JPH10305557A - Plate cylinder conveying system for gravure printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device that mounts a plate cylinder on a cassette truck to be loaded to a printer by positioning it at a predetermined phase and takes off the plate cylinder from the cassette truck. SOLUTION: A plate cylinder phase determining device 6 is provided to a portion on a way of a path of a cassette truck conveying device 5 that conveys a cassette truck 4 between a printer room 1 and a preparing room and a plate cylinder palette station 8 and an automatic plate cylinder exchanging crane 9 are provided in the vicinity of the plate cylinder phase determining device 6. In a condition that the vacant cassette truck 4 is stopped in the plate cylinder phase determining device 6, the cylinder on the plate cylinder palette station 8 is moved to the plate cylinder phase determining device 6 by means of the crane 9 and the phase positioning is executed by means of the plate cylinder phase determining device 6. After that, it is mounted on the cassette truck. The plate cylinder on the cassette truck is collected to the plate cylinder palette station 8 by means of the crane 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gravure printing machine, and more particularly to a gravure printing machine plate cylinder transport system used for quickly exchanging plate cylinders and inking parts when switching printing items. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printing unit of a gravure printing press, at the time of item switching, an operator cleans a plate cylinder that is contaminated with ink in the printing unit and removes parts such as a plate cylinder, an ink pan, an ink tank, and an ink pump. We are removing and installing new plate cylinders, ink pans, ink tanks, and ink pumps. In addition, the removed parts are mounted on trolleys, and the trolleys are manually moved and transported to respective storage locations or washing locations.

[0003]

However, since such work involves a lot of manual work, it not only imposes an excessive work load on the operator, but also takes a long time and requires a long time for stopping the printing press. there were. Further, there is also a problem that these operations are heavy labors due to handling heavy parts, and are also dirty operations in a bad operation environment using a solvent or the like.

[0004] In order to solve these problems,
The present applicant first described the plate cylinder, ink pan, ink tank,
Inking parts such as ink pumps are mounted on the cassette carriage, and the cassette carriage can be moved in and out of the lower area of the printing unit. At the time of item switching, the used plate cylinder that has been placed in the printing unit, By exchanging the cassette trolley with inking parts and the cassette trolley with new plate cylinders and inking parts, the cassette trolley that exchanged the plate cylinder and inking parts in a very short time and discharged from the printing unit Has developed an external setup system configured to send to a preparation room at a position away from the gravure printing press while the printing press is operating, and perform operations such as replacing and cleaning each component mounted on the cassette cart. And filed a patent application (Japanese Patent Application No. 8-173016).
issue).

When using this external setup system, it is desirable to automate the operation of taking out the used plate cylinder from the cassette carriage returned to the preparation room and mounting the new plate cylinder on the cassette carriage.

The present invention has been made in response to such demands, and transports a cassette carriage having a plate cylinder and an inking part, which can be carried in and out of a lower area of a printing unit of a gravure printing machine, to a preparation room. After that, in the preparatory room, the operation of taking out the used plate cylinder from the cassette cart and automatically positioning and mounting a new plate cylinder at a predetermined phase with respect to the cassette cart is automatically performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a plate cylinder transport system that is enabled.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention determines the initial phase of a plate cylinder in a preparation room so that the plate cylinder is positioned on a cassette carriage conveyance path by a cassette carriage conveyance device. A plate cylinder phasing device to be supplied is provided, and further, the automatic conveyance vehicle is operated in conjunction with an automatic conveyance vehicle that automatically runs with a plate cylinder pallet in the preparation chamber, preferably near the plate cylinder phasing device. A plate cylinder pallet station for receiving and stocking the plate cylinder pallet from the automatic transfer vehicle, and discharging the plate cylinder pallet to the automatic transfer vehicle in conjunction with the automatic transfer vehicle; and providing the plate cylinder phasing device from the plate cylinder pallet station. When a plate cylinder automatic exchange crane for transferring a plate cylinder to the plate cylinder pallet station and transferring the plate cylinder from the plate cylinder phasing device or the cassette carriage to the plate cylinder pallet station is provided. It is those with a cormorant configuration.

With this configuration, when the cassette carriage carrying the used plate cylinder in the printing press is conveyed to the preparation room and stops in the plate cylinder positioning device, the automatic plate cylinder changing crane is operated directly from the cassette carriage or from the plate carriage. The plate cylinder is taken out through the cylinder phasing device, placed on the plate cylinder pallet of the plate cylinder pallet station, and the plate cylinder pallet station sends the plate cylinder pallet with the plate cylinder to an automatic carrier, and the automatic carrier carries the plate cylinder. Can be automatically transferred to a plate cylinder warehouse or the like, and conversely, an automatic transporter can transport a plate cylinder pallet with a new plate cylinder from a plate cylinder warehouse or the like, When the empty cassette cart is transported into the plate cylinder phasing device and stopped, the plate cylinder pallet station automatically changes the plate cylinder. The plate cylinder on the plate cylinder on the pallet is taken out and supplied to the plate cylinder phasing device, and the plate cylinder phasing device determines the initial phase of the plate cylinder and puts it on the cassette carriage. As a result, it is possible to automatically carry out discharge of the plate cylinder from the cassette carriage and transport to a predetermined position, determination of the phase of a new plate cylinder, and supply to the cassette carriage.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a printing press room and a preparation room in which an external setup system using a plate cylinder transport system according to an embodiment of the present invention is arranged. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view thereof, and 1 is a printing press. The room 2, the preparation room 3, the gravure printing machine 3 installed in the printing press room 1, and 3a a printing unit of the gravure printing machine 3. The plate cylinder transport system arranged in the printing press room 1 and the preparation room 2 is equipped with a plate cylinder and inking parts such as an ink pan, an ink tank, and an ink pump, and is provided in a lower region of the printing unit 3a of the gravure printing machine. A cassette cart 4 that can be loaded and unloaded to and from the cassette cart 4, a printing press room 1 in which a gravure printing machine 3 is arranged, and a preparation room 2 for exchanging and assembling plate cylinders and inking parts for the cassette cart. Transport system 5 for transporting cassettes between
A plate cylinder phasing device 6 which is provided in the preparation room 2 and on the cassette trolley transport path by the cassette trolley transport device 5, determines the initial phase of the plate cylinder, and supplies it to the cassette trolley 4.
And the automatic transfer vehicle (hereinafter referred to as AGV) 7 provided in the preparation room 2 and automatically carrying the plate cylinder pallet, receives the plate cylinder pallet from the AGV 7, stocks it, and interlocks with the AGV 7 In operation, plate cylinder pallet is AG
A plate cylinder pallet station 8 to be discharged to a V7, a plate cylinder is transferred from the plate cylinder pallet station 8 to the plate cylinder phasing device 6, and is transferred from the plate cylinder phasing device 6 or the cassette carriage 4 to the plate cylinder pallet station 8. The plate cylinder automatic exchange crane 9 etc. which transfer a plate cylinder are provided. Hereinafter, each part will be described in detail.

First, the cassette carriage 4 will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the cassette cart 4, and FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the cassette cart 4, showing the cassette cart 4 mounted on a transport rail 10 of the cassette cart transport device 5. The cassette cart 4 has a cart main body 11, and a caster 12 and a wheel 13 for rails are mounted on the cart main body 11 so as to freely rotate. The casters 12 are arranged such that the lowermost ends thereof are slightly lower than the lowermost ends of the rail wheels 13, and when the cassette cart 4 is placed on a flat floor surface, the casters 12 contact the floor surface. Thus, the rail wheel 13 is maintained at a position slightly raised from the floor surface. With this configuration,
The cassette carriage 4 can be freely moved on the flat floor surface by using the casters 12.

The rail wheels 13 are used when the cassette truck 4 is caused to travel by the transport rail 10 of the cassette truck transport device 5 (see FIG. 2), and its central axis is parallel to the axial direction of the cassette truck 4. It is attached to become. Here, the axial direction of the cassette cart 4 means a direction parallel to the axis of the plate cylinder 15 held by the cassette cart. Accordingly, the cassette carriage 4 travels on the transport rail 10 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the plate cylinder 15 held. The transfer rail 10 is arranged so that its upper surface is substantially equal in height to the surrounding floor, and the floor near the outer side of the transfer rail 10 is designed so that the casters 12 of the cassette cart 4 do not hit. Notched. The traveling of the cassette cart 4 placed on the transport rail 10 is performed by connecting the cassette cart 4 to connection jigs 36A, 36 described later.
B is connected to the transport chains 35A, 35B, etc., and is pulled by the transport chains 35A, 35B, etc., so that the cassette carriage 4 does not have a motor for self-propelling. Therefore, advantages such as a simple structure, a light weight, and no necessity of a power wiring or the like can be obtained.

On both side surfaces (both axial ends) of the cassette carriage 4, plate cylinder supports 17 for supporting shafts 15a at both ends of the plate cylinder 15 are provided. The plate cylinder receiver 17 does not rotatably hold the plate cylinder 15 for a printing operation, but simply supports the plate cylinder 15 during transportation, and therefore may have a simple shape. . In this embodiment, a substantially V-shaped groove 17a is formed on the upper surface of the plate cylinder receiver 17, and the groove 17a supports the shaft 15a of the plate cylinder 15 and allows the plate cylinder 15 to be taken in and out upward. Immediately below the plate cylinder 15 held by the plate cylinder receiver 17, an ink pan 18 is attached so as to house the plate cylinder 15. The ink pan 18 is arranged so that printing can be performed with the plate cylinder 15 slightly raised from the plate cylinder receiver 17. Further, the shaft 15 of the plate cylinder 15 is placed on both end surfaces of the ink pan 18 from above.
A notch 19 is formed so that a can be inserted, and a cover 20 for preventing ink splashing is detachably attached to the notch 19. In addition,
A cover made of plastic film is attached to the ink pan 18 so as to cover the entire inner surface thereof.
By replacing this cover, cleaning of the inner surface of the ink pan becomes unnecessary.

On both side surfaces of the bogie main body 11, supported rails 22 are mounted horizontally and downward. The supported rails 22 are used when the cassette cart 4 is held by a cassette exchange cart described later or by a cassette cart entry / exit device provided in the printing unit 2. In addition, a handle 23 for hand pushing is attached above the supported rail 22. The carriage body 11 further includes a support surface 26 on which the ink tank 24 and the ink pump 25 are placed, and a furnisher roll 27.
, A support bar 28B for mounting the applicator 29, a support bar 28C for mounting the doctor holder 30, and the like. The bogie body 1
Positioning slots 32 extending in the vertical direction are provided on both side surfaces of 1 so that positioning pins provided on the printing unit and the cassette exchange cart can be inserted.

The lower surface of the carriage body 11 is further provided with a transfer chain 35A or 35C (see FIG.
Jig 36A for intermittently connecting to
A connecting jig 36B is attached to the transport chain 35B so that the connecting jig can be intermittently connected. These connecting jigs 36
Since A and 36B have the same structure, one connecting jig 36A will be described as an example.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the connecting jig 36A
A pair of engaging claws 37, a supporting member 39 that holds the engaging claws 37 swingably via pins 38, and a pair of engaging claws 37.
A foot pedal 40 attached to the rear end of the vehicle. The pair of engaging claws 37 are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the transport chain 35A and face each other. The distance between the pair of engaging claws 37 is the length of the chain hook 42 provided on the transport chain 35A between them.
Is defined so that it can be inserted. Further, the pair of engaging claws 37 has a wide engaging portion 3 at the tip.
5a, and the operating position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 5 due to its own weight, that is, even if the transport chain 35A runs in either the left or right direction in FIG. 42 is at a position where it can contact the engaging portion 37a at the tip and transmit the conveying force (at this time, the engaging claw 37
The position is regulated by an appropriate stopper so as not to rotate downward even when pushed by the chain hook 42), but when the foot pedal 40 is pushed down to the position shown by the two-dot chain line, the tip rises. And is detached from the chain hook 42. In addition, the pair of engagement claws 37
When the operating position shown by the solid line in FIG. 5 is occupied, the lower side thereof is inclined toward the center of the pair of engaging claws, so that the chain hook 42 is
When approaching from the outside of the pair of engaging claws 37, one of them pushes up the engaging claw 37 and passes below it, and after passing, the engaging claw 37 returns to its original operating position by its own weight. You can enter between.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), when the chain hook 42 is positioned between the pair of engaging claws 37, the engaging claws 37 can be moved in any direction of the transport chain 35A. Thus, the cassette cart 4 can be transmitted to the cassette cart 4 via the transport chain 35A. Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, in a state where the transport chain 35A is stopped, one foot pedal 40 is depressed to raise the tip of the engaging claw 37, and in this state, the cassette cart 4 is moved in the direction of the arrow. By pushing by hand, the cassette cart 4 can be detached from the chain hook 42 as shown in FIG. When the cassette carriage 4 is further pushed, as shown in FIG. 8B, the engagement hook 37 on the front side in the traveling direction is
After being lifted up by 2 and getting over the chain hook 42, it returns to its original operating position by its own weight, whereby the cassette truck 4 can be connected to the transport chain 35A.
Also, instead of pushing the cassette carriage 4, the transport chain 3
Similarly, by running 5A, the chain hook 42 can be automatically inserted between the pair of engaging claws 37, and the transport chain 35A can be connected to the cassette carriage 4. Note that in this example, the pair of engaging claws 37 are under their own weight as shown in FIG.
Although it is configured to occupy the operating position indicated by the solid line, a spring force may be used instead of or in addition to its own weight.

In FIG. 2, the cassette carriage transport device 5
Is arranged so as to extend from the preparation room 2 to the side of the gravure printing machine 3 in the printing machine room 1 and supports a rail 13 (see FIG. 3) for a rail of the cassette carriage 4 (see FIG. 3); First, second and third transport chains 35A provided so as to circulate parallel to and in a vertical plane,
35B, 35C, and the respective transport chains 35A, 35B, 3
5C is provided with a chain transport motor (not shown) for rotating each of the 5C in the forward and reverse directions. Transport chain 35
Each of A, 35B, and 35C includes a chain hook 42 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) so that the cassette cart 4 can be pulled, and is arranged in a positional relationship shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2 and FIG. 9, the first transport chain 35A is arranged so as to extend from the storage area for storing the cart in the preparation room 2 to the first transfer portion A. It is called a chain. The preparation room chain 35A is Hakobikomi the storage area a plurality of cassettes carriage 4 at narrow intervals p _1, and which was provided so as be able to store, to pull the plurality of cassettes carriage 4 at a small pitch p ₁ Chain hook 4
2 are mounted at a pitch p ₁ a. The third transport chain 35C is arranged so as to extend from the second transfer portion B at the entrance of the preparation room 2 to the side of the printing press 3 in the printing press room 1, and is hereinafter referred to as a printing press room chain. The printing machine chamber chain 35C carries a plurality of cassettes cart 4 next to the printer 3 at a pitch equal to the pitch p ₂ of the printing units 3a, a plurality of cassettes carriage 4 at the same time, in correspondence with each printing unit 3a Cassette exchange cart 104 provided
It is provided so that it can be located inside,
The chain hook 42 is mounted at a pitch p _2. The preparation room chain 35A and the printing press room chain 35C are arranged on a straight line.

The second transfer chain 35B extends between the first transfer portion A and the second transfer portion B,
And the preparation room chain 35A and the printing press room chain 35C.
It is located at a position deviated laterally from. Transfer part A,
B is between the transport chains 35A, 35B and 35B, 35B.
C is a position where the cassette cart 4 is delivered and received, and the cassette cart 4 stopped at that position is
It is also a work area for performing operations such as attaching and removing plate cylinders and parts, and the interval between the transfer portions A and B is set to an interval at which an operator can perform necessary work on the cassette cart 4. I have. Hereinafter, the transport chain 35B arranged in this work area is referred to as a work area chain.

The preparation room chain 35A and the work area chain 35B connect the respective chain hooks 42 to the connecting jigs 36A, 3A, 3C of the cassette truck 4 located at the transfer portion A.
6B, and the work area chain 35B and the printing press room chain 35C connect the chain hooks 42 to the cassette cart 4 located at the transfer portion B with the jig. 36A, 3
6B so that they can be connected simultaneously. In the present embodiment, the connecting jig 36A of the cassette cart 4
Reference numeral 36B is provided at the same position in the traveling direction of the cassette carriage 4, and the work area chain 35B is arranged in a relationship in which a part thereof is overlapped beside the preparation room chain 35A and the printing press room chain 35C, and the overhanging space is provided. The transfer portions A and B are formed at the wrapped positions. More specifically, the preparation room chain 35A and the work area chain 35B
Are arranged on the same axis with the same diameter, and the chain hook 42 located directly above the axis can be simultaneously connected to the cassette cart 4 stopped at the transfer portion A. Further, the chain wheels 46 and 47 on which the work area chain 35B and the printing press room chain 35C are respectively hung are arranged with the same diameter and on the same axis, and the chain hook 42 located immediately above the axis is connected to the transfer portion. B can be simultaneously connected to the cassette cart 4 stopped. The pitch of the chain hook 42 is attached to the working region chain 35B is set equal to Noriutsuri unit A, the interval p ₃ of B.

Next, the transport chains 35A, 3
5B and 35C show the transport operation of the cassette cart 4 in FIG.
0 and FIG. Now, as shown in FIG. 10A, it is assumed that three cassette carts 4 are connected to the preparation room chain 35A. Other transport chains 3
5B and 35C are stopped with the respective chain hooks 42 positioned at the transfer portions A and B.

[0022] In this state, preparation room chain 35A moves _one minute one pitch p, as shown in FIG. 10 (b), the head of the cassette carriage 4 is stopped reaches the Noriutsuri unit A. At this time, the cassette truck 4 that has reached the transfer section A is automatically connected to the chain hook 42 of the work area chain 35B. Next, as shown in FIG. 10 (c), the preparation room chain 35A and the work area chain 35B run at the same speed at the same time, and as shown in FIG. Send out. Preparation room chain 3
5A moves by one pitch and stops, whereby the next cassette carriage 4 reaches the transfer section A and stops.
On the other hand, the work area chain 35B continues to travel, stop moved by one pitch p ₃ minutes. As a result, FIG.
As shown in (e), the leading cassette truck 4 arrives at the transfer portion B and stops, and is connected to the chain hook 42 of the printing machine room chain 35C stopped at that position, and furthermore, the work area chain 35B. Subsequent chain hook 4
2 is connected to the cassette truck 4 which has reached the transfer portion A and has stopped at that position.

As will be described later, the transfer portion B is provided with a plate cylinder phase determining device 6 for inserting and removing the plate cylinder with respect to the cassette carriage, and therefore, the cassette stopped at this position. The plate cylinder 15 is mounted on the carriage 4.
Next, as shown in FIG. 11A, the three transport chains 35A, 35B, 35C run at the same speed at the same time, move by one pitch, and stop. That is, as shown in FIG. 11 (b), first, the preparation room chain 35A having the smallest pitch is stopped first, the last cassette cart 4 is stopped at the transfer section A, and then, FIG. 11 (c).
As shown, the printing machine room chain 35C is to position the next chain hook 42 to the top of and Noriutsuri section B to stop the cassette carriage 4 from Noriutsuri portion B at a position moved by one pitch p ₂ is stopped, the last , as shown in FIG. 11 (d), and stops at a position where the work area chain 35B is moved by one pitch p ₃ minutes. As a result, the second cassette carriage 4 reaches the transfer section B and the printing machine room chain 3
Is connected to the chain hook 42 of 5C, therefore, the two cassette carriage 4 is to possess at a predetermined pitch p ₂ in the printer room chain 35C.

Hereinafter, by repeating the same operation,
Preparing chamber cassette carriage 4 that has been conveyed at a pitch p ₁ in the chain 35A is, as shown in FIG. 11 (e), are connected at a pitch p ₂ in the printer room chain 35C, thereafter, the printing press chamber chain 35C It is conveyed to a desired position (lateral position of the printing machine 3) keeping the pitch p _2. Further, the above by performing the reverse operation, it is connected by a pitch p ₁ in the preparation room chain 35A cassette carriage 4 that has been conveyed at a pitch p ₂ is through the working area the chain 35B by press chamber chains 35C, then It is conveyed at a pitch p ₁ by preparation room chain 35A.

In FIG. 2, lifter devices 50 are provided on both sides of the preparation room chain 35A. As shown in FIG. 12 showing a cross section taken along the line CC of FIG. 2, the lifter device 50 includes a lifter plate 51 disposed below the casters 12 of the cassette truck 4 supported by the transport rail 10 and A cylinder mechanism 52 for raising and lowering is provided. The lifter plate 51 is normally retracted to a position where it does not contact the casters 12 of the cassette carriage 4 supported on the transport rail 10 as shown in FIG. When the cassette cart 4 is lifted to the height, the cassette cart 4 can be lifted via the casters 12, whereby the cassette cart 4 moves upward from the transport rails 10 and can be freely moved on the floor surface by the casters 12. Therefore, in FIG. 2, the cassette carts 4 arranged on the transport rail 10 can be removed from the row, and can be moved by hand to an arbitrary position. In addition, in order to facilitate the work of aligning the cassette cart 4 at a position deviated from the transfer rail 10 to a predetermined position on the conveyor rail 10, the cassette cart 4 is moved along the one lifter plate 51 to the preparation room chain 35A. A positioning stopper 55 for attaching and detaching is provided.

The transfer section B is located at a position where the plate cylinder is moved in and out of the cassette carriage 4, and a plate cylinder phase determining device 6 is provided at this position. As shown in FIGS. 13 (a) and 13 (b), the plate cylinder phase determining device 6 is provided with a space between both sides of the cassette carriage traveling path determined by the transport rail 10 so as to allow the cassette carriage 4 to pass through. And a plate cylinder supporting member 6 provided on the pair of frames 61 so as to be able to move up and down.
2 and a lifting mechanism (not shown) for raising and lowering the plate cylinder supporting member 62. The plate cylinder supporting member 62 includes a roller 63 so that the shaft 15a of the plate cylinder 15 can be mounted on the upper end thereof and rotated, and a motor (not shown) for rotating at least one of the rollers 63. When the plate cylinder support member 62 is at the lowered position, the shaft 15a of the plate cylinder 15 placed on the cassette carriage 4 can pass through the plate cylinder support member without any trouble.
The elevation range is determined so that 5a can be lifted from the plate cylinder receiver 17 of the cassette carriage 4.

A pair of auxiliary frames 64 are further provided outside the pair of frames 61, and a positioning busher 65 is provided at each upper end. The positioning pusher 65 is used for the plate cylinder supporting member 6 in the raised position.
The end of the shaft 15a of the plate cylinder 15 held at 2 is pushed to perform positioning in the axial direction.

Further, one of the pair of auxiliary frames 64 (on the left side in the drawing) is provided with a detecting section 66 of the phase detecting means. This phase detecting means is for detecting that when the plate cylinder 15 held on the plate cylinder support member 62 is rotated, the plate cylinder 15 has reached a predetermined phase (rotation angle position). As shown in FIG.
It comprises a light projecting unit 66a and a light receiving unit 66b arranged so as to sandwich a part of 5a, and an output signal of the light receiving unit 66b is input to an angle detection circuit (not shown). On the other hand, on the shaft 15a of the plate cylinder 15, a flat portion 15b is formed at a portion monitored by the phase detecting means 66. In FIG. 14, arrows represent light beams, and the fact that a plurality of arrows are parallel indicates that the light beams are parallel light beams obtained by a laser beam or the like. The phase detection by this phase detecting means is performed as follows. That is, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 14B, when the plane portion 15b of the shaft 15a is inclined with respect to the light beam from the light projecting portion 66a to the light receiving portion 66b, the amount of the light beam blocked by the shaft 15a is large. As shown in (a), when the plane portion 15b faces downward and is substantially parallel to the light beam, the amount of the shaft 15a blocking the light beam decreases. Thus, the angle detection circuit monitors the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 66b while rotating the shaft 15a of the plate cylinder 15, and detects the time when the amount of received light is maximized.
It is possible to detect that the plate cylinder 15 has reached a predetermined reference phase (the position where the plane portion 15b faces directly below), and it is possible to detect the phase of the rotating plate cylinder 15 based on the reference phase. This signal is output to a control circuit that controls the motor that rotates the plate cylinder 15 via the roller 63, and the control circuit stops the plate cylinder 15 at a desired phase position by a signal from the phase detection unit. The motor can be stopped as described above.

In FIG. 13, reference numeral 70 denotes a crane hook of a plate cylinder automatic exchange crane 9 for transferring a plate cylinder from the plate cylinder pallet station 8 (see FIG. 2) to the plate cylinder phase determining device 6. The crane hook 70 is connected to the shaft 15a of the plate cylinder 15.
Has a structure that can be held outside the support position by the plate cylinder support member 62, and the transport rail 10 is held by a holding mechanism (not shown) (this structure will be described later).
, A direction perpendicular to the conveyance rail 10 and movable in a horizontal direction (YY direction) and a vertical direction (ZZ direction). For this reason, the crane hook 70
The plate cylinder is held from above, and it is lowered from directly above the plate cylinder support member 62, and the shaft 15a of the plate cylinder is
The plate cylinder 15 can be supplied to the plate cylinder support member 62 by the operation of retracting and rising in the X-X direction, and receiving the plate cylinder from the plate cylinder support member 62 by the reverse operation. Can be lifted.

Next, the operation of positioning the plate cylinder by the plate cylinder positioning device 6 and supplying it to the cassette carriage will be described. With the plate cylinder support member 62 in the raised position, the crane hook 7
0 carries the plate cylinder 15 and the rollers 6 of the plate cylinder support member 62
Put on top of 3. Next, the positioning busher 65 is operated, and the shaft 15 of the plate cylinder 15 held on the roller 63 is moved.
Press the end of a to position in the axial direction. Next, the motor connected to the roller 63 is operated to rotate the roller 63 to rotate the plate cylinder 15, the phase detecting means detects the phase of the rotating plate cylinder, and the control circuit outputs the detection signal to the detection signal. Based on this, the motor driving the roller 63 is stopped. As a result, the plate cylinder 15 held by the rollers 63 is positioned at a predetermined phase and stops. On the other hand, before or after or in parallel with this operation, an empty cassette carriage 4 is fed into the plate cylinder phase determining device 6 and stopped. After that, the plate cylinder supporting member 62 is lowered, and the shaft 15a of the plate cylinder 15 held is placed on the plate cylinder receiver 17 of the cassette carriage 4. As described above, the plate cylinder can be supplied to and placed on the cassette carriage 4 with the positioning of the plate cylinder in the axial direction and the phase direction.

Next, the operation of taking out the plate cylinder 15 from the cassette carriage 4 will be described. When the plate cylinder support member 62 is in the lowered position, the cassette carriage 4 carrying the plate cylinder 15 is conveyed and stops at a predetermined position in the plate cylinder phase determining device 6. Next, the plate cylinder supporting member 62 moves up to lift the shaft 15a of the plate cylinder 15 placed on the cassette carriage 4. After that, the plate cylinder 15 placed on the plate cylinder support member 62 is held and lifted by the crane hook 70, and is conveyed to a predetermined position. As described above, the plate cylinder is discharged from the cassette carriage 4. Instead of lifting the plate cylinder 15 on the cassette carriage 4 with the plate cylinder support member 62, the crane hook 70 is moved to the shaft 15a of the plate cylinder 15 held by the cassette carriage 4.
May be lowered to a position where it can be supported, and the straight plate cylinder 15 may be received from the cassette carriage 4 and lifted.

Next, another apparatus provided in the preparation room 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. The plate cylinder pallet station 8 is arranged near the side of the plate cylinder phasing device 6. This plate cylinder pallet station 8 is shown in FIG.
5. As shown in FIG. 16, there are two rows of conveyors 73A and 73B arranged in parallel. This conveyor 73
A and 73B can be transported horizontally on the plate cylinder pallet 75 and in the direction of arrows XX (direction parallel to the transport rail 10 shown in FIG. 2). In the present embodiment, the roller conveyor 76A is used. , 76B and its roller conveyor 76
Geared motor 77 for rotating and driving A and 76B respectively
A, 77B. In addition, the conveyor 73 of each row
A and 73B each have a size that allows three plate cylinder pallets 75 to be loaded and stocked,
Side guide 78 for guiding the side of plate cylinder pallet 75
And stoppers 79 and 80 for positioning and stopping each plate cylinder pallet 75 at a predetermined position. The stopper 80 is configured to move up and down to an operating position for positioning the plate cylinder pallet 75 and a retracted position that does not interfere with the movement of the plate cylinder pallet 75.

The AGV 7 is a conveyor 8 for holding and holding a plate cylinder pallet 75 on the upper surface and for carrying in and out.
2 (for example, a roller conveyor) and can be stopped at one end of the conveyors 73A and 73B in each row of the plate cylinder pallet station 8 by automatic traveling. And AG
When the V7 is stopped at one end of the conveyor 73A or 73B, the conveyor 82 of the AGV 7 conveys the plate cylinder pallet 75 at the same height and in the same direction as the conveyors 73A and 73B of the plate cylinder pallet station 8. Have been. The conveyor 82 of the AGV 7 and the conveyors 73A, 73B of the plate cylinder pallet station 8 transfer the plate cylinder pallet 75 from the AGV 7 to the plate cylinder pallet station 8 and, conversely, transfer the plate cylinder pallet 75 from the plate cylinder pallet station 8 to the AGV 7. It is configured to operate in conjunction with a control device (not shown) so that it can be mounted.

The plate cylinder pallet 75 is provided for holding the plate cylinder 15 thereon. As shown in FIG. 17, a frame portion 84 and supporting members 85 provided on both upper surfaces of the frame portion 84 are provided.
And a shaft end regulating guide 86. Support member 85
Is provided with a shallow substantially V-shaped groove 85a for supporting the shaft 15a of the plate cylinder 15. The plate cylinder 15 is supported by the groove 85a and can be taken in and out upward. The shaft end regulating guide 86 is provided so as to guide the end of the shaft 15a toward the center when the plate cylinder 15 is placed on the plate cylinder pallet 75, whereby the axial direction of the plate cylinder placed on the plate cylinder pallet 75 is set. Can be positioned. In the present embodiment, the plate cylinder pallet 75 is shown as holding three plate cylinders 15, but the number of plate cylinders held can be increased or decreased as necessary.

In FIG. 1, a plate cylinder automatic exchange crane 9
Transfers the plate cylinder from the plate cylinder pallet station 8 to the plate cylinder phasing device 6, and transfers the plate cylinder from the plate cylinder phasing device 6 or the cassette carriage 4 at that position to the plate cylinder pallet station 8. The details will be described with reference to FIGS. The automatic plate cylinder changing crane 9 has a crane hook 70 for holding the shaft 15a of the plate cylinder 15, and a holding mechanism 90 for holding the same. The holding mechanism 90 includes a first moving carriage 93 that runs on a rail 92 that extends over the plate cylinder phasing device 6 and the plate cylinder pallet station 8 in the Y-Y direction,
A second moving vehicle 96 that runs on a rail 95 formed in the X-X direction on the first moving vehicle 93, and an elevating mechanism 98 mounted on the second moving vehicle 96 and elevating the crane hook 70, etc. Have. Thus, the first moving carriage 93 is moved onto the plate cylinder pallet station 8, and the second moving carriage 96 is moved to a position slightly off the axis 15a of the plate cylinder 15 from which the crane hook 70 is to be taken out, as shown in FIG. The crane hook 70 is lowered by the lifting mechanism 98 in that state,
Is moved horizontally to pass the shaft supporting portion at the lower end of the crane hook 70 under the shaft 15a of the plate cylinder 15, and then the crane hook 70 is raised by the lifting mechanism 98, whereby the plate on the plate cylinder pallet station 8 is moved. The plate cylinder 15 can be taken out from the cylinder pallet 75, and the plate cylinder 15 can be placed on the plate cylinder pallet 75 by the reverse operation. Further, by moving the first movable carriage 93 above the plate cylinder phasing device 6 and performing the above-described operation, the plate cylinder 15 can be supplied to and discharged from the plate cylinder phasing device 6.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the preparation chamber 2 is also provided with an ink tank table 100 for temporarily storing the ink tank, and the ink tank is transported by an unmanned transport vehicle. Further, the preparation room 2 includes a pan cover producing apparatus for producing a cover for an ink pan, a region for cleaning and assembling a doctor, a region for cleaning an ink pump, a furnisher roll, an applicator, and the like. (Not shown).

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the cassette carriage transporting device 5 extends to the side of the printing press 3 in the printing press room 1. At the printing press 3, as shown in FIG. 20, the exchange carriage transport rail 102 is provided so as to be orthogonal to the transport rail 10 of the cassette carriage transport device 5 so as to be located before and after each printing unit 3a. A cassette exchange cart 104 is held on the exchange cart transport rail 102. The cassette exchange cart 104 is provided between the cassette cart transport device 5 and the printing unit 3a.
And its configuration is described in detail in Japanese Patent Application No. 8-173016. Since the cassette exchange cart 104 is not directly related to the present invention, it will be briefly described here. When the cassette exchanging cart 104 is stopped at the illustrated position, that is, at a position straddling the transport rail 10, the cassette exchanging cart 104 allows the cassette cart 4 to pass through and lifts the predetermined cassette cart 4 stopped in the cassette exchanging cart. In addition, the cassette carriage 4 can be held and moved in front of the printing unit 3a, and the cassette carriage 4 can be held in the printing unit 3a in cooperation with a cassette transfer device provided in the printing unit 3a. It can be sent to Further, the cassette exchange cart 104 moves behind the printing unit 3a without the cassette cart 4 mounted thereon, receives the used cassette cart 4 from the printing unit 3a, and then receives the transport rail 1
The cassette carriage 4 can be moved to a position where it straddles 0 and the cassette carriage 4 can be lowered onto the transport rail 10.

Next, the operation of the entire external setup system for a printing press provided with the plate cylinder replacing system having the above configuration will be described. In the following description of the operation, if there is no description that the operation is performed manually, the operation is automatically performed by a sequence control device (not shown). During a normal printing operation, the cassette carriage 4 is set in each printing unit 3a as shown in FIG.

During the printing operation, preparation for replacing the cassette carriage is performed in the preparation room 2. That is, in the preparation room 2,
A predetermined number of cassette carts 4 for replacement are provided in the preparation room chain 3.
Aligned at a predetermined pitch p ₁ on the 5A, it is connected to the preparation chamber chain 35A. Note that this alignment work is performed manually. Next, the preparation room chain 35A travels and conveys the plurality of cassette carts 4, and the leading cassette cart 4 stops at the transfer section A. Then, with respect to the leading cassette truck 4 located at the transfer portion A, the ink tank 24,
Inking parts such as the ink pump 25 (see FIG. 3) are mounted manually or by an automatic crane.

Next, the cassette carriage transport device 5 is operated again, and the first cassette carriage 4 is moved to the transfer section B and the second cassette carriage 4 is moved to the transfer section A by the procedure described with reference to FIG. Stop at that position. Before this operation, a plate cylinder pallet 75 on which a new plate cylinder 15 is placed is placed in the plate cylinder pallet station 8 by an AGV.
7 and stocked. Then, the transfer portion B of the cassette carriage 4 (in the plate cylinder phase determining device 6).
Before or after or in parallel with the moving operation to the plate cylinder, the plate cylinder automatic exchange crane 9 takes out a new plate cylinder 15 from the plate cylinder pallet 75 and places it on the roller 63 of the plate cylinder support member 62 of the plate cylinder phase determining device 6 ( (See FIG. 13). At this time, the plate cylinder support member 62 is waiting at the raised position. When the plate cylinder 15 is supplied, the plate cylinder phase determining device 6 performs positioning of the plate cylinder 15 in the axial direction, then rotates the plate cylinder 15, detects the phase by the phase detecting means, and determines a predetermined phase position. And stop. By this time, the cassette cart 4
Moves into the plate cylinder phasing device 6 and stops. After the phase is determined, the plate cylinder support member 62 descends, and the plate cylinder 1
5 is placed on the cassette cart 4 below it.

On the other hand, in parallel with the phase determination by the plate cylinder phase determining device 6 and the operation of supplying the plate cylinder to the cassette truck, the inking parts are manually or automatically moved to the cassette truck 4 located at the transfer portion A. Mounted by a crane or the like. The mounting operation of the inking parts may be performed on the cassette cart 4 stopped at the transfer section B.

Next, the cassette carriage transport device 5 starts operating again, and the first cassette carriage 4 is connected to the printing machine room chain 35C and sent out according to the procedure described with reference to FIG. In transfer part B, 3
The cassette carriage 4 is stopped at the transfer section A (see FIG. 11D). In the plate cylinder phase determining device 6, after the cassette carriage 4 is sent out, the plate cylinder support member 62 is raised,
Prepare for the next operation. And in the same way as described above,
A new plate cylinder 15 is supplied from the plate cylinder pallet station 8 to the plate cylinder phasing device 6, and the plate cylinder phasing device 6 performs positioning and phasing of the plate cylinder in the axial direction. 4 At the same time, the inking parts are mounted on the cassette cart 4 in the transfer section A.

By repeating the same operation, a new plate cylinder 15 is automatically mounted in a predetermined phase on the cassette carriage 4 successively sent to the transfer section B.
Moreover, inking necessary parts are also mounted, then the cassette carriage 4 is transported to the next printing machine 3 while maintaining a constant pitch p ₂ by press chamber chain 35C. After that, the predetermined number of cassette carts 4 are sent into the cassette exchange cart 104 waiting at a position straddling the cassette cart transport device 5 in FIG. 20, and stand by for the cassette cart exchange for the printing unit 3a. .

When a predetermined printing operation is completed in the printing press 3, a preparation operation for discharging the cassette carriage 4 in each printing unit 3a is manually performed. After the preparation work, the cassette exchange cart 104 lifts and holds the fed cassette cart 4, and then moves to the front of the corresponding printing unit 3a. Next, the printing unit 3a
The used cassette cart is discharged to the rear of the printing unit 3a and sent to the cassette exchange cart 104 waiting at that position, and a new cassette cart is sent from the cassette exchange cart 104 from the front. An exchange takes place. After that, the cassette exchanging cart 104 holding the used cassette cart 4 is again moved onto the cassette cart conveying device 5 and moves the cassette cart 4 to the conveying rail 1.
Lower to 0.

On the other hand, in each printing unit, the new cassette carriage 4 sent in is set at a predetermined position and the plate cylinder 15
Are supported by bearings on the printing unit side and connected to a drive mechanism, and other necessary printing preparation operations are performed manually and automatically. Then, the operation of the printing press is restarted.

The cassette cart 4 sent out onto the cassette cart transport unit 5 is then transferred to the preparation room 2 by the cassette cart transport unit 5. Then, when the leading cassette carriage reaches the transfer portion B and stops, the plate cylinder supporting member 62 of the plate cylinder phasing device 6 rises to lift the plate cylinder 15, and then the plate cylinder automatic exchange crane 9 moves the plate cylinder Torso 15
Is lifted and transferred onto an empty plate cylinder pallet 75 on the plate cylinder pallet station 8. Next, the cassette carriage transport device 5 operates again to move the first cassette carriage 4 to the transfer section A and stop the second cassette carriage at the transfer section B. Then, the inking parts such as the ink pump and the ink tank are removed from the cassette carriage stopped at the transfer section A, and the plate cylinder is removed from the cassette carriage stopped at the transfer section B. Transfer to By repeating the same operation, the used cassette carts 4 are returned to the preparation room 2 one after another, and after removing each part such as the plate cylinder, the cassette carriages 4 are connected to the preparation room chain 35A and conveyed at a small pitch. It is collected and stored at a predetermined location. On the other hand, the used plate cylinder transferred to the plate cylinder pallet station 8 is then transferred to the AGV 7 while being placed on the plate cylinder pallet 75, and transported to a predetermined storage place by the AGV 7.

As described above, in this embodiment, it is possible to automate the operation of taking out the plate cylinder from the cassette carriage 4 and deciding the phase of the plate cylinder with respect to the cassette carriage and placing it on the printing unit. An external setup system using a cassette carriage that can be taken in and out can be used very effectively.

[0048]

As described above, according to the plate cylinder transport system of the present invention, the used plate cylinder is loaded on the printing press and transferred directly from the cassette carriage transported to the preparation room or the plate cylinder phasing. Through the device, the used plate cylinder is taken out by the plate cylinder automatic change crane, placed on the plate cylinder pallet of the plate cylinder pallet station, and then the pallet loaded with the plate cylinder from the plate cylinder pallet station is transferred to an automatic carrier. Sending out,
It can be automatically transported to a predetermined place such as a plate cylinder warehouse by an automatic transport vehicle, and conversely, a plate cylinder pallet loaded with a new plate cylinder from a plate cylinder warehouse by an automatic transport vehicle can be transferred to a plate cylinder pallet station. The plate cylinder is taken out of the pallet on the plate cylinder pallet station by a plate cylinder automatic change crane and supplied to the plate cylinder phasing device. After the initial determination of the plate cylinder, the plate cylinder can be mounted on an empty pallet truck, and the handling of the plate cylinder with respect to the cassette truck can be automated.

For this reason, a cassette carriage carrying a plate cylinder, an ink pan, an ink tank, an ink pump and the like can be taken in and out of the printing unit, and when switching the items of the gravure printing machine, the plate located in the printing unit is switched. By ejecting the cassette carriage carrying the cylinder, ink pan, ink tank, ink pump, etc. from the printing unit, and feeding the cassette carriage carrying a new plate cylinder, ink pan, ink tank, ink pump, etc. to the printing unit, it is extremely short. When implementing an external setup system in which plate cylinders, ink pans, ink tanks, ink pumps, etc. are replaced in a short time, the work load on workers can be greatly reduced, and the effect that the external setup system is extremely effective is implemented. Have.

Here, the plate cylinder phasing device is provided with a pair of frames arranged on both sides of the cassette carriage traveling path at an interval so as to allow the cassette carriage to pass therethrough. A plate-cylinder support member that is provided so as to be lifted and lowered with respect to the top, and can be rotated by placing the axis of the plate cylinder on the upper end; and when the plate-cylinder support member holds and rotates the plate cylinder, the plate cylinder is rotated. Phase detecting means for detecting the phase of the plate cylinder, and control means for stopping a plate cylinder rotating on the plate cylinder supporting member at a predetermined phase position by a signal from the phase detecting means, With the member in the raised position,
Receiving the plate cylinder sent by the plate cylinder automatic exchange crane, determining the phase, and then lowering the plate cylinder support member, so that the plate cylinder is placed on a cassette carriage waiting below. By doing so, it is possible to adopt a cassette carriage traveling route in which a cassette carriage on which a plate cylinder is to be loaded is loaded from one side between a pair of frames, the plate cylinder is loaded, and then sent out to the opposite side. Therefore, the traveling path of the cassette carriage can be simplified, and the attachment / detachment of the plate cylinder to / from the cassette carriage can be performed simply by elevating and lowering the plate cylinder support member, so that effects such as simplification of the device structure can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a printing press room and a preparation room in which an external setup system of a printing press using a plate cylinder transport system according to an embodiment of the present invention is arranged.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the portion shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a cassette cart.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the cassette cart shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a part of a connecting jig and a transport chain attached to the cassette cart shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic side views for explaining an attaching / detaching operation of a cassette cart to / from a transport chain;

8 (a) and 8 (b) are schematic side views for explaining an attaching / detaching operation of a cassette cart to / from a transport chain.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the configuration of a transport chain of the cassette truck transport device.

FIG. 10 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e)
Is a schematic side view illustrating a cassette cart transfer and transport operation by a plurality of transport chains.

FIG. 11 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e)
Is a schematic side view illustrating a cassette cart transfer and transport operation by a plurality of transport chains.

FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 2;

13A is a schematic front view of a plate cylinder phase determining device, and FIG. 13B is a schematic side view thereof.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are diagrams for explaining the operation principle of a detection unit of a phase detection unit;

FIG. 15 is a schematic plan view of a plate cylinder pallet station.

16 is a schematic side view of the plate cylinder pallet station shown in FIG.

17 (a) is a schematic plan view of a plate cylinder pallet, (b) is a schematic side view thereof, (c) is a schematic end view thereof, and (d) is an enlarged side view of an end portion of the plate cylinder pallet.

18 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line EE in FIG. 2;

FIG. 19 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line FF in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a schematic plan view showing a gravure printing machine and its vicinity.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 printing press room 2 preparation room 3 gravure printing machine 3a printing unit 4 cassette carriage 5 cassette carriage transfer device 6 plate cylinder phase determination device 7 automatic transfer vehicle (AGV) 8 plate cylinder pallet station 9 plate cylinder automatic exchange crane 10 transfer rail 15 Plate cylinder 15a Shaft 17 Plate cylinder receiver 35A, 35B, 35C Transport chains 36A, 36B Connecting member 42 Chain hook 62 Plate cylinder support member 63 Roller 66 Detector 70 Crane hook 75 Plate cylinder pallet

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plate cylinder and an inking part are mounted, and are carried into a lower region of a printing unit of a gravure printing machine.
A cassette cart transporter that transports a cassette cart that can be ejected, and a cassette cart that carries the cassette cart between a printing press room in which a gravure printing machine is arranged and a preparation chamber that exchanges and assembles plate cylinders and inking parts for the cassette cart. An apparatus, a plate cylinder phasing device provided in the preparation room and on a cassette trolley transfer path by the cassette trolley transfer device, for determining an initial phase of the plate cylinder and supplying the plate cylinder to the cassette trolley, and provided in the preparation room. A plate cylinder pallet station, which receives the plate cylinder pallet from the automatic transfer vehicle in interlocking operation with an automatic transfer vehicle that automatically runs on the plate drum pallet,
A stock cylinder and a plate cylinder pallet station for discharging a plate cylinder pallet to the automatic carrier by interlocking operation with the automatic carrier, and transferring the plate cylinder from the plate cylinder pallet station to the plate cylinder phasing device, and A plate cylinder transport system for a gravure printing press, comprising: a plate cylinder phase determination device or a plate cylinder automatic changing crane for transferring a plate cylinder from the cassette carriage to the plate cylinder pallet station. 2. A pair of frames arranged on both sides of the cassette carriage traveling path at intervals so as to allow the cassette carriage to pass therethrough, and wherein the pair of frames are arranged. A plate cylinder supporting member that is provided so as to ascend and descend, and can be rotated by placing the axis of the plate cylinder on the upper end; and when the plate cylinder supporting member holds and rotates the plate cylinder, the plate Phase detection means for detecting the phase of the trunk,
Control means for stopping the plate cylinder rotating on the plate cylinder support member at a predetermined phase position by a signal from the phase detection means, and wherein the plate cylinder support member is in the raised position. Receiving the plate cylinder sent by the plate cylinder automatic exchange crane, determining the phase, and then lowering the plate cylinder support member so that the plate cylinder is mounted on a cassette carriage waiting below. The plate cylinder transport system for a gravure printing machine according to claim 1, wherein the plate cylinder transport system is configured.