ES2398833B1 - APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF A LAMINATED PRINTED PRODUCT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method that includes the steps of unwinding a transparent substrate (A) from a first reel (2) using a first unwinding device (1), printing a series of inks onto said transparent substrate (A) using a rotary printing press (3) having a print drum (4) and a plurality of printing units (5.1-5.8), applying an adhesive onto the printed surface of the transparent substrate (A) using an adhesive applicator downstream from the printing unit (5.7, 5.8) of the rotary printing press (3) that applies the final colour, unwinding a secondary sheet (B) from a second reel (7) using a second unwinding device (6), laminating said secondary sheet (B) onto the printed surface of the transparent substrate (A) using a pair of rollers (9, 10) of a laminating device (8) so as to produce a laminated printed product (C), and winding the laminated printed product (C) onto a third reel (11) using a winding device (12).

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF A PRINTED PRODUCT

LAMINATE

Technical field

5

The present invention generally concerns an apparatus and a method for the

manufacture of a laminated printed product, and more particularly to an apparatus for

manufacture of a laminated printed product including a rotary printer and a

laminating device, and to a method that can be implemented by said apparatus.

1O

Background of the invention

Devices for the graphic arts are known in the technical field of graphic arts

manufacturing a laminated printed product using a technique called printing

reverse, consisting of printing using a rotary printer several colors on

one side of a transparent substrate, apply an adhesive using a device

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adhesive applicator on one side of a secondary sheet, and laminate said sheet

secondary on the printed side of the transparent substrate by means of a device

laminator to form the laminated printed product, so that in it the various

Printed colors are visible through the transparent substrate. If considered

convenient, the last color printed on the substrate by the rotary printer is a

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continuous layer of ink of a background color, for example white.

A drawback of said reverse technique is the need to provide the

mentioned adhesive applicator device in addition to the rotary printer, which

It implies a higher manufacturing cost of the device.

It is also well known, for example by documents EP 1480819 A and EP

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1932669 A, use in rotary printers inks curable by electron beam or by

ultraviolet rays, which can be applied wet on wet and cured

all at the same time radiating the printed substrate by electron beam or rays

ultraviolet.

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Exhibition of the invention

According to a first aspect, the present invention contributes to mitigate the

previous and other inconveniences contributing an apparatus for the manufacture of a product

laminated form, comprising a first unwinding device that unwinds

a transparent substrate from a first coil, a rotary printer provided with

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at least one printing drum and a plurality of printing units that

successively print inks of different colors on said transparent substrate,

a second unwinding device that unwinds a secondary sheet from a

second coil, a laminating device provided with at least one pair of rollers

which laminate said secondary sheet on the printed face of said substrate

transparent to form a laminated printed product, an applicator device of

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adhesive configured to apply an adhesive between the transparent substrate and the sheet

secondary before passing through said laminating device, and a winding device

which reels said printed product laminated in a third reel.

The apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that said device

Adhesive applicator is set to apply the adhesive on the printed face

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of the transparent substrate downstream of the printer's printing unit

Rotary that applies the last color.

The rotary printer can be, for example, a flexographic printer of

central printing drum, in which the different printing units are

arranged around a central printing drum, a flexographic printer in

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line, in which the different printing units are arranged online and where

each of them has its own print drum, a flexographic printer

stacked, in which the different printing units are stacked on top of each other and

where each of them has its own particular print drum, or even a

printer combined with offset printing units and printing units

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flexographic, such as that described in patent ES 2319952 A.

In one embodiment, said printing unit that applies the last color is the

penultimate printing unit of the rotary printer and said applicator device of

Adhesive is the last printing unit of the rotary printer, so that it

omits the need for a specific adhesive applicator device to apply

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adhesive on the secondary sheet, resulting in a simpler device and a

lower manufacturing cost.

In another embodiment, said printer's last printing unit

Rotary may be set to apply a continuous layer of ink with

adhesive properties or a continuous layer of pigmented adhesive, which allows

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dispense with the last continuous layer of background color ink. However, in another

variant, the last printing unit of the rotary printer is set to

apply a continuous layer of transparent adhesive over an applied ink layer

by the penultimate printing unit, in which case this penultimate printing unit

it can be configured for example to apply the continuous layer of color ink of

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background.

In yet another embodiment, the adhesive applicator device is an applicator.

of adhesive located downstream of the last printer unit of the printer

rotary and is configured to apply a continuous layer of transparent adhesive

on a layer of ink applied by the last printing unit of the machine

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printer, in which case this last printing unit can be configured to

apply, for example, both a continuous and discontinuous layer of color ink of

background.

The adhesive applicator is especially advantageous when the printer

Rotary has a central printing drum and adhesive applicator is arranged

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to apply the adhesive on the substrate resting on the printing drum

central, since this allows to dispense with a specific counterpressure drum

for the adhesive applicator device.

Preferably, the printing units of the rotary printer are

configured to apply inks curable by electron beam and the applicator of

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adhesive is set to apply an electron-curable adhesive, or the

last printing unit of the rotary printer is configured to apply a

continuous layer of ink with adhesive properties curable by electron beam or

a continuous layer of pigmented curable adhesive by electron beam. In that case,

The apparatus comprises a curing device including a lightning emitter of

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electrons arranged to radiate the laminated printed product downstream of the

laminating device and upstream of the winding device.

Alternatively, the printing units of the rotary printer are

configured to apply UV curable inks and the applicator of

Adhesive is configured to apply an ultraviolet curable adhesive, or the

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last printing unit of the rotary printer is configured to apply a

continuous ink layer with UV curable adhesive properties or a

continuous layer of UV-curable pigmented adhesive, in which case the

apparatus comprises a curing device including an ultraviolet emitter

arranged to irradiate the laminated printed product downstream of said

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laminating device and upstream of said winding device.

In another possible alternative embodiment, the printing units of the

Rotary printer are configured to apply UV curable inks

and the adhesive applicator is configured to apply a lightning curable adhesive

of electrons, or the last printing unit of the rotary printer is set

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to apply a continuous layer of ink with light curing adhesive properties

of electrons or a continuous layer of pigment curable lightning adhesive

electrons, in which case the apparatus comprises intermediate curing devices

including ultraviolet emitters arranged downstream of each unit of

printing, and a curing device that includes an electron beam emitter

arranged to irradiate the laminated printed product downstream of the device

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laminator and upstream of the winding device.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a method

for the manufacture of a laminated printed product, comprising the steps

following. On the one hand, unwind a transparent substrate from a first coil

using a first unwinder device, and successively print inks of

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different colors on said transparent substrate by means of a rotary printer

provided with at least one printing drum and a plurality of units of

Print. On the other hand, unwind a secondary sheet from a second coil

by means of a second unwinding device, and laminating said secondary sheet

on the printed face of said transparent substrate by means of a laminating device

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provided with at least one pair of rollers to form a laminated printed product,

having applied an adhesive between the transparent substrate and the sheet

secondary by means of an adhesive applicator device before going through said

laminating device Finally, winding said printed product laminated in a

third coil by means of a winding device.

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The method of the present invention is characterized in that said step of

applying an adhesive comprises applying the adhesive on the printed side of the substrate

transparent by said adhesive applicator device downstream of the

printing unit of the rotary printer that applies the last color.

In one embodiment, the method comprises using said last unit of

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Rotary printer printing to apply a continuous layer of ink with

adhesive properties or a continuous layer of pigmented adhesive on the last

color applied by the penultimate printing unit of the rotary printer.

In another embodiment, the method comprises using said last unit of

Rotary printer printing to apply a continuous layer of adhesive

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transparent on a continuous layer of ink applied by the penultimate unit of

Print.

In yet another embodiment, the method comprises applying a continuous layer of

transparent adhesive on a continuous layer of ink applied by the last unit of

printing using an adhesive applicator located downstream of the last

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printing unit of the rotary printer.

In any of its embodiments, the method comprises using inks and

an adhesive curable by electron beam and curing said inks and radiating adhesive

said printed product laminated with electron beam. Alternatively, the method

It includes using UV-curable inks and adhesive and curing

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said inks and adhesive radiating said printed product laminated with rays

ultraviolet. Another alternative includes using light-curable inks

ultraviolet and an electron-curable adhesive, in which case the inks are

cured with ultraviolet rays right after being printed by each unit

of printing, and the adhesive is cured by irradiating the printed product laminated with lightning

1O

of electrons

Brief description of the drawings

The above and other features and advantages will be understood more

fully from the following detailed description of some examples of

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realization with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of an apparatus for manufacturing

a printed laminated product in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Y

Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of an apparatus for manufacturing

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a laminated printed product in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Exhibition of the invention

Referring firstly to Fig. 1, the apparatus according to a first

embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention comprises a first device

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unwinder 1 configured to unwind a transparent substrate A from a

first coil 2. The said transparent substrate A is passed through a

rotary printer 3 provided with a central printing drum 4 around which

eight 5.1-5.8 printing units are arranged that print successively

inks of different colors on said transparent substrate A supported on the

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print drum 4 while it rotates.

The apparatus further comprises a second unwinding device 6

configured to unwind a secondary sheet B from a second coil 7, and

a laminating device 8 provided with at least one pair of rollers 9, 1O. He

transparent substrate A previously printed and said secondary sheet B are

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passed by the tightening of said pair of rollers 9, 1O of the laminating device 8 with

the printed face of the transparent substrate A facing said secondary sheet B,

so that the laminating device 8 laminates the secondary sheet B on the face

printed from the transparent substrate A to form a laminated printed product C, the

which is wound in a third coil 11 by a winding device 12.

Downstream of the laminating device 8 and upstream of said device

5

winding 12 is arranged a curing device 13 that includes a lightning emitter

of electrons 14.

According to a first embodiment of the apparatus of Fig. 1, the printing unit

which applies the last color is the penultimate printing unit 5. 7 of the printer

rotary 3 and the last printing unit 5.8 of rotary printer 3 is configured

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to apply a continuous layer of ink with adhesive properties or a layer

Continuous pigmented adhesive on the ink layers previously applied to the

transparent substrate A for the remaining printing units 5.1-5.7. So said

continuous layer of ink with adhesive properties or said continuous layer of adhesive

pigmented forms a continuous layer of a background color over the remaining colors and

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at the same time it acts as an adhesive disposed between the transparent substrate A and the

secondary sheet B before passing through said laminating device 8.

In this first embodiment, since the continuous background color layer and the

Adhesive are applied by the last printing unit 5.8, the rotary printer 3

You can use the remaining seven 5.1-5 print units. 7 to print a design

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in seven colors

According to a second embodiment of the apparatus of Fig. 1, the last unit of

Print 5.8 of rotary printer 3 is set to apply a layer

Continuous transparent adhesive on the previously printed inks on the

transparent substrate A by the printing units 5.1-5. 7 precedents.

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Preferably, the penultimate printing unit 5. 7 is configured to apply a

continuous layer of ink of a background color, and the adhesive is applied on this layer

of ink applied by the penultimate printing unit 5.7.

In this second embodiment, since the continuous background color layer is

applied by the penultimate printing unit 5. 7 and the adhesive is applied by the

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last printing unit 5.8, rotary printer 3 can use the remaining six

5.1-5.6 printing units to print a design in six colors.

Fig. 2 shows a third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the

which is in all identical to the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, except that here the

apparatus includes an adhesive applicator 15 located downstream of the last unit

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Print 5.8 of the rotary printer 3. This adhesive applicator set

to apply a continuous layer of transparent adhesive on the inks

previously printed on the transparent substrate A by the printing units

5.1-5.8 of rotary printer 3, and consequently on a layer of ink applied

by the last printing unit 5.8. Preferably, this last printing unit

5.8 of rotary printer 3 is configured to apply a continuous layer of ink

5

background color

In this third embodiment, since the continuous background color layer is

applied by the last printing unit 5.8 and the adhesive is applied by the applicator

of adhesive 15, the rotary printer 3 can use the remaining seven units of

printing 5.1-5. 7 to print a design in seven colors.

1 o

In the corresponding embodiments, the printing units 5.1-5. 7 (Fig. 1)

or 51.5-8 (Fig. 2) of the rotary printer 3 are configured to print wet

on wet curable printing inks by electron beam and the last unit of

Print 5.8 (Fig. 1) is configured to apply ink with adhesive properties or

Pigmented adhesive curable by electron beam or adhesive applicator 15

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(Fig. 2) is configured to apply transparent adhesive curable by lightning

electrons on wet printing inks, so that the inks of

printing and ink with adhesive properties or pigmented adhesive or the

transparent adhesive are cured all at once downstream of the device

laminator 8 when the laminated printed product e passes through the aforementioned

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curing device 13.

Alternatively, in the corresponding embodiments, the units of

print 5.1-5.8 (Fig. 1) or 5.1-5. 7 (Fig. 2) of the rotary printer 3 are configured

for printing UV-curable printing inks and the latest unit of

Print 5.8 (Fig. 1) is configured to apply ink with adhesive properties or

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Pigmented adhesive curable by electron beam or adhesive applicator 15

(Fig. 2) is configured to apply transparent adhesive curable by lightning

electrons In this case, the different freshly printed inks are cured by some

respective conventional curing devices (not shown) that radiate rays

ultraviolet on the transparent substrate A downstream of each unit of

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5.1-5.8 printing, so that each print ticket is printed on an ink already

Cured, and ink with adhesive properties or pigmented adhesive or adhesive

it is applied on already cured printing inks and is cured downstream of the

laminating device 8 when the laminated printed product e passes through the

said curing device 13, which in this case includes a lightning emitter of

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electrons

A third alternative is also within the scope of the present invention.

according to which, in the corresponding embodiments, the printing units 5.1-5.8

(Fig. 1) or 5.1-5. 7 (Fig. 2) of rotary printer 3 are configured to print

UV-curable printing inks and the latest printing unit 5.8

5

(Fig. 1) is configured to apply ink with adhesive or adhesive properties

UV-curable pigmented or adhesive applicator 15 (Fig. 2) is

configured to apply transparent adhesive curable by ultraviolet rays. In that

case, the different freshly printed inks are cured by respective

curing devices (not shown) that radiate ultraviolet rays on the substrate

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transparent A downstream of each 5.1-5.8 printing unit and the adhesive is

curing downstream of the laminating device 8 when the laminated printed product

C passes through said curing device 13, which in this case includes

an emitter of ultraviolet rays.

It will be noted that, unlike prior art apparatuses, all three

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embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention described above have in

common that include an adhesive applicator device, which in the first two

embodiments is the last printing unit 5.8 of rotary machine 3 and in the

third embodiment is the adhesive applicator 15, arranged to apply the adhesive

on the printed side of the transparent substrate A downstream of the unit

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Print 5.7, 5.8 of the rotary printer 3 that applies the last color.

It will also be noted that in all three embodiments of the apparatus herein

invention described above the adhesive applicator device is arranged to

apply the adhesive on the transparent substrate A resting on the drum of

print 4 while it rotates, although alternatively the adhesive applicator 15 of

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the third embodiment could apply the adhesive on the transparent substrate A

supported on a particular counterpressure drum (not shown) different from

central print drum 4.

Although the apparatus of the present invention has been described by three

embodiments that include a rotary printer 3 provided with a print drum

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4 central, it is also within the present invention that the apparatus includes a

online rotary printer or a stacked rotary printer, in which each unit of

Print has a particular print drum.

Modifications, variations and variations will occur to one skilled in the art.

combinations from the examples of embodiment shown and described without leaving

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of the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims

attached.

Claims (18)

1.-Apparatus for manufacturing a printed laminated product, which

5

understands:

a first unwinding device (1) that unwinds a transparent substrate

(A) from a first coil (2);

a rotary printer (3) provided with at least one printing drum (4) and

a plurality of printing units (5.1-5.8) that successively print inks

1O

on said transparent substrate (A);

a second unwinding device (6) that unwinds a secondary sheet

(8) from a second coil (7);

a laminating device (8) provided with at least one pair of rollers (9, 1 O)

which laminate said secondary sheet (8) on the printed face of said substrate

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transparent (A) to form a laminated printed product (C);

an adhesive applicator device configured to apply an adhesive between

the transparent substrate (A) and the secondary sheet (8) before passing through said

laminating device (8); Y

a winding device (12) that reels said laminated printed product (C)

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in a third coil (11),

characterized in that said adhesive applicator device is configured

to apply the adhesive on the printed face of the current transparent substrate (A)

below the printing unit (5.7, 5.8) of the rotary printer (3) that applies the

last color

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2.-Apparatus for manufacturing a printed laminated product according to the

claim 1, characterized in that said printing unit applying the latter

color is the penultimate printing unit (5. 7) of the rotary printer (3) and said

Adhesive applicator device is the last printing unit (5.8) of the printer

rotary (3).

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3.-Apparatus for manufacturing a printed laminated product according to the

claim 2, characterized in that said last printing unit (5.8) of the

Rotary printer (3) is configured to apply a continuous layer of ink with

Adhesive properties or a continuous layer of pigmented adhesive.

4.-Apparatus for manufacturing a printed laminated product according to the

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claim 2, characterized in that said last printing unit (5.8) of the

rotary printer (3) is configured to apply a continuous layer of adhesive

transparent on a layer of ink applied by the penultimate printing unit

(5.7).

5.-Apparatus for manufacturing a printed laminated product according to the

claim 1, characterized in that said adhesive applicator device is a

5

adhesive applicator (15) located downstream of the last printing unit

(5.8) of the rotary printer (3) and is configured to apply a continuous layer of

transparent adhesive on a layer of ink applied by the last unit of

print (5.8).

6.-Apparatus for manufacturing a printed laminated product according to a

1 o

any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the units of

Printing (5.1-5. 7, 5.1-5.8) of the rotary printer (3) are configured to apply

Inks curable by electron beam.

7.-Apparatus for manufacturing a printed laminated product according to a

any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the units of

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Printing (5.1-5. 7, 5.1-5.8) of the rotary printer (3) are configured to apply

UV curable inks.

8.-Apparatus for manufacturing a printed laminated product according to the

claim 7, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a curing device

ultraviolet emitter ready to cure freshly printed ink downstream of

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each printing unit (5.1-5.7, 5.1-5.8).

9.-Apparatus for manufacturing a printed laminated product according to the

claim 6 or 8, characterized in that said last printing unit (5.8) of the

Rotary printer (3) is configured to apply a continuous layer of ink with

properties of electron-ray curable adhesive or a continuous layer of

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Pigmented adhesive curable by electron beam.

10.-Apparatus for manufacturing a printed laminated product according to the

claim 6 or 8, characterized in that said adhesive applicator (15) is

configured to apply an electron-curable adhesive.

11.-Apparatus for manufacturing a printed laminated product according to the

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claim 9 or 1O, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a device for

curing (13) including an electron beam emitter (14) arranged downstream

of said rolling device (8) and upstream of said winding device (12).

12.-Apparatus for manufacturing a printed laminated product according to the

claim 8, characterized in that said last printing unit (5.8) of the

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Rotary printer (3) is configured to apply a continuous layer of ink with

Properties of UV-curable adhesive or a continuous layer of UV-curable pigmented adhesive. 13. Apparatus for manufacturing a laminated printed product according to claim 8, characterized in that said adhesive applicator (15) is configured to apply an ultraviolet curable adhesive. 14. Apparatus for manufacturing a laminated printed product according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a curing device including an ultraviolet emitter arranged downstream of said laminating device (8) and upstream of said device tape drive (12). 15.-Method for the manufacture of a printed laminated product, comprising the steps of: unwinding a transparent substrate (A) from a first coil (2) by a first unwinding device (1); successively printing inks on said transparent substrate (A) by means of a rotary printer (3) provided with at least one printing drum (4) and a plurality of printing units (5.1-5.8); unwind a secondary sheet (B) from a second coil (7) by a second unwinding device (6); laminating said secondary sheet (B) on the printed face of said transparent substrate (A) by means of a laminating device (8) provided with at least one pair of rollers (9, 1O) to form a laminated printed product (C); applying an adhesive between the transparent substrate (A) and the secondary sheet (B) by means of an adhesive applicator device before passing through said laminating device (8); Y winding said laminated printed product (C) in a third reel (11) by means of a winding device (12), characterized in that said step of applying an adhesive comprises applying the adhesive on the printed side of the transparent substrate (A) by means of said adhesive applicator device downstream of the printing unit (5.7, 5.8) of the rotary printer (3) which applies the last color 16. Method for manufacturing a laminated printed product according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises using said last printing unit (5.8) of the rotary printer (3) to apply a continuous layer of ink with adhesive properties or a layer Continuous pigmented adhesive on the last color applied by the penultimate printing unit (5. 7) of the rotary printer (3).

17.-Method for manufacturing a laminated printed product according to the

claim 15, characterized in that it comprises using said last unit of

printing (5.8) of the rotary printer (3) to apply a continuous layer of adhesive

transparent on a layer of ink applied by the penultimate printing unit

5

(5.7).

18.-Method for manufacturing a laminated printed product according to the

claim 15, characterized in that it comprises applying a continuous layer of

transparent adhesive on a layer of ink applied by the last unit of

printing (5.8) by means of an adhesive applicator (15) located downstream of the

1 o

last printing unit (5.8) of the rotary printer (3).

19.-Method for manufacturing a laminated printed product according to a

any of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that it comprises using

inks and an ink with adhesive properties or a pigmented adhesive or a

transparent adhesive curable by electron beam and curing said inks and ink with

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properties of pigmented adhesive or adhesive or transparent adhesive radiating

said laminated printed product (C) with electron beam.

20.-Method for manufacturing a printed laminated product according to a

any of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that it comprises using

ultraviolet curable inks and an ink with adhesive properties or a

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pigmented adhesive or a transparent adhesive curable by electron beam, and

curing said inks by irradiating said transparent substrate (A) with ultraviolet rays

downstream of each print unit (5.1-5.7, 5.1-5.8) of the rotary printer

(3) and cure said ink with adhesive or pigmented adhesive or adhesive properties

transparent by irradiating said laminated printed product (C) with electron beam.

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21.-Method for manufacturing a laminated printed product according to a

any of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that it comprises using

ultraviolet curable inks and an ink with adhesive properties or a

pigmented adhesive or a transparent adhesive curable by ultraviolet rays, and cure

said inks radiating said transparent substrate (A) with ultraviolet rays

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downstream of each print unit (5.1-5.7, 5.1-5.8) of the rotary printer

(3) and cure said ink with adhesive or pigmented adhesive or adhesive properties

transparent by irradiating said laminated printed product (C) with ultraviolet rays.