Patent Grant
7530309
This application is the U.S. National Phase, under 35 U.S.C. 371, of PCT/EP2004/050157, filed Feb. 19, 2004; published as WO 2004/085158 A2 and A3 on Oct. 7, 2004, and claiming priority to DE 103 14 343.2 filed Mar. 28, 2003, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention is directed to a device and to a method for storing at least two dressing which have been drawn off, one after the other, from the same cylinder of a printing press. The dressings are stored at an angle of inclination of not more than 15° relative to the horizontal.
A transport system for use in transporting printing formes is known from DE 44 42 265 A1. The printing formes, hanging vertically along their length on a transport mechanism, are transported to a defined forme cylinder of a printing press with several forme cylinders. A ring-shaped storage system is provided in the vicinity of each forme cylinder, in which storage system, printing formes transported to the cylinder rotate, hang vertically. A printing forme to be supplied to the forme cylinder can be removed at a takeout location of the ring-shaped storage system, or a printing forme, which was removed from the cylinder, can be transferred to the storage system. Providing the forme cylinder with a fresh printing forme or the removal of a no longer needed printing forme from the forme cylinder is done by an operator or by the use of a plate manipulation system, such as, for example, a robot.
A method and a device for the automatic feeding of a printing plate to a plate cylinder, or for the removal of a printing plate from a plate cylinder of a rotary printing press, are known from DE 39 40 795 A1. The method for the automatic feeding of a printing plate to a plate cylinder of a rotary printing press, wherein inter alia the plate cylinder has structure for clamping and for bracing the printing plate, provides that the printing plate is placed into a storage chamber of a printing plate supply and removal device, that the plate cylinder is rotated into a plate feeding position, and that the printing plate is fed to a clamping device of the plate cylinder by operation of a number of transport rollers. The method for the automatic removal of a printing plate from a plate cylinder of a rotary printing press, wherein the plate cylinder inter alia has structure for unclamping and for releasing the printing plate, is distinguished in that the plate cylinder is rotated forward into a printing plate release position, that a clamping flap is opened for grasping a printing plate end, that the plate cylinder is rotated backward, and that the printing plate is conveyed by a number of transport rollers to a storage chamber of a printing plate supply or removal device. The device for executing the method has at least one transport roller configured as a drive roller, and one transport roller configured as a contact pressure roller, and wherein the contact pressure roller can be placed against the drive roller. In addition, various actuating devices, a pivotably seated contact pressure roller for pressing the printing plate against the plate cylinder, as well as ejection fingers, can be provided. The ejection fingers can have tips which are arranged so that they can swivel into the periphery of the plate cylinder. The storage chamber of the printing plate supply and removal device can also be seated so that it is pivotable around a joint.
DE 39 40 796 A1 describes an arrangement for automatically changing a printing plate on a plate cylinder of a rotary printing press, The plate cylinder has, inter alia, devices for clamping and for bracing a printing plate. The printing plate changing device has two storage chambers, so that a printing plate, released from the plate cylinder, can be conducted into one of the storage chamber by the use of transport rollers, while a printing plate stored in the other storage chamber can be conducted to a clamping device of the plate cylinder also by use of transport rollers.
EP 1 084 839 A1 describes a device for holding and for conveying a printing forme. In this case, the device has translatory conveying arrangements, which convey a printing forme to be mounted on a forme cylinder, or which convey a printing forme to be removed from the plate cylinder. For changing a printing forme, the device is tilted around an axis of rotation from a position of rest into its operating position. A hook is pivoted, merely by its inherent weight, into the space where the printing forme is stored and protects the printing forme at its trailing beveled end from unintentionally falling out of this space.
A device for the automatic feeding of a printing plate to a forme cylinder of a printing press, or for removing a printing plate from a forme cylinder, is known from EP 0 214 549 B1. The printing plate to be fed to the forme cylinder is fed to the forme cylinder while remaining in a desired position by the use of lateral positioning elements. The feeding of the printing plate takes place from a substantially horizontal storage position.
A device for automatically exchanging printing plates is known from EP 0 100 779 A1. Several plates to be mounted are suspended in a plate storage device on a clamping rod which is arranged below the plate cylinder and are lifted to the plate cylinder on the clamping rod.
A device for automatically changing printing plates is known from WO 03/04863 A1. Several printing formes are stored in a magazine, and a changing of a printing forme with a forme cylinder takes place only when the magazine is brought into a slanted position.
A device for the automatic feeding of printing formes to a forme cylinder is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,178,848. Printing formes without beveled ends are stored in a stack inclined in the feeding direction, and are sequentially fed, driven by rollers, to the forme cylinder via a conveyor belt arranged in front of the stack. The lowest printing forme is pulled from the stack, at its front end, by a suction device. This device, which is very long, is not suitable for printing formes with beveled ends. Furthermore, when pulling out the printing formes which are stacked directly on top of each other, there is the danger of damaging their sides which are provided with the print image.
The object of the present invention is directed to providing a device and a method for storing at least two dressing drawn off, one after the other, from the same cylinder of a printing press.
This object is attained in accordance with the invention by the provision of a method and of a device for storing at least two dressings that are drawn off, from the same cylinder of a printing machine, one after the other. These dressings are taken off the cylinder, preferably in a tangential relation, one after the other, and are stored at angle of inclination of not more that 15° relative to a horizontal. A subsequently drawn off dressing is stored below a previously drawn off dressing at a distance that is vertical along its length.
The advantage which can be realized by the present invention consists, in particular, in that it is possible to change several dressings on a cylinder of a printing press rapidly and dependably at the same time, or at least in very rapid succession. By the actuation of a holding element, the dressing falls from a vertically upper storage position into a storage position located thereunder, from which lower storage position the dressing can be transported to the cylinder. By actuating the holding element, the stored dressing changes in free fall from its vertically upper storage position into the storage position located underneath. The actuation of the holding element preferably takes place by use of a controlled drive mechanism and can therefore be mechanically performed. In the course of changing the storage position of a dressing stored in the magazine, the dressing, whose storage position is to be changed, remains in the magazine during the changing operation, wherein the change can be triggered by a controllable machine element of the magazine.
A dressing, whose storage position is to be changed, is not exposed to the danger of its surface being damaged during the change. The device in accordance with the present invention is also particularly suitable for dressings which are flexionally elastic, in length, and which have suspension legs that are beveled at their ends. Moreover, the structural height of the device is extremely low, so that it does not hamper any required access to the printing unit.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are represented in the drawings and will be described in greater detail in what follows.
Shown are in:
A dressing 01, as seen in
As represented in
A beveled suspension leg 13, 14 is, as discussed above formed at least on one end 03, 04 of the dressing shown in
At least one, preferably pivotably seated, holding element 21, and a, preferably pre-tensioned, spring element 22, for example, are arranged in the groove 08. The spring element 22 presses the holding element 21 against the beveled suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04, for example, which suspended leg 14 is suspended from the rear edge 17 of the opening 09, because of which pressure force, the suspension leg 14 is maintained at the trailing end 04 against the wall 19 extending from the rear edge 17 in the direction of the groove 08. For use in releasing the pressure force exerted by the holding means 21, an actuating element 23, preferably a pneumatically actuable element 23, is provided in the groove 08, which actuating element 23, when actuated, pivots the holding element 21 against the force of the spring element 22. The holding device described by way of example therefore consists substantially of the holding element 21, the spring element 22 and the actuating element 23.
The cylinder 06 described above, by way of example, is preferably embodied in such a way that several, preferably identical dressings 01 can be arranged on its surface 07. If the cylinder 06 is designed as a forme cylinder, it can be covered, for example, with six plate-shaped printing formes 01, which are arranged side-by-side in its axial direction. More than one dressing 01 can be arranged on the cylinder 06, in the direction of its circumference. It is therefore possible to provide, for example, two grooves 08, each extending axially in respect to the cylinder 06, under its surface 07, which each have openings 09 extending axially in respect to the cylinder 06 for fastening dressings 01. The openings 09 are arranged on the circumference of the cylinder 06, for example offset by 180° with respect to each other, if two dressing 01 are to be arranged behind each other along its circumference. With this covering of the cylinder 06 with two dressings 01 arranged behind each other, the leading end 03 of the one dressing 01 is fastened in the one groove 08, while the trailing end 04 of the same dressing 01 is fastened in the other groove 08. This applies correspondingly to the one or to the remaining dressings 01 arranged on this cylinder 06. If several dressings 01 are arranged side-by-side in the axial direction of the cylinder 06, these can advantageously also be arranged offset with respect to each other. The offset can involve, for example, individual dressings 01, or can involve groups of dressings 01, each of which is arranged offset, for example by half of the length L of the dressing 01 which, offset however, requires that further grooves 08 with associated openings 09, or at least that partial elements of the same, are cut into the cylinder 06, which openings are arranged along the circumference of the cylinder 06 offset by 90°, for example, in relation to the previously mentioned grooves 08 and openings 09.
The method for mounting of a flexible dressing 01 on a cylinder 06 of a printing press will be described, by way of example, in what follows, wherein two dressings 01 can be arranged one behind the other along the circumference of the cylinder 06, and wherein each dressing 01 has, related to the production direction P of the cylinder 06, a leading end 03 and a trailing end 04 as shown schematically in
In addition to using the gravitational force FG of the dressing 01, or alternatively thereto, the leading end 03 of the dressing 01 can be elastically pre-stressed, as depicted in
The restoring moment MR results because the dressing 01 is made of an elastically deformable material and therefore inherently has an elastically resilient property. This property is used in such a way that, in the course of being brought to the cylinder 06, the leading end 03 of the dressing 01 is conducted, for example, over an edge 26, which preferably extends axially in respect to the cylinder 06 and which edge 26 is arranged, spaced apart from the cylinder 06, on a support element 24. Dressing 01 is bent at edge 26 in such a way that a bending stress with a spring force, as seen in the representation of the dressing 01 in dashed lines in
The leading end 03 of the dressing 01 can also be brought against the cylinder 06 in such a way that, following its contact with the surface 07 of the cylinder 06, this leading end 03 faces away from the surface 07 of the cylinder 06 at an acute angle γ of an imagined second tangent line T29, which rests on a contact point 29 on the surface 07 of the cylinder 06 and shown as a representation of the dressing 01 in solid lines in
In the course of relative movement between the cylinder 06 and the dressing 01, preferably in the course of the rotation of the cylinder 06 in its production direction P, but also in the course of a suitable movement of the dressing 01 as well, for example movement of the dressing 01 counter to the production direction P of the cylinder 06, the suspension leg 13 is hooked at the first edge 16 of the opening 09 on the leading end 03 of the dressing 01. A roller element 24, which may be the support element 24 and which is placed against the cylinder 06, can then aid the mounting of the dressing 01 on the cylinder 06 since the roller element 24 rolls the dressing 01 up on the cylinder 06. The suspension leg 14 is embodied on the trailing end 04 of the dressing 01 wherein, in the course of rolling the dressing 01 up on the cylinder 06, this trailing suspension leg 04 is pushed into the opening 09 of the cylinder 06 by the roller element 24.
A device for executing the above described method will now be explained by the utilization of the example of a web-fed offset printing press with, for example, a vertical rubber-against-rubber printing group of four-cylinder construction and with, for example, the horizontal guidance of a material 46 to be imprinted, and preferably a paper web 46, as seen in
The forme cylinder 31 is covered, about its circumference, with two printing formes 36, and the forme cylinder 33 is covered, or at least can be covered, in the same way with two printing formes 37, wherein the printing formes 36, 37 each have a length L corresponding, for example, to half the circumference of the forme cylinders 31, 33. The width of the printing formes 36, 37 depends, inter alia, on how many printing formes 36, 37 are to be arranged in the axial direction of the respective forme cylinders 31, 33. Thus, up to six printing formes 36, 37, for example, can be arranged side-by-side in the axial direction of the respective forme cylinder 31, 33. The forme cylinders 31, 33 are preferably embodied to be of double width and double circumference, while, for example, printing blankets, which are arranged on the rubber blanket cylinders 32, 34, are supported over the entire circumference of the rubber blanket cylinders 32, 34.
As already discussed, and as depicted in
For changing one or several of the printing formes 36, 37 placed on the forme cylinders 31, 33, a first printing forme magazine 38, which is arranged underneath the paper web 46, is, for example, provided for the forme cylinder 31, and a second printing forme magazine 39 is provided for the forme cylinder 33 and which is arranged above the paper web 46. Each such printing forme magazine 38, 39 has a receiving arrangement 41, 42, for example a chute 41, 42, for receiving at least one used printing forme 36, 37 to be removed from the respective forme cylinder 31, 33, and also has a receiving arrangement 43, 44, for example a chute 43, 44, for receiving a fresh printing forme 36, 37 to be mounted on the respective forme cylinder 31, 33. Each such receiving arrangement 41, 42, 43, 44 or chute preferably has several storing or storage positions, respectively for used printing formes 36, 37 to be removed and also has several storage positions for fresh printing formes 36, 37 to be mounted. While the printing forme magazine 38, 39, which is assigned to the respective forme cylinder 31, 33, for example, is placed, for example, against its respective forme cylinder 31, 33 for changing a printing forme 36, 37, the first forme cylinder 31 and the second forme cylinder 32, for example, are moved out of contact with their respective rubber blanket cylinder 32, 34 with which they are operatively connected. Alternatively, or additionally to the out-of-contact forme cylinders 31, 33, the rubber blanket cylinders 32, 34 can also be taken out of contact with the paper web 46. In this way, the respective forme cylinder 31, 33 is uncoupled from the paper web 46 during the change of one or of several printing formes 36, 37, while the other pair of cylinders 32, 34 can remain in production in the printing group.
The chutes 41, 43, or 42, 44, for receiving at least one used or one fresh printing forme 36, 37 are advantageously arranged in the respective first or second printing forme magazines 38, 39 substantially parallel with each other. They are preferably arranged on top of each other in a layered construction. In this case a separating wall 47, for example, in each of the respective printing forme magazines 38, 39 can separate the chutes 41 and 43, or 42 and 44, from each other, as may be seen in
A movably arranged printing forme magazine 38, 39 can be fixed in place in its work position in front of a forme cylinder 31, 33 at a distance a38, a39 and in alignment with the forme cylinder 31, 33, by the use of an arresting device or stop 48 as seen in
It is advantageous to arrange a hingedly seated, preferably pivotable guide plate 49, as shown in
A further preferred embodiment of a printing press with printing forme magazines results in connection with a printing press, for example in connection with a multi-color offset printing press, whose printing groups are preferably arranged on top of each other in a bridge construction, or in a compact figure-eight construction, in at least one frame 97 on a base 96, i.e. a printing press of low structural height with eight print positions, such as is shown, by way of example, in
Further details regarding a method and a device for executing the method in accordance with the present invention will now be explained, by way of example, by referring to
Moreover,
Further details of the printing forme magazine 39 can also be seen in
In the preferred embodiment represented in
A holder 58, and in particular a printing forme holder 58, is also located in the chute 44, for use in holding at least one second printing forme 37 to be mounted on the forme cylinder 33. As represented in
A further preferred embodiment of the printing forme holder 58 is depicted in
For depositing a second printing forme 37, which is maintained in the guide rails 64, on the support 54, at least one of the guide rails 64 is movable in the direction of the width B of the second printing forme 37. However, both guide rails 64 are preferably movable in opposite directions along the width B of the second printing forme 37, so that they move away from each other, at least for a short period of time, and thereby increase their distance from each other, in such a way that they no longer support the longitudinal sides of the printing forme 37 vertically. The second printing forme 37 thus falls between the guide rails 64 onto the support 54 because of the gravitational force FG acting on it. If, in a first operational mode, the holding element 64 holds the second printing forme 37 in the upper storage position by an electrical or magnetic force, for example, the holding element 64 changes, preferably by remote control, from a first operational state into a second operational state. The second operational state causes the holding element 64 to release the printing forme 37 from the holding element 64, so that, in the course of being released from the holding element 64, the printing forme 37 changes, by free falling in the chute 44, and therefore only because of the gravitational force FG acting on it, into the storage position which preferably is located directly vertically underneath the upper storage position. In the upper, as well as in the lower storage position, the second printing form 37 is held in the chute 44 with an inclination of less than 15°, and is preferably held horizontally. At least the longitudinal extension of the guide rails 64, embodied as support bearings for the second printing forme 37, have only this slight inclination, or preferably extend horizontally.
The release of the second printing forme 37 from the guide rails 64, which act laterally on it, is preferably aided by a stop 67, which stop 67 extends perpendicularly, in relation to the bearing area 02 of the second printing forme 37 and which stop 67 is preferably arranged rigidly in the chute 44. Such a stop 67 is preferably arranged at both longitudinal sides of the second printing forme 37, so that, in the course of a movement in opposite directions of the guide rails 64 which hold this printing forme 37, which movement is directed along the width B of the second printing forme 37, this second printing plate 37 remains in a stable position in the plane defined by the bearing area 02 because of the stops 67 arranged on both sides. The stops 67 push the printing forme 37 off the guide rails 64, which guide rails 64 move away from each other, so that the printing forme 37 comes into contact with the stops 67. The vertical support of the printing plate 37 is simultaneously removed by the movement of the guide rails 64. The release of the second printing forme 37 is preferably performed by a drive mechanism 69, for example, which is operated by remote control from a suitable control console, which control panel is a part of the printing press, wherein the drive mechanism 69 acts on the guide rails 64 and moves them along an actuating path s68.
If several printing formes 37 are to be arranged side-by-side in the axial direction on the forme cylinder 33, and several printing formes 37 are arranged side-by-side in the axial direction of the forme cylinder 33 in the chute 44, it is advantageous to arrange the guide rails 64, which act on adjoining printing formes 37, in the printing forme magazine 39 on two different levels above the support 54, i.e. vertically offset in relation to each other, as shown in
In the configuration represented in
Expressed generally, a method for storing at least two dressings 01, 36, 37, which are sequentially removed from the same cylinder 06, 31, 33 of a printing press, includes the following steps: a) a first dressing 01, 36, 37, previously removed from a cylinder 06, 31, 33, is conveyed from a first storage position into a second storage position, b) a second dressing 01, 36, 37 removed following the previously removed first dressing 01, 36, 37, is stored in the first storage position initially occupied by the previously removed dressing 01, 36, 37, c) the previously removed dressing 01, 36, 37 in its second storage position, and the subsequently removed dressing 01, 36, 37 in its first storage position of the previously removed dressing 01, 36, 37, are stored at a distance, which is orthogonal along their length L, d) the dressings 01, 36, 37 are stored with their respective bearing areas 02 at least largely overlapping, preferably overlapping by 80%, or with their bearing areas 02 positioned for complete or almost complete overlap. The previously removed dressing 01, 36, 37, and the subsequently removed dressing 01, 36, 37, can now be stored vertically along their length L, or also spaced apart horizontally from each other. The previously removed dressing 01, 36, 37 is preferably conveyed into its second storage position by a linear movement, in particular by a linear movement which connects both storage positions immediately and directly with each other, orthogonally, in respect to its bearing area 02, or also by a movement of its trailing end 04, which will be explained in greater detail later.
It is advantageous, as depicted in
Preferably the coding can also be in the form of a code which can be read by humans, for example a bar code. Therefore, the code reader 71 is preferably arranged in the chute 44 at its end facing away from the forme cylinder 33, wherein a reading direction of the code reader 71 is oriented either parallel with the length L of the printing forme 37, or preferably is oriented parallel with the width B of the printing forme 37. In a preferred embodiment, the code reader 71 is arranged, preferably movable by a linear guide, in or at the chute 44. Alternatively, a movable mirror is provided, which movable mirror is preferably inclined by 45° in relation to the width B of the printing forme 37, and which changes the direction of a detection or reading signal from a coding attached to the printing forme 37 to a code reader 71 arranged at the side of the chute 44. Only a single code reader 71 is thus necessary for reading the codes applied to the printing formes 37 stored in the chutes 44. By using only a single code reader 71 for several stored printing formes 37, it is possible to save considerable costs. When employing only a single code reader 71, the single code reader 71, or the mirror, can be displaced either parallel with respect to the width B of the printing forme 37, i.e. in the axial direction of the forme cylinder 33, preferably along several chutes 44, and/or can be displaced vertically in height along the printing formes 37 stacked in one of the chutes 44, so that the code reader 71, or the mirror, thus detects the coding on printing formes 37 stored in different storage positions. Either the code reader 71, or at least one further sensor 91, can be used for monitoring and/or for checking whether an intended printing forme change has been successfully performed. Errors, such as a double allocation, or an erroneous allocation, such as the mounting of the printing forme 37 at an inappropriate location, can then be avoided, or at least are detectable by the provision of a report which preferably is directed to the control console of the printing press, before extensive damage occurs.
A further or lower chute 42 is represented in
A preferred embodiment of the chute 42 provides that at least two printing formes 37 can be stored in the chute 42 side-by-side in the axial direction of the forme cylinder 33. This embodiment makes a particularly rapid removal of printing forms 37 possible, in particular if at least two printing formes 37 can be arranged on the forme cylinder 33 in its axial direction, because several printing formes 37 can be removed simultaneously from the forme cylinder 33. If, for example, at least four printing formes 37 can be arranged on the forme cylinder 33 in its axial direction, it is advantageous, for reasons of stability, to arrange, for example, two chutes 42 side-by-side in the axial direction of the forme cylinder 33. Each storage space, defined by the width B of a printing forme 37, in one of these chutes 42 is then configured in such a way that at least as many printing formes 37 can be arranged there, as printing formes 37 can be arranged on the circumference of the forme cylinder 33. The storage of the printing formes 37, at each storage space, takes place in a stack on top of each other. It can be provided that up to a maximum of ten, but at least a minimum of up to eight printing formes 37 can be stored in each one of the chutes 42, so that printing formes 37, which were removed from the forme cylinder 33, can be collected in the chutes 42, and the chutes 42 do not necessarily have to be emptied by the operator after each change of printing formes 37. Regardless of the number of chutes 42 arranged side-by-side, the storage spaces have the same close spacing from each other in the axial direction of the forme cylinder 33 as do the printing formes 37 arranged on the forme cylinder 33.
On the side of the upper chute 44 facing the forme cylinder 33, the upper chute 44 has a guide element 73 for receiving printing formes 37 which are removed from the forme cylinder 33 which guide element 73, at least in the operational state, is arranged close to the surface 07 of the forme cylinder 33 and is embodied, for example, in the form of a guide plate 73, a wedge 73 or a rolling element 73, for example a roller 73, and whose purpose it is to guide the trailing end 04 of a printing form 73, which has been removed from the forme cylinder 33, into the chute 42. A distance a73 of the guide element 73 from the forme cylinder 33 is preferably not much greater than the length l14 of the beveled suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing forme 37. The value a73 of the guide element 73 lies, in particular, between the length and twice the length l14 of the suspension leg 14, as seen in
In a preferred embodiment, after having passed the guide element 73, the suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing forme 37 to be removed from the forme cylinder 33 preferably is placed on a first ramp 74, which ramp 74 is arranged in the lower chute 42 at a distance from the guide element 73, before it reaches the support 72. The first ramp 74 initially rises in the direction of the support 72, and after a high point 76 descends again toward the support 72. The first ramp 74 is preferably rigidly connected with the support 72. Continuing the introduction of the printing forme 73 to be removed from the forme cylinder 33 into the chute 42, the printed forme 73 suspension leg 14, at the trailing end 04, arrives at a second ramp 77, whose flank preferably descends abruptly steeply toward the support 72 after its high point 78, i.e. on the side facing away from the forme cylinder 33. In the direction in which the printing forme 37 is introduced into the lower chute 42, a detent 79, which the suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the forme cylinder 33 contacts, is arranged at a short distance a77, as seen in
A lifting device 82, and in particular a printing forme lifting device 82, is arranged in the chute 42 on the side facing away from the forme cylinder 33. The printing form lifting device 82 has, for example, a piston 83, which can be shifted perpendicularly with respect to the support 72, and at whose end a lifting arm 84, which is configured to be either L-shaped, for example, or in particular U-shaped, is provided. The beveled suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing forme 37 is placed on the lifting arm 84, or is placed so that it extends around it. Preferably, the printing forme lifting device 82 has two stable operating positions, namely a first stable operating position with the piston 83 retracted, in which the lifting arm 84 is located below the level defined by the support 72, and a further or second stable operating position with the piston 83 extended, in which the lifting arm 84 lifts the printing forme 37 which was removed from the forme cylinder 33, off the support 72. In the lifting process, the printing forme lifting device 82 performs a lift s82, which is greater than the length l14 of the beveled suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing forme 37. Preferably, the lift s82 has a value between the single and double lengths 114 of the suspension leg 14. In this way, the printing forme lifting device 82 lifts a printing forme 37 which had been removed from the forme cylinder 33, from a temporary first storage position into a final second storage position.
A securing element 86, which can be pivoted around a pivot axis extending substantially parallel with respect to the width B of the printing forme 37 and which has, for example, the shape of a strip-shaped flap 86, and whose lower edge is at a distance a86 from the lifting arm 84, and wherein the distance a86 preferably is less than the length l14 of the suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing forme 37, is arranged above the printing forme lifting device 82, and in particular is arranged above its lifting arm 84. In
A further preferred embodiment of components arranged in the chute 42 is represented in
Special methods for changing printing formes 37 on a forme cylinder 33 will now be explained by particular reference to
The forme cylinder 33 rotates so that the opening 09 of a groove 08, in which the suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing forme 37 to be removed from the forme cylinder 33 is maintained by a holding device 21, is moved into a first position which is located below the guide element 73, which is a part of the upper chute 44. The controllable, preferably pneumatically operable contact pressure element 24 is placed against the forme cylinder 33, as seen in
The actuating element 23, which can preferably be operated pneumatically, pivots the holding device 21 against the force of a spring element 22, so that the suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing forme 37 snaps out of the opening 09 because of its elastic inherent tension and contacts the guide element 73. The contact pressure element 24, which is now placed against the forme cylinder, secures the printing forme 37 against further release from the shell 07 of the forme cylinder 33, as seen in
The forme cylinder 33 rotates opposite its production direction P and, in the process, pushes the trailing end 04 of the printing forme 37 into the lower chute 42. In the course of the insertion of the printing forme 37 into the chute 42, the suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of this printing forme 37 first slides along the guide element 73 and is then placed on the first ramp 74, which is a part of the lower chute 42. The suspension leg 14 slides upward on the ramp 74, up to its high point 76, and thereafter reaches the support 72. While the contact pressure element 24 continues to be placed against the forme cylinder 33, the printing forme 37 is further pushed into the lower chute 42 by the rotation of the forme cylinder 33 opposite its production direction P. In the course of this movement, the suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 also moves over the second ramp 77, which is connected with the conveying arrangement 81, and contacts the stop 79 which is connected with the second ramp 77, as depicted in
The contact pressure element 24 is now removed from the forme cylinder 33. Because of the push by the suspension leg 14 of the trailing end 04 against the stop 79, the suspension leg 13 at the leading end 03 of the printing forme 37, which is preferably positively connected and which is suspended at the front edge 16 of the opening 09, is released from the opening 09. Now the printing forme 37 freely rests with its leading end 03 on the shell 07 of the forme cylinder 33. From the release of the trailing leg 14 at the trailing end 04 until now, the forme cylinder 33 has performed less than half a revolution. The beveled suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 has been hooked between the second ramp 77 and the stop 79. Now the conveying device 81, which is connected with the second ramp 77 and the stop 79, can pull the printing forme 37 completely into the chute 42. This can be seen by referring to
The first printing forme 37 has now been removed from the forme cylinder 33 and is located with its length L in the chute 42. Its suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 rests on the high point 78 of the second ramp 77, while it leading end 03 rests on the high point 76 of the first ramp 74, because of which at least the suspension leg 13 at the leading end 07 preferably hangs free. Therefore, the seating of the printing forme 37 in the lower chute 42 is preferably provided by a support of the first removed printing forme 37 at two points, namely at the high points 76, 78 of the two ramps 74, 77, as is shown in
The printing forme lifting device 82, which can preferably be operated pneumatically, for example, lifts the trailing end 04 of the first removed printing forme 37 pulled into the chute 42 to shortly underneath the securing element 86. The suspension leg 14 now stands on the lifting arm 84 connected with the printing forme lifting device 82, as depicted in
While a first printing forme 37 to be mounted on the forme cylinder 33 rests, with its beveled suspension legs 13, 14 on the support 54, in the upper chute 44, the forme cylinder 33 continues to rotate opposite its production direction P into a second position. The opening 09, from which the suspension leg 13 at the leading end 03 of the printing forme 37 previously removed from the forme cylinder 33 was released, has now passed a contact point 88 of the contact pressure element 24 again placed against the forme cylinder 33, and the rear edge 17 of the opening 09 which, in the production direction P of the forme cylinder, is at the rear, is at a distance a88 from the contact point 88. The distance a88 lies in the range of a few millimeters, and preferably is less than 30 mm, and therefore corresponds to an arc length of less than a one-thirtieth part of the circumference of the forme cylinder 33. As a rule, the first position of the forme cylinder 33 for removing a printing forme 37 arranged on it is not identical to the second position for receiving a fresh printing forme 37. The contact force element 24 is preferably placed against the forme cylinder 33 while the opening 09 passes the contact point 88, or after opening 09 has passed the contact point 88. The alignment device 51, which is arranged close to the forme cylinder 33 pivots with its previously preferably horizontally arranged stops 52, 53, now rotated preferably by 90°, and now turned into a vertical position, so that a stop 52, 53, which is matched to the width B of the printing forme 37 to be mounted on the forme cylinder 33, dips into a transport plane, defined by the support 54 in the chute 44, for the printing forme 37 to be mounted on the forme cylinder 33. The printing forme 37 to be mounted on the forme cylinder 33 is thus aligned with the forme cylinder 33 at the stop 52, 53 with the correct side registration while being transported out of the chute 44 all as seen in
The suspension leg 14 on the trailing end 04 of the first printing forme 37 to be mounted on the cylinder 33 rests against a stop 56, which stop 56 is connected with a conveying device 57. The conveying device 57 is put into operation, so that the stop 56 conveys the first printing form 37 in a movement which is preferably directed tangentially to the forme cylinder 33, and out of the chute 44, until the leading end 03 of printing forme 37 touches the contact force element 24, which was previously placed against the forme cylinder 33, and the beveled suspension leg 13 on this leading end 03 now rests between the edge 17 of the opening 09, which is in the rear in the production direction P of the forme cylinder 33, and the contact point 88 of the contact force element 24, as seen in
The direction of rotation of the forme cylinder 33 is changed and it again begins to rotate in its production direction P, so that the suspension leg 13 at the leading end 03 of the printing forme 37 being placed on the forme cylinder 33 slides into the opening 09 and is suspended, preferably positively connected, at the front edge 16 of the opening 09. This position is shown in
By continued rotation of the forme cylinder 33 in its production direction P, the printing forme 37, whose suspension leg 13 is suspended in the opening 09, is completely moved out of the chute 44 and is drawn onto the forme cylinder 33. In the course of the draw-on process, the printing forme 37 is rolled onto the forme cylinder 33 by the contact force element 24, which is placed against the forme cylinder 33. After half a revolution of the forme cylinder 33 in its production direction P, the contact force element 24 now pushes the beveled suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing forme 37 into the opening 09. The holding element 21 in the groove 08 assigned to this opening 09 was previously released and is now brought into the operating position in which it fixes the suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing forme 37 introduced into the opening 09 in place, for example by clamping. The conveying device 57 now moves the stop 56, which is connected with it, back into its end position on the side of the chute 44 facing away from the forme cylinder, as depicted in
The contact pressure element 24 is again moved away from the forme cylinder 33, and the diametrical stops 52, 53 of the alignment device 51 are preferably again pivoted into a horizontal position. A change of a first printing forme 37 on the forme cylinder 33 is now finished with accordance the above described method steps. A used printing forme 37 has been removed and a fresh printing forme 37 has been attached. This change of a printing forme 37 can be completely performed by the above-described device in a very short time, preferably in less than one minute. Then the forme cylinder 33 is again ready for production, as can be seen in
The change of a further, second printing forme 37, for example, which is also arranged along the circumference of the forme cylinder 33, is started by an operator placing the second fresh printing forme 37 into the chute 44, preferably still during the previous running production. The second fresh printing forme 37 was maintained above the support 54 in a controllable, preferably pneumatically controllable printing forme holder 58, so that the second fresh printing forme 37 is clamped, for example either at its ends 03, 04, between two stops 61, 62, for which purpose at least one of the stops 61, 62 is movable, or wherein the second fresh printing forme 37 is inserted with its long sides into guide rails 64, and wherein at least one of the guide rails 64 can be moved along the width B of the printing forme 37. When the printing form holder 58 releases the printing forme 37 in that its elements holding the printing forme 37, for example the stops 61, 62, or the guide rails 64, increase their distance from each other, for example a58, at least briefly, the printing forme 37 falls onto the support 54 and rests thereon with its suspension legs 13, 14, as seen in
For removing a further, for example a second, used printing forme 37 from the forme cylinder 33, and corresponding to the method previously explained in connection with
Corresponding to the method previously explained in connection with
The forme cylinder 33 now continues to rotate opposite its production direction P and, in the process, pushes the trailing end 04 of the second used printing forme 37 into the chute 42. In the course of the insertion of the printing forme 37 into the chute 42, the suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of this second used printing forme 37 first slides along the guide element 73 and is then placed on the first ramp 74, which is a part of the chute 42. The suspension leg 14 of the second used printing forme 37 slides upward on the ramp 74, wherein it is pushed under the first used printing forme 37 resting in the chute 42, which first used printing forme 37 rests on the high point 76 of the first ramp 74, and lifts its leading end 03, which projects past the high point 76 and is oriented toward the forme cylinder 03, while the suspension leg 14 of the second printing forme 37 passes over the high point 76 of the first ramp 44 and thereafter reaches the support 72. While the contact pressure element 24 continues to be placed against the forme cylinder 33, the second used printing forme 37 is pushed further into the chute 42 by the continued rotation of the forme cylinder 33 opposite to its production direction P. In the course of this rotation, the suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the first printing forme 37 resting in the chute 42 slides over the side with the printed image of the second printing forme 37 conveyed into the chute 42. In the further course of events, the suspension leg 14 of the second used printing forme 37 also moves over the second ramp 77 connected with the conveying arrangement 81 and contacts the stop 79 which is connected with the second ramp 77, as seen in
The contact pressure element 24 is now again removed from the forme cylinder 33. Because of the push by the suspension leg 14 of the trailing end 04 against the stop 79, the suspension leg 13 at the leading end 03 of the second used printing forme 37, which is preferably positively connected and suspended at the front edge 16 of the opening 09, is released from the opening 09. Now the leading end 03 of the suspension leg 13 freely rests on the shell 07 of the forme cylinder 33. From the release of the trailing leg 14 at the trailing end 04 until now, the forme cylinder 33 has again performed less than half a revolution. The beveled suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 has been hooked between the second ramp 77 and the stop 79. The lifting arm 84 of the printing forme lifting device 82 is lowered, so that the first printing forme 37 resting in the chute 44, the trailing end 04 of which up to now had been held by it, is placed on a strip 89 formed on the stop 79. The strip 89 has a height h89, perpendicular to the support 72, whose value is greater than the length l14 of the beveled suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the second printing forme 37. The height h89 preferably has a value between the single and double length l14 of the beveled suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the second printing forme 37 as is shown in
The conveying device 81, which is connected with the second ramp 77, and the stop 79 now pulls the second printing forme 37 completely into the chute 42, wherein the first and the second printing formes 37 are now arranged on top of each other in the direction of their length L. The conveying device 81, together with the second ramp 77 and the stop 79 for the beveled suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing forme 37 introduced into the chute 42, constitute a moving device which may be seen in
Now, the printing forme lifting device 82 preferably lifts the trailing ends 04 of both used printing formes 37 arranged in the chute 42, by use of its lifting arm 84, up to the securing element 86. The leading end 03 of the second used printing forme 37 rests, with a projection oriented toward the forme cylinder 33, on the high point 76 of the first ramp 74, and the beveled suspension leg 13 at the leading end 03 of the first printing form 37 rests on the leading end 03 of the second printing forme 37 all as seen in
For now mounting the second new printing forme 37, which is lying ready in the upper chute 44, the forme cylinder 33 continues to rotate against the production direction P into the second position, until the opening 09, from which the suspension leg 13 at the leading end 03 of the second printing form 37 which had previously been removed from the forme cylinder 33 had been released, passes the contact point 88 of the contact pressure element 24 placed against the forme cylinder 33. The rear edge 17 of the opening 09 which, in the production direction P of the forme cylinder, is at the rear, is now at a distance a88 from the contact point 88, wherein the distance a88 lies in the range of a few millimeters, and is preferably less than 30 mm, and therefore corresponds to an arc length of less than a one-thirtieth part of the circumference of the forme cylinder 33, as was shown in
The suspension leg 14 on the trailing end 04 of the second new printing forme 37 to be mounted on the cylinder 33 rests against a stop 56, which is connected with a conveying device 57. Corresponding to the method previously explained in connection with
Corresponding to the method previously explained in connection with
By continuing the rotation of the forme cylinder 33 in its production direction P, the second new printing forme 37, whose suspension leg 13 is suspended in the opening 09, is completely moved out of the chute 44 and is drawn onto the forme cylinder 33. In the course of the draw-on process, the second new printing forme 37 is rolled onto the forme cylinder 33 by the contact force element 24 placed against the forme cylinder 33. After half a revolution of the forme cylinder 33 in its production direction P, the contact force element 24 now pushes the beveled suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the second printing forme 37 into the opening 09. The holding element 21 in the groove 08 assigned to this opening 09 was previously released and is now brought into the operating position in which it fixes the suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the second printing forme 37 introduced into the opening 09 in place, for example by clamping. The conveying device 57 moves the stop 56, which is connected with it, back into its end position on the side of the upper chute 44 facing away from the forme cylinder. The upper chute 44 is now empty, while two used printing formes 37 have now been placed into the lower chute 42, as may be seen in
The contact pressure element 24 is now moved away from the forme cylinder 33, and the diametrical stops 52, 53 of the alignment device 51 are preferably again pivoted into a horizontal position. The change of a second printing forme 37 on the forme cylinder 33 is finished with the method steps described. A used second printing forme 37 was first removed and a fresh second printing forme 37 was attached. The forme cylinder 33 is again ready for production. This change can also be completely performed by the subject device in less than one minute. The change of a first and of a second printing forme 37 can therefore be terminated in less than two minutes, and preferably can be terminated altogether in less than ninety seconds as shown in
While preferred embodiments of a device and a method for storing at least two dressings that have been drawn off the same cylinder of a printing machine one after the other, in accordance with the present invention, have been set forth fully and completely hereinabove, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that various changes in, for example the specific structure of the dressings, the type of printing press with which they are used, and the like could be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the subject invention which is accordingly to be limited only by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 103 14 343 | Mar 2003 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2004/050157 | 2/19/2004 | WO | 00 | 9/28/2005 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2004/085158 | 10/7/2004 | WO | A |
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