Web-fed printing machine including processing modules and carrier modules

A web-fed printing machine that is highly variable in terms of its configuration, provides a high degree of positioning accuracy of processing modules and has a cost-efficient machine frame, includes a plurality of the processing modules fixed to the machine frame. Each respective processing module is advantageously fixed to the machine frame by a respective carrier module. Every carrier module includes two parallel longitudinal beams extending in the machine direction and two parallel crossbars which are oriented at right angles to the longitudinal beams and which interconnect the two longitudinal beams.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of German Patent Application DE 10 2016 213 438.8, filed Jul. 22, 2016; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a web-fed printing machine for printing on a substrate web being transported through the web-fed printing machine in a machine direction and being processed. The machine includes a machine frame and a plurality of processing modules fixed thereto.

Printing machines that print labels or folding boxes are increasingly expected to be highly flexible or variable to be able to process the greatest possible variety of print jobs, in particular print jobs that include printed images or printed text with special optical effects. The printing machines that are used to produce labels and folding boxes are very frequently printing machines that process a narrow web of printing material and include a plurality of connecting platforms or interfaces for connecting and removing a respective functional unit or processing module for printing in accordance with a specific printing process. An embodiment of such a printing machine is described, for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,522. The individual functional units thereof may operate in accordance with different printing processes.

German Patent Application DE 195 13 536 A1, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,046, and International Publication WO 95/29813, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,297, disclose printing machines that include a plurality of printing units disposed in line and allow a number of functional units or processing modules to be connected and disconnected at a plurality of connecting platforms. Among other elements, the functional units may include printing units or parts of printing units disposed in cartridges or attachment modules and operating in accordance with a letterpress process, flexographic printing process, screen printing process, lithographic offset printing process, gravure process, or inkjet printing process. In addition, there are functional units (processing units) that allow a mechanical treatment of the printing material, for instance providing an embossment or cuts (perforations or punched holes) or reversing the sheet. Such printing machines that may operate in accordance with a plurality of different printing processes are also known as combination printing presses or hybrid printing machines.

For many years, the machine frames of printing presses have for a large part been made of metal materials, in particular of different types of steel. Printing machines for modern printing technologies mostly use large cast parts or massive or solid steel plates as the supporting structure of the machine. Those elements are formed in technically complex and often costly processing steps. That complex treatment is necessary to provide the receiving locations for processing modules at precisely the right position in the supporting structure. Thus, the machine frame of a printing press and the costs of material account for a large proportion of the total cost of a printing machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a web-fed printing machine including processing modules and carrier modules, which overcome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known machines of this general type, which is highly variable in terms of its configuration, which allows processing modules to be connected in precisely the right location and which has a cost-efficient machine frame.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a web-fed printing machine for printing on a substrate web being transported through the web-fed printing machine in a machine direction and being processed. The machine includes a machine frame and a plurality of processing modules fixed thereto. A respective processing module is fixed to the machine frame by using a respective carrier module. Every carrier module includes two parallel longitudinal beams extending in the machine direction and two crossbars being oriented at right angles to the longitudinal beams, being parallel to one another and interconnecting the two longitudinal beams. A respective processing module is supported by the crossbars of at least one carrier module, and the longitudinal beams are supported by the machine frame.

The web-fed printing machine of the invention is used to print on a web of a substrate such as paper, plastic, or composite material, in particular also for producing labels. The web of a substrate is transported through the web-fed printing machine in a machine direction to be processed in the machine. The web-fed printing machine has a machine frame and a number of processing modules fixed thereto. The processing modules may, for instance, be flexographic printing units, screen printing units, rotary diecutting units, delaminating devices, laminating devices, driers, longitudinal cutting units, web-pulling units, etc. In accordance with the invention, a respective processing module is fixed to the machine frame by using a respective carrier module, every carrier module includes two parallel longitudinal beams extending in the machine direction and two crossbars disposed to be at right angles to the longitudinal beams and oriented to be parallel to one another and interconnecting the two longitudinal beams. The crossbars may in particular have a circular cross-section. A respective processing module is supported by the crossbars of at least one carrier module and the longitudinal beams are in turn supported by the machine frame. A respective carrier module may have a horizontal, vertical, or angled orientation. The use of such a carrier module advantageously provides a neutral, flat interface between the machine frame and the processing modules, providing a modular construction of the web-fed printing machine and allowing an easy exchange of the processing modules. It is further advantageous if the carrier module has a mirror-symmetrical construction and if the two crossbars as well as the two longitudinal beams are embodied as nonvariable parts. In order to be able to use a plurality of processing modules in the web-fed printing machine, multiple carrier modules supported on the machine frame are provided.

In a first exemplary embodiment of the processing modules, the processing modules have cutouts on their undersides in order to place the processing modules on the crossbars of the carrier modules, the cutouts being constructed to be complementary to the crossbars. In this context, “complementary” is understood to mean that the shape of the cutouts matches the cross-sectional profile of the crossbars in such a way that the crossbars and cutouts are able to engage with one another. The positioning of a processing module in the web-fed printing machine is thus achieved by inserting a respective processing module with its cutouts in the crossbars of a carrier module. Printing units and diecutting units in particular may be constructed in accordance with this embodiment.

Another exemplary embodiment may include processing modules that have cutouts on their top sides. Such modules may be hooked into the crossbars of the carrier modules. In this case, the cutouts are likewise constructed to complement the crossbars. If processing modules that are supported in this suspended way are positioned in the web-fed printing machine, the processing modules need to be fixed to the carrier modules or to the machine frame. This may be achieved by a snap-on or screw-on connection or by any other locking mechanism. Driers may for instance be constructed in accordance with this embodiment.

It is particularly advantageous if the cutouts that correspond with a first beam have contacting surfaces with a prismatic construction to ensure a defined guidance and if the cutouts that correspond with the other beam allow a certain amount of play. This avoids an overdeterminate configuration of the processing modules.

In another particularly advantageous and thus preferred further development, a respective carrier module has a support system for releasably fixing the carrier module to the machine frame in such a way that the carrier module is alignable. In this context, alignable is understood to mean that the carrier module may be adjusted and leveled relative to the machine frame. The support system may in particular fix a carrier module to the upper contact surfaces of two parallel side walls of the machine frame. Thus, the carrier module is not part of the machine frame. In an advantageous embodiment, the support system has adjustable, self-locking leveling elements. Every carrier module may in particular include four leveling elements, with one leveling element disposed in every respective corner of the carrier module. The use of such leveling elements is common practice in the fields of mechanical engineering and plant engineering. Suitable leveling elements are, for instance, GN 355 leveling elements sold by Ganter Griff. These leveling elements include a leveling screw, a cylinder screw with a disk, and a spherical washer, allowing the elements to be adjusted relative to one another and thus allowing the carrier module to be positioned relative to the machine frame. Once the carrier modules have been attached to the machine frame of the web-fed printing machine, they may be positioned with a high degree of accuracy by operating the leveling elements. Thus, the precision requirements for the machine frame itself are much less stringent because the required degree of accuracy of the alignment of the processing modules relative to one another is achieved by positioning, aligning, and leveling the support systems.

In accordance with a further development of the web-fed printing machine of the invention, a positioning rail for positioning a processing module in a direction perpendicular to the machine direction is disposed on the crossbars of a carrier module in such a way to as be movable in a transverse direction. Thus, the lateral register of a processing module may be corrected even during an ongoing print job by moving the positioning rail. In accordance with a particularly advantageous and thus preferred embodiment, a spindle drive is provided on every carrier module to adjust a respective positioning rail. The spindle drive may include a spindle supported in one of the two longitudinal beams, a spindle nut connected to the positioning rail, and a manually operated turning knob or a controllable electric motor for rotating the spindle.

It is furthermore seen as advantageous if the machine frame of the web-fed printing machine has at least a base plate and two parallel side walls of identical height on which the carrier modules may be disposed. The base plate and side walls are preferably manufactured as a welded sheet-metal frame construction. It is even possible to choose a modular construction for the web-fed printing machine, i.e. multiple units formed of a base plate and side walls may be disposed in line relative to one another. Such a machine frame construction is particularly cost-efficient and saves resources.

As far as it makes sense from a technical point of view, combinations of the invention as described above and of the advantageous further developments of the invention likewise form advantageous further developments of the invention.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. Further advantages and embodiments of the invention that are advantageous in structural and functional terms will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the appended figures.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a web-fed printing machine including processing modules and carrier modules, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, toFIGS. 1A and 1Bthereof, there is seen a carrier module10that may be used to position (non-illustrated) processing modules20on a (non-illustrated) machine frame30. The carrier module10is constructed as follows: it has two massive or solid longitudinal beams11disposed to be parallel to one another. The longitudinal beams11are interconnected by crossbars12disposed at right angles to the longitudinal beams11. The crossbars12are disposed to be parallel to one another and may in particular have a circular cross-section, i.e. they may be round bars. A (non-illustrated) processing module20may be placed on the crossbars12from above or hooked into the crossbars12from below. The longitudinal beams11of the carrier module10do not directly rest on the machine frame30but are connected to the machine frame30by a support system13including leveling elements14. A carrier module10constructed as shown inFIGS. 1A and 1Bmay be used to receive pulling devices, longitudinal cutting devices, delaminating devices, laminating devices etc., i.e. processing modules20that do not require lateral alignment.

However, if lateral alignment is required, i.e. accurate positioning in a direction perpendicular to the machine direction M (seeFIGS. 3, 5A and 6), carrier modules10constructed in accordance with the illustration ofFIGS. 2A and 2Bmay be used. The carrier module10shown inFIG. 2Ais constructed as described above. In addition, it has a positioning rail15that is movable in a transverse direction, i.e. it is capable of carrying out a displacing movement v along the crossbars12. The positioning rail15is supported on the crossbars12. The displacing movement v is achieved by a spindle drive16, which includes a spindle17, a spindle nut18, and an electric motor19.2for rotating the spindle17. The positioning rail15, which is movable in a transverse direction, with the spindle drive16thereof, are disposed on the drive side, i.e. on that side of the web-fed printing machine100(seeFIGS. 5A, 5B and 6) on which the drives are located, to avoid affecting access to the processing modules due to the fact that the adjustment motor19.2protrudes from the carrier module10.

The carrier module10illustrated inFIG. 2Brepresents an alternative embodiment: it includes a device for manual operation by a machine operator instead of the adjustment motor19.2. For this purpose, the positioning rail15, with the spindle drive16thereof, are disposed on the operator side, i.e. on that side of the web-fed printing machine100that is easily accessible to the machine operator. The spindle drive16likewise includes a rotary spindle17and a spindle nut18fixed to the positioning rail15. The rotation of the spindle17is caused by a manually operated rotary knob19.1.

FIGS. 2C and 2Dshow an embodiment of the invention in which both an adjustment motor19.2and a rotary knob19.1are provided at opposite ends of the crossbars12. In addition, it is seen that the carrier modules10include crossbar stubs12′ fixed to the longitudinal beams11in a direction parallel to the crossbars12. The processing modules26shown inFIG. 2Dhave upper surfaces and cutouts25formed in the upper surfaces for being hooked into the crossbar stubs12′ of the carrier modules10. The cutouts25are complementary to the crossbar stubs12′ and each respective processing module20is supported by the crossbar stubs12′ of at least one of the carrier modules10.

A processing module20is fixed to the positioning rail15in order to be able to implement a displacing movement v to position a processing module20located on the carrier module10and in order to allow an adjustment of the lateral register of the processing module20. As shown inFIG. 3, boreholes are provided in the longitudinal bar11and in the positioning rail15to allow a processing tool20and the positioning rail15to be screwed together.

FIG. 3further shows how a processing module20may be positioned on the machine frame30by using the carrier module10. Cutouts25(only two of which are shown) are provided on the underside of every processing module20. The cutouts25are spaced apart from one another and shaped in such a way as to correspond with the crossbars12and to allow the crossbars12and cutouts25to engage with one another. In other words, the cutouts25and the crossbars12are constructed to complement one another. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 3, the cutouts25are formed in a carrier plate23and the carrier plate23may carry a processing module20. The two cutouts25that correspond with the left-hand crossbars12have an approximately prismatic shape. This is to say that contacting surfaces are provided that ensure a defined support of the carrier plate23on the left-hand crossbar12in a defined way. The two cutouts25that correspond with the right-hand crossbars12have a different construction. They include a horizontal contact surface for supporting the carrier plate23on the crossbars12in a defined way. However, in the machine direction M, the two cutouts25are large enough to allow a certain amount of play between the crossbars12and the vertical surfaces of the cutout. This avoids an over-determinate supporting of the carrier plate23.

As an alternative shown inFIG. 4, adapters24may be screwed to the processing modules20instead of using a carrier plate23to support the processing modules20. In this case, the cutouts25corresponding with the crossbars12are formed in the adapters24.

FIG. 4also includes a more detailed representation of the support system13for fixing the carrier module10to the side walls31of the machine frame30. For this purpose, the support system13has four leveling elements14, which are integrated into the two longitudinal beams11at the four corners of the carrier module10. The position of the leveling elements14will become apparent fromFIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B.

A respective leveling element14may include a minimum of a large slotted threaded sleeve and an adjustment screw to form a screw connection with the machine frame30or the side wall31thereof. The threaded sleeve of the leveling element14includes a lower contact surface that contacts a surface of the side wall31so as to be flush therewith. An adjustment or leveling of the carrier module10is achieved by rotating the threaded sleeve. In this process, the outer thread of the threaded sleeve moves in an interior thread cut into the longitudinal beam11. Once the leveling process is completed, the cylinder screw is tightened to prevent the threaded sleeve from rotating any further and to firmly screw the longitudinal beam11and the side wall31together.

FIGS. 5A and 5Billustrate the construction of the machine frame. The machine frame30of the web-fed printing machine100may be formed of a plurality of frame elements as shown inFIGS. 5A and 5B. The frame elements may be interconnected by coupling rods or connecting links34. A respective frame element is formed of a welded sheet-metal frame construction having two parallel side walls31mounted to a base plate32. The base plate32has legs33for a coarse alignment of the frame element. The sheet-metal frame construction of the side walls31has upper contact surfaces for supporting the carrier modules10. Processing modules20may be placed on the carrier modules10from above. In addition or alternatively, other processing modules20may be hooked into the carrier modules10from below, for instance processing modules26in the form of driers that include a plurality of rollers, resulting in a suspended configuration of the processing modules26. If the processing modules26that have been introduced from below do not snap onto the crossbars12, it may be necessary to provide a screw connection between the processing modules26and the carrier modules10.

By way of example,FIG. 6illustrates a flexographic printing unit21and a rotary diecutting unit22in a web-fed printing machine100for processing a substrate web1000that is transported in the machine direction M. The processing modules21,22are disposed on the non-illustrated machine frame30by using carrier modules10, which have positioning rails15.