GB2107254A

GB2107254A - A roll assembly for treating a flat article such as a web of material

Info

Publication number: GB2107254A
Application number: GB08225835A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mathias Mitter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-09-25
Filing date: 1982-09-10
Publication date: 1983-04-27
Also published as: DE3138176C2; DE3138176A1; GB2107254B

Abstract

A roll (1) serving as an applicator means carries on its peripheral surface a holding means (6) which accommodates a loading weight (7) which can be uniformly distributed as a loading over the working width of the roll. The loading weight preferably comprises rollable and pourable or liquid material. The holding means (6) itself may form the container for receiving the loading weight (7) or may carry such a container. The holding means (6) and/or the container can be removed from the roll. The roll can lie directly against the flat article or the web of material, as a doctor roller, or a screen cylinder, stencil or the like may also be interposed. The roll may also act as a counter-pressure roll in the printing mechanism or may serve directly as a printing roll. The support means may be a counter-pressure beam member, a counter-pressure cylinder but also a printing cylinder. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A roll assembly for treating a flat article such as a web of material This invention relates to a roll assembly for treating a flat article such as a web of material, preferably for a screen printing apparatus or the like, including a roll which can be pressed against a support means for carrying the pressure.

Rolls and roll assemblies of that kind are known per se. Such an arrangement is disclosed in German Utility Model No. 70 44 746, describing and illustrating a roll serving as an applicator means, which is arranged in a U-shaped holding means.

Disposed between a slide member which rest on the applicator roll and the holding means is a pressure cushion which is subjected to a variable pressure.

Applicator means of this kind, which are used in screen printing apparatuses or the like, are frequently used to operate over working widths of about 5 metres. When using a tubular pressure member, the outside peripheral surface of which comprises resilient material, it is not possible to apply a uniform pressure to the roll over large working widths, as however is required if the ink or dye is to be uniformly applied. Such an arrangement cannot be used to produe a uniformly distributed loading over large working widths.

Another disadvantage of such an arrangement is that the sliding member of the roll is guided in a bearing which extends over the entire working width. When corrosive chemicals are used in the treatment or application area, for example ink or dye pastes for screen printing machines, the members which are movable relative to each other corrode over the entire length of the apparatus, and the members cannot satisfactorily slide relative to each other. Therefore, there is no guarantee of providing for uniform pressure of the roll against a plane or line on which the application actions is to be performed.

Another serious disadvantage of the arrangement of a pressure cushion member is that certain pressure must always be provided in the pressure cushion in order to produce a restraining resistance for the applicator roller, which possibly moves up and down, with its guide means, as otherwise the roll with its slide member could be jammed in the outside guide means, so that a pressure is no longer applied thereby The present invention is therefore based on the problem of achieving a uniformly distributed loading, using simple means, for a rotary roll which is to serve as an applicator means, which loading can be relatively easily varied in regard to its intensity and thus also its effect, wherein the weight loading can be variable over its entire length and can be completely removed so that the roll is free.

According to the present invention there is provided a roll assembly for treating a flat article such as a web of material, including a roll, a support means against which the roll can be pressed directly or indirectly for carrying the pressure, holding means supportable on the peripheral surface of the roll and vertically freely guidable at its ends in bearing means, and a load weight for the holding means, which weight can extend or be distributed over the entire width of the roll.

The loading weight used may be pourable sand, pebbles, stones, scrap material or the like, and equally metal powder, mercury and possibly a liquid and the like. The important consideration in this connection is that the loading weight permits uniform distribution. It is advantageous to use balls which readily move uniformly over the entire arrangement, for example being laid close together. In this way, it is possible easily to achieve a uniformly distributed loading over the entire length of the roll. By virtue of the stationary mounting means which is supported on the rotating peripheral surface of the roll, possibly with interposed sliding elements, only simple technical steps are required to guide the holding means and hold it in position, at the ends thereof.

The general construction can therefore be of great simplicity and few manual operations are required either to empty the loading weight from the holding means or fill the holding means with the loading weight, or to dismantle and remove the holding means from the roll.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic end view of a roll assembly of the invention with a roll serving as an applicator means within a screen cylinder, Figure 2 is an end view of a further embodiment of the assembly of the invention with the roll as an applicator means, also within a screen cylinder Figure 3 is an end view of an assembly according to the invention, with the roll within a rotating screen belt, for example a stencil belt, Figure 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention with the roll as an applicator means, also within a screen cylinder, for example a stencil, shown in partial section, Figure 5 is a view of a detail in section taken along line V-V in Figure 4, Figure 6 shows an embodiment with the roll arranged in a screen stencil belt, Figure 7 shows a roll assemblies of the invention with different holding means in a dyeing or printing apparatus, and Figure 8 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention with the roll as an applicator roll within a screen stencil.

In the example of the invention shown in Figure 1, the roll assembly includes a roll 1 which serves as an applicator means and which is arranged within a screen cylinder 2 which can be in the form of a stencil but which can also be a uniformly perforated screen. This assembly can be used to apply a liquid, pasty or foamed application material to a flat article, for example a web of material as shown at 3. The material to be applied may be for example an ink or dye mixture which, when it is introduced in a foamed condition into the wedge-like accumulation 4 of application material, can break up again into its constituents.

In the embodiment illustrated, the feed means 5 comprises an ink or dye pipe which is known per se.

The mounting for the screen cylinder 2 is a construction and the like and is not important in the present connection, so that the general arrangement of the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2 may be for example of the structural configuration as described in German patent specification No. 2 026 492, and the embodiment shown in Figure 3 may be as disclosed in German patent specification No.

2 258 892.

The present invention is concerned with producing a uniformly distributed load over the entire length of the roll 1. For that purpose, the arrangement includes a holding means 6 which is supported on the peripheral surface of the roll 1 and which itself forms a receiving container 60 or which carries such a container as shown in Figure 1. The holding means 6 accommodates any loading weight 7, which is preferably such that it can be poured and caused to flow, but which can also be in the form of rods or bars. The holding means 6 is supported on the peripheral surface of the roll by way of one or more sliding or plain bearing members 8. The sliding members 8 may comprise plastics material or another selflubricating material. They may extend over the entire length of the roll 1, or may be supported only partially on the roll.Rolls of this kind are sometimes more than 5 metres in length, and it could be sufficient for a respective member 8 to be arranged at each of the beginning and the end of the roll, with fresh sliding members then being interposed at spacings of about 30 to 50 cm. The important consideration in this respect is that the roll 1 is supported on the support means 9 which carries the pressure, in such a way that the web of material 3 is subjected to a uniform loading by the roll 1. The roll 1 therefore presses closely against the support means 9 by way of the interposed material of the screen cylinder 2, the web of material and possibly a printing or conveying blanket (not shown).

Figure 2 shows a similar embodiment wherein a roll 1 is once again disposed within a screen cylinder 2. The roll 1 co-operates with a counter pressure cylinder as support means 9. It may be very much larger in periphery than the construction illustrated, which is only given by way of possible example. The holding means 6 is again supported on the peripheral surface of the roll 1 by way of sliding members 8, the sliding members in this embodiment being in the form of smaller rollers which rotate with the roll 1, in order to reduce friction. The holding means 6 again has a container 60 in which the loading weight 7 is disposed. Balls are illustrated in this embodiment.

In the two embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rolls 1 are preferably driven. They could also be driven by the stencil 2 or by the feed movement of the web of material. At any event however, it will be preferable for the rolls 1 which serve as the applicator roll to have their own drive means (DOS No. 20 35 220.9).

The embodiment shown in Figure 3 has a circulating screen belt 20. The screen belt 20 may be in the form of a stencil belt, but it may also be uniformly perforated, in order for example to carry out a uni-application operation, uniform application of a chemical, application of foamed agents, or the like. In this embodiment also, the holding means 6 is supported on the surface of the roll 1 by way of one or more sliding members 8. In this case, the holding means 6 itself also forms the container for receiving the loading weight. The loading weight 7 is in the form of a plate in the container. The agent to be applied is again supplied by a feed means 5 which may comprise for example one or more reciprocating pipes from which the application agent passes into the wedge-shaped accumulation 4 of agent, which is disposed in front of a wall member 40.The stencil belt passes around drive rolls 22, 23 and a tensioning and control roll 24.

Figure 4 illustrates in greater detail the manner in which the individual means are mounted. The embodiment illustrated is concerned with a screen cylinder 2 which corresponds to a screen stencil and which is provided with an end ring member 21. Such an end ring member is disposed at both ends of the screen cylinder. The end ring member 21 is mounted in per se known manner in side mounting heads which are not illustrated and which may be disposed approximately at the positioning indicated at A in Figure 4.

Disposed within the screen cylinder 2 is the roll 1 which serves as an applicator roll and which carries the holding means 6 by way of the sliding members 8. Disposed in the holding means 6 is a loading mass 7 which is capable of being poured.

The holding means 6 may be covered upwardly by a cover 61.

In this embodiment, the holding means itself forms the container 60 for receiving the loading weight 7.

Figure 5 shows a side bearing outside the stencil 2. The holding means is mounted displaceably in a vertical direction at both ends in any manner, outside the screen cylinder 2, by way of respective mounting rods 62. The important consideration is that the mounting rods 62 are preferably displaceable in a vertical direction in the mounting means 63 so that the full weight of the loading mass 7 actualiy rests on the peripheral surface of the roll 1, and is not transmitted by the mounting rods 62 to the mounting means 63. Obviously, if the roll 1 is to be relieved of load for any purpose, it is possible for the mounting means 63 to be raised, for example by turning the support screws 64 which are carried on screwthreaded pins 1 63 disposed in slide bores 263 of machine frame support members 363.By virtue of this arrangement, the mounting means 63 is vertically adjustable and can be adapted to the respective conditions occurring or the size of the respective roll 1 which is fitted into the arrangement. Preferably, both bearing means for the holding means 6 are of the same configuration.

The roll 1 is preferably also vertically adjustably mounted in a rotary bearing means 10 and carries a drive pinion 11 which meshes with a drive gear 12 which either has its own drive or which is driven by the machine drive. The roll 1 may be provided with such a pinion 11 at both ends thereof. Preferably, special gears are used so as to permit the roll 1 also to move relatively slightly when subjected to a loading from above, so that the roll 1 is firmly applied to the support means 9 (not shown) or bears firmly against the web of material 3 or another flat article. Figure 4 shows a mounting or bearing means of the roll 1.

Figure 6 shows use of the roll 1 in the screen belt 20. In this case, the roll 1 has a support means 9 for carrying the pressure, in the form of a counter-pressure roller. The support means 9 is disposed in a support mounting 90, preferably with an interposed sliding bearing lining 91. In the embodiment illustrated, any mixture 40 of liquid agents can be applied. The mounting means 6 with the loading weight 7 introduced thereinto is of a U-shaped configuration and is again supported on the peripheral surface of the roll by way of one or more slide bearing members 8. in this embodiment, both rolls can be driven, depending on the nature of the printing mechanism. The wedge-like accumulation 4 of ink or dye extends over the entire working width and is with a restricting wall 40. This is important in connection with application of foam.

Figure 7 shows an embodiment of a printing or dyeing apparatus. Disposed in a container 22 is a plurality of rolls 1 around which is passed a web 3 of material which is guided in the upper region over direction-changing rolls 13. The web of material 13 passes through pairs of intake rolls 14 and 1 5 into the container 22. Once again, disposed above each roll 1 is a holding means 6, the various embodiments showing different possibilities. The holding means 6 are once again supported on the upper portion of the periphery of the respective rolls, by way of slide members 8.

Closed holding means 6 are illustrated in each case. They have covers 61 which either extend over the entire length and width of the holding means, or are arranged on connecting members 66, for example for screwing them on and off.

Disposed within each of the holding means 6 are various loading masses 7 of different consistencies, for example liquid, metal powder, mercury, plates, rods or bars, pourable sand, pebbles, stones, scrap material or balls. The drawing illustrated liquid, pourable sand and scrap material. In this embodiment, the support means 9 are again counter-pressure rolls which are disposed in support bearings 90 with sliding bearing linings 91. These may be any printing and dyeing rolls, the ink or dye boxes 92 of which are only indicated.

The embodiment shown in Figure 8 shows that it is possible for the container 60 to be separated from the actual holding means 6, for it possibly to be removed, or for it to be pivoted in the direction indicated by the arrow A, together with the holding means 6.

Figure 8 again shows a screen cylinder 2 having end ring members 21, the bearings of which are once again not illustrated as they are previously known. The mounting rods 62 of the holding means 6 project out of the screen cylinder 2. The holding means 6 in turn carries a removable container 60 which, in the embodiment illustrated, is of a closed construction. The container 60 receives the loading weight 7, for example balls. The holding means 6 extend aver the entire working width of the roll 1 and is supported on the surface of the roll by way of slide members 8. The roll is again illustrated as being driven, as shown in Figure 4.

The spindles 111 of the roll 1 are extended outwardly. The bearings thereof may be rotary bearings, as described as rotary bearings 10 with reference to Figure 1. They are not illustrated.

The holding means 6 rests in the bearing or mounting means 63 at both sides of the screen cylinder 2, the two bearing means permitting free vertical movement of the rods 62. There are simple U-shaped bearing members into which the rods 62 are non-rotatably fitted. In order now to permit the entire arrangement to be pivoted upwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow A, so that the balls roll along in the direction indicated by the arrow B, a rotary pin 67 may be fitted into a transverse bore 463 in the member 63 and then thus serves as a pivot point for upward pivotal movement of the entire arrangement, by acting on the handle 1 62.

However, it is also possible for the container 60 to be completely removed so that the apparatus may be operated with and without a loading. The container 60 rests on the holding means 6 and is secured in position by side guide members 68. It is possible for it to be closed at its abutment end by a slider member 68. The end at which the loading mass is introduced into the container is extended out of the working area, and disposed at a raised position. As shown in Figure 8, the filling end forms at its own end a filling funnel or hopper configuration 260 or the like, which is open upwardly. The balls or the like can be introduced thereinto, and simply rolled down.

The filling end therefore forms something like a slide track, a chute or the like.

Figures 1 to 8 disclose and illustrate a whole series of rolls which are each arranged in a screen cylinder 2 or in a screen belt, similarly to a stencil.

However, the rolls may certainly iie directly on the flat articles which are to be coated, dewatered, inked or dyed, or printed, without the inter position of a screen cylinder, screen belt, stencil or the like. As shown in Figure 8, the pressure may also act indirectly on the applicator roll, as a counter-pressure roll 9.

It is also possible for the support means 9, when in the form of a roll, to be in the form of a pressure roll so that the roll 1 operates as a counter-pressure roll. That is only a conceivable possibility. Generally however the roll 1 is to operate either as a squeegee roll or as an applicator roll, as it can also be designated a doctor roll.

With regard to the loadil.J mass which is to be introduced into the container 60 on the holding means 6, although plates or rods are also shown in the illustrated embodiments, such weights have serious disadvantages in comparison with material which is capable of rolling motion or pouring motion as when such a material is used or when a liquid is used, the loading is more uniformly distrubuted over the length of the roll. It is also more convenient to use rollable or pourable or liquid material. It is precisely when the operating widths involved are considerable, for example widths of more than 5 metres, that the introduction of rods or plates as the loading weight gives rise to serious disadvantages. It is extremely advantageous for the filling end 1 60 to be in the form of a rolling or slide track and for the loading weight to distribute itself.

Claims

1. A roll assembly for treating a flat article such as a web of material, including a roll, a support means against which the roll can be pressed directly or indirectly, for carrying the pressure, holding means supportable on the peripheral surface of the roll and vertically freely guidable at its ends in bearing means, and a load weight for the holding means, which weight can extend or be distributed over the entire width of the roll.

2. A roll assembly according to claim 1, in which the holding means is removably guided and mounted vertically in the bearing means which are disposed outside the treatment area.

3. A roll assembly according to claim 1, in which the roll itself is guided and driven in bearing means which permit a vertical guide action.

4. A roll assembly according to claim 3, in which the bearing means of the roll and the bearing means of the holding means are disposed separately from each other outside the treatment area.

5. A roll assembly according to claim 1, in which the holding means is completely removable from the roll.

6. A roll assembly according to claim 2, in which the bearing means of the holding means are in the form of U-shaped plain bearings.

7. A roll assembly according to claim 6, in which the bearing means of the holding means are arranged to be steplessly adjustable in height.

8. A roll assembly according to claim 1, in which on a part above the roll, the holding means carries a container for receiving the loading weight, which container is supported towards the surface of the roll.

9. A roll assembly according to claim 1, in which the holding means is supported partially towards the upper surface of the roll.

10. A roll assembly according to claim 9, in which the means for supporting the holding means towards the roll is in the form of a plain or rolling bearing.

11. A roll assembly according to claim 8, in which the container is separable from the holding means.

12. A roll assembly according to claim 1, in which, at its outward end, preferably an end for introducing the loading weight, the holding means is in the form of a rolling or slide track for the loading weight.

1 3. A roll assembly according to claim 1, in which the holding means is pivotable upwardly at one side, to form a rolling and/or slide track for the loading weight.

14. A roll assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 13, in which the loading weight is in the form of balls.

1 5. A roll assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 13, in which the loading weight comprises pourable sand, pebbles, stones, scrap material or the like, in order to achieve uniform distribution of the loading weight.

16. A roll assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 13, in which the loading weight is metal powder

17. A roll assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 13, in which the loading weight is a liquid.

1 8. A roll assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 13, in which the loading weight is mercury.

1 9. A roll assembly according to claim 1, in which the roll is formed as a doctor member locatable in the interior of a screen cylinder or a screen belt, or on a flat stencil of the like.

20. A roll assembly according to claim 1, in which the roll is formed as an applicator roll for coating an application agent on to a web of material or the like or for applying such an agent into a web of material or the like.

21. A roll assembly according to claim 1, including one or more sliding members comprising self-lubricating or lubricated material for location between the holding means and the surface of the roll.

22. A roll assembly according to claim 1, in which the roll is formed as an applicator roll for location above a screen or a stencil.

23. A roll assembly for treating a flat article such as a web of material, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1,2,3,6,7 or 8 or Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

24. A printing apparatus including a roll assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 23.