WO2020004003A1

WO2020004003A1 - Printing device

Info

Publication number: WO2020004003A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/023049
Authority: WO
Inventors: 宏紀尾関; 幸司山田
Original assignee: 東洋製罐株式会社
Priority date: 2018-06-26
Filing date: 2019-06-11
Publication date: 2020-01-02
Also published as: JP2020001212A

Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a printing device with which it is possible to print, using a blanket, an ink image on an outer peripheral surface of a barrel part of a cylindrical object to be processed, to obtain high production efficiency, and to easily perform maintenance. The printing device according to the present invention is a printing device (100) that is provided with: a transfer member (110) to which a blanket (111) having an image region (117) on a surface thereof for forming an ink image is attached; a rotatable mandrel (131) that carries a cylindrical object (C) to be processed; and a conveyance unit (130) that causes a plurality of the mandrels to move along a conveyance path, and that has a transfer station (120) that transfers an ink image formed in the image region of the blanket to an outer peripheral surface of a barrel part of the object to be processed, characterized in that the transfer member is made of a base material and a plurality of the blankets attached onto the base material.

Description

Printing equipment

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus provided with a transfer member on which a blanket having an image area for forming an ink image on a surface is mounted.

Conventionally, for curved surface printing on the body of a cylindrical workpiece such as a seamless can made of metal such as aluminum or steel, a method using a plate-type printing using a printing plate and a method using ink-jet printing without using a plate are known. It is known.
Examples of the plate-type printing include, for example, offset printing in which a resin letterpress is provided on the plate cylinder of each color inker, each color ink from the resin letterpress is transferred to a blanket, and an image is formed by transferring the ink from the blanket to an object to be processed. .
In plate-type printing, however, multi-color printing is performed by creating a plate for each ink color, which is efficient when mass-producing seamless cans of the same image. Since it is necessary to manufacture a plate, there is a problem that it takes a long time to change the design, there is no freedom in the print design, and only a limited type of design can be printed.

On the other hand, inkjet printing does not require a plate and thus has no plate-making costs, has the advantage of being able to freely change the print design in a short period of time, and has the advantage of being variable (variable). Since it is possible to form the image, it is possible to form a deep image, and there is an advantage that the reproducibility of a high-definition image such as a photograph is excellent.
As an apparatus for forming an image by ink-jet printing on the body of a cylindrical workpiece to be processed such as a seamless can, Patent Document 1 discloses white (W), yellow (Y), and magenta (M) along a mandrel wheel. , Cyan (C) and black (K) ink are disclosed. In this ink jet printing apparatus, an object is carried on a mandrel arranged on a mandrel wheel, and the object is first conveyed to a first color (for example, white) printing station by revolving the mandrel wheel. The first color (for example, white) ink image is formed by dropping ink from the inkjet head while rotating the object carried on the mandrel at the position where the revolution stops. Next, the mandrel wheel is revolved, and the processing object is conveyed to a second color (for example, yellow) printing station to form a second color ink image. By sequentially forming and superimposing the single-color ink images of the respective colors, a full-color ink image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the body of the workpiece.

However, in the ink jet printing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to sequentially convey to the printing station of each color, which requires a time for the conveyance, and further, it is necessary to rotate (rotate) the workpiece in the printing station of each color. . For this reason, intermittent conveyance is performed in the printing station, and there is a problem that the speed of printing an ink image on one workpiece (printing speed) does not increase and the production efficiency is low.

Japanese Patent No. 6111571

In order to increase the printing speed and improve the production efficiency, a transfer member consisting of a circulating endless belt or a rotating cylinder, a printing station for forming an ink image on the surface of the transfer member, and a transfer station for forming an ink image on the surface of the transfer member A transfer station for transferring the applied ink image to the outer peripheral surface of the body of the cylindrical workpiece, and a transport unit for moving a plurality of rotatable mandrels carrying the workpiece along a transport path. A printing apparatus that continuously performs offset printing on a large number of workpieces can be considered.

The transfer member is required to have high durability because it comes into pressure contact with the object to be processed.
However, because of the variable (variable) property that allows the print design to be freely changed, the entire surface of the transfer member is not necessarily used as an image area on average, and as a result, the transfer member is partially worn. And may be inferior in durability due to damage.
However, replacing the entire transfer member when a part thereof is worn or damaged requires a high cost and requires replacement of a large member, which requires time and labor for replacement work. There is a problem that complexity is increased.

The present invention solves these problems, and can print an ink image by a blanket on the outer peripheral surface of the body of a cylindrical processing object, thereby obtaining high production efficiency, and easily. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of performing maintenance.

The printing apparatus of the present invention conveys a rotating transfer member having a blanket containing an image area on the surface of which an ink image is to be formed, a rotatable mandrel carrying a cylindrical workpiece, and a plurality of the mandrels. And a transport unit that moves along the route,
A printing apparatus having a transfer station that transfers an ink image formed in an image area of the blanket to an outer peripheral surface of a body of a processing target,
The object is solved by the transfer member having a plurality of blankets.

According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, since the transfer member has a plurality of blankets, it is possible to easily perform maintenance by replacing only the corresponding blanket when it is necessary to partially replace the transfer member. Can be.
According to the configuration of the second aspect of the present invention, since the base material of the transfer member is a rotating cylindrical wheel, the surface of the transfer member is provided by providing an ink heating mechanism such as a heater inside the wheel. There is no need to provide a drying station in opposition to the printer, and as a result, the size of the printing apparatus can be reduced.
According to the configuration of the third aspect of the present invention, since the base material of the transfer member is an endless belt circulating, the belt has another function by adjusting the circumferential length of the belt. Various stations can be easily installed, and a high degree of freedom in designing the printing apparatus can be obtained.
According to the configuration described in claim 4 of the present invention, since the plurality of blankets are continuously arranged without any gap so as to cover the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the base material of the transfer member, the plurality of blankets are arranged on each blanket. Repeated formation of an ink image of the same design in the same area can be avoided, and as a result, the life of each blanket can be extended.
According to the configuration of claim 5 of the present invention, since a single blanket has a plurality of image areas, it is possible to avoid forming an ink image of the same design repeatedly in the same area on one blanket. And, as a result, the life of the blanket can be extended.
According to the configuration described in claim 6 of the present invention, since the ink image is formed by inkjet printing, an image with excellent sharpness can be obtained. In addition, since ink-jet printing does not require a plate, plate-making costs are not required, and a variable (variable) property in which a print design can be freely changed in a short period of time is obtained.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating an example of a configuration of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a processing object carried on a mandrel is in contact with a transfer member in the printing apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a part of a development of a surface of a transfer member of the printing apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of the shape of the blanket mounted on the transfer member. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing still another example of the shape of the blanket mounted on the transfer member. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating an example of a configuration of a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Printing Apparatus According to First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a printing apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a printing apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is a transfer cylinder as a transfer member on which a blanket 111 having an image area 117 for forming an ink image on a surface is mounted. 110, a printing station 150 that forms an ink image on the image area 117 on the blanket 111 by inkjet printing, and an outer peripheral surface of a body of a can C that is a cylindrical workpiece to be processed with the ink image formed in the image area 117. And a transport unit 130 for moving a plurality of rotatable mandrels 131 carrying the cans C along a transport path.
The transfer cylinder 110 is configured by mounting a plurality of blankets 111 on the surface of a blanket wheel 115 that is a cylindrical base material.
In the present embodiment, on the downstream side of the transfer path of the can C in the transfer station 120, a coating wheel that coats a protective agent on the printing surface transferred to the outer peripheral surface of the body of the can C, facing the mandrel wheel 132. Overcoat processing station 170 is disposed. Further, a cleaning station 140 for cleaning the surface of the transfer cylinder 110 is provided downstream of the transfer station 120 in the rotation direction on the surface of the transfer cylinder 110.

[Transfer cylinder]
The transfer cylinder 110 constituting the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a configuration in which a plurality of blankets 111 are arranged on the surface of a common blanket wheel 115. The plurality of blankets 111 may be arranged so as to continuously cover the entire circumference of the blanket wheel 115 without any gap, or may be arranged separately from each other in the circumferential direction of the blanket wheel 115.
The blanket 111 may have only one image area 117 or may have a plurality of image areas 117. Further, a substantial ink image is not formed at the boundary between the adjacent blankets 111. For example, when the ink image to be transferred to the can C has a blank (a blank image requiring no ink), One image area 117 can be formed by two adjacent blankets 111.
The circumferential length of the blanket wheel 115 of the blanket 111 and the number of blankets 111 mounted on one blanket wheel 115 can be set as appropriate.

In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the blanket 111 has a rectangular shape having an edge extending in a width direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the blanket wheel 115, but is not limited thereto. Instead, the shape may have an edge extending in a direction different from the width direction. Specifically, it may have a parallelogram shape as shown by reference numeral 111a in FIG. 4, and may have an arrow feather shape as shown by reference numeral 111b in FIG. Is also good. Further, the blanket may have a contoured shape by a curve, such as including a circular arc in a part of the contour. Further, blankets of different shapes may be mounted on a common blanket wheel. The

blanket

111a, 111b having the shape of a parallelogram or an arrow feather has

image areas

117a, 117b of the shape of a parallelogram or arrow, respectively, to form an ink image adapted to the shape. it can.
If the edges of the

blanket

111a and 111b have a shape extending in a direction different from the width direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the blanket wheel 115, the ink image is transferred over the entire outer circumference of the body of the can C. At this time, the overlapping portion (overlapping portion) between the start end and the end of the ink image is no longer a strip extending in the width direction of the

blankets

111a and 111b, that is, in the cylinder axis direction of the can C. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a problem caused by the presence of the overlapped portion extending in the cylinder axis direction of the can C in the subsequent process.

The blanket 111 is formed by, for example, laminating a release layer on a base material layer. The release layer has a hydrophobic smooth release surface on its outer surface in order to separate the ink image from the surface of the transfer cylinder 110 without any residue and transfer it to the can C. The base material layer has a release layer on its surface, and may have flexibility or rigidity. For example, the base layer may have a two-layer structure of a cylindrical metal base and a sponge layer so that the pressure between the can C and the blanket 111 during transfer is suitable.
On the other hand, on the side peripheral surface of the blanket wheel 115, a blanket mounting base (not shown) to which the blanket 111 can be removably mounted with a double-sided tape or an adhesive is provided. It is configured to be rotatable.

A heating member (not shown) such as a sheet heater may be provided on the back surface of the blanket 111 in the transfer cylinder 110 (between the blanket 111 and the blanket wheel 115 (base material)). If such a heating member has a problem such as failure, the heating member at the corresponding location may be replaced with the blanket 111, and if the blanket 111 has not expired, the blanket 111 at the corresponding location may be removed. After replacing the heating member, the same blanket 111 may be mounted on the blanket wheel 115 again.

[Printing station]
The printing station 150 included in the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is provided along the surface of the transfer cylinder 110 so as to face the surface of the transfer cylinder 110. The printing station 150 forms an ink image by inkjet printing.

[Drying station]
In the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, a drying station 160 for drying the ink image formed in the printing station 150 is provided between the printing station 150 and the transfer station 120. The drying station 160 is provided at a position downstream of the printing station 150 and close to the printing station 150.

[Transport unit]
The transport unit 130 constituting the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention transports the mandrel 131 carrying the can C along the transport path, has a plurality of mandrels 131, and horizontally A mandrel wheel 132 is attached to the extending rotating shaft and is driven to rotate at a peripheral speed slightly lower than the peripheral speed of the transfer cylinder 110. More specifically, a plurality of mandrels 131 are respectively provided in shaft holes formed such that adjacent distances are formed at equal intervals on a circumference of a predetermined rotation radius of the outer peripheral portion of the mandrel wheel 132. It is rotatably supported about an axis (mandrel axis) parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel 132. That is, the transport unit 130 is configured so that the can C fitted to the mandrel 131 is continuously transported in one direction along the transport path together with the mandrel 131 by rotating the mandrel wheel 132.
The mandrel shaft that supports the mandrel 131 is supported, for example, along a guide shape of a guide groove (not shown) so as to be able to follow. The guide groove is a groove that is meandering radially around a circle having a predetermined rotation radius around the rotation axis of the mandrel wheel 132 and is formed in an annular shape as a whole, with the rotation of the mandrel wheel 132, The mandrel shaft is configured to reciprocate in the radial direction of the mandrel wheel 132. That is, the conveying path of the mandrel 131 is not completely annular, but can partially meander. On the other hand, the transfer cylinder 110 is arranged so that a part of the rotation path on which the surface rotates intersects the circumference of the mandrel wheel 132 having a predetermined rotation radius. Is formed so as to be depressed inward in the radial direction of the mandrel wheel 132 at a location corresponding to the above, and the transport path of such a trajectory can be obtained by appropriately setting the shape of the guide groove. As a result, the can C fitted to the mandrel 131 at the transfer nip N contacts the surface of the blanket 111 of the transfer cylinder 110 while being urged toward the transfer cylinder 110 during the transfer, and along the outer peripheral surface thereof. A moving transfer nip N is formed.

On the upstream side of the transfer station 120 in the transport path of the mandrel 131, there is provided a workpiece supply means (not shown) for supplying a can C onto the transport path of the mandrel 131, for example, using an infeed turret. .
Further, on the downstream side of the overcoat processing station 170 on the transport path of the mandrel 131, the ink image is transferred, and the can C coated with the protective agent on the printing surface is transferred to the next step using, for example, a transfer turret. A processing object discharging means (not shown) is provided.

[Transfer station]
The transfer station 120 included in the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention has the transfer nip N formed as described above. In the transfer nip N, a pressure is applied to the can C by the blanket 111 and the transport unit 130. In the transfer nip portion N, the outer peripheral surface of the body portion is brought into rolling contact with the surface of the blanket 111 while rotating the can C carried and carried by the mandrel 131 while passing through the transfer nip portion N, The ink image is transferred from the surface of the blanket 111 to the outer peripheral surface of the body of the can C.
In the transfer nip portion N, the can C is pressed with a pressure of, for example, 0 to 1000 kPa.

〔motion〕
The operation of the printing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment configured as described above will be described.
In the printing apparatus 100, first, an ink image is formed in the printing station 150 in the image area 117 of the blanket 111 of the transfer cylinder 110 that is driven to rotate in one direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 1) along the rotation path. You. The formed ink image is conveyed to the drying station 160 and dried to a state having an appropriate tackiness, and reaches the transfer station 120 in this state.
On the other hand, the can C fitted and carried by the mandrel 131 at a predetermined position on the transport path on the upstream side of the transfer station 120 by the workpiece supply means is transported by the guide groove by rotation of the mandrel wheel 132. The paper is conveyed in a direction opposite to the transfer cylinder 110 (clockwise in FIG. 1) along the path, and is conveyed to the transfer station 120.
The mandrel 131 and the can C that have reached the transfer nip portion N of the transfer station 120 move along the transport path along with the rotation of the mandrel wheel 132. At this time, the mandrel 131 is moved by the mandrel wheel 132 according to the shape of the guide groove. Move radially inward. During this time, the outer peripheral surface of the body of the can C comes into contact with the contact start point on the surface of the blanket 111 of the transfer cylinder 110 and is pressed. The contact start point may be an upstream edge of the ink image formed in the image area 117, or may be an area (non-image area) between the ink images. Then, the can C that has come into contact with the surface of the blanket 111 moves along the transport path while rotating while maintaining the contact state. That is, the can C is brought into rolling contact with the blanket 111 by the movement along the transport path and the rotation of the mandrel 131, and moves from the entrance to the exit of the transfer nip N. With this rolling contact, the ink image held on the surface of the blanket 111 at the transfer nip N contacts the outer peripheral surface of the body of the can C, and the can C is pressed against the blanket 111. The ink image is separated and wrapped around the blanket 111 and is collectively transferred to the outer peripheral surface of the body of the can C.
The can C to which the ink image has been transferred is conveyed to the overcoat processing station 170 in a state of being fitted to the mandrel 131, and the printing surface on the outer peripheral surface of the body of the can C is coated with a protective agent.
Thereafter, the can C is transferred from the mandrel wheel 132 to the processing object discharging means, and transported to the next process.
After discharging the can C on which the ink image has been transferred and the printing surface has been coated with the protective agent, the mandrel 131 from which the can C has been removed returns to the first workpiece supply means in the transport path. Further, the blanket 111 of the transfer cylinder 110 that has passed through the transfer station 120 is returned to the printing station 150 again after being washed at the washing station 140 to remove untransferred ink. By repeating these in synchronization, cans C on which the ink images have been transferred are continuously obtained.

According to the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, since the printing apparatus 100 includes the transfer cylinder 110, the printing station 150 for forming an ink image, and the transfer station 120, the image area 117 of the blanket 111 mounted on the transfer cylinder 110 is provided. The ink image formed at the transfer station 120 is brought into contact with the blanket 111 while rotating the can C at the transfer station 120, so that the ink image is collectively transferred to the outer peripheral surface of the body by one rotation of the can C. The ink image can be printed on C at high speed, and high production efficiency can be obtained.
Moreover, since the transfer cylinder 110 is composed of the blanket wheel 115 and the plurality of blankets 111 mounted on the blanket wheel 115, when a part needs to be replaced, only the corresponding blanket 111 is replaced, so Maintenance can be performed easily.

[Printing Apparatus According to Second Embodiment]
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an example of the configuration of a printing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The printing apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment is the same as the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment except that the transfer member is a transfer belt 210 on which a blanket 211 having an image area 117 on which an ink image is formed is mounted. It has the same configuration as the device 100. 6, components having the same configuration as the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[Transfer belt]
The transfer belt 210 constituting the printing apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is configured such that a plurality of flexible blankets 211 are arranged on the surface of a common endless blanket belt 215. The plurality of blankets 211 may be arranged so as to continuously cover the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the blanket belt 215 without any gap, or may be arranged to be separated from each other in the circumferential direction of the blanket belt 215.
The blanket 211 may have only one image area 117 or may have a plurality of image areas 117. Although a substantial ink image is not formed at the boundary between adjacent blankets 211, for example, when the ink image to be transferred to the can C has a blank (a blank image requiring no ink), One image area 117 may be formed by two blankets 211 adjacent to each other.
The length of the blanket 211 in the circumferential direction of the blanket belt 215 and the number of blankets 211 attached to one blanket belt 215 can be set as appropriate.
The blanket 211 has a rectangular shape having an edge extending in a width direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the blanket belt 215, but is not limited thereto, and has a shape having an edge extending in a direction different from the width direction. Specifically, it may have a parallelogram shape or an arrow feather shape. Further, blankets of different shapes may be mounted on a common blanket wheel.

The blanket 211 is formed, for example, by laminating a release layer on a base material layer. The release layer has a hydrophobic smooth release surface on its outer surface in order to separate the ink image from the surface of the transfer belt 210 without any residue and transfer it to the can C. The base material layer has a release layer on its surface, and may have flexibility or rigidity. For example, the base layer may have a two-layer structure of a cylindrical metal base and a sponge layer so that the pressure between the can C and the blanket 211 during transfer is suitable.
On the other hand, on the outer peripheral surface of the blanket belt 215, a blanket mounting base (not shown) to which the blanket 211 can be removably mounted with a double-sided tape or an adhesive is provided, and the blanket 211 rotates while the blanket 211 is mounted. It is configured to be possible.

The transfer belt 210 is stretched with a predetermined tension by a pressing cylinder 212 and a support roller 213, and is rotatably supported. The transfer belt 210 may be configured to be driven by a drive source (not shown) independently of the pressing cylinder 212, or may be configured to be driven by the rotation of the pressing cylinder 212.
The pressing cylinder 212 urges the blanket 211 of the transfer belt 210 toward the can C conveyed to the transfer nip portion N so as to come into contact with the can C.

According to the printing apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment described above, the same effects as those of the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment can be obtained.

As described above, the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the printing apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment have been specifically described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above examples. Various design changes can be made without departing from the invention described in the scope.
For example, the transfer member is not limited to a configuration in which a blanket is mounted on a base material, but has a configuration in which a plurality of blankets are connected to form an endless belt shape or a cylindrical wheel shape. You may. In such a transfer member, the entire circumference in the circumferential direction is constituted only by a blanket, and a plurality of connecting portions (joints) are present.
Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the can C is transported to the transfer station 120 by the transport unit 130 including the mandrel wheel 132 has been described. However, the configuration of the transport unit is not limited thereto. May be fixed to, for example, a conveyor member and transported linearly to the transfer station 120 (linear transport).
Further, for example, the printing station 150 is not limited to one that forms an ink image by inkjet printing, and may be one that forms an image by electrophotographic printing, for example.
Further, for example, a preliminary rotation unit that rotates the mandrel 131 in advance may be provided upstream of the transfer station 120 on the transport path of the can C in the transport unit 130.
Further, for example, the configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the transfer nip N is formed, and the configuration in which the transfer nip N is not formed and the can C is intermittently conveyed and rotates in the transfer station 120 may be used.
Further, for example, the rotation direction of the transfer member (the transfer cylinder 110 and the transfer belt 210) is set to be opposite to the rotating direction of the can C by the mandrel wheel 132, but may be the same direction. That is, in this embodiment, the can C and the transfer member (transfer cylinder 110, transfer belt 210) are conveyed and moved in the same direction (downward in FIGS. 1 and 6) at the transfer station 120, but are conveyed in the opposite direction. It may be configured to be moved.

100 printing device 110 transfer cylinder (transfer member)
111, 111a, 111b Blanket 115 Blanket wheel (base material)
117, 117a, 117b Image area 120 Transfer station 130 Transport unit 131 Mandrel 132 Mandrel wheel 140 Cleaning station 150 Printing station 160 Drying station 170 Overcoat processing station 200 Printing device 210 Transfer belt (transfer member)
211 Blanket 212 Pressing cylinder 213 Support roller 215 Blanket belt (base material)
C can (object)
N transfer nip

Claims

A rotating transfer member having a blanket containing an image area on the surface of which an ink image is to be formed, a rotatable mandrel carrying a cylindrical workpiece, and a transport for moving the plurality of mandrels along a transport path Unit and
A printing apparatus having a transfer station that transfers an ink image formed in an image area of the blanket to an outer peripheral surface of a body of a processing target,
A printing apparatus, wherein the transfer member has a plurality of blankets.
The transfer member comprises a substrate and a plurality of blankets mounted on the substrate,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base material of the transfer member is a rotating cylindrical wheel.
The transfer member comprises a substrate and a plurality of blankets mounted on the substrate,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base material of the transfer member is an endless belt that moves in a circulating manner.
4. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of blankets are continuously arranged without any gap so as to cover the entire circumference of the base member of the transfer member in the circumferential direction. 5.
5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one blanket has a plurality of image areas.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink image is formed by inkjet printing.