Abstract
Printing and perforating machine comprising a perforating mechanism (1) and a printing mechanism (30), the perforating mechanism (1) comprising a perforating element (2, 7) provided with piercing elements (5); and a support element (4, 8) that defines with the perforating element (2, 7) a space for the passage of a sheet material (3), forming holes on the sheet material (3) when it passes through this space. With this machine, the perforation of the sheet material is carried out during the printing process thereof, preferably a digital printing, in a synchronized way, eliminating time and handling for loading and unloading the roll of sheet material in a conventional sheet material perforating machine.
Claims
1: Printing and perforating machine, comprising a perforating mechanism (1) and a printing mechanism (30), characterized in that the perforating mechanism (1) comprises: a perforating element (2, 7) provided with piercing elements (5); and a support element (4, 8) that defines with the perforating element (2, 7) a space for the passage of a sheet material (3), forming holes on the sheet material (3) when it passes through this space.
2: Printing and perforating machine according to claim 1, wherein the perforating element comprises at least one perforating wheel (7) provided with the piercing elements (5), said perforating wheel (7) being movable along the support element (8).
3: Printing and perforating machine according to claim 2, wherein the perforating element comprises two perforating wheels (7) coupled to each other by a mechanical coupling (11).
4: Printing and perforating machine according to claim 2, wherein the at least one perforating wheel (7) is mounted on a perforating head (6).
5: Printing and perforating machine according to claim 4, wherein it comprises two perforating heads (6) that are movable to each other.
6: Printing and perforating machine according to claim 4, wherein the support element (8) defines a longitudinal axis, and the perforating head (6) is movable diagonally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the support element (8).
7: Printing and perforating machine according to claim 4, wherein the perforating head (6) comprises a pressing element (9) that presses the perforating wheel (7) against the sheet material (3).
8: Printing and perforating machine according to claim 1, wherein the support element (4, 8) comprises bristles (12, 34).
9: Printing and perforating machine according to claim 8, wherein the bristles are formed by modules (12).
10: Printing and perforating machine according to claim 1, wherein the perforating element is a perforating roller (2) and the support element is a support roller (4).
11: Printing and perforating machine according to claim 9, wherein the support roller (4) comprises holes (32), channels (33), bristles (34), or foam rubber (35).
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0044] For a better understanding of what has been stated, some drawings are attached in which, schematically and only as a non-limiting example, a practical case of embodiment is represented.
[0045] In FIG. 1 an embodiment is shown in which the perforation mechanism is located before the printing mechanism.
[0046] In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 an embodiment is shown in which the perforation mechanism is located after the printing mechanism.
[0047] In FIGS. 4 and 5 an embodiment is represented in which the perforation mechanism is located before the printing mechanism, in a machine that contains movable bars for the control of the movement of the sheet material.
[0048] In FIG. 6 an embodiment is represented in which the perforation mechanism is located after the printing mechanism, in a machine that contains movable bars for the control of the movement of the sheet material.
[0049] FIGS. 7a-7g show embodiments of perforating rollers with piercing or die-cutting elements.
[0050] FIGS. 8a-8b show a roller with pointed, circular, slightly rectangular, square, triangular micro punches with different shapes, lengths, and sizes.
[0051] In FIGS. 9a-9b, 10a-10b, 11a-11b, different possible embodiments of support rollers are shown that allow the piercing elements to be inserted into them.
[0052] FIGS. 12a-12b show a roller made of material, such as foam rubber among others, which allows the penetration of piercing elements on its surface.
[0053] In FIGS. 13a-13b, two embodiments of perforation by advancement of the sheet material in the longitudinal axis are shown.
[0054] FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of perforation by transverse advancement across the width of the perforating head relative to the sheet material.
[0055] In FIG. 15, an embodiment of a perforating head with multiple perforating wheels in tandem arrangement is shown.
[0056] In FIG. 16, an embodiment of a perforating head is shown, which allows the perforating wheels to move laterally by reversing the direction of advance of said perforating heads.
[0057] FIG. 17 shows a detail of the perforating wheels whose piercing elements perforate the sheet material and penetrate the support surface once the sheet material has been perforated.
[0058] In FIG. 18, a support surface formed by modules of bristles supported by the guide is shown, forming the support surface for the perforation of the sheet material.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0059] FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are representations, by way of example, of possible embodiments of printing machines in which different possible locations of the perforation mechanism (1) are shown.
[0060] In FIG. 1 an embodiment is shown in which the perforation mechanism (1) is located before the printing mechanism (30).
[0061] In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 an embodiment is shown in which the perforation mechanism (1) is located after the printing mechanism (30).
[0062] FIGS. 4 and 5 represent an embodiment in which the perforation mechanism (1) is located before the printing mechanism (30), in a machine that contains movable bars (31) for controlling the movement of the sheet material.
[0063] In FIG. 6 an embodiment is shown in which the perforation mechanism (1) is located after the printing mechanism (30), in a machine that contains movable bars (31) to control the movement of the sheet material.
[0064] Asynchronous perforation can be carried out at a time other than the advance of the sheet material-necessary to be printed-, varying according to the position of the perforation mechanism (1). It requires movement systems separate from those of the advancement of the sheet material since full or partial printing range to perforate the sheet material shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 is used.
[0065] The printing mechanism (30) of the printing and perforating machine according to the present invention is not described in detail for simplicity reasons because it can be conventional printing mechanism well known in the art.
[0066] FIGS. 7a-7g shows different embodiments of perforating rollers (2) with piercing or die-cutting elements (5).
[0067] Said perforating rollers (2) have piercing elements (5) arranged on their surface. These are pointed, circular, slightly rectangular, square, triangular micro punches with different shapes, lengths and sizes using bar, rolled, drawn, injected materials etc. suitable for perforation as shown in FIGS. 8a-8b, and are arranged on the roller with the desired spacing between them, as shown in FIGS. 7a-7g to obtain a perforation with the shape and size of the hole, as well as with the desired spacing between holes.
[0068] In FIGS. 9a-9b, 10a-10b, 11a-11b, 12a-12b, different possible embodiments of support rollers (4) are shown that allow the piercing elements to be inserted into them. These support rollers (4) can be formed by individual holes (32), FIGS. 9a-9b, channels (33) that coincide with the protruding piercing elements (5) where they are inserted, FIGS. 10a-10b, formed by bristles (34) arranged with the appropriate density on their surface, FIGS. 11a-11b, or in materials that allow penetration into their surface of piercing elements such as foam rubber (35), among others, as shown in FIGS. 12a-12b.
[0069] By way of example, FIGS. 13a-13b show two embodiments of advance perforation of the sheet material in the longitudinal axis. The perforation of the sheet material (3) is carried out through a perforating roller (2) and a support roller (4) of the sheet material (3) that allows the penetration of the piercing elements (5). The perforation is carried out during the longitudinal movement of the sheet material (3).
[0070] FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of perforation by transversal advance across the width, of the perforating head (6) with respect to the sheet material (3).
[0071] The perforating head (6) contains a perforating wheel (7), formed by piercing elements (5) arranged on its surface, these piercing elements (5) are similar to those shown in FIGS. 7a-7g and 8a-7b. These are micro punches or sharp plates being pointed, circular, slightly rectangular, square, triangular, die-cut that does not end in a point, etc., as shown in FIGS. 8a-8b. These piercing elements (5) protrude slightly from the surface of the perforating wheel (7), this distance being the one that penetrates the sheet material (3), piercing it, and also penetrating a support surface (8), preferably formed by modules having bristles (12) and defining a longitudinal axis.
[0072] The design and size of the perforating wheel (7) will be made according to the longitudinal displacement of the sheet material (3) to ensure that there are no areas without perforation due to this cause.
[0073] The perforating head (6), FIG. 14, regardless of whether they are individual or hybrid, have pressing elements (9) that press the perforating wheels (7) to ensure that the forces necessary for the perforation of the sheet material (3) are applied to the perforating wheels (7) along the entire transversal path of the perforating head (6), guaranteeing the perforation and ensuring the correct size of the holes (10) made by the perforating head (6).
[0074] In FIG. 15 an embodiment of a perforating head (6) with multiple perforating wheels (7) in tandem arrangement is shown. A mechanical coupling (11) is used to keep the two perforating wheels (7) synchronized and to obtain evenly spaced holes (10) giving rise to a homogeneous perforation.
[0075] FIG. 16 shows an embodiment of a perforating head (6), which allows the perforating wheels (7) to move laterally by reversing the direction of advance of said perforating heads. This slight lateral or diagonal displacement, shown by arrows A and B, is perpendicular to the direction of advance of the perforating head (6), i.e., diagonal with respect to the longitudinal axis of the support surface (8), being actuated when the direction of advance of the head is reversed through various cams or angular slots (15). This lateral movement allows the perforating wheel (7) to make holes in different positions according to the direction of advance of the perforating head (6).
[0076] As shown in FIG. 16, the holes (13) are made when the perforating wheel (7) undergoes a lateral displacement (arrow A) as a result of the movement towards the left (arrow C) of the perforating head (6), and the holes (14) group said holes (13) in addition to the holes made when the perforating wheel (7) undergoes a lateral displacement (arrow B) as a result of the movement towards the right (arrow D) of the perforation head (6), once the direction of advance has been reversed shifting from moving towards the left (arrow C) to moving towards the right (arrow D).
[0077] In this way, the density of holes can be doubled with the same perforating head (6), being very advantageous for the application of these sheet materials.
[0078] FIG. 17 shows a detail of the perforating wheels (7) whose piercing elements (5) perforate the sheet material (3) and penetrate the support surface (8) once the sheet material (3) has been perforated.
[0079] Said perforating wheels (7) can contain piercing elements (5) of different shapes, lengths, and sizes, as shown in FIGS. 8a-8b, and they can be arranged on the perforating roller (2) with the desired spacing between them, as shown in FIGS. 7a-7g to obtain a perforation with the shape and size of the hole, as well as the desired hole spacing.
[0080] This support surface (8) is formed by modules having bristles (12) supported by a guide (20) forming the support surface (8) for the perforation of the sheet material (3), as shown in FIG. 18. Also, the bristle (12) modules allow the support surface (8) to adapt its sizes according to the displacement necessary for digital printing of the sheet material (3) and its width.
[0081] Despite the fact that reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the described printing machine is susceptible to numerous variations and modifications, and that all the mentioned details can be substituted by others being technically equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.
