SLEEVE EXCHANGE SYSTEM

Abstract

A system for the replacement of sleeves that can be slipped on arbors of ink transfer rollers of at least printing machine has a storage device, in which the sleeves not being, used in current ink transfer can be stored, and a transport device, with which several sleeves can be transported to the printing machine. The system has a transfer device the facilitates the transfer of the sleeves between the storage device and/or the transport device and the arbors of the ink transfer rollers, and/or between the storage device and the transport device.

Claims

1. A system for replacement of sleeves (6, 6a ) , 6a ) that can be slipped on the arbors (5, 5a ) of ink transfer rollers (4) of at least one printing machine (1) , with a storage device, in which the sleeves (6, 6a ) (6, 6a ), which are not used in the current ink transfer, can be stored, and/or with transport devices (8, 9), with which several sleeves (6, 6a ) (6, 6a ) can be transported to the printing machine (1), characterized by devices for the transfer of the sleeves (10-19, 21), with which the sleeves (6, 6a ) can be transported between the storage device and/or the transport devices (8, 9) and the arbors (5, 5a ) of the ink transfer rollers (4) in at least one printing machine (1) and/or between the storage device and the transport devices (8, 9).

2. The system according to the claim 1, characterized in that the devices for the transfer of the sleeves (10-19, 21) comprise devices for receiving the sleeves (11), from which the sleeves (6, 6a ) are taken for the purpose of transport.

3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that the devices for receiving the sleeves (11) project at least in part into the interior of the sleeves (6, 6a ).

4. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that it is provided with a computing and control unit, which controls the driving devices (15-19) for driving the devices for the transfer of the sleeves (10-19, 21) in such a manner, that the devices for receiving the sleeves (11) can be brought in positions, in which a transfer of the sleeves (6, 6a ) from the devices for receiving the sleeves (11) onto the arbor of the ink transfer rollers, into the storage device or the inverse can be carried out.

5. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that the positions of the arbors of the ink transfer rollers, in which a replacement of a sleeve (6, 6a ) is to be done, and the respective target positions and the current positions of the sleeves (6, 6a ) in the printing machine (1), in the transport devices and/or in the storage device are known to the computing and control unit.

6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the devices for the transfer of the sleeves (10-19,21) comprise devices for rotating and tilting (15, 16, 18, 19) the sleeves (6, 6a).

7. The system according to claim 1, characterized by sensors, with which the relative angular positions of a sleeve (6, 6a ) to a device for receiving a sleeve (11) with respect to line of alignment with the axis of the ink transfer roller are determined.

8. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that based on the relative angular positions of the sleeve (6, 6a ) on a device for receiving the sleeves (11) with respect to the line of alignment with the axis of the arbor of the ink transfer roller, as determined by the sensors, as well as the target values, the computing and control unit transmits signals to the devices for the transfer of the sleeves (10-19,21), until the device for receiving the sleeves (11) is so positioned that the axis of the arbor of the ink transfer roller is aligned with the axis of the sleeve (6, 6a), if the latter was received by the device for receiving the sleeves.

9. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the devices for the transfer of the sleeves (10-19, 21) and/or the printing machine (1) are provided with pushing devices (12, 20), with which the sleeves (6, 6a ) can be pushed along its axis.

10. the system according to claim 2, characterized in that the devices for receiving the sleeves (11, 11a, 11b) can be coupled and uncoupled with the devices for transfer (10-19, 21).

11. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that the device for receiving sleeves (11) has an arbor-shaped embodiment and its external diameter can be varied.

12. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the devices for the transport comprise a traversable carriage (8), which takes a defined position relative to the printing machine for the replacement of the sleeves (6, 6a ), whereby the position of the carriage (8) can be made available to the computing and control unit.

13. A method of replacing printing sleeves with a system according to claim 4, characterized in that the computing and control unit works out an arrangement of the sleeves (6, 6a), which are to be replaced, in the transport devices, whereby one position for receiving at least one more sleeve (6, 6a) remains free in the transport devices.

14. The method according to the claim 13, characterized in that the devices for transfer take a sleeve from an arbor of an ink transfer roller, which sleeve is then delivered to the free position, and that thereafter the device for the transfer takes another sleeve from the transport devices, which is then delivered to the free arbor.

15. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the free position in the transport devices, to which a sleeve, taken from an arbor of an ink transfer roller, is delivered, and the position, from which the next sleeve (6, 6a) is taken, are directly adjacent.

Description

[0024] The individual figures show:

[0025] FIG. 1 A system for replacement of sleeves

[0026] FIG. 2 View II-II according to FIG. 1

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a printing machine 1, which comprises the side frames 2 and 3. The ink transfer rollers 4 are supported, turned inwards, on pillow blocks not shown here. The pillow blocks are on guide rails, also not shown, which are mounted on side frame 2 displaceably relative to the side frames. Thus the ink transfer rollers 4 can be adjusted against the counterpressure cylinder, also not shown here, or against each other, so as to ensure the transfer of the ink on the substrate for printing, which is guided by means of the counterpressure cylinder. In the side frame 3, pillow blocks are also mounted displaceably on rails. These pillow blocks are provided with supports, which are movable relative to the pillow blocks, so that the arbor 5 of the ink transfer roller 4 can be optionally supported or released. The sleeves 6, which can be slipped on in the direction z of the arbor 5, can impinge on the ink transfer rollers 4.

[0028] To replace the sleeves 6, the pillow blocks in the side frame 3 are first removed from the corresponding ink transfer rollers 4. Then the sleeve can be taken off from the arbor 5 opposite to the direction z and thereafter a new sleeve 6 can be slipped on the arbor. The printing unit 7 illustrates the situation in which the sleeve 6a is taken off from the arbor 5a.

[0029] For the delivery or the transport of the sleeves 6, a transport device 8 is provided, which can be moved relative to the printing machine 1. This transport device 8 can be embodied as a palette. In the example shown, the transport device 8 contains a new sleeve 6, which is to be delivered to the arbor 5a of the printing unit 7 that just became free. However, in order to accommodate the sleeve 6a just taken out in the direction of transport 8, it has a free position, which is embodied as a vertically projecting retainer arbor 9.

[0030] For the transfer of the sleeves 6 and 6a between the printing machine 1 and the transport device 8, a transport device 10 is provided. To convey the sleeves 6, 6a, a support element 11 is provided, which is embodied with an arbor-like shape and projects, for instance, into one third of the interior of the sleeve 6a.

[0031] The transfer device 10 is, as one can see in FIGS. 1 and 2, suspended on the rails 13, 14. This suspension enables displacement of the transfer device 10 along a horizontal plane spanned by the direction arrows x and z. For that, driving motors, not shown here, are provided. The transport device exhibits, in addition, two swivel joints 15 and 16, whose axes of rotation extend parallel to the direction arrow x. The swivel joints 15, 16 enable adjustment of the heights of the sleeves 6, 6a in direction y. However, the sleeves 6, 6a can also be tilted so that these 6, 6a can be brought from a vertical position into a horizontal position. The swivel joints are driven by driving motors such as, for example, electromotors.

[0032] Due to the aforementioned possibilities of the movement of the transfer device 10, it is now possible to bring a sleeve 6, 6a before an arbor 5, 5a in such a manner that the principal axis of inertia of the sleeve 6, 6a is aligned with the axis of that arbor 5, 5a. Due to the play of the swivel joints 15, 16, as well as also due to the small pitching movement of the arbor 5 during the release of the ends in the area of the side frame 3, it can happen in practice that the named axes are not aligned, but extend away from each other in direction z. In order to counteract against this effect, the transfer device 10 comprises a swivel joint for justification 18, whose axis of rotation also extends in the direction x. By means of sensors not shown, it can be determined whether the axes are aligned or not. If the justification of the axes is complete and the axes extend coaxially, the transfer device 10 as a whole can be displaced in direction z, until the support element 11 touches the arbor 5, 5a. When that is the case, major part of the sleeve 6, 6a is already slipped on the arbor 5, 5a. In order to slip on the sleeves 6, 6a completely on the arbor, the slider 12 is displaceable relative to the transfer device 10 in the direction z. The slider 12 acts thereby on the front side of the sleeve 6, 6a facing the lower support arm 17.

[0033] Frequently the arbors 5, 5a of ink transfer rollers have 4 small pins. The sleeves 6, 6a then have complementary grooves, so that when the sleeves are fully slipped on the arbor, the groove surrounds the pin. After the slipping on of the sleeve 6, 6a, it is thus automatically adjusted with respect to its longitudinal axis, as well also in the circumferential direction relative to the arbor. In order that the groove can surround the pin, the transfer device comprises another swivel joint 19, whose axis of rotation extends concentrically to the axis of the sleeve, so that a rotation of the sleeve 6, 6a relative to the arbor 5, 5a before or during the process of slipping on is possible, so that the pin and the groove can be brought in mutual engagement.

[0034] If a sleeve 6, 6a is taken off from an arbor 5, 5a, the axes of the corresponding arbor 5, 5a and the support element 11 are adjusted in alignment, so that the axis of the sleeve is also aligned with the axis of the arbor, if the sleeve is slipped on the support element 11, even when it suntil stands in partial contact with the arbor. After the alignment of the orientations, a pushing device 20 pushes the sleeve away from the arbor 5, 5a. Such a pushing device 20 can be provided on each arbor, however, it is shown only for the printing unit 7 for the sake of simplicity. After the process of pushing, the sleeve 6, 6a surrounds the support element 11 completely. It is of advantage if the external diameter of the support element 11 is variable, so that frictional engagement between the support element 11 and the sleeve 6, 6a can be established. After that, the sleeve 6, 6a can be taken off completely from the arbor 5, 5a by the transfer device.

[0035] In printing machine 1, the sleeves 6, 6a with different internal diameters can be used. It is especially then the case, if an adapter sleeve is slipped on the arbor 5, 5a at first and thereafter a sleeve 6, 6a is slipped on the adapter sleeve. In order that all the sleeves 6, 6a can remain in frictional engagement with the support element from within, the support elements 11, 11a, 11b are provided with different external diameters. For each of the internal diameter of the sleeve 6, 6a that can be used in printing machine 1, a support element can be provided. Due to the degrees of freedom of the transfer device 10, it can automatically replace the support elements 11, 11a, 11b. For that, the transfer device 10 is provided with a coupling 21, which establishes or interrupts compressed air and/or current connection between the transfer device 10 and the support element.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows the view II-II according to FIG. 1. The side frame 3 has the recesses 22 in the area of the individual inking units, through which the ink transfer rollers 4 can be reached in such a manner that the sleeves 6, 6a can be taken off from the arbors 5, 5a through the recesses 22. For the sake of simplicity, of each inking unit, only one ink transfer roller 4 is shown. In general, for instance in flexographic printing machines, there are two ink transfer rollers 4 per inking unit, namely an anilox roller and a printing roller. In particular, both the swivel joints 15, 16 of the transfer device 10 are shown. The rails 14 serve the purpose of moving the transfer device 10 parallel to the frontage of the side frame 3. In order that maximum possible room for movement is available for the transfer device 10, the side frame 3 is devoid of front structures or elevations.

TABLE-US-00001 List of Reference Symbols 1 Printing machine 2 Side frame 3 Side frame 4 Ink transfer roller 5, 5a Arbor 6, 6a Sleeves 7 Printing unit 8 Transport device 9 Retainer arbor 10 Transfer device 11, 11a, b Support element 12 Slider 13 Rails 14 Rails 15 Swivel joint 16 Swivel joint 17 Lower support arm 18 Swivel joint for justification 19 Swivel joint 20 Pushing device 21 Coupling 22 Recess 23 24