Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5513568?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2014-07-12 22:01:00
Document Index: 160885019

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 8', 'art 8', 'art 8', 'art 8', 'art 8', 'art 23']

Patent US5513568 - Plate cylinder for a sleeve-type printform - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA plate cylinder for a sleeve-type printform, particularly an aluminum offset printform, with a ramp-like transition piece as a guide surface for the mechanical expansion of the sleeve-type printform onto the larger cylinder diameter. At least the surface area of the plate cylinder that is covered by...http://www.google.com/patents/US5513568?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5513568 - Plate cylinder for a sleeve-type printformAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5513568 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/349,528Publication dateMay 7, 1996Filing dateDec 5, 1994Priority dateDec 10, 1993Fee statusLapsedAlso published asCA2137493A1, CA2137493C, DE4342159A1, DE4342159C2Publication number08349528, 349528, US 5513568 A, US 5513568A, US-A-5513568, US5513568 A, US5513568AInventorsEduard Hoffman, Wolfgang Prem, Alfons Grieser, Johann WinterhollerOriginal AssigneeMan Roland Druckmaschinen AgExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (15), Referenced by (4), Classifications (9), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetPlate cylinder for a sleeve-type printformUS 5513568 AAbstract A plate cylinder for a sleeve-type printform, particularly an aluminum offset printform, with a ramp-like transition piece as a guide surface for the mechanical expansion of the sleeve-type printform onto the larger cylinder diameter. At least the surface area of the plate cylinder that is covered by the ramp-like transition piece has a highly wear-resistant and pressure-resistant slide surface of a material different from the remaining surface material of the plate cylinder to prevent abrasion when the printform is slipped onto the plate cylinder.
We claim: 1. A plate cylinder for a sleeve-type printform, comprising: a large diameter cylinder segment of a first material for receiving a sleeve-type print form; a ramp-like piece at an end of the cylinder segment and having a surface area for mechanically expanding the sleeve-type print form onto the large diameter cylinder segment; and a slide surface element arranged at least at the surface area of the ramp-like piece, the slide surface element being of a different material than the cylinder segment.
2. A plate cylinder as defined in claim 1, wherein the slide surface element is made of plastic.
3. A plate cylinder as defined in claim 2, wherein the slide surface element is made of an epoxy-base two-component synthetic resin compound.
4. A plate cylinder as defined in claim 1, wherein the slide surface element is made of steel.
5. A plate cylinder as defined in claim 1, and further comprising a small diameter cylinder segment connected to an end of the ramp-like piece opposite the large diameter cylinder segment for precentering the printform.
6. A plate cylinder as defined in claim 1, wherein the slide surface element covers an entire outer circumferential surface of the plate cylinder.
7. A plate cylinder for a sleeve-type print form, comprising:a large diameter cylinder segment for receiving a sleeve-type print form; a ramp-like piece at an end of the cylinder segment and having a surface area for mechanically expanding the sleeve-type print onto the large diameter segment; and a ring element arranged at the surface area of the ramp-like piece and connected to the large diameter segment, the ring element having a slide surface that defines a first guide surface for precentering the print form and is of a different material than the remaining portions of the plate cylinder. 8. A plate cylinder as defined in claim 7, wherein the slide surface element and the ramp-like piece are a unitary component.
9. A plate cylinder as defined in claim 7, and further comprising at least one screw that connects the ring element to the large diameter segment.
10. A plate cylinder for a sleeve-type print form, comprising:a large diameter cylinder segment for receiving a sleeve-type print form; a ramp-like piece at an end of the cylinder segment and having a surface area for mechanically expanding the sleeve-type print form onto the large diameter segment; a slide surface element arranged at least at the surface area of the ramp-like piece, the slide surface element being of a different material than remaining portions of the plate cylinder; and a small diameter cylinder segment connected to an end of the ramp-like piece opposite the large diameter cylinder segment for precentering the print form, a circumferential ring groove being provided in a surface of the cylinder between the small diameter segment and the large diameter segment, the slide surface element being arranged in the ring groove and adapted to form the ramp-like piece. Description
The invention relates to a plate cylinder for a sleeve-type printform, particularly an offset printform at least partially made of aluminum, with a ramp-like phase piece as a guide surface for the mechanical expansion of the sleeve-type printform onto the larger cylinder diameter.
A plate cylinder of this type without channel and span segments, which can be used together with a sleeve-type a printform, is already known, for example, from German patent DE 41 06 062 C1. In order to place the printform onto the plate cylinder, the printform must be precentered on an end face of the plate cylinder. The sleeve-type printform is subsequently slipped on to the plate cylinder while being expanded by pressurized air. Stopping the pressurized air causes the sleeve to be placed on the cylinder in a form-fitting fashion, in the manner of a shrinkage fit. The sleeve can be removed from the cylinder by resuming the supply of pressurized air. The body of the cylinder preferably has a chrome coating to protect against corrosion.
In a manner which has been used for years in flexographic printing with galvanically-produced nickel sleeves, the sleeve, the inner diameter of which is smaller than the cylinder diameter of the carrying part, is expanded after precentering by means of a ramp-like transition piece of the cylinder body, so that the sleeve can be slipped completely onto the body of the cylinder over an air cushion.
The type of printform used most often in offset printing is the precoated aluminum plate, the great advantage of which is the simplicity and rapidity of its production. A sleeve-type printform which is made from an aluminum plate is known from the German patent application P 41 40 768.7. However, slipping the sleeve-type aluminum printform onto the coated cylinder can cause abrasion to the printform, which in turn may effect print quality.
The two materials used, respectively, for the printform and for the corrosion protection of the plate cylinder should both be retained, since aluminum is currently the established material for printforms and since chrome has proved itself preferable as protection against corrosion from current printing media.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to further improve a generic plate cylinder in such a way that when the sleeve-type printform is slipped onto the plate cylinder, abrasion of the printform material is avoided.
Pursuant to this object, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one aspect of the present invention resides in a plate cylinder for a sleeve-type print form, which plate cylinder has a ramp-like transition piece with a surface area adapted to be guide surface for mechanical expansion of the sleeve-type form onto a large diameter segment of the cylinder. A slide surface element is arranged at least at the surface area of the ramp-transition piece, which slide surface element is highly resistant to wear and pressure and is made of a different material than the remaining surface portions of the plate cylinder.
Pursuant to a further embodiment of the invention the material of the slide surface element is plastic, and particularly an epoxy-based two-component synthetic resin compound. In yet another embodiment of the invention the slide surface element is made of steel.
Still another embodiment of the invention provides a small diameter cylinder segment connected to the transition piece for precentering the print form. A circumferential ring groove is provided in a surface of the cylinder between the small diameter segment and the large diameter segment and the slide surface element is arranged in the ring groove to form the ramp-like transition piece. In still another embodiment of the invention the slide surface element is shaped as a ring member connected to the large diameter segment. The ring element has a surface that defines a first guide surface for precentering the print form. The ring element also forms the ramp-like transition piece together with the guide surface thereof.
Yet another embodiment of the invention defines the slide surface element to be provided so as to cover the entire outer circumferential surface of the plate cylinder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial longitudinal section of a plate cylinder with a printform without the features according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a view as in FIG. 1 of an embodiment of the plate cylinder according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a view as in FIG. 2 of a second embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a view as in FIG. 2 of a third embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 5 is a view as in FIG. 2 of a fourth embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Since at least the surface region of the plate cylinder which covers the ramp-like transition piece has a highly wear-resistant and pressure-resistant slide surface of a material different than the remaining surface material of the plate cylinder, contact between the printform material and the preferably chrome-coated cylinder surface is prevented during expansion of the printform over the guide surface of the phase piece. Abrasion of the printform is prevented by the slide surface, independent of the anticorrosive surface material of the plate cylinder.
FIG. 1 shows the prior art from which the invention starts. The cylinder body 1 of the plate cylinder is conventionally designed as a hollow body, which has a wall thickness greater than that of the sleeve-type printform 2. For the most part, the plate cylinder, i.e., its part 4 which carries the printform 2, is constructed with a larger cylinder diameter than the inner diameter of the printform 2. In order to make it easier to slip the printform 2 onto the cylinder body 1, a cylinder piece 3, with a smaller cylindrical diameter than the inner diameter of the printform 2, is located on at least one end face of the plate cylinder. The print form 2 can be precentered on the cylinder piece 3. This cylinder piece 3 is connected via a ramp-like transition piece 5 to the part 4 of the plate cylinder which carries the printform 2, so that the printform 2 can be mechanically expanded over the guide surface of the ramp-like transition piece to the larger plate cylinder diameter. In a known manner, air outlet holes 6 are provided through the cylinder body 1 behind the ramp-like transition piece 5 in the direction in which the printform 2 is slipped on, so that an air cushion 7 can build up underneath the expanded printform 2. The printform 2 can then easily be slipped over the air cushion 7 onto the carrying part 4 of the cylinder body 1.
FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the plate cylinder of FIG. 1 in which a circumferential ring groove 9 is provided on the cylinder surface between the cylinder piece 3 for precentering the printform 2 and the carrying part 8 of the plate cylinder 1. A ramp-like transition piece 11 is introduced into this ring groove 9 as a one-piece slide surface, whereby a portion 12 of its surface runs in alignment with the surface of the carrying part 8 of the plate cylinder 1.
The air outlet holes 13 run, in part, through the transition piece 11 to the surface which is aligned with the carrying part 8.
In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the slide surface is a ring element 14 that is screwed together with the plate cylinder body 1 by at least one screw 25. The surface of the ring element 14 encompasses the guide surface 15 for precentering the printform, the guide surface 16 having the ramp-like transition, and a portion 12 of the guide surface that runs in alignment with the surface of the carrying part 8 of the plate cylinder 1, as in the embodiment of FIG. 2. The air outlet holes 13 open into the surface portion 12.
The transition piece 11 can be introduced into the ring groove 9 by molding or deposit welding, while the ring element 14 is produced, for example, by form casting.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show a slide surface which is applied as a coating 17, 18. In FIG. 4 the coating 17 partially covers the guide surface of the transition piece 19 and the area 20 of the carrying part 8, in which the air outlet holes 6 open. In FIG. 5 the coating 18 coats the entire circumferential surface of the plate cylinder, i.e., the guide surface for precentering 21, the guide surface of the transition piece 22, and the guide surface of the carrying part 23.
The slide surface element 11, 14, 17, 18 must be highly wear-resistant and pressure-resistant in order to have an acceptable operating life. Preferably, the material used for the slide surface element 11, 14, 17, 18 is a plastic of an epoxy-base two-component synthetic resin compound, i.e., a resin to which a curing agent has been added. However, the material :may also be steel.
The material of the slide surface element 11, 14, 17, 18 can be applied by injection molding or a thermal spraying process, or can be provided as a hard-material coating, particularly PVD coating.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4030415 *Sep 22, 1975Jun 21, 1977M.A. Buckley (Engraving) LimitedFlexographic printing roll having fluid pressure grooving for dismountingUS4089265 *Aug 20, 1976May 16, 1978M. A. Buckley (Engraving) LimitedFlexographic printing roll and means for assembling sameUS4144813 *Dec 30, 1976Mar 20, 1979Strachan & Henshaw LimitedPrinting sleevesUS4381588 *Jan 19, 1981May 3, 1983Escher Wyss LimitedControlled deflection rollUS4963404 *May 4, 1987Oct 16, 1990Stork Screens B.V.Process for the production of a coated product, thin-walled coated cylinder obtained by using said process, and an ink transfer roller comprising such a cylinderUS5111600 *Jul 30, 1991May 12, 1992Caterpillar Inc.Tooth with hard material applied to selected surfacesUS5379693 *Dec 4, 1992Jan 10, 1995Man Roland Druckmaschinen AgWelded tubular printing plate, and the method of makingDE2542748A1 *Sep 25, 1975Apr 15, 1976Buckley M A Engraving LtdDruckwalze fuer anilindruck und verfahren zu ihrem zusammenbau *DE4106062A Title not availableDE4140768A1 *Dec 11, 1991Jun 17, 1993Roland Man DruckmaschOffset-druckformEP0546973A1 *Dec 11, 1992Jun 16, 1993Jean FrancillePlate sleeve for flexographic printing cylinderGB1483371A * Title not availableGB1581232A * Title not availableJPS57107843A * Title not availableJPS57107844A * Title not available* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6357354Sep 24, 1999Mar 19, 2002Man Roland Druckmaschinen AgMethod and apparatus for fitting a printing plate to a plate cylinderUS6634294 *Nov 28, 2001Oct 21, 2003Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AgDevice for reducing printing sleeve noiseUS6691613May 19, 2000Feb 17, 2004Polyfibron Technologies S.A.Impression cylinder comprising indexing means for mounting a printing sleeve on the support cylinderWO2000071344A1 *May 19, 2000Nov 30, 2000Francille JeanImpression cylinder comprising indexing means for mounting a printing sleeve on the support cylinder* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification101/375, 492/18, 492/28International ClassificationB41F13/10, B41F27/10, B41F27/12, B41F27/06Cooperative ClassificationB41F27/105European ClassificationB41F27/10BLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJul 18, 2000FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20000507May 7, 2000LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesNov 30, 1999REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedDec 5, 1994ASAssignmentOwner name: MAN ROLAND DRUCKMASCHINEN AG, GERMANYFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HOFFMANN, EDUARD;PREM, WOLFGANG;GRIESER, ALFONS;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:007263/0120Effective date: 19941121RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google