JP6893466B2 - Printing equipment, transfer roller - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an offset printing technique using a transfer roller.

Patent Document 1 describes a printing apparatus using a transfer pad made of silicone rubber or the like. This printing device prints the transferred material on the transferred material by pressing the transfer pad to which the transferred material of a predetermined pattern is attached in advance against the transferred material. Further, this printing apparatus arranges a regulating member adjacent to the transfer pad, and restricts the outward deformation of the transfer pad pressed against the transfer body by the regulating member, whereby the transfer pad is transferred. Make it evenly adhere to the body.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-198996

By the way, it is conceivable to apply the above technique in offset printing using a transfer roller instead of the transfer pad. That is, by providing the transfer roller with a regulating member that faces the blanket from the axial direction, the axial deformation of the blanket is regulated by the regulating member, and the blanket is uniformly adhered to the printing object (transferred body). Can be made to.

However, in offset printing using a transfer roller, it is necessary to bring the blanket of the transfer roller into contact with the plate to receive ink from the plate to the blanket. At this time, the regulating member and the plate may interfere with each other and the plate or the regulating member may be damaged.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when printing is performed using a transfer roller provided with a regulating member that regulates axial deformation of the blanket, when ink is received from the plate to the blanket, the plate and the plate are used. The purpose is to make it possible to suppress interference with the regulating member.

The printing apparatus according to the present invention has a stage that supports a plate on which a pattern is formed and a blanket on the outer peripheral surface, and the blanket moves relative to the plate while rotating in contact with the plate. The blanket is provided with a transfer roller that receives ink from the blanket, and the transfer roller has a regulating member on the end face of the blanket, which is a surface orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the transfer roller, and deforms the blanket in the rotation axis direction. When regulated by the regulating member and the blanket is in contact with the plate, the blanket protrudes from the regulating member in the direction of the plate to form a gap between the regulating member and the plate.

The transfer roller according to the present invention is arranged on the shaft core, the blanket provided on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft core, and the end surface of the blanket which is a plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the shaft core, and is arranged in the rotation axis direction of the blanket. It is equipped with a regulating member that regulates deformation to the plate, and by moving relative to the plate while rotating while the blanket is in contact with the plate, ink is received from the plate to the blanket, and the blanket is in contact with the plate. , The blanket protrudes from the regulating member in the direction of the plate to form a gap between the regulating member and the plate.

In the present invention (printing apparatus, transfer roller) configured in this way, when the blanket is in contact with the plate for receiving ink from the plate to the blanket, the blanket protrudes from the regulating member in the direction of the plate to regulate. A gap is formed between the member and the plate. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the plate and the regulating member from interfering with each other when receiving ink from the plate to the blanket.

Further, the blanket has a cylindrical shape with a radius R1, the regulating member has a disk shape with a radius R2 shorter than the radius R1, and the printing device is configured so that the blanket and the regulating member are arranged coaxially. Is also good. In such a configuration, the blanket has a radius R1 that is longer than the radius R2 of the regulatory member. Therefore, in a state where the blanket is in contact with the plate for receiving ink from the plate to the blanket, the blanket can protrude from the regulating member and form a gap between the regulating member and the plate. As a result, it is possible to prevent the plate and the regulating member from interfering with each other when receiving ink from the plate to the blanket.

By the way, in order to reliably receive ink from the plate to the blanket, it is effective to press the blanket against the plate. However, as a result of the blanket elastically shrinking as it is pressed against the plate, the regulating member may interfere with the plate. Therefore, the printing apparatus may be configured so that the distance L between the rotation axis of the transfer roller and the plate when the blanket is in contact with the plate is shorter than the radius R1 and the radius R2 is shorter than the distance L. In such a configuration, the blanket is pressed against the plate by the difference between the radius R1 and the distance L, and it is possible to reliably receive the ink from the plate to the blanket. Moreover, since the radius R2 is shorter than the distance L, it is possible to suppress interference between the plate and the regulating member when receiving ink from the plate to the blanket.

By the way, the print object is pushed into the blanket in order to transfer the ink from the blanket to the print object. At this time, by restricting the elastic deformation of the blanket that occurs when the print target is pushed in by the regulating member, the blanket can be uniformly adhered to the print target. However, even after the blanket is separated from the object to be printed, it is assumed that the blanket remains elastically deformed and is caught by the regulating member and does not return. Therefore, the printing device may be configured so that the regulating member is provided so as to be separated from the blanket in the rotation axis direction. In such a configuration, the shape of the blanket can be reliably restored after the blanket is separated from the object to be printed.

If the distance between the blanket and the regulating member is too wide, the deformation of the blanket cannot be sufficiently regulated by the regulating member, and the adhesion between the printed object and the blanket may decrease. Therefore, the printing device may be configured so that the distance between the regulating member and the blanket in the rotation axis direction is variable. In such a configuration, it is possible to appropriately change the distance between the blanket and the regulating member within a range in which the regulation of the deformation of the blanket by the regulating member is not impaired.

Further, the transfer roller further has a spacer that defines the distance between the regulating member and the blanket, and the printing device may be configured so that the distance between the regulating member and the blanket can be changed by changing the thickness of the spacer. good. In such a configuration, the distance between the regulating member and the blanket can be changed by a simple operation such as changing the thickness of the spacer.

In addition, the printing device may be configured so that the regulating members are arranged on both sides of the end face of the blanket. With such a configuration, it is possible to suppress interference between the plate and the regulating member when receiving ink from the plate to the blanket for each regulating member on both sides of the blanket. Further, when the ink is transferred from the blanket to the object to be printed, the deformation of the blanket is regulated from both sides, and the blanket can be surely adhered to the object to be printed.

As described above, according to the present invention, when printing is performed using a transfer roller provided with a regulating member for regulating the axial deformation of the blanket, the plate and the regulating member are used when receiving ink from the plate to the blanket. It is possible to suppress the interference with and.

The perspective view which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the printing apparatus which concerns on this invention. A flowchart showing the flow of processing in the printing operation. The perspective view which shows typically the transfer roller used in the printing apparatus of FIG. An exploded perspective view schematically showing the transfer roller of FIG. 3 in an exploded manner. The side view which shows typically the transfer roller of FIG. The side view which shows typically the transfer roller of FIG. The side view which shows the modification of the transfer roller schematically.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. The printing device 1 is a device that forms a pattern on the surface of a work having a three-dimensional shape by the principle of intaglio printing. More specifically, the printing apparatus 1 fills an intaglio plate in which recesses corresponding to patterns are formed on the surface of a flat plate-shaped base material, and transfers the ink to a work via a transfer roller. A pattern with ink is formed on the work surface.

The printing apparatus 1 mainly includes a base 2, a plate stage unit 10, a plate alignment unit 20, an ink filling units 30, 50, a roller unit 40, a work alignment unit 60, and a work stage unit 70. , A transport unit 80 for moving the plate stage unit 10 and the work stage unit 70, and a control unit 90.

In this printing device 1, the control unit 90 controls each part of the printing device 1 according to a program installed in advance to fill the recesses provided in the flat plate-shaped intaglio P with ink, and the roller unit 40 is recessed. A receiving step of accepting the ink of P and a transfer step of transferring the received ink to the work W having a three-dimensional shape are performed. As a result, the pattern defined by the recesses of the intaglio P is printed on the work W. The intaglio P has a pattern region Pa and a margin region Pb surrounding the pattern region Pa, and the pattern region Pa is provided with recesses to be a pattern, while the margin Pb has a flat shape.

In FIG. 1 and each figure described later, the XYZ Cartesian coordinate system is appropriately shown in order to clarify the arrangement relationship of each part of the apparatus. Specifically, the XY plane is a horizontal plane, and the longitudinal direction of the printing apparatus 1 is the “Y direction” in the horizontal direction. Of the transport directions Y of the transport unit 80, the direction toward the plate stage unit 10 is referred to as "Y1", and the direction toward the work stage unit 70 is referred to as "Y2". Further, the horizontal direction orthogonal to the Y direction is referred to as an "X direction". Further, of the X directions, the direction toward the front of the device is referred to as "X1" and the direction toward the back of the device is referred to as "X2". Further, the vertical direction is referred to as "Z direction".

The base 2 extends in the Y direction as shown in FIG. On the upper surface of the base 2, a pair of linear motion guides 81, 81, a linear motion drive unit 82 such as a linear motor arranged between these linear motion guides 81, and a linear scale (not shown) extend in the Y direction. Has been done. Further, the linear motion guide 81 and the linear motion drive unit 82 are provided with two transfer stages 83 and 84, and move linearly in the Y direction under the drive of the linear motion drive unit 82. The plate stage unit 10 is mounted on the transport stage 83 on one side of the two transport stages 83 and 84, and the work stage unit 70 is mounted on the transport stage 84 on the other side. As a result, the plate stage unit 10 and the work stage unit 70 can reciprocate in the Y direction independently of each other.

The plate stage unit 10 has a support base 11 arranged on the upper surface of the transport stage 83, and a plate stage 12 attached to the upper surface of the support base 11 and holding the intaglio P on the upper surface thereof. The intaglio plate P held by the plate stage 12 can be transported in the Y direction by the linear drive unit 82 moving the transport stage 83 in the Y direction in response to an operation command from the control unit 90. ..

On the other hand, the work stage unit 70 includes a position adjusting mechanism 71 arranged on the upper surface of the transport stage 84, a work stage 72 attached to the upper surface of the position adjusting mechanism 71 and holding the work W on the upper surface thereof, and two reference masks. (Calibration member) It has a calibration unit 73 composed of 731 and 732. The position adjusting mechanism 71 has a function of driving the work stage 72 with respect to the transport stage 84 in the X direction and the θ1 direction (rotational direction around the vertical axis). The linear drive unit 82 moves the transport stage 84 in the Y direction in response to an operation command from the control unit 90, and the position adjustment mechanism 71 moves the work stage 72 in the X direction in response to an operation command from the control unit 90. And by rotating in the θ1 direction, the work W held by the work stage 72 can be positioned in the X direction, the Y direction, and the θ1 direction.

A roller unit 40 is arranged at a substantially central portion of the upper surface of the base 2 in the Y direction. In the roller unit 40, elevating tables 42 are provided at both ends of the central portion in the X direction so as to be able to elevate in the Z direction via the elevating mechanism 41. The pair of elevating tables 42 are provided outside the space in which the plate stage unit 10 and the work stage unit 70 move (hereinafter referred to as "stage moving space") in the X direction. As a result, interference between the plate stage unit 10 and the work stage unit 70 is avoided.

The transfer rollers 43 are arranged so as to bridge the pair of elevating tables 42 arranged apart from each other in this way. The transfer roller 43 has a blanket having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface, and is rotatable around a rotation axis extending in the X direction. When a rotary drive motor (not shown) is driven in response to an operation command from the control unit 90, the transfer roller 43 rotates in the rotation direction θ2 around the rotation axis. Further, when an elevating command is given from the control unit 90 to the elevating motor (not shown) of the elevating mechanism 41, the elevating motor operates in response to the elevating motor (not shown), and the transfer roller 43 moves up and down integrally with the elevating table 42. As a result, the position of the transfer roller 43 in the Z direction is adjusted with high accuracy.

Further, the ink filling units 30 and 50 are arranged adjacent to the Y1 direction side and the Y2 direction side of the roller unit 40, respectively. In each of the ink filling units 30 and 50, ink is supplied to the intaglio P from the dispenser, and then the doctor blade is slid on the intaglio P to fill the recesses of the intaglio P with ink. The uses of these ink filling units 30 and 50 are different. That is, the ink filling unit 30 fills the intaglio P with the ink to be printed on the work W, while the ink filling unit 50 fills the intaglio P with ink for preventing the intaglio P from drying.

A plate alignment unit 20 is arranged on the Y1 direction side of the ink filling unit 30. In this plate alignment unit 20, four pillar members 21 are provided on the base 2, and beam members 22 are provided so as to connect the tops thereof. Then, the first version alignment camera 24 and the second version alignment camera 25 are attached to the beam member 22 via the position adjusting mechanisms 26 and 27, respectively.

The position adjusting mechanism 26 has a function of driving the first version alignment camera 24 in the X direction and the Z direction with respect to the beam member 22. Therefore, the position adjusting mechanism 26 moves the first plate alignment camera 24 in the X direction and the Z direction in response to the operation command from the control unit 90, so that a part of the intaglio P held in the plate stage 12 is removed. It is possible to take images with high accuracy.

The position adjusting mechanism 27 has a function of driving the second plate alignment camera 25 in the X direction and the Z direction with respect to the beam member 22 on the X2 direction side of the first plate alignment camera 24. Therefore, the position adjusting mechanism 27 moves the second plate alignment camera 25 in the X direction and the Z direction in response to the operation command from the control unit 90, so that the intaglio P is different from the area imaged by the first plate alignment camera 24. It is possible to image the surface area of the camera with high accuracy. The images captured by the first and second alignment cameras 24 and 25 are transferred to the control unit 90.

Further, a work alignment unit 60 is arranged on the Y2 direction side of the ink filling unit 50. In the work alignment unit 60, the support portions 61 and 62 are arranged so as to be movable in the Y direction on the upper surface of the base 2 apart from the stage moving space of the work stage unit 70 in the X2 direction. The first work alignment camera 64 is movably attached to the beam member 63 of one of the support portions 61 in the X direction and the Z direction. Further, the second work alignment camera 67 is movably attached to the beam member 66 of the other support portion 62 in the X direction and the Z direction.

Further, a position adjusting mechanism 65 for moving the first work alignment camera 64 in the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction is provided. Therefore, the position adjusting mechanism 65 moves the alignment camera 64 in the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction in response to the operation command from the control unit 90, so that a part of the work W held by the work stage 72 is moved. It is possible to take images with high accuracy.

Further, a position adjusting mechanism 68 for moving the second work alignment camera 67 in the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction is provided. Therefore, the position adjusting mechanism 68 moves the alignment camera 67 in the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction in response to the operation command from the control unit 90, so that the work is different from the part imaged by the first work alignment camera 64. It is possible to image the W portion with high accuracy. The images captured by the first and second work alignment cameras 64 and 67 are transferred to the control unit 90.

In this way, the intaglio P mounted on the plate stage 12 is imaged by the first and second plate alignment cameras 24 and 25. More specifically, these cameras 24 and 25 take an image of an end face of the intaglio P or an alignment mark provided in advance on the intaglio P. From the image thus captured, the control unit 90 identifies the position of the intaglio P on the plate stage 12. Further, the first and second work alignment cameras 64 and 67 take an image of the work W mounted on the work stage 72. From the image thus captured, the control unit 90 identifies the position of the work W on the work stage 72.

Then, the control unit 90 calculates the deviation between the positional relationship between the intaglio P and the work W and the predetermined predetermined relationship, and the position adjusting mechanism 71 sets the work stage 72 in the X direction and θ1 according to the calculation result. By moving in the direction, the misalignment between the intaglio P and the work W is corrected. Thereby, in the printing operation described later, the transfer position on the work W when the ink is transferred from the intaglio P to the work W via the transfer roller 43 can be optimized.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing flow in the printing operation. This process is realized by the control unit 90 executing a control program prepared in advance and controlling each part of the device to execute a predetermined operation.

When the intaglio P and the work W are carried into the printing apparatus 1 and set on the plate stage 12 and the work stage 72, respectively (step S101), an alignment process for adjusting the relative positions of the intaglio P and the work W is performed (step S101). Step S102). Then, each part of the printing device 1 is positioned at a predetermined initial position, and the printing device 1 shifts to the acceptance start state (step S103).

When the printing preparation is completed in this way, the "filling step" in which the ink filling unit 30 fills the intaglio P with ink is executed (step S104). When the filling step is completed, the plate stage 12 moves to the printing start position (step S105). As a result, the end of the intaglio P in the Y2 direction is located directly below the transfer roller 43 or slightly closer to the Y1 direction.

From this state, a "accepting step" is performed in which the ink filled in the intaglio P is transferred to the transfer roller 43 (more specifically, the blanket constituting the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roller 43) (step S106). Specifically, as the transfer roller 43 descends and the plate stage 12 moves in the Y2 direction, the blanket on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roller 43 comes into contact with the intaglio P. Then, the plate stage 12 moves in the Y2 direction at a constant speed, and the transfer roller 43 rotates in the rotation direction θ2 in synchronization with the movement of the plate stage 12, so that the recesses in the pattern region Pa of the intaglio P are filled. The ink is transferred to the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roller 43. As a result, the ink is received by the transfer roller 43.

The ink filling unit 50 temporarily fills the pattern region Pa after the ink has passed through the position directly below the transfer roller 43 and has moved to the transfer roller 43 (step S107). As a result, drying and sticking of the ink in the pattern region Pa is prevented, and printing using the intaglio P can be continuously and repeatedly executed.

When the receiving process is completed, the transfer roller 43 is once raised (step S108). Then, the plate stage 12 moves in the Y1 direction and retracts from the lower position of the transfer roller 43, and the work stage 72 moves to the printing start position (step S109). As a result, the Y2 direction end of the work W held by the work stage 72 is located directly below the transfer roller 43 or slightly closer to the Y1 direction.

From this state, the "transfer step" of transferring the ink carried on the transfer roller 43 to the work W and transferring the pattern is executed (step S110). Specifically, the transfer roller 43 rotates at a constant speed in the arrow direction θ2 in contact with the work W, and the work stage 72 moves in the Y2 direction at a constant speed in synchronization with the rotation of the transfer roller 43. The ink carried on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roller 43 is transferred to the work W. As a result, the ink is transferred to the work W. Then, when the transfer step is completed, the transfer roller 43 rises and separates from the work W (step S111), and each part of the apparatus shifts to the printing end state (step S112).

Subsequently, the configuration of the transfer roller 43 used in the printing operation by the printing apparatus 1 will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the transfer roller used in the printing apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing the transfer roller of FIG. 3 in an exploded manner. Is a side view schematically showing the transfer roller of FIG. 3 to 5 show a state in which other members (intaglio P and work W) are not in contact with the transfer roller 43, while FIG. 6 shows a receiving step in which the intaglio P is in contact with the transfer roller 43. The state of is shown. In these figures and the transfer roller diagram shown below, some configurations are exaggerated in order to clarify the characteristics of the transfer roller.

The transfer roller 43 is provided with, for example, a blanket 431 which is an elastic member made of silicone rubber on the outer peripheral surface, and is rotatably supported by the roller unit 40 about a virtual center line C parallel to the X direction. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the blanket 431 has a cylindrical outer shape centered on the virtual center line C. Further, the insertion hole 432 penetrates the blanket 431 in the X direction, and the insertion hole 432 has a cylindrical shape centered on the virtual center line C. The blanket 431 has ring-shaped end faces 433 at both ends in the X direction, and each end face 433 is orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the transfer roller 43 (that is, the X direction in which the virtual center line C extends).

Further, the transfer roller 43 has a solid or hollow shaft core 435 made of a metal such as aluminum. The shaft core 435 has a cylindrical shape having the same diameter and length as the insertion hole 432 of the blanket 431, and is inserted into the insertion hole 432. Further, regulation disks 437 are fastened to both ends of the shaft core 435 with screws or the like. The regulation disk 437 is arranged coaxially with the blanket 431 and has a disk shape (cylindrical shape) centered on the virtual center line C. Each regulation disk 437 has a diameter longer than the insertion hole 432 of the blanket 431, and the regulation disk 437 faces and contacts each of both end faces 433 of the blanket 431 from the X direction (axial direction). .. The blanket 431, the axis 435, and the regulation disk 437 that are coaxially arranged in this way rotate integrally around the virtual center line C.

Each regulation disk 437 functions to regulate the deformation of the blanket 431 in the X direction. That is, in the transfer step of step S110 described above, the work W is pressed against the blanket 431 in order to elastically deform the blanket 431 along the three-dimensional shape of the work W. Contrary to the example here, the blanket 431 may be pressed against the work W so that the blanket 431 conforms to the three-dimensional shape of the work W. At this time, an outward stress acts on the end face 433 of the blanket 431. Therefore, the regulation disk 437 supports the end face 433 of the blanket 431 against the applied stress to prevent the end face 433 from being deformed outward, and aims to bring the work W and the blanket 431 into close contact with each other.

As shown in FIG. 5, the blanket 431 and the regulation disk 437 are arranged so that their respective center lines (virtual center lines C) coincide with each other (that is, coaxially). The radius R1 of the blanket 431 is longer than the radius R2 of the regulation disc 437, and the blanket 431 projects laterally from both regulation discs 437 by a radius difference r (= R1-R2).

In particular, as shown in FIG. 6, these radii R1 and R2 are set so that the protrusion of the blanket 431 from the regulation disk 437 is maintained even in the receiving process. That is, in the receiving step, in order to reliably transfer (accept) the ink from the intaglio P to the blanket 431, the blanket 431 is pressed against the intaglio P and elastically shrinks at the contact portion with the intaglio P. Therefore, in the receiving process, the distance L between the virtual center line C and the intaglio P is shorter than the radius R1 of the blanket 431. Here, the distance L can be obtained as the distance between the margin area Pb of the intaglio P and the virtual center line C.

On the other hand, since the radius R2 of the regulation disc 437 is shorter than the distance L, the blanket 431 protrudes from both regulation discs 437 toward the concave plate P even in the receiving process, and the regulation discs 437 and each regulation disc 437. A gap d (= L-R2) is formed between the concave plate P and the concave plate P. In the receiving process, in the X direction, the pattern region Pa of the intaglio P is located in the region between one end surface 433 and the other end surface 433 of the blanket 431, and the outer peripheral surface of each regulation disk 437 is , Opposes the margin area Pb of the intaglio P via the gap d. The positional relationship between the pattern region Pa of the intaglio P and the blanket 431 is not limited to this example. For example, in the X direction, both end faces 433 of the blanket 431 may be located between both ends of the pattern region Pa of the intaglio P, in other words, the blanket 431 may be located within the pattern region Pa. ..

In the embodiment described above, in a state where the blanket 431 is in contact with the intaglio P for receiving ink from the intaglio P to the intaglio 431, the blanket 431 protrudes from the intaglio disk 437 toward the intaglio P to form a regulation circle. A gap d is formed between the plate 437 and the intaglio P. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the intaglio P and the regulation disk 437 from interfering with each other when receiving ink from the intaglio P to the blanket 431. In particular, when the thickness of the blanket 431 is increased so that the blanket 431 conforms to the three-dimensional shape of the work W, the blanket 431 tends to be greatly elastically deformed when it comes into contact with the intaglio P for receiving ink. The problem of interference between the regulation disk 437 and the intaglio P is likely to occur. Therefore, it can be said that the above embodiment is particularly suitable for the printing apparatus 1 using the thick blanket 431.

Further, the blanket 431 has a cylindrical shape with a radius R1, and the regulation disk 437 has a disk shape with a radius R2 shorter than the radius R1. Then, the blanket 431 and the regulation disk 437 are arranged coaxially (in other words, so that their center lines coincide with each other). In such a configuration, in a state where the blanket 431 is in contact with the intaglio P to receive ink from the intaglio P to the intaglio 431, the blanket 431 protrudes from the regulation disk 437 and is between the regulation disk 437 and the intaglio P. A gap d can be formed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the intaglio P and the regulation disk 437 from interfering with each other when receiving ink from the intaglio P to the blanket 431.

By the way, in order to reliably receive ink from the intaglio P to the blanket 431, it is effective to press the blanket 431 against the intaglio P. However, as a result of the blanket 431 elastically shrinking as it is pressed against the intaglio P, the regulation disk 437 may interfere with the intaglio P. On the other hand, the distance L between the virtual center line C (rotation center line) of the blanket 431 and the intaglio P in the state where the blanket 431 is in contact with the intaglio P is shorter than the radius R1, and the radius R2 is shorter than the distance L. In such a configuration, the blanket 431 is pressed against the intaglio P by the difference between the radius R1 and the distance L, and it is possible to reliably receive the ink from the intaglio P to the blanket 431. Moreover, since the radius R2 of the regulation disk 437 is shorter than the distance L, it is possible to prevent the intaglio P and the regulation disk 437 from interfering with each other when receiving ink from the intaglio P to the blanket 431.

Further, the regulation discs 437 configured as described above are arranged on both end faces 433 of the blanket 431. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the interference between the intaglio plate P and the regulation disc 437 when receiving ink from the intaglio plate P to the blanket 431 for each regulation disc 437 on both sides of the blanket 431. Further, when the ink is transferred from the blanket 431 to the work W, the deformation of the blanket 431 can be restricted from both sides, and the blanket 431 can be reliably brought into close contact with the work W.

In the embodiment described above, the printing apparatus 1 corresponds to an example of the "printing apparatus" of the present invention, the plate stage 12 corresponds to an example of the "stage" of the present invention, and the concave plate P corresponds to the "plate" of the present invention. The transfer roller 43 corresponds to an example of the "transfer roller" of the present invention, the blanket 431 corresponds to an example of the "blanket" of the present invention, and the regulation disk 437 corresponds to the "regulatory member" of the present invention. The gap d corresponds to an example of the "gap" of the present invention, the X direction corresponds to an example of the "axial direction" and the "rotational axis direction" of the present invention, and the virtual center line C corresponds to the present invention. Corresponds to an example of the "rotation axis" of.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications other than those described above can be made without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a transfer roller can be used. 43 may be configured. Here, FIG. 7 is a side view schematically showing a modified example of the transfer roller. FIG. 7 shows a state in which other members (intaglio P and work W) are not in contact with the transfer roller 43. In this section, the description will be focused on the differences from the above-described embodiment, and the common parts will be designated by appropriate reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. However, it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained by providing the same configuration as that of the above embodiment.

In this modification, a washer (spacer) 438 is arranged between the end surface 433 of the blanket 431 and the regulation disk 437. The shaft core 435 (FIG. 4) is longer in the X direction than the blanket 431 and protrudes from both ends of the blanket 431. Then, the washer 438 is fitted onto the shaft core 435 protruding from the blanket 431. The washer 438 has a diameter shorter than that of the regulation disk 437, and is sandwiched between the end face 433 of the blanket 431 and the regulation disk 437 and comes into contact with them. In this way, the end surface 433 of the blanket 431 and the regulation disk 437 are separated by the washer 438. At this time, the distance between the end face 433 of the blanket 431 and the regulation disk 437 can be changed by changing the thickness of the washer 438.

The reason for providing such an interval is as follows. That is, the work W is pushed into the blanket 431 in order to transfer the ink from the blanket 431 to the work W. At this time, by restricting the elastic deformation of the blanket 431 caused by the pushing of the work W by the regulation disk 437, the blanket 431 can be uniformly adhered to the work W. However, even after the blanket 431 is separated from the work W, it is assumed that the blanket 431 is caught in the regulation disk 437 in an elastically deformed state and does not return. Therefore, in the modified example of FIG. 7, the regulation disk 437 is provided so as to be separated from the blanket 431 in the X direction. In such a modification, the shape of the blanket 431 can be reliably restored after the blanket 431 is separated from the work W.

If the distance between the blanket 431 and the regulation disk 437 is too wide, the deformation of the blanket 431 cannot be sufficiently regulated by the regulation disk 437, and the adhesion between the work W and the blanket 431 may decrease. On the other hand, the distance between the regulation disk 437 and the blanket 431 in the X direction is variably configured. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately change the distance between the blanket 431 and the regulation disk 437 within a range in which the regulation of deformation of the blanket 431 by the regulation disk 437 is not impaired.

Specifically, the transfer roller 43 has a washer 438 (spacer) that defines the distance between the regulation disk 437 and the blanket 431. Then, by changing the thickness of the washer 438, the distance between the regulation disk 437 and the blanket 431 can be changed. In such a configuration, the distance between the regulation disk 437 and the blanket 431 can be changed by a simple operation such as changing the thickness of the washer 438, that is, replacing the washer 438.

It should be noted that modifications other than the modification shown in FIG. 7 may be added as appropriate. For example, the method of fixing the regulation disk 437 to the shaft core 435 is not limited to fastening, and may be bonded or welded. Further, the material of the blanket 431 and the like may be changed.

Further, in the above, the specific shape of the work W is not particularly mentioned. However, the above-mentioned printing apparatus 1 can perform printing on a work W having various three-dimensional shapes, for example, a wine bottle or the like. Further, when printing is performed on the body of the wine bottle, the total length of the wine bottle may be longer than the blanket 431. That is, if the body of the wine bottle fits inside the blanket 431, interference between the regulation disk 437 and the wine bottle can be avoided even if the neck of the wine bottle protrudes outward from the blanket 431.

Further, of course, the specific configuration of each part of the printing apparatus 1 can be changed as appropriate. For example, the number of the ink filling units 30 and 50 is not limited to two, and a single ink filling unit 30 may be provided.

The present invention is applicable to all offset printing techniques.

1 ... Printing device 12 ... Plate stage (stage)
43 ... Transfer roller 431 ... Blanket 437 ... Regulatory disk (regulatory member)
438 ... Washer (spacer)
d ... Gap C ... Virtual center line (rotation axis)
P ... Intaglio (plate)
X ... X direction (axial direction, rotation axis direction)

Claims (7)

A stage that supports the plate on which the pattern is formed, and
It is provided with a transfer roller having a blanket on the outer peripheral surface and receiving ink from the plate to the blanket by moving relative to the plate while rotating in a state where the blanket is in contact with the plate.
The transfer roller has a regulating member on the end surface of the blanket, which is a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the transfer roller, and the deformation of the blanket in the rotation axis direction is regulated by the regulating member.
In a state where the blanket is in contact with the plate, the blanket protrudes from the restricting member in the direction of the plate to form a gap between the restricting member and the plate.
The regulating member is a printing device provided apart from the blanket in the direction of the rotation axis. The first aspect of claim 1, wherein the blanket has a cylindrical shape having a radius R1, the regulating member has a disk shape having a radius R2 shorter than the radius R1, and the blanket and the regulating member are arranged coaxially. Printing device. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the distance L between the rotation axis of the transfer roller and the plate in a state where the blanket is in contact with the plate is shorter than the radius R1, and the radius R2 is shorter than the distance L. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the distance between the regulating member and the blanket in the direction of the rotation axis is variable. The fourth aspect of claim 4, wherein the transfer roller further has a spacer that defines a distance between the regulation member and the blanket, and the distance between the regulation member and the blanket can be changed by changing the thickness of the spacer. Printing equipment. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the regulating member is arranged on both sides of the end face of the blanket. Axle and
A blanket provided on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft core and
A regulating member is provided on the end surface of the blanket, which is a surface orthogonal to the axial direction of the shaft core, and regulates the deformation of the blanket in the axial direction.
Ink is received from the plate to the blanket by moving relative to the plate while rotating while the blanket is in contact with the plate.
In a state where the blanket is in contact with the plate, the blanket protrudes from the restricting member in the direction of the plate to form a gap between the restricting member and the plate.
The regulating member is a transfer roller provided apart from the blanket in the axial direction.

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