IT201600083730A1 - DIGITAL PRINTING MACHINE AND RELATED PRODUCTION PROCESS - Google Patents

Description

"DIGITAL PRINTING MACHINE AND RELATED PRODUCTION PROCESS"

DESCRIPTION

[FIELD OF TECHNIQUE]

The present invention relates to a digital printing machine, in particular a so-called roll to roll machine.

The present invention also relates to a production process of a digital printing machine, in particular a so-called roll to roll machine.

[ART NOTE]

A roll to roll digital printing machine operates on a fabric which, initially wrapped around a first roller, is unwound, associated with a guide belt, subjected to digital printing (e.g. ink-jet), dried and re-wrapped. on a second roller.

This machine comprises a base, a crosspiece and a printing carriage.

The base supports the crossbar; the printing carriage moves along the crosspiece, in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of advancement of the fabric.

Typically, the base, the crossbar and the printing carriage are made by assembling aluminum parts together, such as planar, elongated, eco elements.

The assembly between the various components can typically be obtained by means of screws, bolts, tie rods, etc.

The Applicant has noted that the machines thus made are characterized by important drawbacks:

1. The assembly of the machine requires a considerable waste of time;

2. The precision of the manual assembly is necessarily limited;

3. The machine is not exactly repeatable, precisely because it is assembled manually;

4. Given the inevitable weakness, at least partial, of the mechanical constraints between the various parts, the machine loses precision over time, drastically lowering the print quality;

5. The machine is subject to vibrations which can cause the machine itself to enter a resonance field, also in this case lowering the print quality and causing the entire machine to move in the environment in which it operates.

[OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION]

The aim of the present invention is therefore to propose a machine and a process which are capable of overcoming the drawbacks listed above.

This and other objects are substantially achieved by a process according to what is described in the attached claims.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS]

Further features and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the invention.

This description is provided below with reference to the accompanying figures, also having purely illustrative and therefore non-limiting purposes, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view representative of a first part of a machine according to the invention;

figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view representative of a second part of a machine according to the invention;

figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view representative of a third part of a machine according to the invention;

- figure 4 shows a block diagram representative of a machine according to the invention.

[DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION]

With reference to the accompanying figures, 1 indicates a printing machine according to the invention.

The printing machine 1 is preferably a roll to roll machine, that is a machine in which the fabric is initially wound onto a first roll, is then unwound to be printed, and is finally rewound onto a second roll after being dried.

The machine 1 first of all comprises a base 10.

The base 10 (Figure 1) comprises at least two vertical walls 11, 12, and one or more transverse portions, joining said vertical walls and integral with them.

The base 10 has, in general, the task of supporting the elements / organs / apparatuses necessary for printing such as, for example:

the rollers for addressing the fabric;

the rollers for moving the carpet on which the fabric is fixed for printing;

the structure for washing and cleaning the carpet; fabric drying appliances;

echo..

The base 10 has in particular the task of supporting the crosspiece 20, which will be better described hereinafter.

For this purpose, the base 10 has a resting area 14a-14b, on which the crosspiece 20 is rested and fixed.

The crosspiece 20 (Figure 2) has an elongated shape, for example with a substantially parallelepiped conformation.

Preferably, the crosspiece 20 has a base wall 21, suitable for resting on the resting area 14a-14b of the base 10.

Preferably, the crosspiece 20 also has a front wall 22, presenting a guide for a printing carriage 30.

The printing carriage 30 comprises a frame 31 and a printing device 32, supported by said frame 31.

The frame 31 (Figure 3) is mounted on the crosspiece 20, so as to be able to be moved along it, with a substantially alternating rectilinear motion. In other words, two respective end-of-stroke positions are defined at the ends of the crosspiece 20, and the frame 31, supporting the printing device 32, is continuously moved between the two end-of-stroke positions.

First movement means 40 are also provided, adapted to move the printing carriage 30 along the crosspiece 20 (Figure 4).

Said first handling means 40 can comprise, for example, an electromechanical actuator or a pneumatic actuator; alternatively, any actuator capable of obtaining the movement described above can be used.

The machine 1 also comprises second movement means 50, adapted to move the printing device 32 in a vertical direction, substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal extension of the crosspiece 20.

The second movement means 50 can comprise, for example, an electromechanical actuator or a pneumatic actuator; alternatively, any actuator capable of obtaining the movement described above can be used.

Preferably, the second movement means 50 are mounted on the frame 31, so as to be able to act appropriately on the printing device 32.

At least one of the base 10, the crosspiece 20 and the frame 31 has a monolithic structure made of structural steel.

Preferably, at least two of the base 10, the crosspiece 20 and the frame 31 have a monolithic structure made of structural steel.

Preferably, both the base 10, the crosspiece 20 and the frame 31 have a monolithic structure made of structural steel.

The realization of a monolithic structure preferably involves the following steps: preparing two or more structural steel components; weld these components together, obtaining a single body; heat treat the single body thus obtained.

Preferably, the heat treatment takes place in an oven. Preferably, after the heat treatment and a subsequent cooling phase, the single body is worked by means of one or more numerically controlled machines. In this way it is possible to impose the desired conformation and planarity to this single body.

Preferably, a single body, ie a monolithic structure, is provided for each of the aforementioned base 10, crosspiece 20 and frame 31.

In the light of the above, the advantages obtained by the invention are clear.

The machine and its manufacturing process allow an extremely simple and quick assembly.

The machine object of the invention is characterized by high precision, which is also maintained over time, always guaranteeing a high print quality.

The manufacturing process of the machine is perfectly repeatable, and allows to obtain machines substantially identical to each other.

The first natural frequency of the machine is high enough to prevent the machine from entering a resonance field due to the vibrations generated during operation. In this way, the print quality and stability of the machine are guaranteed, even when the print carriage is subjected to high dynamics.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS 1. Digital printing machine, in particular roll to roll machine, comprising: a) moving members, suitable for advancing a fabric in a determined direction; b) a printing station, comprising: the. a base (10); ii. a cross member (20) supported by said base (10), said cross member (20) having a longitudinal extension substantially orthogonal to said determined direction; iii. a printing carriage (30), comprising a frame (31) and a printing device (32); iv. first handling means (40), adapted to move said printing carriage (30) along said crosspiece (20); v. second movement means (50), adapted to move said printing device (32) in a vertical direction, substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal extension of said crosspiece (20); in which at least one of said base (10), cross member (20) and frame (31) has a monolithic structure made of structural steel. 2 . Machine according to claim 1 wherein said base (10) comprises: a) two substantially vertical walls (11, 12); b) one or more transverse portions (13a-13e), joining said vertical walls (11, 12) and integral with them; c) a support area (14a, 14b) for said cross member (20). 3. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said cross member (20) has a base wall (21), resting on said support area (14a, 14b), and a front wall (22), having a guide for said printing carriage (30). Machine according to any one of the claims in which the frame (31) of said printing carriage (30) has an engaging portion adapted to cooperate with said guide to support said printing carriage (30) and allow the movement of the same along said cross member (20). 5. Production process of a digital printing machine, in particular of a roll to roll machine, said process comprising: a) making a base (10); b) making a crosspiece (20); c) mounting said cross member (20) on said base (10); d) providing a printing device (32); e) making a frame (31); f) assembling said printing device (32) and said frame (31) to obtain a printing carriage (30); g) mounting said printing carriage (30) on said crosspiece (20); h) providing first handling means (40), adapted to move said printing carriage (30) along said crosspiece (20); i) providing second movement means (50), adapted to move said printing device (32) in a vertical direction, substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal extension of said crosspiece (20); said base (10), said crosspiece (20), said printing carriage (30), said first handling means (40) and said second handling means (50) forming a printing station; j) providing movement members, suitable for advancing a fabric in a determined direction; k) associating said movement members to said printing station, so that the longitudinal development of said crosspiece (20) is substantially orthogonal to said determined direction wherein at least one of the steps of making said base (10), making said crosspiece (20) and making said frame (31) comprises making a monolithic structure in structural steel. 6. Process according to claim 5 wherein said step of making a monolithic structure in structural steel comprises: a) prepare two or more structural steel components; b) welding said components together, obtaining a single body; c) heat treating said single body. 7. Process according to claim 5 or 6 further comprising a step of machining one or more surfaces of said single body, after said heat treatment, with one or more numerically controlled machines.