TW201730016A - Gravure printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A gravure printing apparatus including a gravure cylinder, an ink supplier, a first blade, a first scraper, and a second blade is provided. The gravure cylinder has a circumferential surface and at least one trench. The ink supplier is used to supply an ink onto the circumferential surface. The first blade is disposed above the gravure cylinder. The first scraper is disposed as corresponding to the first blade. The second blade is movably disposed above the gravure cylinder. The first blade is used to wipe the ink located on the circumferential surface to form an ink layer on the circumferential surface. The second blade is used to wipe the ink away and make a part of the ink being filled into the trench. The first scraper is adapted to drive the ink accumulated on the first blade flow back to the circumferential surface.

Description

Gravure printing device

This invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a gravure printing apparatus.

Electronic component printing technology is a commonly used method in the electronics manufacturing industry (eg, circuit boards, panels, solar, or semiconductor industries) to fabricate wiring or other patterned structures on electronic components. In the case of gravure printing, the patterned structure to be printed on the object is usually formed on the surface of the intaglio cylinder in the form of a groove. In the gravure printing process, it is necessary to spray ink on the surface of the gravure cylinder, and then fill a part of the ink into the groove. Next, the ink on the surface of the gravure cylinder is removed to expose the ink within the grooves. Next, the surface of the intaglio cylinder is brought into contact with a blanket cylinder. During the relative rotation of the gravure cylinder and the blanket cylinder, the ink in the grooves is transferred to the surface of the blanket cylinder. Thereafter, by transferring the surface ink of the blanket cylinder onto the target, the patterned structure can be printed with ink on the target.

However, in the process of removing the ink on the surface of the gravure cylinder to expose the ink in the groove, the removed ink is liable to drip to the external environment and cannot be recycled. On the other hand, after the ink in the grooves is transferred onto the surface of the blanket cylinder, there is still residual ink in the grooves. In the case where the surface of the gravure cylinder cannot be kept wet, the ink remaining in the groove is easily dried and solidified. If the ink solidified in the grooves is not removed, the print quality will be affected. Generally, the ink solidified in the groove needs to be removed by the solvent, and the machine needs to be temporarily stopped, which may cause the process to be delayed.

The embodiment of the invention provides a gravure printing device, which not only helps to improve printing quality and printing efficiency, but also reduces waste of raw materials to reduce costs.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a gravure printing apparatus including a gravure cylinder, an ink supply unit, a first doctor blade, a first ink return member, and a second doctor blade. The gravure cylinder is adapted to rotate along a first axis, wherein the gravure cylinder has a circumferential surface and at least one groove on the circumferential surface. The ink supply unit is used to provide ink on the circumferential surface. The first scraper is disposed above the intaglio cylinder. The first ink return member corresponds to the first doctor blade setting. The second scraper is movably disposed above the intaglio cylinder, wherein the second scraper is located on one side of the first scraper, and the first scraper is located between the first ink returning member and the second scraping blade. In the first state, the second doctor blade is spaced from the ink on the circumferential surface, and the first doctor blade wipes the ink on the circumferential surface to form an ink layer on the circumferential surface. In the second state, the second blade abuts the circumferential surface to scrape the ink layer and fill a portion of the ink into the groove, wherein the first ink return member is adapted to drive the ink accumulated on the first doctor blade to return to the circumferential surface .

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a gravure printing apparatus including a gravure cylinder, an ink supply unit, a first scraper, a second scraper, and at least one spiral drum. The gravure cylinder is adapted to rotate along a first axis, wherein the gravure cylinder has a circumferential surface and at least one groove on the circumferential surface. The ink supply unit is used to provide ink on the circumferential surface. The first scraper is disposed above the intaglio cylinder. The second scraper is movably disposed above the intaglio cylinder and on one side of the first scraper. The spiral drum is disposed above the intaglio cylinder and is located on one side of the first doctor blade. In the first state, the second doctor blade and the spiral drum are spaced apart from the ink on the circumferential surface, and the first doctor blade wipes the ink on the circumferential surface to form an ink layer on the circumferential surface. In the second state, the second doctor blade is spaced from the ink layer, and the spiral roller is in contact with the ink layer. In the third state, the second blade abuts the circumferential surface to scrape off the ink layer and fill a portion of the ink.

Based on the above, the gravure printing apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention can uniformly apply ink to the circumferential surface of the intaglio cylinder through a doctor blade, a spiral drum or a combination of the two. On the other hand, the ink repellent member corresponding to the blade setting can timely drive the ink accumulated on the doctor blade to flow back to the circumferential surface of the gravure cylinder to prevent the ink accumulated on the doctor blade from dripping to the external environment, and the gravure cylinder The circumference of the surface remains moist. Thereby, the gravure printing apparatus of the present invention can not only reduce waste of raw materials to reduce cost, but also can prevent drying and solidification of ink remaining in the grooves, thereby improving printing quality and printing efficiency.

In order to make the invention more apparent, the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawings are set forth below.

1A to 1C are side views showing a gravure printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention applied to a roll-to-roll process. Referring first to FIG. 1A, in the present embodiment, the intaglio printing apparatus 100 can be applied to electronic component printing. The gravure printing apparatus 100 includes a gravure cylinder 110, an ink supply unit 120, a first scraper 130, a first ink returning member 140, and a second scraping blade 150. In detail, the gravure cylinder 110 extends, for example, along a first axis A1 parallel to the Z-axis, and is adapted to be rotated along a first axis A1 by driving of a driving device such as a motor (not shown). The gravure cylinder 110 has a circumferential surface 111 and at least one groove 112 (illustratively illustrated in plurality) on the circumferential surface 111, wherein the intaglio cylinder 110 can be made of metal or alloy, and the circumferential surface 111 can be coated with chromium (Cr), diamond-like carbon (DLC), chrome-based carbon or other suitable coating materials for surface strengthening.

The ink supply unit 120 may be disposed above the intaglio cylinder 110 and spaced apart from the circumferential surface 111. For example, the ink supply unit 120 may be a dot supply unit adapted to move back and forth in a direction parallel to the first axis A1 to uniformly supply the ink 10 onto the circumferential surface 111 by spray coating. Alternatively, the ink supply unit 120 may be composed of a plurality of dot supply units arranged along the extending direction of the first axis A1, so that the ink 10 can be moved without moving the dot supply elements in a direction parallel to the first axis A1. It is uniformly supplied to the circumferential surface 111. Still alternatively, the ink supply unit 120 may be a line supply unit parallel to the first axis A1, so that the ink supply unit 10 can be uniformly supplied to the circumferential surface without moving the line supply unit back and forth in a direction parallel to the first axis A1. 111 on. The type and nature of the ink 10 depend on the production requirements. For example, a metal mesh or a layout in a touch panel structure is required, and the ink 10 needs to have conductivity. However, the gravure printing apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the fabrication of a metal grid or wiring in a touch panel structure, and can also be applied to a circuit board, a solar panel, a lighting element (for example, an organic light emitting diode), and sensing. In the manufacturing process of components or other electronic components, the ink may have conductivity, insulation or heat insulation, depending on the production requirements.

The first scraper 130 is disposed above the intaglio cylinder 110. The first scraper 130 extends, for example, in a direction parallel to the Z-axis and is spaced apart from the circumferential surface 111. In this embodiment, the first scraper 130 and the second scraper 150 may be made of metal, alloy (for example, stainless steel) or non-metal (for example, rubber), and the surface may be coated with chromium (Cr), diamond-like. Carbon (DLC), chrome-based carbon, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or other suitable coating materials for surface strengthening. The first ink returning member 140 is disposed corresponding to the first doctor blade 130, and may be made of a material such as metal, alloy (for example, stainless steel) or non-metal (for example, rubber). The surface of the first ink return member 140 may be coated with a coating (e.g., a fluoride coating) to reduce the coefficient of friction. As shown in FIG. 1A, the geometric shape of the first ink-returning member 140 may be a triangle, a quadrangle, another polygon, a circle or an ellipse, but is not limited thereto, and is illustrated by a triangle here. Since the surface of the first doctor blade 130 and the surface of the first ink refill member 140 are respectively coated with the above coating layer, slight collision or friction is less likely to cause damage to the first doctor blade 130 and the first ink repellent member 140.

In the present embodiment, the first ink-returning member 140 is, for example, locked, integrally formed or pivoted to the first doctor blade 130, and extends in a direction parallel to the Z-axis. The second scraper 150 is movably disposed above the intaglio cylinder 110, adapted to move closer to the gravure cylinder 110 to contact the circumferential surface 111, or to move away from the gravure cylinder 110 to maintain a spacing from the circumferential surface 111. As shown in FIG. 1A, most of the first ink return member 140 protrudes from the wiping surface 131 of the first doctor blade 130. The second scraper 150 is located at one side of the first scraper 130, wherein the second scraper 150 extends, for example, in a direction parallel to the Z-axis, and the first scraper 130 is substantially located between the first inking member 140 and the second scraper 150 . On the other hand, when the ink supply unit 120 sprays the ink 10 on the circumferential surface 111 of the rotating gravure cylinder 110, the ink 10 flows toward both side edges of the intaglio cylinder 110. To this end, the gravure printing apparatus 100 may be optionally provided with at least one third scraper 160 (shown schematically) on one side edge of the gravure cylinder 110 for blocking the ink 10 flowing to the side edges, making the ink 10 difficult. Drip into the outside environment. In other embodiments, the gravure printing apparatus may be configured with two or more third scrapers disposed on one side of the intaglio cylinder, or at least one third scraper disposed on opposite side edges of the intaglio cylinder.

In the first state shown in FIG. 1A, the gravure cylinder 110 is rotated along the first axis A1, the first blade 130 is in contact with the ink 10 on the circumferential surface 111, and the second blade 150 is held with the ink 10 on the circumferential surface 111. spacing. At this time, the first doctor blade 130 wipes the ink 10 on the circumferential surface 111 of the rotating gravure cylinder 110 through the wiping surface 131 to uniformly form the ink layer 11 on the circumferential surface 111. On the other hand, the first ink refill member 140 has a stopper surface 141 facing the circumferential surface 111 and is transverse to the wiping surface 131. The ink 10 accumulated on the wiping surface 131 flows toward the stopper surface 141 and is blocked after contacting the stopper surface 141. Taking the first ink repelling member 140 fixed to the first doctor blade 130 as an example, the ink 10 blocked thereby can be returned to the circumferential surface 111 by gravity. For example, the first ink-removing member 140 pivotally connected to the first scraper 130 can be rotated relative to the first scraper 130 along an axis parallel to the Z-axis, and the stop surface 141 is pushed and accumulated on the wiping surface. The ink 10 on 131 is reflowed onto the circumferential surface 111. Through the combination of the above two first doctor blades 130 and the first ink return member 140, the ink 10 accumulated on the first doctor blade 130 can be prevented from dripping to the external environment, and the usage rate of the ink 10 can be improved, thereby reducing waste of raw materials. To reduce costs. It is worth mentioning that the first scraper 130 can be swung relative to the intaglio cylinder 110 to adjust the angle between the wiping surface 131 and the circumferential surface 111. The adjustment range of the angle is approximately between 15 and 75 degrees. .

Next, when switching from the first state shown in FIG. 1A to the second state shown in FIG. 1B, the second scraper 150 is moved closer to the intaglio cylinder 110 and is in contact with the circumferential surface 111. Since both the second scraper 150 and the surface of the intaglio cylinder 110 are reinforced, slight collision or rubbing is less likely to cause damage to the second scraper 150 and the intaglio cylinder 110. The second scraper 150 can scrape the ink layer 11 on the circumferential surface 111 of the rotating gravure cylinder 110 through the wiping surface 151, and fill a portion of the ink 10 into the groove 112. Another portion of the ink 10 flows onto the wiping surface 151 and accumulates on the wiping surface 151. It is worth mentioning that the second scraper 150 can be swung relative to the intaglio cylinder 110 to adjust the angle between the wiping surface 151 and the circumferential surface 111. The adjustment range of the angle is approximately between 15 degrees and 75 degrees. .

In the present embodiment, the gravure printing apparatus 100 is adapted for a roll to roll process to match the gravure cylinder 110 with the blanket cylinder 20. The blanket cylinder 20 extends, for example, along an axis A2 parallel to the Z-axis and is adapted to be driven by a drive such as a motor (not shown) to rotate along the axis A2. The direction of rotation of the gravure cylinder 110 is opposite to the direction of rotation of the blanket cylinder 20. After the ink layer 11 on the circumferential surface 111 of the rotating gravure cylinder 110 is scraped off and a portion of the ink 10 is filled into the groove 112, the ink 10 in the groove 112 is transferred to the circumferential surface 111 of the intaglio cylinder 110. The circumferential surface 21 of the offset cylinder 20 that is in contact with it.

Referring to FIG. 1C, the target 30 moves through the lower side of the blanket cylinder 20 in a direction D parallel to the X-axis. After the ink 10 in the groove 112 is transferred onto the circumferential surface 21 of the blanket cylinder 20, the rotating blanket cylinder 20 transfers the ink 10 on the circumferential surface 21 onto the target surface 31 of the object 30 to form The patterned structure 12 is on the target face 31 of the target 30. At this time, the second scraper 150 can be moved away from the gravure cylinder 110 to maintain a distance from the circumferential surface 111. On the other hand, the first ink refill member 140 can drive the ink 10 accumulated on the wiping surface 131 back onto the circumferential surface 111 to form a thin layer on the circumferential surface 111. Thereby, the circumferential surface 111 of the gravure cylinder 110 is kept moist, thereby preventing the ink 10 remaining in the groove 12 from drying and solidifying. In other words, the gravure printing apparatus 100 can reduce the chance of temporary shutdown to remove the ink 10 solidified in the grooves, thereby improving print quality and printing efficiency.

It should be noted that, in other embodiments, the gravure printing device may also choose not to cooperate with the blanket cylinder, but directly transfer the ink in the groove to the target surface of the target to form a patterned structure on the target. On the target side.

Other embodiments are listed below for illustration. It is to be noted that the following embodiments use the same reference numerals and parts of the above-mentioned embodiments, and the same reference numerals are used to refer to the same or similar elements, and the description of the same technical content is omitted. For the description of the omitted portions, reference may be made to the foregoing embodiments, and the following embodiments are not repeated.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a gravure printing apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the gravure printing apparatus 100A of the present embodiment is substantially similar to the gravure printing apparatus 100 of the first embodiment. The main difference between the two is that the gravure printing apparatus 100A further includes a second ink returning member 170, wherein the second ink returning ink The piece 170 is disposed corresponding to the second scraper 150 and is located between the first scraper 130 and the second scraper 150. In detail, the second ink returning member 170 is, for example, locked, integrally formed or pivoted to the second scraper 150, and extends in a direction parallel to the Z-axis. On the other hand, most of the second ink returning member 170 protrudes from the wiping surface 151 of the second doctor blade 150, and faces the circumferential surface 111 of the intaglio cylinder 110 with the stopper surface 171, wherein the stopper surface 171 is transversely The wiping surface 151. The second ink return member 170 may be made of a metal, an alloy (for example, stainless steel) or a non-metal (for example, rubber), and the surface may be coated with a coating (for example, a fluoride coating) to lower the coefficient of friction. As shown in FIG. 2, the geometric shape of the second ink return member 170 may be a triangle, a quadrangle, another polygon, a circle or an ellipse, but is not limited thereto, and is illustrated by a triangle here. Since the surface of the second ink returning member 170 and the surface of the second doctor blade 150 are respectively coated with the above coating layer, slight collision or friction is less likely to cause damage to the second doctor blade 150 and the second ink returning member 170.

For example, when the second blade 150 scrapes the ink layer 11 on the circumferential surface 111 of the rotating gravure cylinder 110 through the wiping surface 151, a part of the ink 10 is filled into the groove 112, and the other portion of the ink 10 is It flows onto the wiping surface 151 and accumulates on the wiping surface 151. The ink 10 accumulated on the wiping surface 151 flows toward the stopper surface 171 and is blocked after contacting the stopper surface 171. When the second scraper 150 moves away from the gravure cylinder 110 to maintain a distance from the circumferential surface 111, the second ink repellent member 170 fixed to the second scraper 150 is taken as an example, and the blocked ink 10 can be recirculated by gravity. To the circumferential surface 111. For example, the second ink returning member 170 pivotally connected to the second scraper 150 can be rotated relative to the second scraper 150 in an axial direction parallel to the Z-axis, and the retaining surface 171 is pushed and accumulated on the scraping surface. The ink 10 on 151 is reflowed onto the circumferential surface 111. Through the combination of the above two second scraper 150 and the second ink returning member 170, the ink 10 accumulated on the second scraping blade 150 can be prevented from dripping to the external environment, and the usage rate of the ink 10 can be improved, thereby reducing waste of raw materials. To reduce costs.

On the other hand, after the second ink returning member 170 drives the ink 10 accumulated on the wiping surface 151 to return to the circumferential surface 111 to form a thin layer on the circumferential surface 111, the circumferential surface 111 of the gravure cylinder 110 is kept moist. Thereby, the ink 10 remaining in the groove 12 is prevented from drying and solidifying. In other words, the gravure printing apparatus 100A can reduce the chance of temporary shutdown to remove the ink 10 solidified in the grooves, thereby improving print quality and printing efficiency.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a gravure printing apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the intaglio printing apparatus 100B of the present embodiment is substantially similar to the intaglio printing apparatus 100 of the first embodiment. The main difference between the two is that the first ink returning member 140 in the intaglio printing apparatus 100B does not overlap with the first doctor blade 130. The first ink refill member 140 is disposed on one side of the wiping surface 131. In detail, the gravure printing apparatus 100B further includes a first carrier 180 in which the first ink returning member 140 is rotatably disposed on the first carrier 180 with the stopper surface 141 facing the circumferential surface 111. Further, the first ink return member 140 selectively opposes the wiping surface 131.

For example, when the first doctor blade 130 wipes the ink 10 on the circumferential surface 111 of the rotating gravure cylinder 110 through the wiping surface 131 to uniformly form the ink layer 11 on the circumferential surface 111, it accumulates on the wiping surface. The ink 10 on the 131 will flow toward the stop surface 141 and will be blocked after contacting the stop surface 141. At this time, the first ink-returning member 140 can be rotated relative to the first carrier 180 in an axis parallel to the Z-axis, and the stopper surface 141 pushes the ink 10 accumulated on the wiping surface 131 back to the circumferential surface 111. In order to prevent the ink 10 accumulated on the first scraper 130 from dripping into the external environment, and increasing the usage rate of the ink 10, waste of raw materials is reduced to reduce the cost.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a gravure printing apparatus in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the intaglio printing apparatus 100C of the present embodiment is substantially similar to the intaglio printing apparatus 100B of the third embodiment. The main difference between the two is that the intaglio printing apparatus 100C further includes a second ink returning member 170 and a second carrier 181. The second ink returning member 170 is disposed corresponding to the second scraping blade 150 and located between the first scraping blade 130 and the second scraping blade 150. On the other hand, the second carrier 181 is located between the first blade 130 and the second blade 150, and the second ink returning member 170 is rotatably disposed on the second carrier 181. The second ink returning member 170 is not connected to the second doctor blade 150, but the second ink-returning member 170 is disposed on one side of the wiping surface 151, and faces the circumferential surface 111 with the stopper surface 171. Further, the second ink return member 170 selectively opposes the wiping surface 151.

For example, when the second blade 150 scrapes the ink layer 11 on the circumferential surface 111 of the rotating gravure cylinder 110 through the wiping surface 151, a part of the ink 10 is filled into the groove 112, and the other portion of the ink 10 is It flows onto the wiping surface 151 and accumulates on the wiping surface 151. The ink 10 accumulated on the wiping surface 151 flows toward the stopper surface 171 and is blocked after contacting the stopper surface 171. When the second scraper 150 moves away from the gravure cylinder 110 to maintain a spacing from the circumferential surface 111, the second ink resinking member 170 can be rotated relative to the second carrier 181 in a timely manner along an axis parallel to the Z-axis to stop the stop surface 171. The ink 10 accumulated on the wiping surface 151 is pushed back onto the circumferential surface 111. In this way, it is possible to prevent the ink 10 accumulated on the second blade 150 from dripping to the external environment, and to increase the usage rate of the ink 10, thereby reducing waste of raw materials to reduce costs.

5A to 5D are side views showing a gravure printing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention applied to a roll to roll process. Referring first to FIG. 5A, the intaglio printing apparatus 100D of the present embodiment is substantially similar to the intaglio printing apparatus 100 of the first embodiment, and the main difference is that the intaglio printing apparatus 100D further includes at least one spiral drum 190 (schematically illustrated One), and the third scraper 160 may or may not be configured, here is exemplified by not configuring the third scraper 160. In detail, the spiral drum 190 is movably disposed above the intaglio cylinder 110 and extends, for example, along a second axis A3 parallel to the Z axis. The spiral drum 190 is located at one side of the first scraper 130, and the first scraper 130 is located between the spiral drum 190 and the second scraper 170. For the setting manner of the ink returning member, please refer to the description of the foregoing embodiment, and details are not described herein again.

In the first state shown in FIG. 5A, the gravure cylinder 110 is rotated along the first axis A1, the first blade 130 is in contact with the ink 10 on the circumferential surface 111, and the second blade 150 and the spiral roller 190 are both in the circumferential surface 111. The upper ink 10 is kept at a pitch. At this time, the first doctor blade 130 wipes the ink 10 on the circumferential surface 111 of the rotating gravure cylinder 110 through the wiping surface 131 to uniformly form the ink layer 11 on the circumferential surface 111. Next, when switching from the first state shown in FIG. 5A to the second state shown in FIG. 5B, the second blade 150 is kept at a pitch from the ink layer 11, and the spiral roller 190 is in contact with the ink layer 11. In detail, the spiral drum 190 does not contact the circumferential surface 111, and the shortest distance between the spiral drum 190 and the circumferential surface 111 is substantially equal to the shortest distance between the first scraper 130 and the circumferential surface 111. For example, when the ink supply unit 120 sprays the ink 10 on the circumferential surface 111 of the rotating gravure cylinder 110, the ink 10 flows toward both side edges of the intaglio cylinder 110. By the spiral roller 190 against the ink layer 11 on the circumferential surface 111 of the rotating gravure cylinder 110, the ink 10 flowing to both side edges of the gravure cylinder 110 can be driven back to the middle of the intaglio cylinder 110, so that the ink 10 is not easily dripped. It falls to the outside environment, and an ink layer 11 having a uniform thickness is formed on the circumferential surface 111 of the gravure cylinder 110.

When switching from the second state shown in FIG. 5B to the third state shown in FIG. 5C, the second scraper 150 is moved closer to the intaglio cylinder 110 and is in contact with the circumferential surface 111. The second scraper 150 can scrape the ink layer 11 on the circumferential surface 111 of the rotating gravure cylinder 110 through the wiping surface 151, and fill a portion of the ink 10 into the groove 112. In the present embodiment, the intaglio printing apparatus 100D is adapted to a roll to roll process to match the gravure cylinder 110 with the blanket cylinder 20. The blanket cylinder 20 extends, for example, along an axis A2 parallel to the Z-axis and is adapted to be driven by a drive of a motor (not shown) to rotate along the axis A2. The direction of rotation of the gravure cylinder 110 is opposite to the direction of rotation of the blanket cylinder 20. After the ink layer 11 on the circumferential surface 111 of the rotating gravure cylinder 110 is scraped off and a portion of the ink 10 is filled into the groove 112, the ink 10 in the groove 112 is transferred to the circumferential surface 111 of the intaglio cylinder 110. The circumferential surface 21 of the offset cylinder 20 that is in contact with it.

Referring to FIG. 5D, the target 30 moves through the lower side of the blanket cylinder 20 in a direction D parallel to the X-axis. After the ink 10 in the groove 112 is transferred onto the circumferential surface 21 of the blanket cylinder 20, the rotating blanket cylinder 20 transfers the ink 10 on the circumferential surface 21 onto the target surface 31 of the object 30 to form The patterned structure 12 is on the target face 31 of the target 30. At this time, the second scraper 150 can be moved away from the gravure cylinder 110 to maintain a distance from the circumferential surface 111.

It is to be noted that the gravure printing apparatuses 100A to 100C of the second to fourth embodiments may be optionally provided with a spiral drum 190 to drive the ink 10 flowing to both side edges of the gravure cylinder 110 to flow back to the middle of the intaglio cylinder 110. The ink 10 is not easily dropped to the outside environment, and an ink layer 11 having a uniform thickness is formed on the circumferential surface 111 of the gravure cylinder 110.

To specifically describe an embodiment in which the ink 10 flowing to both side edges of the gravure cylinder 110 is recirculated through the spiral drum 190 to the middle of the intaglio cylinder 110, various embodiments of the spiral drum 190 and the spiral drum 190 and the intaglio cylinder 110 will be exemplified below. The cooperation and interaction between the two. 6A to 6H are respectively schematic front views showing the cooperation of various spiral rollers and a gravure cylinder. Referring to FIG. 6A, when the spiral drum 190 is in contact with the ink layer 11, the gravure cylinder 110 is rotated along the first axis A1, and the spiral drum 190 is rotated along the second axis A3 parallel to the first axis A1. In the present embodiment, the spiral drum 190 may have two opposite right spiral portions 191 and a left spiral portion 192, wherein the length of the right spiral portion 191 in the Z-axis direction is substantially equal to the length of the left spiral portion 192 in the Z-axis direction. And the boundary line of the two is substantially aligned with the central symmetry line of the gravure cylinder 110 (perpendicular to the Z axis). The gravure cylinder 110 can be divided into two opposite first end portions 113 and second end portions 114 according to this central symmetry line. The right spiral portion 191 corresponds to the first end portion 113 and the left spiral portion 192 corresponds to the second end portion 114. Further, the length of the right spiral portion 191 in the Z-axis direction needs to be greater than or equal to the length of the first end portion 113 in the Z-axis direction, and the length of the left spiral portion 192 in the Z-axis direction needs to be greater than or equal to the second end portion 114. The length in the Z-axis direction.

The spiral drum 190 may be made of a metal or an alloy, and its surface may be coated with chromium (Cr), diamond-like carbon (DLC), chrome-like carbon or other suitable coating material to achieve surface strengthening effects. In the present embodiment, the right spiral portion 191 means that the wire 196 is wound right-handed on the surface of one half of the spiral drum 190, and has this half of the right thread. In contrast, the left spiral portion 192 means that the wire 196 is wound left-handed on the surface of the other half of the spiral drum 190, and the other half of the left thread is provided. The wire 196 may be made of a non-woven fabric, a cotton thread or a polymer material, but is not limited thereto. Thereby, damage to the intaglio cylinder 110 is avoided when the wire 196 comes into contact with the circumferential surface 111 of the gravure cylinder 110. The diameter of the wire 196 is approximately between 0.5 and 10 millimeters. On the other hand, the right thread of the right spiral portion 191 and the left thread of the left spiral portion 192 are equally spaced threads. In other embodiments, the right thread of the right helix and the left thread of the left helix may be a combination of an unequal thread or an unequal thread and an equidistant thread, wherein the pitch (or lead) may be increased or decreased depending on the demand. . Further, the right thread of the right spiral portion and the left thread of the left spiral portion are formed on the intaglio cylinder by cutting, and are not limited to the winding of the wire.

In the present embodiment, the spiral drum 190 is rotated in the first rotational direction R1, and the rotational direction of the intaglio cylinder 110 is opposite to the first rotational direction R1. Therefore, when the right thread of the right spiral portion 191 contacts the ink layer 11 on the first end portion 113, the right thread guides the ink flowing to the side edge of the first end portion 113 back to the middle of the intaglio cylinder 110. In contrast, when the left thread of the left spiral portion 192 contacts the ink layer 11 on the second end portion 114, the left thread guides the ink flowing to the side edge of the second end portion 114 back to the middle of the intaglio cylinder 110.

Referring to FIG. 6B, unlike the cooperation and interaction between the spiral roller and the gravure cylinder shown in FIG. 6A, in the present embodiment, the left spiral portion 192 of the spiral roller 190 corresponds to the first end portion 113, and the spiral roller The right helix 192 of 190 corresponds to the second end 114. Here, the spiral drum 190 is rotated in the second rotational direction R2, and the rotational direction of the intaglio cylinder 110 and the second rotational direction R2 are opposite to each other. It should be noted that the second rotational direction R2 is opposite to the first rotational direction R1 shown in FIG. 6A. Therefore, when the left thread of the left spiral portion 192 contacts the ink layer 11 on the first end portion 113, the left thread guides the ink flowing to the side edge of the first end portion 113 back to the middle of the intaglio cylinder 110. In contrast, when the right thread of the right spiral portion 192 contacts the ink layer 11 on the second end portion 114, the right thread guides the ink flowing to the side edge of the second end portion 114 to return to the middle of the intaglio cylinder 110.

Referring to FIG. 6C, unlike the cooperation and interaction between the spiral roller and the gravure cylinder shown in FIG. 6A, in the embodiment, the spiral roller 190 is fixed and the gravure cylinder 110 is along the third rotation direction R3 (and the figure). The first rotational direction R1 shown in 6A is reversed with respect to each other. Therefore, when the right thread of the right spiral portion 191 contacts the ink layer 11 on the first end portion 113, the right thread guides the ink flowing to the side edge of the first end portion 113 back to the middle of the intaglio cylinder 110. In contrast, when the left thread of the left spiral portion 192 contacts the ink layer 11 on the second end portion 114, the left thread guides the ink flowing to the side edge of the second end portion 114 back to the middle of the intaglio cylinder 110.

Referring to FIG. 6D, different from the cooperation and interaction between the spiral roller and the gravure cylinder shown in FIG. 6B, in the embodiment, the spiral roller 190 is fixed and the gravure cylinder 110 is along the fourth rotation direction R4 (and the figure). The second rotational direction R2 shown in 6B is reversed with respect to each other, wherein the fourth rotational direction R4 is opposite to the third rotational direction R3 shown in FIG. 6C. Therefore, when the left thread of the left spiral portion 192 contacts the ink layer 11 on the first end portion 113, the left thread guides the ink flowing to the side edge of the first end portion 113 back to the middle of the intaglio cylinder 110. In contrast, when the right thread of the right spiral portion 192 contacts the ink layer 11 on the second end portion 114, the right thread guides the ink flowing to the side edge of the second end portion 114 to return to the middle of the intaglio cylinder 110.

Referring to FIG. 6E, different from the cooperation and interaction between the spiral roller and the gravure cylinder of the above embodiment, in the embodiment, the spiral roller 190 may include a first left-hand roller 193a and a second left-hand roller 193b which are oppositely disposed. . The first left-handed roller 193a corresponds to the first end portion 113, and the second left-handed roller 193b corresponds to the second end portion 114. When the first left-hand roller 193a contacts the ink layer 11 on the first end portion 113 and rotates in the second rotational direction R2, the left-hand thread guides the ink flowing to the side edge of the first end portion 113 to return to the intaglio cylinder 110. intermediate. In contrast, when the second left-handed roller 193b contacts the ink layer 11 on the second end portion 114 and rotates in the first rotational direction R1, the left-hand thread guides the ink flowing to the side edge of the second end portion 114 to return to the intaglio The middle of the drum 110.

Referring to FIG. 6F, different from the cooperation and interaction between the spiral roller and the gravure cylinder shown in FIG. 6E, in the embodiment, the spiral roller 190 may include a first right-handed roller 194a and a second right disposed oppositely. Rotating drum 194b. The first right-handed roller 194a corresponds to the first end portion 113, and the second right-handed roller 194b corresponds to the second end portion 114. When the first right-handed roller 194a contacts the ink layer 11 on the first end portion 113 and is rotated in the first rotational direction R1, the right-hand thread guides the ink flowing to the side edge of the first end portion 113 to return to the intaglio cylinder 110. in the middle. In contrast, when the second right-handed roller 194b contacts the ink layer 11 on the second end portion 114 and rotates in the second rotational direction R2, the right-hand thread guides the ink flowing to the side edge of the second end portion 114 to flow back to The middle of the gravure cylinder 110.

In other words, in the case where the spiral drum is composed of two rollers of the same direction, the direction of rotation of the threads and the direction of rotation of the rollers need to cooperate with each other to guide the ink flowing to the opposite side edges of the gravure cylinder to flow back to the intaglio cylinder. intermediate. Therefore, the rotation directions of the two rollers of the same rotation need to be opposite to each other.

Referring to FIG. 6G, unlike the cooperation and interaction between the spiral roller and the intaglio cylinder shown in FIG. 6E, in the present embodiment, the number of the spiral rollers 190 is one, and may be a left-handed roller. On the other hand, the gravure cylinder 100 includes a left gravure cylinder 110a and a right gravure cylinder 110b which are disposed opposite to each other, wherein the left gravure cylinder 110a and the right gravure cylinder 110b are coaxial (i.e., the first axis A1) with a gap therebetween. When the spiral drum 190 is in contact with the ink layer 11, the spiral drum 190 is fixed, the left gravure cylinder 110a is rotated in the fourth rotational direction R4, and the right intaglio cylinder 110b is rotated in the third rotational direction R3. The rotation of the fourth rotational direction R4 and the third rotational direction R are opposite to each other. At this time, the left thread on the spiral drum 190 guides the ink flowing to the side edge of the left gravure cylinder 110a back to the opposite side of the left gravure cylinder 110a and the right intaglio cylinder 110b, and guides the flow to the side of the right gravure cylinder 110b. The ink of the rim is returned to the opposite side of the left gravure cylinder 110a and the right gravure cylinder 110b. In order to prevent ink from flowing into the gap between the left gravure cylinder 110a and the right gravure cylinder 110b, stoppers 161 and 162 may be provided at the opposite sides of the left gravure cylinder 110a and the right gravure cylinder 110b, wherein the stopper 161 corresponds to The left gravure cylinder 110a is disposed, and the stopper 162 is disposed corresponding to the right gravure cylinder 110b.

Referring to FIG. 6H, unlike the cooperation and interaction between the spiral roller and the intaglio cylinder shown in FIG. 6G, in the embodiment, the spiral roller 190 may be a right-handed roller. When the spiral drum 190 is in contact with the ink layer 11, the spiral drum 190 is fixed, the left gravure cylinder 110a is rotated in the third rotational direction R3, and the right intaglio cylinder 110b is rotated in the fourth rotational direction R4. At this time, the right thread on the spiral drum 190 guides the ink flowing to the side edge of the left gravure cylinder 110a back to the opposite side of the left gravure cylinder 110a and the right gravure cylinder 110b, and guides the flow to the side of the right gravure cylinder 110b. The ink of the rim is returned to the opposite side of the left gravure cylinder 110a and the right gravure cylinder 110b. In order to prevent ink from flowing into the gap between the left gravure cylinder 110a and the right gravure cylinder 110b, stoppers 161 and 162 may be provided at the opposite sides of the left gravure cylinder 110a and the right gravure cylinder 110b, wherein the stopper 161 corresponds to The left gravure cylinder 110a is disposed, and the stopper 162 is disposed corresponding to the right gravure cylinder 110b.

In summary, the gravure printing apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention can uniformly apply ink to the circumferential surface of the gravure cylinder through a doctor blade, a spiral drum or a combination of the two. On the other hand, the ink repellent member corresponding to the blade setting can timely drive the ink accumulated on the doctor blade to flow back to the circumferential surface of the gravure cylinder to prevent the ink accumulated on the doctor blade from dripping to the external environment, and the gravure cylinder The circumference of the surface remains moist. Therefore, the gravure printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention can not only reduce waste of raw materials to reduce cost, but also can prevent drying and solidification of ink remaining in the grooves, thereby improving printing quality and printing efficiency.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some changes and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

10‧‧‧Ink
11‧‧‧Ink layer
12‧‧‧ patterned structure
20‧‧‧Printing cylinder
21, 111‧‧‧ circumferential surface
30‧‧‧ Targets
31‧‧‧ Target surface
100, 100A~100D‧‧‧ gravure printing device
110‧‧‧gravure cylinder
110a‧‧‧ Left recessed cylinder
110b‧‧‧right gravure cylinder
112‧‧‧ Groove
113‧‧‧ first end
114‧‧‧second end
120‧‧‧Ink supply unit
130‧‧‧First scraper
131, 151‧‧‧ wiper surface
140‧‧‧First ink return
141, 171‧‧‧ stop surface
150‧‧‧second scraper
160‧‧‧third scraper
161, 162‧‧ ‧ stop
170‧‧‧Second ink return
180‧‧‧First carrier
181‧‧‧Second carrier
190‧‧‧Spiral roller
191‧‧‧Right spiral
192‧‧‧left helix
193a‧‧‧First left-hand roller
193b‧‧‧second left-hand roller
194a‧‧‧First right-hand roller
194b‧‧‧Second right-hand roller
196‧‧‧Wire
A1‧‧‧first axis
A2‧‧‧ axis
A3‧‧‧second axis
R1‧‧‧first direction of rotation
R2‧‧‧second direction of rotation
R3‧‧‧ Third direction of rotation
R4‧‧‧ fourth direction of rotation

1A to 1C are side views showing a gravure printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention applied to a roll-to-roll process. Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a gravure printing apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a gravure printing apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a gravure printing apparatus in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 5A to 5D are side views showing a gravure printing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention applied to a roll-to-roll process. 6A to 6H are respectively schematic front views showing the cooperation of various spiral rollers and a gravure cylinder.

10‧‧‧Ink

11‧‧‧Ink layer

20‧‧‧Printing cylinder

21, 111‧‧‧ circumferential surface

30‧‧‧ Targets

31‧‧‧ Target surface

100‧‧‧gravure printing device

110‧‧‧gravure cylinder

112‧‧‧ Groove

120‧‧‧Ink supply unit

130‧‧‧First scraper

131, 151‧‧‧ wiper surface

140‧‧‧First ink return

141‧‧‧ stop surface

150‧‧‧second scraper

160‧‧‧third scraper

A1‧‧‧first axis

A2‧‧‧ axis

Claims (25)

A gravure printing apparatus comprising: a gravure cylinder adapted to rotate along a first axis, wherein the gravure cylinder has a circumferential surface and at least one groove on the circumferential surface; an ink supply unit for providing ink a first scraper disposed above the gravure cylinder; a first ink return member corresponding to the first scraper; and a second scraper movably disposed above the gravure cylinder, wherein the a second scraper is located at one side of the first scraper, and the first scraper is located between the first ink returning member and the second scraping blade. In a first state, the second scraping blade and the ink on the circumferential surface Maintaining the spacing, the first doctor blade wipes the ink on the circumferential surface to form an ink layer on the circumferential surface, and in a second state, the second blade against the circumferential surface to scrape the ink layer. A portion of the ink is filled into the groove, wherein the first ink return member is adapted to drive ink accumulated on the first doctor blade to flow back to the circumferential surface. The gravure printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second ink returning member disposed corresponding to the second scraping blade and located between the first scraping blade and the second scraping blade, the second ink returning ink The member is adapted to urge ink accumulated on the second doctor blade to flow back to the circumferential surface. The gravure printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second ink returning member is fixed to the second scraping blade or rotatably disposed on the second scraping blade. The gravure printing apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a second carrier, wherein the second ink return member is rotatably disposed on the second carrier. The gravure printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first ink returning member is fixed to the first scraping blade or rotatably disposed on the first scraping blade. The gravure printing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first carrier, wherein the first ink return member is rotatably disposed on the first carrier. The gravure printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one third scraper disposed on a side edge of the intaglio cylinder for blocking ink flowing to a side edge of the intaglio cylinder. The gravure printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the gravure printing apparatus is suitable for a roll-to-roll process. A gravure printing apparatus comprising: a gravure cylinder adapted to rotate along a first axis, wherein the gravure cylinder has a circumferential surface and at least one groove on the circumferential surface; an ink supply unit for providing ink a first scraper disposed above the gravure cylinder; a second scraper movably disposed above the gravure cylinder and located on one side of the first scraper; and at least one spiral roller, disposed Above the gravure cylinder, and on one side of the first scraper, in a first state, the second scraper and the spiral drum are spaced apart from the ink on the circumferential surface, and the first scraper scrapes the The ink on the circumferential surface forms an ink layer on the circumferential surface, and in a second state, the second doctor blade and the ink layer are spaced apart from each other, and the spiral roller interferes with the ink layer, in a third state The second blade abuts against the circumferential surface to scrape the ink layer and fill a portion of the ink. The gravure printing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: a first ink returning member corresponding to the first doctor blade, wherein the first ink returning member is adapted to drive ink backflow accumulated on the first doctor blade To the circumferential surface. The gravure printing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first ink returning member is fixed to the first scraping blade or rotatably disposed on the first scraping blade. The gravure printing apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: a first carrier, wherein the first ink return member is rotatably disposed on the first carrier. The gravure printing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: a second ink returning member disposed corresponding to the second scraping blade and located between the first scraping blade and the second scraping blade, the second ink returning ink The member is adapted to urge ink accumulated on the second doctor blade to flow back to the circumferential surface. The gravure printing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the second ink returning member is fixed to the second scraping blade or rotatably disposed on the second scraping blade. The gravure printing apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a second carrier, wherein the second ink return member is rotatably disposed on the second carrier. The gravure printing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the gravure cylinder rotates along the first axis when the spiral roller abuts the ink layer, and the spiral roller is along a second parallel to the first axis The axis rotates. The gravure printing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the spiral drum has a right-handed threaded portion and a left-handed threaded portion opposite to the right-handed threaded portion. The gravure printing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the intaglio cylinder has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion, and the right-hand thread portion corresponds to the first end portion An end portion, wherein the left-hand thread portion corresponds to the second end portion, the spiral drum rotates in a first rotation direction, when the left-hand thread portion corresponds to the first end portion, and the right-hand thread portion corresponds to the first portion At the two ends, the spiral drum rotates in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction. The gravure printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the spiral drum comprises two oppositely disposed left-handed rollers or right-handed rollers, wherein the two left-handed rollers or the two right-handed rollers when the spiral roller interferes with the ink layer The rotary drum rotates in the opposite direction of rotation. The gravure printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the gravure cylinder rotates along the first axis when the spiral roller abuts the ink layer, and the spiral roller is fixed. The gravure printing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the spiral drum has a right-handed threaded portion and a left-handed threaded portion opposite to the right-handed threaded portion. The gravure printing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the intaglio cylinder has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion, and the right-hand thread portion corresponds to the first end portion An end portion, and when the left-hand thread portion corresponds to the second end portion, the gravure cylinder rotates in a third rotation direction, when the left-hand thread portion corresponds to the first end portion, and the right-hand thread portion corresponds to the first portion At the two ends, the gravure cylinder rotates in a fourth rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction. The gravure printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the intaglio cylinder comprises a left intaglio cylinder and a right intaglio cylinder disposed opposite to each other. The gravure printing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the spiral drum has the same direction of rotation, and when the spiral cylinder abuts the ink layer, the left intaglio cylinder and the right intaglio cylinder rotate in opposite rotational directions, respectively. And the spiral drum is fixed. The gravure printing apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 24, wherein the gravure printing apparatus is suitable for a roll-to-roll process.