Patent Grant
7383772
This U.S. application is the U.S. national phase, under 35 USC 371, of PCT/DE2003/003473, filed Oct. 20, 2003; published as WO 2004/037537 A2 on May 6, 2004 and claiming priority to DE 102 48 820.7, filed Oct. 19, 2002; to DE 103 07 089.3, filed Feb. 19, 2003; to DE 103 22 651.6, filed May 20, 2003 and to DE 103 31 469.5, filed Jul. 11, 2003, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention is directed to printing units with guide elements. The printing unit is adapted for imprinter functions. In one situation, a web is printed in a printing gap. In another situation, the web is conducted, without printing, through the gap.
A printing unit with two web guide elements, which two web guide elements are arranged respectively in an inlet and in an outlet area of a printing unit in such a way that, with the printing location disengaged, a web can be conducted through the printing location without touching it, is known from DE 93 11 113 U1. The two web guide elements are embodied as rollers, which are rotatably seated in lateral walls of the printing unit.
A turning bar is disclosed, in one preferred embodiment, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,744,693. A tube wall element made of a porous material which is permeable to air forms a closed pressure chamber in conjunction with a base body. The porous segment constitutes a wall of the chamber and is embodied to be load-bearing over the width of the latter, without a load-bearing support. In a second example, a segment with through-bores is utilized instead of the porous segment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,468 shows a guide element which has an inner body with bores and an outer body of a porous material which is permeable to air. The bores in the inner body are only provided in the expected area of a loop of material which will pass around the guide element.
EP 0 705 785 A2 is concerned with the transport and deflection of web-shaped material, for example in the form of film material. In one embodiment, compressed air flows through the pores of a porous wall with mean pore diameters of 7 to 10 μm, and in another embodiment air flows through a wall having micro-bores with openings of 350 μm.
The object of the present invention is directed to producing printing units with guide elements for a flying printing former change.
In accordance with the present invention, this object is attained by the provision of a guide element of a printing unit, which printing unit is usable in an imprinter function. In one operational situation, a web is imprinted in a printing gap. In a second operational situation, the web is conducted through the gap without contact by a guide element. The guide element includes a micro-porous air permeable material through which air can pass. The openings may have a diameter of less than 500 μm.
The advantages to be gained by the use of the present invention consist, in particular, in that a dependably and accurately operating web guide element of a printing unit is provided. By the provision of an air cushion which is formed by the micro-openings, a high degree of homogeneity is accomplished over the length of the air cushion, simultaneously with small losses. In contrast to prior rollers, no inertia must be overcome, in particular in the course of changing speeds.
By the provision of air outlet openings, with diameters in the millimeter range, forces can be applied point-by-point to the material, with an impulse of a jet, by the use of which, the material can be kept away from the respective component, or can be placed against another component. By the distribution of micro-openings in the guide element, with a high hole density and with a broad support, as a mailer of priority, the effect of a formed air cushion is applied. The cross-section of bores used in prior devices were, for example, in the range of between 1 and 3 mm. The cross section of the micro-openings, in accordance with the present invention, is smaller by at least the power of ten. Substantially different effects arise from this difference in size. For example, the distance between the surface of the guide element with the openings and the web can be reduced, and because of this, flow losses, which occur outside of the effective areas of the web, can be clearly reduced.
In contrast to prior components with openings, or with bores, having opening cross sections in the millimeter range and a hole distance of several millimeters, a substantially more homogeneous surface is provided with the formation of micro-openings on the surface. Here, micro-openings are understood to mean openings in the surface of the component which have a diameter of smaller than or equal to 500 μm, preferably smaller than or equal to 300 μm, and, in particular, smaller than or equal to 150 μm. A “hole density” of the surface provided with micro-openings is at least one micro-opening per 5 mm2, which is the equivalent of a density of 0.2hole/mm2, and advantageously at least one micro-opening per 3.6 mm2 which results in a density of 0.28 hole/mm2.
Because of the embodiment of the openings of the guide element as micro-openings, the air cushion is made more uniform. The flow volume exiting per surface unit is reduced in such a way that a flow loss can be acceptably small also in the areas of the guide element around which the web is not looped.
The micro-openings can be advantageously provided as open pores at the surface of a porous, and in particular, at the surface of a micro-porous, air-permeable material, or as openings of penetrating bores of small diameter, which extend through the wall of a supply chamber toward the exterior of the guide element. In another embodiment of the present invention, the micro-bores are configured as openings of penetrating micro-bores.
In order to achieve a uniform distribution of air exiting from the surface of the guide element, in the case of employing micro-porous material, and without requiring, at the same time, large layer thicknesses of the material with high flow resistance, it is useful for the guide element to have a rigid air-permeable support, to which support the micro-porous material has been applied as a layer. Such a support can be charged with compressed air, which flows out of the support through the micro-porous layer and, in this way, forms an air cushion on the surface of the component.
On the other hand, the support can be porous and can have a better air permeability than the micro-porous material. It can also be formed of a flat material or of a formed material, which encloses a hollow space and which is provided with air outlet openings. Combinations of these alternatives can also be considered.
To achieve a uniform air distribution, it is moreover desirable that the thickness of the layer corresponds to at least a distance between adjoining openings.
In the case of using micro-bores, an embodiment is advantageous, wherein the side of the guide element which faces the web and which has the micro-openings is embodied as an insert or as several inserts in a support. In a further development of the present invention, the insert can be releasably or, if desired, can be exchangeably connected with the support. In this way, cleaning and/or an exchange of inserts with different micro-perforations, for adaptation to different materials and web widths, is possible.
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 schematic, side elevation view of three printing units 05, for example of three printing groups 05 for sheet work, and in particular of three offset printing groups 05 for sheet work, through which a web 02, such as, for example, a web 02 of material 02, or a web 02 of imprinted material, runs sequentially, is shown in
A second printing group 05, following the first printing group 05, also has a web guide element 01 in both the inlet and the outlet area of its printing gap 10. This allows the second printing group 05 to be able to conduct a previously imprinted web 02 through its printing gap 10 in a contactless manner while the printing location of this second printing group 05 is disengaged. This second printing group 05 can thus be operated as an imprinting-type printing group 05 or as a printing group 05 for accomplishing a flying printing former change, alternatingly with another such printing group 05. In one operational situation, the web 02 is imprinted by one of the printing groups 05, while passing, without contact, through the second of these printing groups 05. In another operational situation, this sequence is reversed. The two web guide elements 01 may be spatially arranged, for example, in such a way that the web 02 extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to a connecting plane of the two cylinders constituting the printing location. During imprinting operations, one of at least two printing units 05 of the printing press shown in
At least one of the two web guide elements 01 of the printing group 05 configured for alternating printing and specifically at least the web guide element 01 which is arranged in the outlet area of the printing gap 10 of at least one printing unit 05 are or is embodied as a contactless operating web guide element 01, and in particular, as a rod 01, around which air flows, in a manner as will be described in what follows, and as may be seen in
The surface of the guide element 01 has openings 03, in the form of, for example, micro-openings 03, through which a fluid, such as a gas or a mixture, and in particular, air, which is under higher pressure than the surroundings, flows from an inside located hollow space 04, for example a chamber 04, in particular a pressure chamber 04, during operation of the guide element 01. An appropriate feed line for delivering compressed air into the hollow space 04 is not represented in the drawings.
The guide element 01 has the micro-openings 03 at least on the side of its surface cooperating with the web 02, or on the side of its surface facing the web 02. Guide element 01 can also have the micro-openings 03 on other sides, not facing the web 02. Alternatively, it can be made completely of a material which has the micro-openings 03 at least on its longitudinal section which works together with the web 02.
This simplest embodiment, without a preferred direction for the arrangement of the micro-openings 03, becomes possible because of the provision of the openings 03 as micro-openings 03. Because of this structure, a thinner, but more homogeneous air cushion is produced. At the same time, a required, or a resulting volume flow, and with that also a flow loss over the “open” side, is considerably reduced. In contrast to openings with a large cross section, the high resistance to fluid flow of the micro-openings 03 has a result that the “non-coverage” of an area of openings 03 does not lead to a sort of short-circuit flow through those non-covered openings. The partial resistance falling off via the openings 03 is given a greater weight in the total resistance.
In a first preferred embodiment of several structures of guide elements 01, as seen in
The selection of the material, its dimensioning and its charging with fluid under pressure have been made in such a way that 1 to 20 standard cubic meters of fluid per m2 of surface, and, in particular, 2 to 15 standard cubic meters of fluid per m2 of surface, exit from the air outlet surface of the sinter material. An air escape of 3 to 7 standard cubic meters per m2 of surface is particularly advantageous.
In an advantageous manner, the sinter surface of the guide element 01 is charged with an excess pressure of at least 1 bar, and in particular of more than 4 bar, out of the hollow chamber 04. Charging the sinter surface of the guide element 01 with an excess pressure of 5 to 7 bar is particularly advantageous.
If the hollow space 04 of the guide element 01 is essentially defined only by a body of porous material 06 enclosing the hollow space 04, i.e. without any further load-bearing layers, at least at its longitudinal section, which is acting together with the web 02, this body may be, for example, embodied in the form of a tube, and is embodied to be substantially self-supporting with a wall thickness of more than or at least equal to 2 mm, and in particular with a wall thickness of more than or at least equal to 3 mm, as seen in
To achieve a uniform distribution of the air exiting at the surface of the micro-porous material 06, without at the same requiring large layer thicknesses of the material 06, with a resultant correspondingly high flow resistance, it is useful, in an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, that the guide elements 01 have a solid support 07, which is air-permeable at least in part and on which solid support 07 the micro-porous material 06 has been applied as an outer layer 06, as shown in
In the preferred embodiment represented in
As represented in
In another embodiment of the present invention, as seen in
In the representation of
By the above-mentioned steps, a surface of an air cushion, which is as large as possible and which acts as a support, can be achieved at a width b01 of the guide element 01 or at a width b07 of the support 07, such as for example, a maximum width that may be preset for reasons of structural spacing. At a desired or at a predetermined width b01, the radius R07 of the partial circle, or of the tube used as the raw material is selected on the basis of the required web directional change, represented by way of example as the deflection α of the change of direction of the web 02 in
In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention the configuration of the guide element 01 is such that the partial circle angle γ of the wall 15 is formed from the deflection angle α desired for the course of the web 02, wherein γ=α+Δ, and wherein Δ is an addition for an assumed run-up and run-off of the web 02 and is selected to lie between 0° and 50°, and in particular is selected to lie between 10° and 30°. The radius of curvature R07 of the support 07 is then selected to be such that, taking the addition A into consideration, the desired width b01 or b07 is maintained. The radius of curvature R15, or R07 is then selected to be R15 or R07=b01/(a*sin(y/2)). An excess projection possibly created by the layer thickness is negligible because of the slight thickness. Thus, while taking dependability into consideration, a large active surface is formed, together with an optimal use of the space.
With needed deflection angles α starting at, for example, 120°, a semi-circular profile or even a full circle profile can be of advantage for the guide element 01, for reasons of simplification. In this case, the opening 09 and/or the micro-porous layer 06 can include the full 360° angle, or only a partial circle.
Basically, other profiles, differing from partial circles, are conceivable for the area of the guide element 01 or of its curved wall 15 interacting with the web 02, such as, for example, a section of an ellipse, parabola or hyperbola. In this connection, the curved shape of the directional change can be optimized in view of a “soft” directional change. However, the partial circle shape has advantages with respect to standardization, to material use and for simplified manufacture.
In contrast with the embodiment of a guide element 01, wherein the micro-porous material 06 is not underlaid, to a great extent, by a support 07 or by a base body 07 having openings 09, but instead is only supported, for example, in a bridge-like manner, on a frame-like support in edge areas, the embodiment of the shape of a base body 07 in the shape of a partial circle, an ellipse, a parabola or a hyperbola, directly underneath the micro-porous layer 06, has great advantages with respect to manufacture, to dimensional stability, to costs and to handling. For example, with this embodiment, at least half of the surface of the micro-porous layer 06, working together with the web 02, is underlaid by the support 07, or by its curved wall 15, and/or by openings 09 or free cross sections have a diameter or a maximum inside width of 10 mm, and in particular off less than or equal to 5 mm.
In connection with the above-mentioned examples embodied with the support 07, the micro-porous material 06 located outside of the passage 08 has a layer thickness which is less than 1 mm. A layer thickness of this micro-porous material 06, between 0.05 mm and 0.3 mm is particularly advantageous. A proportion of the open face, in the area of the effective surface of the porous material, here called degree of opening, lies between 3% and 30%, and preferably lies between 10% and 25%. To achieve an even distribution of air it is furthermore desirable for the thickness of the micro-porous layer 06 to correspond at least to the distance between adjoining openings 09 in the support 07.
The wall thickness of the support 07 is, at least in the area with the layer, preferably greater than 3 mm, in particular is greater than 5 mm.
The support 07, provided with a hollow profile, if desired, can itself also be made of a porous material, but with a better air permeability, for example with a greater pore size, than that of the micro-porous material of the layer 06. In this case, the openings 09 of the support 07 are constituted by open pores in the area of the surface, and the passages 08 are constituted by channels which are incidentally formed in the interior because of the pores. However, the support 07 can also be constituted by any arbitrary flat material enclosing the hollow space 04 and which is provided with passages 08, or by formed material. Combinations of this alternative can also be considered.
In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, as seen in
In a second preferred embodiment of the guide element 01 with micro-bores 11, as seen in
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in accordance with
Again, what was previously said in connection with the angles α, γ, Δ and the width b01 or b07, here b01 or b12 and the radius R15 here R14 in connection with
As represented in
A wall thickness of the chamber wall 12 or the insert wall 14 or of the insert 14 containing the bores 11 which thickness, inter alia, affects the flow resistance, can be between 0.2 to 0.3 mm, is advantageously between 0.2 to 1.5 mm, and in particular is set at 0.3 to 0.8 mm, for all of the examples concerned. With the smaller ones of the wall thicknesses mentioned in particular, a reinforcing structure, such as, for example, a support extending in the longitudinal direction of the guide element 01, and in particular a metal support, can be arranged in the interior of the guide element 01, and in particular can be arranged in the hollow space 04, on which the chamber wall 12. the wall 14, or the insert 14 are supported at least in part or at points. This support can, for example, be provided by ribs which are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction.
In connection with the embodiment of the micro-openings 03 in the form of bores 11, an excess pressure in the chamber 04 of, for example, 0.5 to 2 bar, and in particular of 0.5 to 1.0 bar, is advantageous.
The bores 11 can be configured to be cylindrical, funnel-shaped or in another special shape, such as, for example, in the form of a Laval nozzle.
The micro-perforation, i.e. the making of the bores 11, preferably takes place by drilling by the use of accelerated particles, such as, for example, a liquid, such as a water jet, ions or elementary particles, or by the use of electromagnetic radiation of high energy density, for example by light in the form of a laser beam. The making of the micro-perforations by the use of an electron beam is particularly advantageous.
The side of the wall 12 or 14 having the bores 11 and facing the web 02, for example a wall 12 or 14 made of special steel, in a preferred embodiment has a dirt and inkrepelling finish. It has a coating which is not specifically represented of, for example nickel or advantageously chromium which coating does not cover the openings 03 or bores 11, and which coating has, for example, been additionally treated for example with micro-ribs or is structured in a lotus flower-effect, or which preferably has been polished to a high gloss.
While preferred embodiments of a printing unit with guide elements, 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 structure of the printing units, the source of supply of the fluid under pressure and the like could be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention which is accordingly to be limited only by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 103 07 089 | Feb 2003 | DE | national |
| 103 22 651 | May 2003 | DE | national |
| 103 31 469 | Jul 2003 | DE | national |
| 102 48 820 | Oct 2003 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/DE03/03473 | 10/20/2003 | WO | 00 | 4/15/2005 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2004/037537 | 5/6/2004 | WO | A |
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