Highly versatile multiconfiguration printing assembly

Abstract

A multiconfiguration printing assembly comprising a first inking assembly for a first type of printing, a second inking assembly for a second type of printing, a printing roller related to the first type of printing and a printing roller related to the second type of printing, a single contrast roller being provided and being common to the printing rollers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the multiconfiguration printing assembly according to the present invention, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawing of FIG. 1, wherein the only figure is a schematic view of the multiconfiguration printing assembly according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, the multiconfiguration printing assembly according to the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a first inking assembly 2 and a second inking assembly 3, which are arranged substantially adjacent to each other, and the first and second inking assemblies can comprise an inking assembly of the flexographic, rotogravure, offset type and the like.

The first and second inking assemblies 2 and 3 share a common contrast roller 4, around which a medium 5, onto which printing is to be performed, passes.

The first inking assembly 2 is provided with a corresponding first printing roller 6, which transfers the ink that is present in the inking assembly 2 onto the print medium 5. Likewise, the second inking assembly 3 is provided with its own second printing roller 7, which also transfers the ink that is present in the inking assembly 3 onto the medium 5, abutting against the common contrast roller 4.

Downstream of the first and second inking assemblies a drying device 8 is provided, which is common to both inking assemblies and is therefore common to both types of printing that can be performed on the multiconfiguration printing assembly according to the present invention.

Substantially, therefore, the multiconfiguration printing assembly according to the invention provides for the implementation of two distinct printing methods on the same contrast roller 4 simultaneously and with the presence of a single drying device 8 which is arranged downstream of the two adjacent printing assemblies.

As can be seen, therefore, the additional advantage of the multiconfiguration printing assembly according to the present invention is that one contrast roller has been eliminated, since the contrast roller 4 has been made common to both inking assemblies 2 and 3, and one drying device has also been eliminated by making the drying device 8 common to both inking assemblies and therefore to both types of printing. Most of all, however, the multiconfiguration printing assembly according to the present invention has the considerable advantage of allowing two printing methods on the same contrast roller simultaneously, a feature which is not possible in printing assemblies of the background art.

In practice it has been found that the multiconfiguration printing assembly according to the present invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since it allows to provide printing according to two distinct types simultaneously on a same contrast roller and with a single drying device for both types of printing performed simultaneously.

Moreover, as can be seen, the multiconfiguration printing assembly avoids the need to change the printing assembly when one wishes to perform printing of a different type, consequently eliminating downtimes and associated costs.

The printing assembly thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application no. MI2006A001102, from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A multiconfiguration printing assembly, comprising: a first inking assembly for a first type of printing; a second inking assembly for a second type of printing; a first printing roller related to said first type of printing; a second printing roller related to said second type of printing; and a single contrast roller that is provided common to said first and second printing rollers.

2. The printing assembly according to claim 1, comprising a single drying device for said first type of printing and for said second type of printing.

3. The printing assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first and second types of printing are selected among flexographic printing, rotogravure printing, offset printing, hot printing and screen printing.

4. The printing assembly according to claim 1, comprising a print medium supported by said contrast roller, and onto which printing is to be performed by said first printing roller related to said first type of printing and by said second printing roller related to said second type of printing.

5. The printing assembly according to claim 2, wherein said single drying device is arranged downstream of said first and second printing rollers.