Printing device provided with movable printing unit

Abstract: A printing device, comprising several printing stations (1) disposed one after the other in the lengthwise direction, and each comprising a main printing unit (2), at least one additional printing unit (5), drive means for driving the printing units (2, 5), and conveyor means for conveying the material (8) to be printed through the printing device, is provided with a movement device (4) for moving the additional printing unit (5) at least in the lengthwise direction of the printing device. The movement device can comprise guide means (6), movement means and positioning means. An assembly of an additional printing unit (5) and a movement device (4) can also be used in an existing printing device with several printing stations (1) disposed one after the other in the lengthwise direction.

Description: The invention relates to a printing device, comprising several printing stations disposed one after the other in the lengthwise direction, and each comprising a main printing unit, at least one additional printing unit, drive means for driving the printing units, and conveyor means for conveying the material to be printed through the printing device. Such a printing device is known. In such a printing device the additional printing unit is used to carry out an additional printing operation on the material to be printed, for example printing an additional colour, or carrying out a different type of printing operation. In the case of the known printing devices there are generally two different systems for placing the additional printing unit in the printing device. In the first system, a main printing unit in a conventional printing press is replaced by an additional printing unit in the form of a rotary screen printing device. When the main printing unit is replaced by the additional printing unit, the main printing unit selected is first detached at the appropriate drive point of the device and then removed therefrom, after which the new, additional printing unit is placed in this position in the device. In the second system, an additional printing unit is added to the printing device. At a desired position, the printing stations are detached from each other and pushed apart. The additional printing unit is disposed in the space thus created, and is installed i the device and connected to the drive of the main printing units in the printing stations. Although these printing devices have some flexibility as regards the position of the additional printing unit in the printing device, long fitting times are necessary for installing and converting the printing device, in view of the complexity of the operations which have to be carried out. Besides, in the case of the printing device described above, in which a main printing unit is replaced by the additional printing unit, the total number of printing operations is not increased. In the case of the printing device in which the additional printing unit is disposed between the main printing units, it is necessary for a part of the printing device to be movable and for the space required therefor to be present. This calls for additional facilities, with the costs which this involves. The object of the invention is to provide a printing device in which the main printing units in the printing stations do not have to be removed or moved in order to add an additional printing unit, so that changeover and resetting times are short. The printing device of the type described above according to the invention is characterized in that the printing device is provided with a movement device for moving the additional printing unit at least in the lengthwise direction of the printing device. In the case of the printing device according to the invention, the additional printing unit is not accommodated between the existing main printing units, but instead thereof is disposed above the printing stations. The additional printing unit is movable by means of the movement device. This means that the printing device according to the invention has a number of advantages. For changing the position of the additional printing unit relative to the main printing units, the additional printing unit need only be moved to the desired position above the main printing units by means of the movement device. No operations are required for replacing a main printing unit or installing the additional printing unit between two main printing units. The time required for placing the additional printing unit in the desired position is thus considerably shortened. In addition, setting up the additional printing unit above the main printing stations gives the advantage that a considerable saving in floor space is achieved. Several additional printing units which are movable by the movement device can also be set up, thus increasing the possibilities for greater numbers and more types of printing operations. The additional printing unit can be of the same type as the type of the main printing unit in the printing stations, for example in order to add a further colour. However, the additional printing unit can also be of a different type, in order to provide a better quality of printed work. The printing device according to the invention therefore provides many possibilities both as regards the position and as regards the type of the additional printing unit. In a preferred embodiment of the printing device according to the invention, the movement device comprises guide means along which the additional printing unit can be moved. The guide means preferably comprise rails extending in the lengthwise direction of the printing device. This makes it possible to move the additional printing unit in a simple way in the lengthwise direction of the printing device to a desired position. In another embodiment of the printing device according to the invention, the movement device comprises first movement means for moving the additional printing unit along the guide means. In order to keep the additional printing unit accurately in register with the main printing units in the printing stations, second movement means, which also move the additional printing unit crosswise to the lengthwise direction of the printing device, can be present. With the same object, third movement means, which can rotate the additional printing unit about a vertical axis, can be present. By these movement means, the additional printing unit can be placed accurately in register with the main printing units, because any desired correction of the position of the additional printing unit relative to the main printing units can be carried out with the movement means. In a further preferred embodiment of the printing device according to the invention, the movement device is provided with positioning means for positioning the additional printing unit in the printing device, in order to lock and retain the additional printing unit in the desired position. For proper operation of the printing device according to the invention, the drive of the additional printing unit will preferably be connected to the drive of the main printing units in the printing stations. The drives are advantageously electronically connected to each other (the so-called electronic longitudinal shaft). However, it is also possible to connect the drives mechanically. In order to combine two different types of printing operation in one printing device, it can be advantageous for the additional printing unit to be of a different type from that of the main printing units in the printing stations. In a preferred embodiment thereof, the additional printing unit is a rotary screen printing unit. The invention also relates to an assembly of an additional printing unit and a movement device for use in a printing device with several printing stations placed one after the other in the lengthwise direction, and each comprising a main printing unit, the movement device when used in a printing device being designed for moving the additional printing unit at least in the lengthwise direction of the printing device. Such an assembly can be used in, for example, existing printing devices of any desired type, in order to increase the number or type of printing operations of the printing device. Preferred embodiments of the assembly according to the invention emerge from Claims 13 to 18. The invention will be explained below with reference to the attached drawing, in which the sole figure is a diagrammatic side view of a particular embodiment of a printing device according to the invention. In the printing device shown in Fig. 1, a number of printing stations 1 are disposed one after the other. Each printing station comprises a main printing unit 2 and a drying unit 3. The main printing units 2 can be of any type. Examples thereof are flexographic, screen printing and intaglio devices, and also offset printing devices or combinations thereof. Disposed above the printing stations 1 is a movement device according to the invention, indicated in its entirety by reference number 4. An additional printing unit 5 is movable by means of the movement device 4 in the lengthwise direction of the printing device and above the printing stations 1. The movement device 4 comprises guide means 6, for example in the form of two parallel rails, and also movement means (not shown) for moving the additional printing unit 5 along the guide means 6, and positioning means for positioning the additional printing unit 5 in the printing device. The printing device can also be provided with movement means for moving the additional printing unit 5 crosswise to the lengthwise direction of the printing device and for rotating said unit about a vertical axis. These means ensure accurate positioning in register and holding of the additional printing unit 5 relative to the main printing units 2 lying below it. The drying units 3 of the main printing stations 1 can be used both for the additional printing unit 5 and for the main printing unit 2. In the case of the embodiment shown here, the additional printing unit 5 consists of a rotary screen printing device which is disposed above the first printing station. Another position of the additional printing unit 5 on the guide means 6 is shown by dotted lines. A stock roll 7 with material 8 to be printed is present at the beginning of the printing device. Suitable conveyor means, indicated in their entirety by reference number 9, for example drive rolls, guide the material web 8 from the stock roll 7 through the main printing units 2 into the printing stations 1 and the additional printing unit 5 above the printing stations 1. The remaining processing stations for the printed material are disposed downstream of the printing stations 1. The drive means for driving the main printing units 2 and the additional printing unit 5 consist, for example, of a so-called electronic longitudinal shaft, i.e. drive means for each main printing unit 2 and additional printing unit 5 which are electronically connected to each other. An assembly of an additional printing unit 5 and a movement device 4 according to the invention is also suitable for extending existing printing devices in a simple way by placing the assembly above the existing printing device. The invention is not restricted to the example of an embodiment described above. For example, the movement device can also be disposed next to the printing device. The additional printing unit is then placed above the printing stations from the side. It is also possible to place the additional printing unit downstream of one of the further processing stations disposed downstream of the printing stations, for example in the case of hot foil stamping (where a (metal) foil is applied to printed labels) and subsequent additional printing.

Claims: Printing device, comprising several printing stations (1) disposed one after the other in the lengthwise direction, and each comprising a main printing unit (2), at least one additional printing unit (5), drive means for driving the printing units (2, 5), and conveyor means (7) for conveying the material (8) to be printed through the printing device, characterized in that the printing device is provided with a movement device (4) for moving the additional printing unit (5) at least in the lengthwise direction of the printing device. Printing device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the movement device (4) comprises guide means (6) along which the additional printing unit (5) can be moved. Printing device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the guide means (6) comprise rails extending in the lengthwise direction of the printing device, along which rails the additional printing unit (5) can be moved. Printing device according to one of Claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the movement device (4) comprises first movement means for moving the additional printing unit (5) along the guide means. Printing device according to Claim 4, characterized by second movement means which can move the additional printing unit (5) crosswise to the lengthwise direction of the printing device. Printing device according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized by third movement means which can rotate the additional printing unit (5) about a vertical axis. Printing device according to one of Claims 1 - 6, characterized in that the movement device is provided with positioning means for positioning the additional printing unit (5) in the printing device. Printing device according to one of Claims 1 - 7, characterized in that the drive means for driving the main printing units (2) in the printing stations (1) are connected to the drive means for driving the additional printing unit (5). Printing device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the drive means of the main printing unit (2) and additional printing unit (5) are electronically connected to each other. Printing device according to one of Claims 1 - 9, characterized in that the additional printing unit (5) is of a different type from that of the main printing units (2). Printing device according to Claim 10, characterized in that the additional printing unit (5) is a rotary screen printing unit. Assembly of an additional printing unit (5) and a movement device (4) for use in a printing device with several printing stations (1) disposed one after the other in the lengthwise direction, and each comprising a main printing unit (2), in which the movement device (4) when used in a printing device is designed for moving the additional printing unit (5) at least in the lengthwise direction of the printing device. Assembly according to Claim 12, characterized in that the movement device (4) comprises guide means (6) along which the additional printing unit (5) can be moved. Assembly according to Claim 13, characterized in that the guide means (6) comprise rails along which the additional printing unit (5) can be moved. Assembly according to one of Claims 12 - 14, characterized in that the movement device (4) comprises first movement means for moving the additional printing unit (5) along the guide means. Assembly according to Claim 15, characterized by second movement means which when used in a printing device move the additional printing unit (5) crosswise to the lengthwise direction of the printing device. Assembly according to Claim 15 or 16, characterized by third movement means which can rotate the additional printing unit (5) about a vertical axis. Assembly according to one of Claims 12 - 17, characterized in that the movement device (4) is provided with positioning means for positioning the additional printing unit (5).

Inventors: VAN DEN BRINK LAMBERT DIRK, VAN DEN BRINK, LAMBERT DIRK
Applicants: STORK X CEL BV, STORK X-CEL B.V.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B41F7
IPC codes: B41F13, B41F7, B41F17