ARRANGEMENT FOR A PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCTION

Abstract

An assembly for a printing machine includes: a printing plate cylinder, which has a cylinder body; a printing sleeve, which is arranged on an outer surface of the cylinder body; and a transmission device, which has a connecting point on the printing plate cylinder side and a connecting point on the printing sleeve side, which connecting points can be connected by means of a connecting element to form a transmission connection. The connecting element is displaceable between a retracted position, in which the transmission connection is interrupted, and an extended position, in which the transmission connection is formed for at least one of the following types of transmission: transmission of a fluid, transmission of signals and transmission of electrical energy. Furthermore, a method is provided for producing an arrangement for a printing machine.

Claims

1. An assembly for a printing machine, comprising a printing plate cylinder which has a cylinder body; a printing sleeve, which is arranged on an outer surface of the cylinder body; and a transmission device which has a connecting point on the printing plate cylinder side and a connecting point on the printing sleeve side, which connecting points can be connected using a connecting element to form a transmission connection; the connecting element being displaceable between a retracted position, in which the transmission connection is interrupted, and an extended position, in which the transmission connection is formed for at least one of the following types of transmission: transmission of a fluid, transmission of signals and transmission of electrical energy.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element is formed with a retractable connecting element on the cylinder body, which connecting element is arranged such that, in the retracted position, it does not protrude with respect to the outer surface.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the retractable connecting element is arranged such that, in the extended position, it protrudes with respect to the outer surface.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein a gap is formed between the printing plate cylinder and the printing sleeve and the transmission connection formed in the extended position of the connecting element bridges the gap.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of the following channels: a channel on the printing sleeve side, which is formed in the printing sleeve and is connected to the connecting point on the printing sleeve side; and a channel on the printing plate cylinder side, which is formed in the cylinder body and is connected to the connecting point on the printing plate cylinder side.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein the connecting element has an element channel which is configured to connect, at least in the extended position of the connecting element, to the channel on the printing plate cylinder side and/or the channel on the printing sleeve side.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the element channel and the channel on the printing plate cylinder side and/or the channel on the printing sleeve side are designed in accordance with at least one of the following channel types: fluid channel, line channel and cable duct.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the connecting point on the printing plate cylinder side, the connecting point on the printing sleeve side and the connecting element are configured to form a fluid-conveying connection.

9. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting point on the printing plate cylinder side, the connecting point on the printing sleeve side and the connecting element are configured to form an electrically conductive connection.

10. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element is connected to the connecting point on the printing plate cylinder side and/or the connecting point on the printing sleeve side via a respective sealing element.

11. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein the gap between the printing plate cylinder and the printing sleeve extends along at least one of the following directions with respect to the cylinder body: axial direction and radial direction.

12. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein, for displacement between the retracted and the extended position, the connecting element is displaceable along at least one of the following directions with respect to the cylinder body: axial direction and radial direction.

13. The assembly according to claim 1, which is configured for use in a rotary printing machine, particularly a flexographic printing machine.

14. A method for producing an assembly for a printing machine, comprising providing a printing plate cylinder having a cylinder body; providing a printing sleeve; arranging the printing sleeve on an outer surface of the cylinder body of the printing plate cylinder in an end position; and bridging the gap by means of a transmission device, wherein a transmission connection which bridges the gap is formed between a connecting point on the printing plate cylinder side and a connecting point on the printing sleeve side using a connecting element of the transmission device, and the connecting element is displaced between a retracted position, in which the transmission connection is interrupted, and an extended position, in which the transmission connection is formed for at least one of the following types of transmission: transmission of a fluid, transmission of signals and transmission of electrical energy.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0045] Further exemplary embodiments are explained in the following with reference to figures of a drawing. In the figures:

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a printing plate cylinder having an integrated connecting or supply device and a printing sleeve mounted on the printing plate cylinder;

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a schematic detail view of the connecting or supply device from FIG. 1 in a retracted position (rest position) in cross section;

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a schematic detail view of the connecting or supply device from FIG. 1 in an extended position (active position) in cross section;

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of the connecting element having a return spring and an O-ring and also an alternative design of the sealing element in the unsectioned and in the sectioned state;

[0050] FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a printing plate cylinder having an integrated connecting or supply device and a printing sleeve mounted on the printing plate cylinder, wherein, in contrast to FIG. 1, the connecting or supply device is arranged axially;

[0051] FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a printing plate cylinder having two integrated connecting or supply devices and a printing sleeve mounted on the printing plate cylinder;

[0052] FIG. 7 shows a schematic detail view of the connecting or supply device from FIG. 6 in a retracted position (rest position) in cross section; and

[0053] FIG. 8 shows a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a printing plate cylinder having an integrated connecting or supply device and a printing sleeve mounted on the printing plate cylinder in a further design.

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a printing plate cylinder 2 having a cylinder body 2a, an integrated transmission or supply device 1 and a printing sleeve 3 mounted on an outer surface 2b of the printing plate cylinder 2 in the registered state 16/17, wherein the printing adapter 3 which is also termed a printing sleeve can be supplied with compressed air via the transmission or supply device 1. The transmission or supply device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is currently located in a rest position (retracted position) without function, as an air channel 12 is not loaded with compressed air.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a detail view of a radially retractable (lowerable) transmission or supply device 1 in the rest position according to the embodiment in FIG. 1 in cross section. Here, a connecting or supply element 5 is pressed down to the stop by means of a return spring 7 inside a hollow cylinder 4 in operative connection with a screw plug 8. The tip of the connecting element 5 is located in this rest position below the circumferential surface of the printing plate cylinder 2.

[0056] FIG. 3 shows a detail view of a radially retractable transmission or supply device 1 in an active position according to the embodiment in FIG. 1 in cross section. Here, the air channel 12 is loaded with compressed air, so that the connecting or supply element 5 inside the hollow cylinder 4 is guided outwards by the building pressure. Here, the conically formed tip of the connecting element protrudes beyond the screw plug 8 and therefore onto a sealing element 10 of the printing adapter 3. Thus, the printing adapter/the printing sleeve 3 is supplied with compressed air via the transmission or supply device 1. Here, a gap 11 between printing plate cylinder 2 and the printing adapter 3 is bridged with the aid of this transmission or supply device 1. At the same time, the return spring 7 is compressed and the excess (due to volume) air in the intermediate space of the screw plug 8 and the connecting element 5 can escape through an air bleeder hole 9. The tip of the connecting element 5 is located in this active position above the circumferential surface of the printing plate cylinder 2.

[0057] FIG. 4 shows the schematic structure of a connecting element 5 in the unsectioned and in the sectioned view together with a relaxed return spring 7 and with an inserted O-ring 6 and with a sealing element 10a on the tip of the connecting element 5. The sealing element 10/10a can be arranged either in the accommodating region of the printing adapter 3 or on the tip of the connecting element 5 and also on both sides.

[0058] FIG. 5 shows a schematically illustrated printing plate cylinder 2 having the integrated transmission or supply device 1 and a printing adapter 3 which is mounted on the printing plate cylinder 2 in the registered state 16/17, wherein the illustrated transmission or supply device 1 is arranged axially in the printing plate cylinder 2.

[0059] FIG. 6 shows a schematically illustrated printing plate cylinder 2 having two integrated transmission or supply devices 1 and a printing adapter 3 which is mounted on the printing plate cylinder 2 in the registered state, wherein the printing adapter 3 is supplied with electrical energy via the transmission or supply devices 1 and/or signals are transmitted. Inside the air channels 12, single-conductor insulated conductors are guided into the respective transmission or supply devices 1, which are connected to the respective connecting or supply element 5. Adapted insulated female mating parts are available in the printing adapter 3, so as to be able to accommodate the connecting elements 5 accordingly.

[0060] FIG. 7 shows a detail view of a radially retractable transmission or supply device 1 in a rest position according to the embodiment in FIG. 6 in cross section, wherein the transmission or supply device 1 is configured for the transmission of electrical energy and/or signals. Inside the air channel 12, here, a one-conductor insulated conductor is guided in the transmission or supply device 1, which is connected to an electrically conductive cylindrical pin 22 inside the connecting element 5. At least one insulated female mating part 21/22 is available in the printing adapter 3, so as to be able to accommodate the connecting element 5 accordingly and ultimately to establish an electrical connection.

[0061] FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of an alternative embodiment, wherein the same reference numbers are used for the same features as in the preceding figures. The arrangement has a printing plate cylinder 2 having a cylinder body 2a, an integrated transmission or supply device 1 and a printing sleeve 3 (printing adapter), which is mounted on an outer surface 2b of the printing plate cylinder 2, in an end position. The printing adapter 3 can be supplied with compressed air via the transmission or supply device 1. An inner tube of the printing adapter 3 is formed continuously here as far as the front edge of the printing adapter 3.

[0062] A gap 11 is formed in this embodiment inside the printing plate cylinder 2 if the connecting element 5 is arranged in the retracted position, as shown in FIG. 8, and extends within the cylinder body 2a from a front tip 5a of the connecting element 5 to the outer surface 2b on which the inner surface of the printing adapter 3 is in physical contact. In the extended position, the connecting element bridges this gap 11 (this distance), in order to thus form the transmission connection.

[0063] The transmission or supply device 1 illustrated in FIG. 8 is located in a rest position (retracted position) without function, as an air channel 12 is not currently loaded with compressed air.

[0064] A countersunk hole 23 in the inner tube of the connecting point of the printing sleeve 3 on the printing sleeve side can be dispensed with in an alternative embodiment and substituted by a simple drilled hole and/or in combination with a sealing element, which are not illustrated in FIG. 8.

[0065] The features disclosed in the above description, the claims, and the drawing may be of significance both individually and in any desired combination for the implementation of the different embodiments.

REFERENCE LIST

[0066] 1 Transmission or supply device [0067] 2 Printing plate cylinder [0068] 2a Cylinder body of the printing plate cylinder [0069] 2b Outer surface of the cylinder body [0070] 3 Printing sleeve/printing adapter [0071] 4 Hollow cylinder [0072] 5 Connecting or supply element [0073] 5a Front tip of the connecting or supply element [0074] 6 Sealing element or O-ring [0075] 7 Spring element/return spring [0076] 8 Screw plug [0077] 9 Air bleeder hole in the screw plug [0078] 10 Sealing element in the printing adapter [0079] 10a Sealing element on the supply element/piston [0080] 11 Gap/supply gap [0081] 12 Air channel in the printing plate cylinder [0082] 13 Air channel in the printing adapter [0083] 14 Air inlet opening in the printing plate cylinder [0084] 15 Air outlet opening in the printing adapter [0085] 16 Register pin in the printing plate cylinder [0086] 17 Register groove/register insert in the printing adapter [0087] 18 Grub screw/stopper [0088] 19 Cablesingle-conductor (for example minus line or signal line) [0089] 20 Cablesingle-conductor (for example plus line or signal line) [0090] 21 Electrical insulation [0091] 22 Electrically conductive cylindrical pin [0092] 23 Countersunk hole