Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6371024
-
Patent Number
6,371,024
-
Date Filed
Friday, October 20, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 16, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Hilten; John S.
- Nguyen; Anthony H.
Agents
- Leydig, Voit & Mayer, LTD.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 101 424
- 101 425
- 101 423
- 015 25652
- 015 25651
- 015 2565
- 399 350
- 399 348
- 399 344
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
The invention relates to a sheet-fed rotary printing machine with printing units for multicolor printing and at least one coating unit. An object of the invention is to provide stable quality during the coating process and to reduce contamination of coating fluids. This is achieved by providing at least one coating unit being arranged downstream of the printing units, the coating unit including a cleaning system. More specifically, each of the coating units has a rotatable applicator roller, a metering system for applying coating fluid to the applicator roller, and a cleaning wiper system which is movable into and out of contact with the applicator roller. The cleaning wiper is arranged upstream of the metering system relative to a direction of rotation of the applicator roller.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention generally relates to a printing machine and more particularly relates to a sheet-fed rotary printing machine including at least one coating unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Printing machines are known which have multiple coating units. For example, patent publication EP 0 620 115 B1, relates to a rotary printing machine having an in-line process for coating sheet printing materials, including at least two varnishing units provided as coating units. One of the varnishing units, which is upstream relative to the sheet transport direction, is constructed as a flexographic printing unit. The flexographic printing unit has a plate cylinder that bears a relief printing plate and is in contact with the sheet-carrying printing cylinder, an engraved applicator roller that is in contact with the plate cylinder for the purpose of inking or coating. Additionally, the printing unit includes a chamber-type coating doctor which can be moved into contact, and which is connected to delivery and suction pumps for the supply and return flow of coating liquid from the chamber.
In conventional previous printing machines, it has been found that the coating fluid can become undesirably contaminated, resulting in poor printing or quality fluctuations. This is especially problematic in sheet printing machines with printing units for multicolor printing and at least one coating unit, for example, a flexographic printing unit and/or a varnishing unit. As a result of excess or dried coating fluid accumulated on the applicator rollers, the print quality undesirably fluctuates or is impaired as early as during the coating process.
Attempts have been made in conventional printing machines to reduce undesired coating fluid from the applicator roller. For example, German patent publication DE 195 26 574 C1 discloses a system for cleaning a plate cylinder and an applicator roller, whereby the drying of rapidly drying media onto the applicator roller and onto the plate cylinder is reduced. The washing apparatus has two curved surfaces which face the applicator roller and the plate cylinder.
Also, German patent publication DE 196 45 934 A1 relates to an engraved applicator roller having dimples which can be filled with a liquifiable substance as a gravure printing plate. By means of an ultrasonic cleaning system, the plate can be regenerated to a basic pattern of the dimples.
German patent publication DE 41 21 017 C2 relates to a printer cleaning apparatus having a soft, smooth rubber-coated roller and an associated stripper roller with a polygonal cross section. In order to remove printing ink from the cover of the stripper roller, an ultrasonic cleaning device is provided.
A chamber-type wiper metering system is generally disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,689. In this case, the metering system includes a working wiper coupled to an ultrasonic device in order to meter the layer thickness of printing ink on the metering roll.
A need exists for an improved printing machine which provides improved print quality. A further need exists for an improved means of cleaning of coating fluid from the applicator rollers therein.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved sheet-fed rotary printing machine. Another object of the invention is to provide stable, consistent print quality. Still another object of the invention is to reduce undesired build up of ink or coating fluid residues on rollers in a printing system.
The present invention achieves these objects and avoids the aforementioned disadvantages. Advantageously, a system according to the present invention provides stable quality during the coating process and noticeably reduces the contamination of coating fluid.
An advantage of the present invention is that it provides, in association with a metering system, a means for cleaning the applicator roller continuously or selectively, thereby reducing contamination. The invention may be used with a variety of structures. For example, the invention may be alternatively used with a smooth applicator roller instead of an engraved applicator roller (with dimples and webs).
A further advantage of the present invention is that it especially improves quality in systems having multiple printing units. In particular, a problem with conventional printing machines having multiple printing units, a splitting back of ink (flexographic and/or offset printing ink from the preceding printing process) from the printing material into the metering system would undesirably occur, particularly in the metering system of the first coating unit. This splitting-back of ink results from the printing process in the printing units arranged upstream in the conveying direction. For example, when a chamber-type wiper is used with an engraved applicator roller, residues of ink, varnish, etc. can be eliminated. Otherwise, such residues may accumulate in the interior of the chamber-type wiper and/or on the applicator roller, and thereby undesirably mix with coating fluid. The present invention avoids such an undesired splitting-back effect by cleaning the applicator roller.
Moreover, in printing systems wherein dual-roll units are used (based on the squeeze-roll principle, with a nip formed between the rolls), the present invention can be used to reduce the accumulation of ink residue in the nip formed by the metering roll and/or the applicator rollers. This likewise applies to metering systems based on the dip-roll principle. In this case, the contamination of the holding container, of the roll train and/or of the applicator roller can be avoided.
A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a cleaning system which reduces the number of cleaning intervals for the respective metering system with applicator roller.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the description figures and claims herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a diagrammatic side view of a sheet-fed rotary printing machine for multicolor printing with two coating units.
FIGS. 2-5
are enlarged, fragmentary diagrammatic views of the printing machine of particularly illustrating a coating unit according to various embodiments of the invention. In particular,
FIG. 2
is a view of a coating unit having a chamber type metering wiper and a cleaning wiper positioned opposite each other relative to an associated applicator roller;
FIG. 3
is a view of a coating unit having a chamber type metering wiper and a cleaning wiper provided in an integrated structure relative;
FIG. 4
is a view of a coating unit having a chamber type metering wiper and a cleaning wiper positioned adjacent to each other; and
FIG. 5
is a view of a coating unit having a chamber type metering wiper and a cleaning wiper are separately positioned at an angle relative to the associated applicator roller.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Now referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like components,
FIG. 1
illustrates a printing machine
10
constructed with a number of printing units
12
for multicolor printing, preferably offset printing units, in an in-line configuration. The printing machine
10
includes a first coating device
14
and a second coating device
16
arranged sequentially downstream of the printing units
12
relative to a conveying direction
18
along which sheet printing materials are transported.
For drying the sheet materials between stages, the printing machine
10
may include a dryer unit
20
positioned between the first and second coating devices
14
,
16
. Downstream end of the second coating device
16
, the printing machine
10
further includes a delivery apparatus
22
for depositing output quantities of printed materials. For example, in the illustrated example, the delivery apparatus
22
includes a circulating conveyor system
24
for depositing the sheets onto a stack
26
.
To transport the sheets during processing, the printing machine
10
includes a plurality of sheet-carrying impression cylinders
28
and transfer cylinders
30
. The impression cylinders
28
and transfer cylinders
30
are arranged in series and rotatably driven by an appropriate mechanism to transport the sheet materials through the printing machine
10
generally along the conveying direction
18
. Specifically, the cylinders
28
,
30
carry the sheets sequentially among the printing units
12
and coating units
14
,
16
for processing.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, each of the printing units
12
generally includes a plate cylinder
32
, one of the impression cylinders
28
, and a blanket cylinder
34
positioned between the plate cylinder
32
and impression cylinder
28
. It will be understood by one skilled in the art that each of the plate cylinders
32
operates with a corresponding inking unit and, in some embodiments, a damping unit. At least one of the transfer cylinders
30
is positioned between adjacent stations of the printing units
12
, coating units
14
,
16
and drying unit
20
. Also, the impression cylinders
28
and transfer cylinders
30
are designed to be twice the size of a single-size blanket cylinder
34
or plate cylinder
32
.
In the exemplary printing machine
10
of
FIG. 1
, the first coating unit
14
is constructed as a varnishing unit. The coating unit
14
is adapted, for example, to apply processing emulsion varnish with pigments on an aqueous basis. More specifically, the illustrated coating unit
14
includes a sheet-carrying impression cylinder
28
, a plate cylinder
36
which is selectively movable into and out of contact with the impression cylinder
28
and bears a flexible relief printing plate as a varnishing plate. Additionally, the coating unit
14
includes a first metering system
38
. The first metering system
38
has an applicator roller
40
which may be engraved (e.g., with dimples and webs), and a chamber-type metering wiper
42
mounted in functional contact against the applicator roller
40
. The applicator roller
40
is selectively movable into and out of contact with the plate cylinder
36
,
Still referring to
FIG. 1
, the second coating unit
16
is also constructed as a varnishing unit to, for example, apply processing emulsion lacquer on an aqueous basis. The second coating unit
16
also includes a sheet-carrying impression cylinder
28
, a plate cylinder
36
which bears a rubber blanket and which is selectively movable into and out of contact with the impression cylinder
28
. The second coating unit
16
has a second metering system
38
′. For exemplary purposes, the second metering system
38
′ is illustrated as including an applicator roller
40
′ and a metering roller
48
with a common nip. In an embodiment, the applicator roller
40
′ may have a smooth surface. The applicator roller
40
′ is selectively movable into and out of contact with the plate cylinder
36
. It will be appreciated that the invention may be implemented with various types of metering systems, including, but not limited to the types of metering systems
38
and
38
′ described herein.
More particularly, turning to
FIG. 2
, an embodiment of the first coating unit
14
is illustrated in greater detail. In order to provide a fluid supply, the metering system
38
is in communication with a fluid conduit system having a feed line
50
and return line
52
for circulating a liquid coating medium or cleaning fluid. Specifically, in the case of the metering wiper
42
, the feed line
50
and the return line
52
circulate fluid through the interior chamber
54
of metering wiper
42
which is contained by wiper blades so that the fluid in the chamber
54
contacts the applicator roller
40
. It will be understood that in the case of a two-roll unit (squeeze-roll principle), such as the coating unit
16
and metering system
38
′ shown and described in connection with
FIG. 1
, the feed line opens above the nip that is jointly formed, and the return line is led off at the end of the nip, thereby applying fluid to the applicator roller in a metered fashion. Alternatively, in the case of a metering system of a type that operates on a generally known dip-roll principle, the feed line opens on the dip roll or in a container, and the return line is led off from the container.
To selectively operate the coating units, in each of the coating units
14
,
16
, the respective applicator roller
40
,
46
is movable relative to the corresponding plate cylinder
36
between a first position wherein the applicator roller
40
,
46
contacts the plate cylinder
36
and a second position wherein the applicator roller
40
,
46
is spaced m the plate cylinder
36
by a gap
56
. For desired processing, each of the fi and second coating units
14
,
16
are arranged downstream of the printing units
12
.
According to an aspect of the invention, each of the coating units includes a cleaning device adapted to remove undesired residue from the applicator roller. More specifically, the cleaning device is arranged upstream of the metering system relative to a rotation direction of the applicator roller, thereby preventing the residue from contaminating the coating fluid of the metering system. In an exemplary embodiment, the cleaning device is constructed as a chamber type doctor.
Furthermore, according to an aspect of the invention, each of the coating units
14
,
16
includes a chamber type doctor referred to herein as cleaning wiper
60
, corresponding to the respective applicator roller
40
,
46
as illustrated for example in FIG.
2
. The cleaning wiper
60
is selectively movable into and out of contact with the applicator roller
40
. According to the invention, the cleaning wiper
60
is positioned upstream of the respective metering system
38
relative to a direction of rotation
62
of the applicator roller
40
, and downstream of the gap
56
or point of contact between the applicator roller
40
and the plate cylinder
36
.
FIGS. 2-5
show various embodiments of the metering system
38
and the cleaning wiper
60
. In
FIG. 2
, the metering system
38
and cleaning wiper
60
are positioned opposite each other relative to an associated applicator roller
40
. In
FIG. 3
, the metering system
38
and cleaning wiper
60
are provided in a combined integrated structure. In
FIG. 4
, the metering system
38
and cleaning wiper
42
are positioned adjacently to each other. In
FIG. 5
, the metering system
38
and a cleaning wiper
60
are positioned separately from each at an angle relative to the direction of rotation
62
of the associated applicator roller
40
.
To provide operable cleaning, the cleaning wiper
60
includes a housing
64
defining a fluid chamber
65
. To provide a sealed window of exposure between the fluid cavity and the surface of the applicator roller
40
, the cleaning wiper
60
includes a respective leading blade
66
and a parallel trailing blade
68
, as shown in
FIGS. 2-5
. The leading blade
66
and trailing blade
68
are each detachably mounted to the housing
64
for operable sealed contact against the applicator roller
40
. The cleaning wiper
60
has width sufficient to span along the width of the roller
40
. Additionally, lateral sealing elements are mounted to the housing
64
to provide sealing of the chamber
65
at ends of the applicator roller
40
. Generally, the chamber
65
defined by the leading blade
66
and trailing blade
68
is positionable against the surface of the applicator roller
40
to provide a washing effect.
To deliver a cleaning fluid, for example water, to the chamber
65
, the cleaning wiper
60
includes a feed line
70
and a return line
72
. Via the feed line
70
and return line
72
, cleaning fluid is circulated through the chamber
65
. The circulation is operated as needed by a controllable pump system.
For enhanced cleaning effectiveness, a preferred embodiment of the cleaning wiper
60
includes a vibrational driver
74
, as also shown in FIG.
2
. The vibrational driver
74
directs ultrasonic vibrations through the cleaning wiper
60
toward the surface of the applicator roller
40
. The ultrasonic vibrational driver
74
is preferably mounted to the housing
64
. During a coating process when the metering system
38
or
38
′ is active, the ultrasonic vibrational driver
74
may be controllably actuated as desired by the control system.
During the coating process, the cleaning wiper
60
can be brought into and out of contact with the applicator roller
40
, for example by means of a rotary joint and a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder. In an in-contact state, a cleaning fluid can be introduced to the chamber
65
via the feed line
70
and withdrawn from the chamber
65
via the return system
72
. If required, the ultrasonic vibrational driver
74
can then be activated. In an embodiment wherein the applicator roller
40
has a smooth surface, the cleaning wiper
60
may be sufficiently effective without assistance of the ultrasonic vibrational driver
74
. In an embodiment wherein the applicator roller
40
has an engraved surface, the cleaning wiper
60
is preferably used with the additional ultrasonic vibrational driver
74
.
In an integral design, referring again to
FIG. 3
, the metering wiper
38
includes a metering wiper
42
which is integrally constructed with the cleaning wiper system
60
. As shown, the cleaning wiper
60
is positioned upstream of the metering wiper
42
relative to the direction of rotation
62
of the applicator roller
40
, yet downstream of the gap
56
or point of contact between the applicator roller
40
and the plate cylinder
36
. Advantageously, only a single blade
80
is needed to separate the chambers
54
of the chamber-type metering wiper
42
and cleaning wiper
60
, thereby using fewer parts.
If, during the coating process, splitting-back of the ink occurs on the applicator roller
40
or
40
′ (possibly in the respective metering system) in the respective first or second coating unit
14
,
16
(or additional coating units), then the respective cleaning wiper
60
can be activated in the respective coating unit. To prevent the splitting back of the ink, the cleaning fluid circulated through the chamber
65
contacts the surface of the applicator roller
40
, partially dissolving the ink from the applicator roller
40
, and is carried away. The washed applicator roller
40
then operates in a desirable manner without the splitting back, thereby resulting in consistent, high quality of processing. Depending on the level of contamination and the type of surface of the applicator roller
40
, the ultrasonic vibration
74
can be activated to provide enhanced cleaning action. The cleaning process can be carried out continuously or discontinuously, as needed.
In order to prevent residual cleaning fluid entering the metering system
38
, a blowing device can be provided to dry the applicator roller
40
by blowing away excess fluid. For example, a blower pipe may be provided which is preferably directed to act over the width of the applicator roller
40
, as illustrated in FIG.
2
. The blowing device may be arranged between the cleaning wiper
60
and the metering system
38
, or the blowing pipe may, in an embodiment, be mounted along the cleaning wiper
60
. To further assist in cleaning the applicator roller, in another embodiment, the cleaning wiper
60
can further include one or more cleaning brushes mounted within the chamber
65
and which act against the roller surface.
In an embodiment wherein the metering system
38
has a chamber-type wiper
42
and an engraved applicator roller
40
, an ultrasonic vibrator system may be provided to vibrate the chamber-type wiper
42
. Preferably, this arrangement is carried out in a similar manner to the ultrasonic vibration system
74
in the cleaning wiper
60
. The chamber-type wiper
42
having an ultrasonic drover is an advantage in that the ultrasonic vibrations act, continuously or discontinuously, on the coating medium in the interior chamber
54
. The vibrations result in an improved coalescence of microscopic foam bubbles which are produced, inter alia, by air moving from emptied recesses and dimples in the engraved applicator roller
40
into the interior
54
of the metering wiper
42
. Larger gas bubbles formed in this way can be removed from the chamber
54
. Otherwise, the larger gas bubbles float up more rapidly than the microscopic foam bubbles in the chamber
54
. With the removal of the gas bubbles, the coating process has increased effectiveness, and the quality is stabilized.
While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A sheet-fed rotary printing machine comprising a plurality of printing units for multicolor printing and at least one coating unit, each coating unit being arranged downstream of the printing units relative to a sheet conveying direction, each of the coating units including a sheet-carrying cylinder, a plate cylinder in rolling contact with the sheet-carrying cylinder, an applicator roller for coating the plate cylinder, a metering system for applying a coating fluid to the applicator roller, and a cleaning wiper is arranged upstream of the metering system relative to a direction of rotation of the applicator roller to remove residual matter from the applicator roller.
- 2. The rotary printing machine according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning wiper includes a housing defining a chamber, a leading blade and a trailing blade mounted to the housing and defining an opening to the chamber, the blades sealably contacting the applicator roller.
- 3. The rotary printing machine according to claim 2, further comprising an ultrasonic vibrational driver mounted to the housing of the cleaning wiper to direct sound vibrations toward the surface of the applicator roller.
- 4. The rotary printing machine according to claim 3, wherein the ultrasonic vibration system is selectively operable during the coating process.
- 5. The rotary printing machine according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning wiper system is movably brought into or out of contact with the applicator roller during the coating process.
- 6. The rotary printing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a conduit system including a feed line for delivering cleaning fluid to the cleaning wiper and a return line for withdrawing the cleaning fluid from the cleaning wiper.
- 7. A printing machine comprising:a plurality of sheet carrying drum cylinders to transport sheets in a conveying direction; at least one printing unit for printing the sheets; and at least one coating unit positioned downstream of the printing unit relative to the conveying direction for applying a coating to the sheets, each of the coating units including: a plate cylinder positioned to act upon the transported sheets; an applicator roller operable to apply a coating to the plate cylinder; a metering system for applying coating fluid to the applicator roller; and a cleaning wiper mounted upstream of the metering system relative to a direction of rotation of the applicator roller to clean the applicator roller.
- 8. The printing machine of claim 7, wherein the metering system includes a metering wiper having a housing defining a chamber and a pair of blades mounted along an opening of the chamber, and a fluid conduit system for delivering coating fluid to the chamber, the blades contacting the applicator roller so that the fluid in the chamber contacts the applicator roller.
- 9. The printing machine of claim 7, wherein the cleaning wiper includes a housing defining a chamber, a fluid conduit system for circulating cleaning fluid through the chamber, a pair of blades mounted along an opening of the chamber for sealable contact against the applicator roller to permit contact of the cleaning fluid in the chamber against the applicator roller.
- 10. The printing machine of claim 9, further comprising a vibrational driver mounted to the housing to direct vibration toward the applicator roller.
- 11. The printing machine of claim 10, wherein the vibrational driver operates at an ultrasonic frequency.
- 12. The printing machine of claim 7 wherein the cleaning wiper is mounted to contact the applicator roller approximately 180 degrees from the metering system.
- 13. The printing machine of claim 7, wherein the cleaning wiper is mounted adjacently to the metering system.
- 14. The printing machine of claim 7, wherein the metering system is integrally constructed with the cleaning wiper such that the metering system includes a housing defining a metering chamber, the cleaning system includes a housing defining a cleaning fluid chamber, wherein the metering chamber and cleaning fluid chamber are separated by a common blade that contacts the applicator roller.
- 15. The printing machine of claim 7, further comprising a blower device acting to blow away residual fluid on the applicator roller between the cleaning wiper and the metering system.
- 16. The printing machine of claim 7, comprising multiple said coating units.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
299 18 488 |
Oct 1999 |
DE |
|
US Referenced Citations (5)
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
Number |
Date |
Country |
3941571 |
Jun 1990 |
DE |
42 13 636 |
Oct 1992 |
DE |
41 21 017 |
Jan 1993 |
DE |
195 26 574 |
Oct 1996 |
DE |
196 45 934 |
May 1998 |
DE |
0 620 11 5 |
Mar 1994 |
EP |