EP2100734B1 - Mandrel centring - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for storing and / or positioning a printing mandrel on which in particular a hollow body to be printed can be stored or positioned.

For printing hollow bodies, such as. As tubes, sleeves, cans or bottles for liquids, gels or creams, special printing presses are used. There are known specialty printing machines, which consist of a large central cylinder, around which several printing units are arranged in satellite form. The hollow bodies to be printed are conveyed past the satellite printing units by the central cylinder and printed by the printing units.

From the DE 101 00 211 A1 is a printing press for printing round hollow bodies with successively arranged printing units in a row construction known. In this case, the pressure mandrels on which the hollow body to be printed are mounted, driven by gears synchronously to the printing units.

From the EP 1 754 603 A1 is a printing machine with a spindle plate and arranged thereon spindle units for receiving to be printed hollow bodies known. The receiving spindles of the spindle units are aligned parallel to the axis of rotation of the spindle plate.

From the FR 2 802 145 A1 a generic pressure dome is known, which is held in a Druckdornlagerung, which in turn is mounted in a holder which is connected to the printing press. The pressure dome is torsionally rigidly connected to the pressure mandrel bearing so that a force acting on the Druckdornlagerung driving force is transmitted from this to the pressure dome.

From the DE 100 10 591 A1 is a rotary indexing machine known with a drive pin and a centering unit for the drive mandrel with a first centering tooth and a second centering tooth. The centering unit is provided to align a gear of the drive dome to a drive means.

From the US 3,518,939 is a machine for printing on bottles known. The bottles are held on the floor and neck. The brackets are designed so that the bottle can be axially aligned over a printing unit and rotated in the holders for printing.

The DE 43 15 632 A1 describes an article holder with a hollow shaft and a shaft, wherein the hollow shaft is guided on a carriage through a printing press. The carriage has a Präzisionsfiihrung and storage for the hollow shaft, in which the shaft is mounted axially movable relative to the hollow shaft, but has no play in the radial direction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for storing and / or positioning a printing mandrel of a printing machine for printing hollow bodies, which enables a simple and exact positioning of the printing mandrel.

This object is achieved by the device according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments will be apparent from the dependent claims.

In a device according to the invention for storing and / or positioning a preferably cylindrical pressure mandrel, on which the hollow body to be printed can be held, the pressure mandrel is mounted floating in a mandrel bearing, d. H. the mandrel has within the mandrel storage a certain preferably small game of z. B. 1 to 5 mm. For exact positioning of the pressure mandrel at least one positioning stop is provided on the mandrel storage or on the pressure mandrel itself, which with a corresponding counter-attack, which z. B. can be arranged on the printing press or a machine frame of the printing press or on a drive or power transmission element, acts together. In this case, the positioning stop or counter-stop as a bevel, preferably as at least one or more contact surfaces, which may be flat or cylindrical or partially cylindrical, realized. For an exact positioning of the pressure mandrel this can be pressed by means of an axial and / or radial movement of at least one and preferably more of these external stops and thus centered and z. B. be positioned. The external stops or centering surfaces preferably provide for the desired positioning or accurate alignment of the mandrel.

Positioning stops are preferably provided on at least two sides of the pressure mandrel bearing or of the pressure mandrel so that the pressure mandrel can be exactly positioned or aligned by an interaction or two-sided clamping or positioning. In this case, a positioning stop is preferably arranged obliquely with respect to the axial direction of the pressure mandrel and may, for example, as a flat or conical or conical surface z. B. be formed as a conical shell portion, partially or completely around the axis or axis extension of the pressure mandrel circumferential surface. The corresponding counter-abutment may be designed accordingly, but may also have a larger or smaller and / or more or fewer mating surfaces, so that, for example, a completely circumferential conical section of Druckdornlagerung to two or more not completely circumferential conical sections comes into abutment to position the Druckdornlagerung and thus the pressure mandrel.

Advantageously, a counter-stop for positioning the Druckdornlagerung is provided on a drive or force or torque transmission element which can be coupled to the Druckdornlagerung or the mandrel itself when the mandrel is roughly positioned to make a fine positioning of the pressure mandrel and by the positioning stop to continue z. B. by positive engagement or frictional engagement also to effect the desired drive for rotation of the pressure mandrel in the storage.

Preferably, two, three or more Druckdornlagerungen be combined into one unit to accommodate a corresponding number of pressure mandrels can. Such a composite of Druckdornlagerungen can be used as a car z. B. be driven by a linear motor or by means of a screw, such as in the EP 0 909 728 A1 whose teaching concerning the propelling of a slide, in the case of the present invention of a carriage with one, two, three or more thrust mandrel bearings, is incorporated in this application. Likewise, the doctrine of DE 198 03 617 C1 with respect to the driving of a slide or a Druckdornlagerung with a transport wheel included in this application. The drive mechanisms of the two cited documents can also be used in combination with the present invention. Furthermore, it is also possible that several Druckdornlagerungen be realized in chain links of a revolving chain, so that z. B. a clocked or continuous transport movement of the individual Druckdornlagerungen and thus the pressure mandrels can be realized.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a printing machine for printing on pressure mandrels mounted hollow bodies with at least one device as described above for storing and / or positioning at least one pressure mandrel.

The printing machine can in principle like in the DE 101 00 211 A1 or EP 1 754 603 A1 be designed described, however, have the storage and positioning device according to the invention. However, the printing machine is preferably with at least two linear sections equipped for printing the mandrels, to which the mandrels individually or in groups z. B. can be transported by one or more cars or a chain.

In this case, the printing press and preferably also provided for driving or rotating the respective pressure mandrel motor at least one counter-stop z. B. in the form of one or more centering stops or bevels, which z. B. may be provided in the machine frame of the printing press or on a power transmission element of the engine.

The invention will be described below with reference to a preferred embodiment.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Schnittansicht einer Druckvorrichtung mit mehreren in Kettengliedern schwimmend gelagerten Druckdornen;

Figur 2

eine Querschnittsansicht eines Kettengliedes mit Druckdorn;

Figur 3

eine Querschnittsansicht eines Antriebselements; und

Figur 4

eine Draufsicht auf eine Druckvorrichtung.

Show it:

FIG. 1

a sectional perspective view of a printing device with a plurality of pressure rods mounted floating in chain links;

FIG. 2

a cross-sectional view of a chain link with pressure mandrel;

FIG. 3

a cross-sectional view of a drive element; and

FIG. 4

a plan view of a printing device.

FIG. 1 shows in perspective view a cross-sectional view of a part of a printing press for conveying and positioning a plurality of printing mandrels 1a, 1b, 1c, on which the in FIG. 1 can not be shown to be printed hollow body. Within each chain link 2 of the closed circulating chain, the respective pressure mandrel 1 is mounted floating.

For printing the hollow body, such as. As tubes, sleeves, cans or bottles, the respective hollow body is applied to the mandrel 1. This mandrel 1 is held in a bearing within the chain link 2, as described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2 is described. Thus, the mandrels 1 can be clocked or continuously along the in FIG. 1 shown linear transport path section through the printing press to get promoted. As stated above, the mandrel storage can also be integrated in a trolley, which is transported by means of one or more screw conveyors or by linear motors through the machine.

In the in FIG. 1 In the embodiment shown, the hollow bodies to be printed applied to the pressure mandrels 1a to 1c, for example, pass through the device in the order 1c, 1b and 1a. In this case, for example, in the position indicated by 1c, the reading of, for example, printing marks applied to the hollow bodies to be printed is carried out, and a coarse positioning of the hollow bodies is carried out. The coarse positioning can be done for example by means of a drive via one or more friction wheels, timing belt, flat belt or the like. In the following position marked with 1b, for example, with the in FIG. 3 a fine positioning and a controlled or controlled rotation of the mandrel and thus the patch thereon hollow body for accurate and register-containing printing by means of the servo motor 10 are performed angle accurate. Subsequently, the hollow body can be brought to the pressure mandrel to the position shown in Figure 1a, where the pressure mandrel, for example by means of a friction wheel, which is coupled in an axial or tangential manner with the pressure mandrel for driving, can be rotated, for example by means of one at this position Drying unit to perform a drying of the printed in position 1b hollow body.

Preferably, the individual pressure mandrels or the chain containing the individual pressure mandrels move intermittently, ie not continuously, but from position to position, as exemplified in FIG FIG. 1 shown, wherein at the respective positions, a stop or stopping of the pressure mandrel or Druckdornlagerung is performed.

The mentioned drives can either be coupled directly to the pressure mandrel, for example by positive engagement, frictional connection or frictional engagement, and can be effected, for example, by axially acting couplings, for example by placing a friction wheel on one end on another friction wheel. It is also possible that the drive is effected, for example, by frictional wheels or drive elements in the circumferential direction.

The hollow bodies to be printed are conveyed to at least one printing unit, as exemplified in US Pat FIG. 4 shown.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a bearing of a dome 1 in a chain link 2. Here, the mandrel 1 is mounted within the chain link 2 in an axially displaceable mandrel sleeve 3, which in the axial direction on the side facing away from the mandrel 1 of the chain link 2 through which on the chain link 2 supporting spring 4 is pushed out by the distance d to the right. The sleeve 3 is pressed to the right. The sleeve 3 can against the force of the spring 3 by means of a Ausschubelements, eg the force transmission element, in FIG. 2 be pushed out to the left.

In this case, the mandrel 1 by means of a pressure on the release elements 5a and 5b for opening the snap ring 6, which engages in a circumferential groove 1a of the dome 1, unlocked and can be removed from the mandrel sleeve 3 and thus from the chain link 2.

If the associated with adjacent chain links chain link 2 promoted to a centering position for the mandrel 1, the mandrel 1 by a pressure on the mandrel sleeve 3 against the force of the spring 4 in the axial direction on the side of the Dorneinstecköffnung (in FIG. 2 to the left). To press on the mandrel sleeve 3 is a z. Tie FIGS. 1 and 3 shown force transmission element 7 is provided, which can be moved to the mandrel sleeve 3 to mandrel 1 to the in FIG. 2 shown and pushed out by the attacks of the mandrel sleeve 3 and the chain link 2 distance d in the axial direction. In this case, the mandrel sleeve 3 has a conical centering bevel 3a extending around the axial axis, which cooperates with a corresponding centering bevel 7a of the drive element 7 in order to center the mandrel sleeve 3 on the drive side. On the opposite side, the mandrel sleeve 3 also centering stops 3b in the form of a circumferential tapered or conical surface, which are pressed against Zentrierabschrägungen 8a of the machine frame 8 to fix the mandrel sleeve 3 on the opposite side or center. The centering chamfers 8a of the machine frame 8 are conical and formed on the inside of the in FIG. 1 shown machine frame 8 provided on both sides of the gap through which the respective mandrels 1a to 1c protrude. In particular, the centering chamfers 8a are tapered or milled sections, which are located on both sides of the gap in the machine frame 8 opposite.

Next shows FIG. 3 a cam disc 12 releasing the adjustment path d and a rotary drive (servo motor) 10 for the precise positioning of the rotational angular position of the rotary dome during and after the axial movement of the adjustment path d. In this case, the axial arrival and adjustment of the entire in Fig. 3 shown device or a part thereof, for example, the drive element 7, be effected by means of another separate actuator or drive or motor.

If the mandrel sleeve 3 has been displaced relative to the chain link 2 by the axial movement of the drive element 7, then the mandrel sleeve 3 and thus the mandrel 1 mounted in the mandrel sleeve 3 are positioned on the one side by the positioning stops 8a, 3b and 3a, 7a on the opposite side centered or precisely aligned, so that can be started with the printing of the mounted on the mandrel 1 hollow body.

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a printing press, with which different printing methods, such. As screen printing, flexographic printing, offset printing, cold stamping, hot stamping, laser color transfer or ink-jet can be performed. The individual printing units 9a to 9d can in principle be interchanged with one another in order to be able to carry out different decorations with the same machine.

After printing in the printing units 9a to 9d, the ink can be dried. For this purpose, either UV lamps or LED lamps can be used, with a drying with electron beam curing or e-beam can be realized.

Preferably, the printing press is modular, with each module containing at least one printing unit.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, a, 1b, 1c

pressure spike

2

link

3

thorn bush

3a, 3b

bevel

4

feather

5a, 5b

release element

6

snap ring

7

driving element

7a

Zentrierabschrägung

8th

machine frame

8a, 8b

Zentrierabschrägung

9a-9d

printing units

10

Servo Motor

11

Chain

12

cam

Claims (10)

1. A device for mounting and/or positioning a printing mandrel (1) of a printing machine for printing on hollow bodies, comprising:

   a) a printing mandrel (1) which is arranged to accommodate and hold the hollow body to be printed on and which comprises a mandrel bearing (3) or mandrel sleeve (3); and

   b) at least one positioning abutment (3a, 3b) on the mandrel bearing (3) and/or on the printing mandrel (1), using which the mandrel bearing (3) and/or the printing mandrel (1) can be positioned, wherein

   c) the positioning abutment (3a, 3b) for positioning the printing mandrel (1) co-operates with at least one complementary positioning abutment (8a, 8b) which is formed on the printing machine and/or a drive element or force transmission element (7, 10),
   characterised in that

   d) the mandrel bearing or mandrel sleeve (3) float-mounts the printing mandrel (1).
2. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the positioning abutment or abutments (3a, 3b) and the complementary positioning abutment or abutments (8a, 8b) centre the printing mandrel (1) in the mandrel bearing (3) when they co-operate.
3. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the mandrel bearing (3) and/or the printing mandrel (1) comprise(s) positioning abutments (3a, 3b) on opposite sides in the axial direction.
4. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the mandrel bearing (3) and/or the printing mandrel (1) can be driven or rotated and/or the printing mandrel (1) can be axially shifted by means of at least the drive element (7) or a motor (10).
5. The device according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the drive element (7) can be driven or rotated by a motor (10).
6. The device according to any one of the preceding two claims, characterised in that the drive element (7) can be connected to the mandrel bearing (3) and/or the printing mandrel (1) in a positive fit or in a frictional fit.
7. The device according to any one of the preceding two claims, characterised in that the mandrel bearing (3) and/or the printing mandrel (1) can be shifted in the axial direction by means of the drive element (7).
8. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device further comprises a releasing element or cam disc (12) for releasing an axial adjustment path of the drive element (7) and/or printing mandrel (1).
9. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a plurality of adjacently arranged mandrel bearings (3) are connected to each other by a chain (11) or a carriage.
10. A printing machine for printing on hollow bodies, comprising a device for mounting and/or positioning a printing mandrel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

Images