereby, the pickup device 89 is fed (Figure 43). For further details of the extraction device 84 provided in the upper printing mechanism, refer to Figures 30 and 31 to be conveniently applied. Figure 44 shows a perspective view of the extraction device 84 disposed in the upper printing mechanism.

As already described, the printing mold 16 to be removed from the intaglio cylinder 02 is removed domed. The printing mold 16 to be removed from the rotogravure cylinder 02 carried by the rotation of the rotogravure cylinder 02 in the direction of the extraction device 84 is retained or briefly held in its movement no later than the instant in which the channel 27 which retains the suspension leg at the front end 24 of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the gravure cylinder 02 moves, as the rotational movement of the gravure cylinder 02 continues, from the second angular position of the gravure cylinder 02, against its production direction P, at the pressure point P of the at least one compression element 32 of the roller strip 31. Also the braking device or retention device acting here has a seal 81 that can be moved by a controllable drive 79 and a bearing 82, preferably stationary, against which bearing 82 of the seal 81 can be placed by an activation drive ion 79 (figures 34; 42). In the preferred embodiment, the seal 81 of the braking device or retention device and its actuation 79 are fixedly arranged in the carriage 61 of the transport device 62. Therefore, the braking device or retention device is activated by the control unit so that the suspension leg at the front end 24 of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the molding device 02 is released from the channel 27 and this suspension leg, as the rotational movement of the gravure cylinder 02 continues , press out of the opening 28 of this channel 27 (figure 45). At this time, the at least one compression element 32 of the roller strip 31 is removed from the control unit of the coating surface of the gravure cylinder 02. Once also the suspension leg at the front end 24 of the mold of print 16 to be removed from the gravure cylinder 02 has been released from the channel 27, the braking device or retention device controlled by the control unit is deactivated again by lowering the seal 81, so that also the leg of Suspension offset at the front end 24 of the print mold 16 to be removed from the intaglio cylinder 02 is conducted unimpeded through the feeding device 09 in a direction of movement away from the intaglio cylinder 02.

Figure 46 shows a detail of a superior printing mechanism in a printing unit 01, the device being arranged on the control side of this printing unit 01, by means of a retainer 86 in the frame 08 of this printing unit 01, the device extraction 84 that acts in conjunction with the feeding device 09 provided in this printing mechanism. The extraction device 84 has an essentially vertical oriented arm 87, in which the pickup device 89 is movably arranged. In its operative position acquired at the lower end of the arm 87, the pickup device 89 grips the leg of suspension offset at the rear end 23 of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the rotogravure cylinder 02, for example, by means of a trailed connection (figure 43). The printing mold 16, which is to be removed from the rotogravure cylinder 02 and has also been released from the rotogravure cylinder 02 with its suspension leg at the front end 24 (Figure 45), is removed, controlled by the control unit that it controls the withdrawal process, by means of a travel path, for example, a lifting movement, performed by the pickup device 89, for example, totally from the feeding device 09 arranged in the upper printing mechanism. At least once the pickup device 89 has reached its operative position at the upper end of the arm 87, the printing mold 16 to be removed from the gravure cylinder 02 hangs with its suspension leg offset at the front end 24 oriented vertically downwards and, preferably, with a free suspension on the operating side of this printing unit 01, and can now be removed from this printing unit 01, for example, by a side extraction of the pickup device 89.

Figure 47 shows, again in a perspective view, the operational situation explained in relation to Figure 46. The pickup device 89 is placed in its operative position at the upper end of the arm 87. The pullout device 84, especially , its capture device 89, has, in parallel to the width B of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the gravure cylinder 02, a width x which is preferably much smaller than the width B of the printing mold 16 and, by For example, it only amounts to between 20% and 50%, especially about 25% of the width B of the printing mold 16.

As described above, at least in the upper printing mechanism there is provided a device for removing a printing mold 16 from a gravure cylinder 02 arranged in a frame 08 of a printing unit 01, this device having a carriage 61 which can move along a travel path f from a position close to the gravure cylinder 02 towards a position away from the gravure cylinder 02, being arranged in the carriage 61, in the axial direction of the gravure cylinder 02, several rollers 101, being placed or, at least, being able to place these rollers 101, actuated by a controllable adjustment device, on a positioning surface of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the gravure cylinder 02, the rollers 101 being arranged, in their operating state placed against the positioning surface of this printing mold 16, the printing mold 16 c ontra the force of gravity. In the preferred configuration of this device, at least one seal 81 and a drive 79 controlling this seal 81 are arranged on or in the carriage 61, in addition to the rollers 101, this at least one seal 81 being arranged on the surface of placing the printing mold 16 to be removed from the rotogravure cylinder 02 and is still partially retained in the rotogravure cylinder 02, so that it exerts a weight force, that is, a pressure force. By means of the seal force exerted by the at least one seal 81 on the printing mold 16 to be removed from the rotogravure cylinder 02 and is still partially retained in the rotogravure cylinder 02 or else the movement of the printing mold 16 is stopped which must be removed from the intaglio cylinder 02 or even completely blocked for at least a short time. In this sense, the seal force exerted by the at least one seal 81 on the printing mold 16 to be removed from the gravure cylinder 02 can be adjusted by means of a control of the drive 79, for example, to different values. The carriage 61 is placed on its front sides, directed in each case to one of the two side walls of the frame 08 of the printing unit 01, in a linear unit. The rollers 101 can be displaced by the controllable control device preferably perpendicular to the travel path f of the carriage 61. As shown in the drawing, the travel path f of the carriage 61 is inclined, for example, with respect to a horizontal, placing an angle of inclination in the interval between 15º and 60º. Preferably, at the beginning of the withdrawal process, the rollers 101 are deployed, in particular, totally by their device for adjusting the position of the carriage 61 near the gravure cylinder 02, in relation to the travel path f, so that the leg of suspension released from a channel 27 of the gravure cylinder 02, at the rear end 23 of the print mold 16 to be removed from this gravure cylinder 02, as a consequence of the elasticity of this print mold 16 placed domed on the cylinder gravure 02, jump against the unfolded rollers 101 and thereby retain it in a controlled manner in a position that can be fed to the lower support 76. Then, when the rollers 101 acquire their operational state which is supported by the printing mold 16 to be removed from the rotogravure cylinder 02, that is, during the completion of the withdrawal process, while the carriage 61 travels along their travel path f from their position close to the gravure cylinder 02 towards their position away from the gravure cylinder 02, these rollers 101 adjust to a partial stroke, the partial stroke being, for example, between 10% and 50% less than the stroke of the rollers 101 fully deployed. In this case, the partial stroke of the rollers 101 is specially adjusted so that the rollers 101, with their support of the printing mold 16 to be removed from the rotogravure cylinder 02, cause them to bulge against the force of gravity.

In this configuration of the device for removing a printing mold 16 from a gravure cylinder 02 disposed in a frame 08 of a printing unit 01, all the drives, adjustment devices and sensors necessary for the withdrawal process are preferably arranged so individual in the carriage 61 of the transport device 62. This leads to a compact and simplified structural form of this device and makes, in the harsh environment of a printing mechanism of a printing unit 01, less prone to breakdowns. The same transport device 62 and the same carriage 61 are preferably used for the placement and removal process, but also different components of this carriage 61.

List of reference numbers

01 Print unit

02 Rotogravure cylinder; printing mechanism cylinder

03 Transfer cylinder; printing mechanism cylinder

04 Print material

05 -

06 Inking mechanism

07 Wetting mechanism

08 Frame

09 Power device

10 -

11 Investment Cylinder

12 Investment Cylinder

13 Foundation 14 Plane 15 - 16 Print mold 17 Plane 18 Plane 19 - 20 - 21 Transport device 22 Slide 23 Rear end of a print mold 24 Front end of a print mold 25 - 26 Transport device 27 Channel 28 Opening 29 - 30 - 31 Roller strip 32 Compression element 33 Adjustment means 34 Guide element 35 - 36 Compression element 37 Adjustment means 38 Stirrup 39 Rubber ring 40 - 41 Rod 42 Guide element 43 Shaft 44 Shaft 44 Housing 45 - 46 Protection strip; finger protection strip 47 Guide element 48 Adjustment means 49 Piston rod 50 - 51 Connecting element 52 Retaining element 53 Stopper 54 Connection element 55 - 56 Opening 57 Protection strip 58 Opening 59 - 60 - 61 Carriage 62 Transport device 63 Support 64 Suspension edge 65 - 66 Slot 67 Fixed stop 68 Holding device 69 Drive 70 - 71 Tree 72 Suction grip element 73 Drive 74 Separator 75 -

76 Support 77 Opening mouth 78 Sensor 79 Drive 80 - 81 Seal 82 Bearing 83 Surface 84 Extraction device 85 - 86 Retainer 87 Arm 88 Linear unit 89 Pickup device 90 - 91 Guiding element 92 Guiding element 93 Shaft 94 Hook 95 - 96 Notch 97 Stop 98 Side stop 99 Drive 100 - 101 Roller 102 Guide element 103 Adjustment means 104 Piston rod 105 - 106 Guide rod

A Contact point B Width D Pressure point E1 Plane E2 Plane G Tangent M Rotation axis P Production direction P1 Position P2 Position T Transport direction

a Separation b Separation c Separation d Separation e Separation f Travel path g Length h Height i Separation j Separation k Separation p Gap width q Gap width s Adjustment path vmin Minimum measurement vmax Maximum measurement w Free width x Width

Y

Transport length

z a

Adjustment travel Bending angle Turn angle

5

Claims (11)

1. Feeding device (09) for feeding a printing mold (16), which has at least at its anterior end (24) in the direction of production (P) a seated suspension leg, to a gravure cylinder (02 ) of a printing unit (01), with a flat support (63) in which the printing mold (16) to be fed to the gravure cylinder (02) is placed or at least placed, presenting the support ( 63), on its side directed to the rotogravure cylinder (02), a edge (64) extending in the axial direction of the rotogravure cylinder (02), at least one retaining device (68) being retained that holds the mold of printing (16) to be fed to the gravure cylinder (02), retaining or at least being able to retain with the at least one retention device (68) in this edge (64) the at least one printing mold (16) placed in the edge (64) of the support (63), characterized in that the edge (64) is confi gured as a suspension edge (64) in which it can be suspended, with its suspended leg set at the end (24) above, the printing mold (16) to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder (02), the support (63) presenting, in an area directed to the rotogravure cylinder (02), a groove (66) that is extends in the axial direction of the rotogravure cylinder (02) at least by a width (B) of the printing mold (16) to be fed to the rotogravure cylinder (02), the edge of which is (66) being configured in this groove (66) suspension (64), the at least one retention device (68) being arranged so that it acts on the suspension edge (64) of the support (63), the at least one retention device (68) being configured as a part clamping fixedly together with a shaft (71), and the clamping piece can be rotated by means of a turning movement of the shaft (71) from a position that releases the slit (66) to a position that retains the mold suspension leg printing (16) placed in the suspension edge (64) of the support ( 63).

2.

Feeding device (09) according to claim 1, characterized in that the offset leg of the printing mold (16) to be fed to the gravure cylinder (02) is placed or at least can be placed in the suspension edge (64 ) in diagonal register in relation to the gravure cylinder (02).

3.

Feeding device (09) according to claim 1, characterized in that the retention of the printing mold (16) placed in the suspension edge (64) of the support (63) can be operated remotely.

Four.

Feeding device (09) according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (63) is sized shorter than a length extending in the production direction (P) of the printing mold

(16) to be fed to the gravure cylinder (02).

5.

Feeding device (09) according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (63) is arranged inclined with respect to a horizontal angle of inclination that is in a range between 15 ° and 60 °.

6.

Feeding device (09) according to claim 1, characterized in that the slit (66) has, at one of its front ends, a fixed stop (67) for alignment in lateral registration of the printing mold (16) to be fed to the gravure cylinder (02).

7.

Feeding device (09) according to claim 1, characterized in that the turning movement of the shaft (71) is controlled by a control unit.

8.

Feeding device (09) according to claim 1, characterized in that several retention devices (68) are arranged next to each other with a separation (k) from each other in each case in the axial direction of the gravure cylinder (02), these retention devices (68) can be operated together or, alternatively, individually.

9.

Feeding device (09) according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (63) is arranged in a plane (14) tangential to the gravure cylinder (02).

10.

Feeding device (09) according to claim 9, characterized in that the groove (66) of the support (63) is arranged in the plane (14) tangential to the gravure cylinder (02).

eleven.

Feeding device (09) according to claim 1, characterized in that with the at least one retention element (68) the printing mold (16) placed in the suspension edge (64) of the support (at least) can be retained or retained. 63) in this suspension edge (64) in a trailed joint.