Machine arrangement with printing unit for the sequential processing of sheet-type substrates

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10493746-B2
Application number	US-201716318161-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 25, 2017
Priority date	Aug 10, 2016
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

A machine arrangement sequentially processes sheet-like substrates with multiple different processing stations each having a substrate-guiding unit and a substrate-processing unit. At least one of the processing stations has, as a substrate-processing unit, at least one non-impact printing device which prints on the substrate. The processing station with the at least one non-impact printing device has a printing cylinder. Each non-impact printing device is arranged at the circumference of the printing cylinder. The printing cylinder is triple-sized or quadruple-sized. A double-sized or a triple-sized transfer drum, or a corresponding feed cylinder, is arranged directly upstream of this printing cylinder. Alternatively, a double-sized or a triple-sized transfer drum, or a corresponding transfer cylinder, is arranged directly downstream of this printing cylinder.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A machine arrangement for the sequential processing of sheet-type substrates having multiple different processing stations ( 01 ; 02 ; 03 ; 04 ; 06 ; 07 ; 08 ; 09 ; 11 ; 12 ), wherein multiple processing stations ( 01 ; 02 ; 03 ; 04 ; 06 ; 07 ; 08 ; 09 ; 11 ; 12 ) each include a substrate guiding unit ( 24 ) and a substrate processing unit ( 26 ), wherein at least one of the processing stations ( 01 ; 02 ; 03 ; 04 ; 06 ; 07 ; 08 ; 09 ; 11 ; 12 ) has, as a substrate processing unit ( 26 ), at least one non-impact printing unit ( 06 ; 37 ) for printing each of the substrates, wherein said processing station which has the at least one non-impact printing unit ( 06 ; 37 ) includes a printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ), wherein the respective non-impact printing unit ( 06 ; 37 ) is arranged on the periphery of the printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ), wherein the respective printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ) in each case is configured as triple-sized or quadruple-sized, wherein said printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ) has three fields ( 51 ; 52 ; 53 ; 54 ) if it is configured as triple-sized, and four fields if it is configured as quadruple-sized, said fields being arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction on the lateral surface of said printing cylinder, and each being configured for holding one substrate, wherein a double-sized or triple-sized transfer drum ( 43 ) or a corresponding feed cylinder ( 43 ) is located immediately upstream of the respective printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ), and/or in that a double-sized or triple-sized transfer drum ( 44 ) or a corresponding transport cylinder ( 44 ) is located immediately downstream of said printing cylinder, characterized in that each respective printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ) has multiple fields ( 51 ; 52 ; 53 ; 54 ), in particular two or three or four, arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction on its lateral surface, each for holding one substrate, characterized in that, with respect to the printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ) in question, the angular position of the trailing end of a first field ( 51 ; 52 ; 53 ; 54 ) relative to the leading end of a second field ( 51 ; 52 ; 53 ; 54 ) that immediately follows said first field ( 51 ; 52 ; 53 ; 54 ) in the direction of rotation of said printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ) is variably adjustable based upon the format of the substrate to be held in the first field ( 51 ; 52 ; 53 ; 54 ).

2. The machine arrangement according to claim 1 , characterized in that the transfer drum ( 43 ) located immediately upstream of the respective printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ) in each case, or the immediately upstream feed cylinder ( 43 ), is or at least can be thrown onto the lateral surface of said printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ), forming a nip ( 32 ) for guiding the respective substrate.

3. The machine arrangement according to claim 2 , characterized in that the width of the nip ( 32 ) that is formed between said printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ) and the transfer drum ( 43 ) located immediately upstream or the immediately upstream feed cylinder ( 43 ) is adjusted based upon the respective substrate, in particular the thickness or grammage thereof.

4. The machine arrangement according to claim 3 , characterized in that the width of the nip ( 32 ) that is formed between said printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ) and the transfer drum ( 43 ) located immediately upstream or the immediately upstream feed cylinder ( 43 ) is or at least can be adjusted to between 0 and 3 mm.

5. The machine arrangement according to claim 1 , characterized in the transfer drum ( 43 ) located immediately upstream of the respective printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ) in each case, or the immediately upstream feed cylinder ( 43 ), is equipped on its periphery with a flexible covering, with which the transfer drum ( 43 ) or the feed cylinder ( 43 ) is or at least can be thrown onto the lateral surface of said printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ).

6. The machine arrangement according to claim 5 , characterized in that each transfer drum ( 43 ) located immediately upstream of the respective printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ) in each case, or the immediately upstream feed cylinder ( 43 ), is or at least can be thrown onto the lateral surface of said printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ) so as to roll against said surface.

7. The machine arrangement according to claim 5 , characterized in that the transfer drum ( 43 ) located immediately upstream of the respective printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ) in each case, or the immediately upstream feed cylinder ( 43 ), is or at least can be thrown onto the lateral surface of said printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ), in each case pressing against said surface.

8. The machine arrangement according to claim 1 , characterized in that the transfer drum ( 43 ) located immediately upstream of the respective printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ) in each case, or the immediately upstream feed cylinder ( 43 ), is equipped with multiple cylinder surfaces ( 29 ) that are adjustable in the circumferential direction.

9. The machine arrangement according to claim 1 , characterized in that the transfer drum ( 43 ) located immediately upstream of the respective printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ) in each case, or the immediately upstream feed cylinder ( 43 ), is mounted such that it can be adjusted as a unit in terms of its position.

10. The machine arrangement according to claim 9 , characterized in that the cylinder surfaces ( 29 ) of the transfer drum ( 43 ) located immediately upstream of the respective printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ) in each case, or the immediately upstream feed cylinder ( 43 ), are mounted such that their position is adjustable.

11. The machine arrangement according to claim 9 , characterized in that each transfer drum ( 43 ) located immediately upstream of the respective printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ), or each immediately upstream feed cylinder ( 43 ), is mounted in an eccentric bearing ( 31 ), or in that the cylinder surfaces ( 29 ) of each transfer drum ( 43 ) located immediately upstream of the respective printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ), or the cylinder surfaces of each immediately upstream feed cylinder ( 43 ), are mounted in an eccentric bearing ( 31 ).

12. The machine arrangement according to claim 1 , characterized in that each transfer drum ( 43 ) located immediately upstream of the respective printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ), or each immediately upstream feed cylinder ( 43 ), is configured as a storage drum or as a suction drum.

13. The machine arrangement according to claim 1 , characterized in that each respective printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ) has at least one gripper located in at least one axially extending channel ( 62 ) which is open toward the lateral surface, or in a cylinder pit ( 62 ), said gripper being configured for holding the respective substrate.

14. The machine arrangement according to claim 13 , characterized in that the cylinder surfaces ( 29 ) of the transfer drum ( 43 ) located immediately upstream of the respective printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ), or the cylinder surfaces of the immediately upstream feed cylinder ( 43 ), each have at least one undercut to allow passage of the relevant gripper located on the lateral surface of the printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ).

15. The machine arrangement according to claim 13 , characterized in that the at least one gripper of said printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ) is or at least can be lowered in the respective channel ( 62 ) or in the respective cylinder pit ( 62 ), in either case below the lateral surface of said printing cylinder ( 22 ; 38 ).

Assignees

• Koenig & Bauer Ag

Inventors

• Ziegenbalg Christian
• Becker Uwe
• Köhler Ulrich
• Schumann Frank
• Reinsch Carsten
• Koch Michael

Classifications

• B41F25/00

  Devices for pressing sheets or webs against cylinders, e.g. for smoothing purposes · CPC title

• B41F19/008

  with means for stamping or cutting out · CPC title

• B41F19/001

  with means for coating or laminating · CPC title

• B41F23/08

  Print finishing devices, e.g. for glossing prints {(B41F23/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B41J13/226

  using suction · CPC title