Adhesive tape feeding device for a pressure cylinder

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6273166
  • Patent Number
    6,273,166
  • Date Filed
    Friday, February 5, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 14, 2001
    22 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Osele; Mark A.
    Agents
    • Dennison, Scheiner, Schultz & Wakeman
Abstract
The invention pertains to a device for supplying double-sided adhesive tape, drawn from a roll, to a pressure cylinder. To ensure perfect application of the tape onto the pressure cylinder, without overlapping or deflection when two tapes are applied at short distance from each other, the system includes a mounting base into which the roll is inserted axially relative to the pressure cylinder shaft, while the mounting base has a pressure element pushing the double-sided adhesive tape towards the pressure cylinder, and a cutting device axially parallel to the pressure cylinder shaft.
Description




The invention relates to a device for supplying of double-sided adhesive tape drawn from a roll to a pressure cylinder.




Flexographic printing is a rotative letterpress printing method for—as an example—printing on packaging materials, forms, films or similar, in which printing plates preferably comprising photo-polymers or rubber are glued to the pressure cylinders. To permit simple attachment of the printing blocks, it is known how to supply the pressure cylinder with a double-sided adhesive tape, onto which the printing block is glued in its turn. Thanks to the adhesive tape widths available today, it is necessary here that several adhesive tapes are affixed to the pressure cylinder adjacent to one another.




To ensure a perfect attachment of the printing block, in particular when various printing blocks are applied to various press rollers in order to produce color prints, it must be ensured that the pressure cylinder is provided with the double-sided adhesive tape over its full surface and without overlap. This however presents considerable difficulty and has not yet proved possible with simple technical measures.




According to DE 39 17 842 A1, a ring is attached to a cylinder of a conveying device such as a roller track using a double adhesive tape whose width corresponds to that of the ring.




In order to connect the ends of webs unwound from rolls, adhesive tapes are provided in accordance with DE 34 16 356 A1. The connected webs are passed between both stationary and swivelable rollers.




In the older, but not yet pre-published DE 195 25 403 A1, a double-sided printing block adhesive tape for the printing industry is described.




To align printing plates in precise positions on a pressure cylinder, an auxiliary rail receiving the printing plate is provided according to EP 0 144 334 B1 that can be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pressure cylinder.




The problem underlying the present invention is to provide a device of the type mentioned at the outset which ensures that perfect covering of the pressure cylinder with a double-sided adhesive tape is possible, without the latter overlapping or having gaps between one another in the case of adhesive tapes that have to be arranged adjacently. In addition, air bubbles or creases should be ruled out.




The problem is substantially solved in accordance with the invention in that the device comprises a mounting base in which the roll of the double-sided adhesive tape is mounted axially parallel to the pressure cylinder, in that the mounting base has a pressure element acting on the double-sided adhesive tape in the direction of the pressure cylinder, and in that an edge extends from the mounting base in that direction with a cutting element running axially parallel. Here, the pressure element in particular is mounted movably inside the mounting base using gratuity or a selectively introduced force, e.g. by cylinders, weights, and is designed as a roller.




With the teachings in accordance with the invention, it is ensured that several double-sided adhesive tape rolls are arranged side-by-side on a common shaft, and that when the double-sided adhesive tapes are peeled off each roll they are applied to the pressure cylinder side-by-side at their edges without any gap or overlap occurring. This is because the fact that the double-sided adhesive tape rolls can be disposed on a shaft axially parallel to the longitudinal axis, i.e. on the shaft of the pressure cylinder, permits a flush alignment. It is furthermore assured that the double-sided adhesive tape can be cut to length exactly, i.e. also without any overlap, since the cutting element used is also aligned axially parallel to the pressure cylinder.




Alternatively, the adhesive tape can be supplied web for web to the pressure cylinder, where for example one adhesive tape roll is movable along a shaft and hence positionable.




It is assured using the pressure element that the double-sided adhesive tape is always subject to the necessary pretensioning for being affixed without creasing to the pressure cylinder. To do so, the pressure element such as the roller can run in a slot-like receptacle between which and the pressure cylinder the adhesive tape passes, such that the latter is subjected to pretensioning in the direction of the pressure cylinder. Swiveling in the direction of the cylinder and pressing by means of—for example—setting cylinders is also possible.




It is furthermore provided that the mounting base has receptacles, with the shaft of the pressure cylinder being supportable in the receptacles or the receptacles being supportable on the shaft of the pressure cylinder.




In other words, it is possible on the one hand to leave the pressure cylinder in the printing press or affixing equipment (printing block mounting equipment), and then to lift the mounting base with its appropriate receptacle against the pressure cylinder shaft, for example hydraulically. Alternatively the pressure cylinder with its shaft can be placed inside a corresponding receptacle of the mounting base in order to then affix the adhesive tape.




The receptacles themselves should extend from side pieces of the mounting base and can be formed preferably by Vee-shaped recesses.




A particularly simple design is achieved when each side piece has a first receptacle slot for the roll of the double-sided adhesive tape or for a shaft receiving the latter, and a second receptacle slot for the pressure element designed as a pressure roller. In this case the second slot runs in the direction of the shaft of the pressure cylinder, so that as a result the pressure roller always tries to slide inside the second slot in the direction of the pressure cylinder, thereby subjecting the double-sided adhesive tape to the necessary pretension.




Alternatively, the pressure element can be moved up against the pressure cylinder using adjusting cylinders.




In accordance with a further proposal of the invention, it is provided that the device has a work surface alone which the adhesive tape can be passed and on which the pressure cylinder rests rotatably, and that a lever element acts on the shaft area facing away from the work surface. The pressure cylinder is thus clearly fixed in position in order to permit rotation of the pressure cylinder. As a result, the adhesive tape is automatically applied to the surface of the pressure cylinder. It is then only necessary to cut the adhesive tape to the required length.




A receptacle for the double-sided adhesive tape or a shaft receiving this receptacle can extend from the work surface itself. The appropriate receptacles can be designed as legs or side pieces and are preferably adjustable relative to one another in order to be adjusted to the width of the pressure cylinder.




In addition, the shaft of the double-sided adhesive tape can be tensionable in order to pretension the double-sided adhesive tape when it is unwound.




In an embodiment of the invention, it is provided that both the pressure cylinder and the double-sided adhesive tape roll(s) or their shaft are mounted in a receptacle such as a Vee-shaped receptacle in side pieces of a mounting base, with the double-sided adhesive tape also being subjected to pretensioning in the direction of the pressure cylinder.




It is provided in particular that several double-sided adhesive tape rolls extend from a common shaft, with the double-sided adhesive tape rolls being arranged side-by-side on the shaft.











Further details, advantages and features of the invention are shown not only in the claims and in the features they contain—singly and/or in combination—but also in the following description of preferred embodiments shown in the drawing.




In the drawing,





FIG. 1

shows a first embodiment of a device for supplying a double-sided adhesive tape,





FIG. 2

shows a second embodiment of a device for supplying a double-sided adhesive tape,





FIG. 3

shows a third embodiment of a device for supplying a double-sided adhesive tape, and





FIG. 4

shows a fourth embodiment of a device for supplying a double-sided adhesive tape.











In the figures, in which identical elements are provided in principle with the same reference numbers, various embodiments of devices are shown in side views, with the aid of which a double-sided adhesive tape


14


drawn from a roll


16


is to be affixed on the surface


10


of a pressure cylinder


12


, for subsequent application of a printing plate such as a flexographic printing block on the outside, once a protective paper such as silicone paper has been removed from the latter. Due to the length of the pressure cylinder


12


, it is necessary here that several double-sided adhesive tape sections are affixed adjacently on the surface


10


of the pressure cylinder


12


, with the adhesive tape sections being affixed without gaps, side-by-side, and free of overlaps at the ends by virtue of the teachings in accordance with the invention.





FIG. 1

shows a device


18


comprising a mounting base


20


that is raised for example hydraulically in order to coat the pressure cylinder


12


installed in the proofing and assembly equipment, or its surface


10


, with the double-sided adhesive tape


14


.




To that end, the mounting base has side pieces


22


along the end faces


22


′ of the pressure cylinder


12


and adjustable to its length. For adjustment, the side pieces


22


can be moved along a ball-bearing guideway


24


. A leg


26


having a Vee-shaped receptacle


28


for the pressure cylinder


12


or its shaft


30


extends from the side pieces


22


. This permits clear placing of the mounting base


20


relative to the pressure cylinder


12


.




Running axially parallel to the Vee-shaped receptacle


28


and hence to the shaft


30


of the pressure cylinder


12


is a receptacle


32


inside which is mounted a shaft


34


on which one or more adhesive tape rolls


16


are arranged side-by-side. The receptacle


32


extends here from a first slot


36


in order to ensure secure mounting when the double-sided adhesive tape


14


is drawn off.




Regardless of this, the shaft


30


of the pressure cylinder


12


runs, on the basis of the teachings in accordance with the invention, axially parallel to the shaft


34


of the adhesive tape rolls


16


, so that as a result several adhesive tape rolls and sections of one and the same adhesive tape roll can be affixed side-by-side, and hence the adhesive tape drawn off this roll can be joined flush next to one another on the surface


10


of the pressure cylinder


12


.




To ensure a perfect attachment of the double-sided adhesive tape


14


on the surface


10


of the pressure cylinder


12


without creasing, the double adhesive tape


14


passes between a pressure roller


38


and the pressure cylinder


12


such that the adhesive tape


14


is subjected to pretensioning in the direction of the pressure cylinder


12


. The pressure roller


38


can here be movable inside a second slot


40


under gravity, so that an automatic adjustment to the size of the double-sided adhesive tape roll


16


or of the pressure cylinder


12


takes place without any readjustment being necessary. Alternatively, the pressure roller


38


can be adjusted by setting cylinders (

FIG. 4

) in the direction of the pressure cylinder.




Furthermore, a cutting device


42


with a cutting element


44


running axially parallel to the shaft


28


of the pressure cylinder


12


and hence to the shaft


34


of the double-sided adhesive tape roll


16


extends from the side pieces


22


, and is used to cut the double-sided adhesive tape


14


to the required length. The cutting device


44


such as a blade extends vertically from a leg


46


of the cutting device


42


, in whose upper side is provided a channel-shaped receptacle


48


inside which the pressure roller


38


can be placed. This is necessary when a new double-sided adhesive tape


14


is to be affixed to the surface


10


of the pressure cylinder


12


.




In the embodiment in

FIG. 2

, the pressure cylinder


12


, which is mounted in a proofing and assembly unit, is axially parallel aligned with a Vee-shaped receptacle


54


for the shaft


30


by means of a lever element


52


. The adhesive tape


14


to be affixed to the surface


10


of the pressure cylinder


12


is then passed along the work surface


56


of the table


50


.




To that end, the roll


16


or the shaft


34


receiving the latter extends from a side piece


58


containing a slot


60


on the bottom of which the shaft


34


is mounted, axially parallel to the direction of the shaft


30


of pressure cylinder


12


.




To make the axially parallel alignment, the shaft


30


of the pressure cylinder


12


is fixed in position inside the Vee-shaped receptacle


54


by the lever


52


. This ensures that when the pressure cylinder


12


is rotated, resulting in affixing of the adhesive tape


14


to the surface


10


, its shaft


30


is always axially parallel to the shaft


34


of the double-sided adhesive tape roll


16


.




Furthermore, a cutting device


66


with a cutting element such as a blade


68


running parallel to the shaft


34


of the double-sided adhesive tape roll


16


and hence to the shaft


30


of the pressure cylinder


12


extends from the table


50


. The cutting device


66


can be swiveled about an axis


70


about which the lever


52


is rotatable.




The embodiment in

FIG. 3

corresponds in its design principle to that of

FIG. 1

, with the proviso that both the shaft


34


of the double-sided adhesive tape roll


16


and the shaft


30


of the pressure cylinder


12


are inserted in a mounting base


72


or its side pieces


74


. To that end, Vee-shaped receptacles


76


,


78


axially parallel to one another are provided in the side pieces


74


. Rollers, not indicated in detail, can project into the receptacles


76


,


78


in order to support the shafts


30


,


34


with reduced friction. This can of course also apply for the embodiments in

FIGS. 1 and 2

.




The double-sided adhesive tape


14


drawn off the double-sided adhesive tape roll


16


is subjected—as in the embodiment in FIG.


1


—to the necessary pretensioning for crease-free affixing on the surface


10


of the pressure cylinder


12


by a pressure roller


82


adjustable inside a slot


80


.




A cutting device


84


furthermore extends axially parallel to the shaft


30


from the side pieces


74


for cutting the adhesive tape


14


.





FIG. 4

shows a further embodiment of an array with the aid of which a double-sided adhesive tape


14


can be affixed free of creases and overlaps onto a pressure cylinder


12


. To that end, the adhesive tape


14


is supplied off a roll into the surface of the pressure cylinder


12


, where a tensioning roller


86


acts on the adhesive tape by means of adjusting cylinders, not shown in detail, such as pressure cylinders, such that the adhesive tape


14


is affixed to the surface of the pressure cylinder


12


free of creases.




The adhesive tape


14


can be on several individual rolls lined up on a shaft or on a single roll which is adjusted along the shaft, in order to affix strips of adhesive tape side-by-side on the surface of the pressure cylinder


12


.



Claims
  • 1. A device (18) for supplying double-sided adhesive tape (14) drawn from a roll (16) to a pressure cylinder (12), wherein the device (18) comprises a mounting base (22, 72) in which a roll (16) of double-sided adhesive tape (14) is mounted axially parallel to a cylinder shaft (30) of a pressure cylinder (12), wherein the mounting base has a pressure element (38, 64) acting on the double-sided adhesive tape in the direction of the pressure cylinder (12), and wherein a cutting device (42, 66, 84) extends from the mounting base with a cutting element (44, 68) running axially parallel to the pressure cylinder shaft.
  • 2. Device according to claim 1, whereinthe pressure element (38, 82) is a roller element mounted movably inside the mounting base (22, 72) preferably using gravity.
  • 3. Device according to claim 1, whereinthe mounting base (22, 72) has receptacles (28, 76), with the shaft (30) of the pressure cylinder (12) being supportable in the receptacles or the receptacles being supportable on the shaft of the pressure cylinder.
  • 4. Device according to claim 3, whereinthe receptacles (28, 76) extend from side pieces (22, 74) of the mounting base (20, 72) and are formed preferably by Vee-shaped recesses.
  • 5. Device according to claim 4, whereinthe preferably Vee-shaped receptacles (28, 76) for the pressure cylinder shaft (30) are in each side piece (22, 74).
  • 6. Device according to claim 1, whereinthe mounting base (20) can be lifted in the direction of the pressure cylinder shaft (30) preferably hydraulically.
  • 7. Device according to claim 1, whereinthe pressure cylinder shaft (30) can be inserted into a mounting base (72).
  • 8. Device according to claim 1, whereinthe side pieces (22, 74) have a (first) receptacle slot (36) for the roll of the double-sided adhesive tape (14) or a shaft (30) receiving the latter, and a (second) receptacle slot (40, 80) for the pressure element designed as a pressure roller (38, 82).
  • 9. Device according to claim 1, whereinthe cutting device (42, 84) extends from the side pieces (22, 74).
  • 10. Device according to claim 1, whereinthe side pieces (22, 74) are adjustable relative to one another.
  • 11. Device according to claim 1, whereinat least one of the side pieces (22, 74) is disposed movably along a ball-bearing guideway (24).
  • 12. Device according to claim 1, whereinthe device has a work surface (56) along which the adhesive tape (14) can be passed and on which the pressure cylinder (12) is rotatably supported and on whose shaft side facing away from the work surface acts a lever element (52) for fixing the position.
  • 13. Device according to claim 12, whereinreceptacles (58) for the double-sided adhesive tape roll (16) or its shaft (34) extend from the work surface (56).
  • 14. Device according to claim 1, whereinthe shaft (34) for the double-sided adhesive tape (14) is tensionable.
  • 15. Device according to claim 1, whereinboth the shaft (30) of the pressure cylinder (12) and the double-sided adhesive tape roll (16) are mounted in a receptacle such as a Vee-shaped receptacle (78) in a side piece (74) of the mounting base (72).
  • 16. Device according to claim 1, whereinseveral double-sided adhesive tape rolls (16) are disposed side-by-side on a common shaft (34).
  • 17. Device according to claim 1, whereina pressure roller (86) acts on the double-sided adhesive tape (14) to be drawn off a roll, on which pressure roller a selectively introduced force acts such that the adhesive tape (14) can be disposed free of creases on the surface of the pressure cylinder (12).
  • 18. Device according to claim 1, whereinthe pressure roller (86) is adjustable using setting cylinders.
  • 19. A device for applying tape to a cylinder comprising:a mounting base; a cylinder having an axis and a shaft rotatably mounted on the mounting base; a roll of tape having an axis rotatably mounted on the mounting base, the axis of the roll of tape being parallel to the axis of the cylinder, and having a first end attached to said cylinder; and, a pressure element supported by the base for acting on the tape in the direction of the pressure cylinder.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
296 14 107 U Aug 1996 DE
PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind 102e Date 371c Date
PCT/EP97/04368 WO 00 2/5/1999 2/5/1999
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO98/06582 2/19/1998 WO A
US Referenced Citations (6)
Number Name Date Kind
2501341 Krueger Mar 1950
3915786 Collett et al. Oct 1975
4030958 Stenemann Jun 1977
4608894 Lee et al. Sep 1986
4909878 Watanabe Mar 1990
5795432 Urban Aug 1998
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
Number Date Country
3416356-A1 Nov 1984 DE
3917842-A1 Dec 1990 DE
0206760 Dec 1986 EP
144334-B1 Jul 1987 EP
0313510 Apr 1989 EP