Patent Description:
Furthermore, the invention relates to a printing machine, especially a flexographic printing machine.

Printing machines, especially flexographic printing machines, and refrigeration units to be used in connection with such machines are known in the art.

In this context a flexographic printing machine is a printing machine which uses the principle of flexography for printing on a substrate or support material. The key element of such a machine is a rubber or polymer plate on which a positive mirrored master of the required image is provided as a 3D relief. The image areas are raised with respect to the non-image areas on the rubber or polymer plate. The plate is mounted on a so-called plate cylinder.

In a first step of the flexographic printing process ink is transferred from an ink reservoir to the so-called anilox roller or ceramic roller whose texture can absorb a specific amount of ink. The anilox roller then applies the ink to the printing plate in a uniform thickness. The actual printing process takes place with the substrate being held between the printing plate and the impression cylinder. In this situation the image is transferred from the printing plate to the substrate.

In order to avoid an excessive amount of ink on the anilox roller a scraper or doctor blade may be used in order to remove excessive ink from the anilox roller before inking the printing plate.

Flexographic printing machines are widely used for printing on almost any type of substrate, e.g. plastics, metal, and paper. It is especially common in the packaging industry. Very often the terms "flexography" or "flexographic" are abbreviated to "flexo".

In known flexographic printing machines the impression drum, which may also be termed a central impression drum, is connected to a refrigeration unit in order to cool the impression drum and the substrate supported thereon. To this end heat is transferred from the impression drum to an outdoor heat exchanger via a water circuit. In other words, the impression drum is heat conductively connected to a water circuit, which absorbs heat in the area of the impression drum and releases the heat to an outdoor environment. Usually, an outdoor heat exchanger or refrigeration unit is used in order to avoid overheating of the room where the flexographic printing machine is located.

Additionally, the web of substrate or support material has to be cooled after is has travelled through the main dryer of the printing machine. Consequently, another refrigeration unit is placed after the main dryer, when regarded in the direction of travel of the web of substrate or support material. This refrigeration unit is also connected to an outdoor heat exchanger or outdoor refrigeration unit via a water circuit. The outdoor heat exchanger or refrigeration unit for cooling the central impression drum and the outdoor heat exchanger or refrigeration unit for cooling the web of substrate may be the same.

<CIT> discloses a cooling system for e.g. offset printing machine which has an adsorption-cooling machine connected with cold user unit of printing machine and with a heat generator to provide cooling capacity during operation of printing machine. The disclosed system has an adsorption-cooling machine designed in such a way that the adsorption-cooling machine is connectable with a cold user unit of a printing machine and with a heat generator to provide a cooling capacity (Qo) during operation of the printing machine. The adsorption-cooling machine has an adsorber and/or a condenser that are thermally coupled with an external cooling device. The heat generator is thermally coupled with a desorber via a heat exchanger.

<CIT> relates to a method for supplying forced draught/compressed air and drying air to a printing press, whereby the vacuum pumps or compressors required to supply said forced draught/compressed air are arranged together in a room with a separate air supply. The aim of the invention is to homogenise and if possible even condition air, in particular, process air for the printing press, whilst avoiding additional operating costs. To achieve this, the cooling air for the vacuum pumps or compressors is substantially conducted in a circuit, the heated exhaust air of the vacuum pumps and the heated cooling air of the vacuum pumps and compressors is cooled in a heat exchanger and is used to heat drying air that has been separated for this purpose.

<CIT> discloses an arrangement on a printing machine, comprising at least one low-temperature (NT) control point, at least one medium-temperature (MT) control point, and at least one high-temperature (HT) control point which are disposed in a low-temperature zone (NT zone), a medium-temperature zone (MT zone), and at least one high-temperature zone (HT zone) of a printing machine and are designed such that the NT zone can be controlled to a low temperature by means of the NT control point, the MT zone can be controlled to a medium temperature by means of the MT control point, and the HT zone can be controlled to a high temperature by means of the HT control point. The low temperature in the printing machine is lower than the medium temperature, and the medium temperature is lower than the high temperature. The arrangement further comprises a low-temperature (NT) control device and a high-temperature (HT) control device. The temperature at the MT control point can be controlled by means of both the NT control device and the HT control device.

It is an objective of the present invention to improve refrigeration units of known printing machines. In this context, refrigeration units shall especially be simple to install and efficient in operation.

The above problem is solved by a refrigeration unit for a printing machine, especially for a flexographic printing machine, comprising a dryer interface connectable to a dryer unit of the printing machine in a heat conductive manner and a print interface connectable to a printing unit of the printing machine in a heat conductive manner, wherein the refrigeration unit is adapted to transfer heat from the print interface to the dryer interface, and wherein the heat transfer from the print interface to the dryer interface is realized by means of a single coolant circuit.

This means that the heat to be led away from the printing unit is used as process heat in a dryer unit. This makes the refrigeration unit more efficient both in terms of energy consumption and in terms of costs. Additionally, compared to known refrigeration units the outdoor heat exchanger and the corresponding tubing may be eliminated.

The basic idea of the invention, thus, is to make effective use of the excessive heat, which needs to be eliminated from the printing unit or printing press. Consequently, the overall energy consumption of a flexographic printing machine equipped with a refrigeration unit according to the invention may be reduced. The excessive heat is used internally in the printing machine.

Preferably, the refrigeration unit comprises a coolant circuit having a first coolant circuit portion being attributed to the print interface and being positionable in the printing unit or adjacent to the printing unit, wherein the first coolant circuit portion is adapted for absorbing heat originating from the printing unit, and having a second coolant circuit portion being attributed to the dryer interface and being positionable in the dryer unit or adjacent to the dryer unit, wherein the second coolant circuit portion is adapted for delivering heat to the dryer unit. In this context, the first coolant portion is preferably positioned above the printing unit. The use of a coolant circuit makes the heat transfer from the printing unit to the dryer unit both reliable and efficient. Moreover, the dimensioning of the coolant circuit may be adapted to the amount of heat to be transferred. Consequently, sufficient cooling of the printing unit is ensured. Furthermore, a coolant circuit may be easily adapted to available installation space and is relatively compact.

According to an embodiment of the refrigeration unit, the first coolant circuit portion comprises an evaporator adapted to evaporate coolant, and the second coolant circuit portion comprises a condenser adapted to condense coolant, wherein the coolant circuit further comprises a compressor being positioned between the first coolant circuit portion and the second coolant circuit portion, when regarded in the sense of coolant flow, and wherein the coolant circuit additionally comprises an expansion valve being positioned between the second coolant circuit portion and the first coolant circuit portion, when regarded in the sense of coolant flow. Consequently, the refrigeration unit operates on the principle known from refrigerators used for food in kitchen. Such coolant circuits are able to reliably transfer relatively high amounts of heat and are compact in design. Furthermore, they have a low energy consumption.

Advantageously, the refrigeration unit comprises at least one ventilation unit positioned adjacent to the second coolant circuit portion, wherein the ventilation unit is adapted to create an air flow in the area of the second coolant circuit portion. The air flow may be connected to the air flow used in a dryer unit. Alternatively, the air flow created in the refrigeration unit may be the same air flow as is used for drying. The ventilation unit creates a so-called forced convection, which increases the heat transfer from the second coolant circuit portion to the air surrounding it. Consequently, the heat transfer capacity of the refrigeration unit is increased.

Furthermore, the problem is solved by a printing machine, especially a flexographic printing machine, comprising a printing unit adapted for printing on a web of carrier material, a dryer unit being adapted for drying printed web of carrier material, and a refrigeration unit according to the invention, wherein the refrigeration unit is heat conductively connected to the dryer unit via the dryer interface, and wherein the refrigeration unit is heat conductively connected to the printing unit via the print interface. Consequently, the heat to be led away from the printing unit is kept internal to the printing machine and is provided to the dryer unit where it is used for drying the printed web. As a result thereof, the printing machines operates in an energy efficient and cost efficient manner. Furthermore, an outdoor heat exchanger and the corresponding tubing is not necessary any more.

In this context, the carrier material may be any material suitable as a substrate for flexographic printing machines, e.g. paper, cardboard, plastics, metal.

In an alternative, the first coolant circuit portion is at least partially located inside a printing drum or adjacent to the printing drum. In this context "at least partially" is to be understood in that at least a portion of the coolant circuit is located inside the printing drum. Consequently, the excessive heat on the printing drum may be led away in an efficient and reliable manner.

The dryer unit may comprise a main dryer adapted for drying printed web of carrier material after the application of one or more inks of different colors. Thus, a main dryer is a dryer which dries the web after inks of all relevant colors have been applied thereto. Such a dryer is positioned after the printing unit, when regarded in the moving direction of the web.

Additionally or alternatively, the dryer unit may comprise an intracolor dryer adapted for drying printed web of carrier material between the application of inks of different colors. Intracolor dryers usually are provided between the different ink application units of a printing unit. They serve the purpose of drying ink of one color before ink of another color is applied to the web.

According to an embodiment, the dryer unit comprises a central ventilation system, wherein the heat from the printing unit is transferred to the central ventilation system. The central ventilation system may supply different kinds of dryers with warm air. For example, one or more intracolor dryers and one or more main dryers may be supplied with air by the central ventilation system.

Preferably, the refrigeration unit is connected to the dryer unit via an air conduit. The air conduit may also be designated a tunnel.

The invention will now be explained with reference to an embodiment which is shown in the attached drawings. In the drawings,.

<FIG> shows a printing machine <NUM>, which is a flexographic printing machine in the examples shown.

It comprises a web feeding unit <NUM>, where a web of carrier material may be stored before the printing process takes place, a printing unit <NUM> adapted for printing on the web of carrier material, and a storage unit <NUM>, where printed web is stored after the printing process.

The printing machine <NUM> also has a dryer unit <NUM>, which comprises a main dryer 18a adapted for drying printed web of carrier material after the printing process.

Details of the printing unit <NUM> may be seen in <FIG>.

As a central element the printing unit <NUM> comprises a central impression drum <NUM>, which is coupled to eight ink application units 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e, 22f, <NUM>, <NUM>, each of which is adapted to apply an ink of a different color to the web <NUM>. Consequently, the flexographic printing machine <NUM> may be termed an eight color printing machine.

Between each of the ink application units 22a and 22b, 22b and 22c, 22c and 22d, 22d and 22e, 22e and 22f, 22f and <NUM> and <NUM> and <NUM> a so-called intracolor dryer 18b is provided, which is part of the dryer unit <NUM>. These intracolor dryers 18b are adapted for drying printed web of carrier material between the application of inks of different colors.

In other words, the ink applied to the web <NUM> by the ink application unit 22a is dried by an intracolor dryer 18b before ink of a different color is applied to the web <NUM> by the ink application unit 22b and so on.

The flexographic printing machine <NUM> also comprises a refrigeration unit <NUM> which is heat conductively connected to the dryer unit <NUM> via a dryer interface <NUM>, and which is heat conductively connected to the printing unit <NUM> via a print interface <NUM> (cf.

The refrigeration unit <NUM> is adapted to transfer heat from the print interface <NUM> to the dryer interface <NUM>. In other words, the refrigeration unit <NUM> is adapted to extract heat from the printing unit <NUM>, i.e. it is adapted to cool the printing unit <NUM>, and supply the heat to the dryer unit <NUM>, where it is used as process heat.

In <FIG> the heat being extracted from the printing unit <NUM> is illustrated by arrow <NUM> and the heat being supplied to the dryer unit <NUM> is illustrated by arrow <NUM>.

In order to do so, the refrigeration unit <NUM> comprises a coolant circuit <NUM>, wherein a flow direction of coolant is indicated by arrow <NUM>.

The coolant circuit <NUM> has a first coolant circuit portion 36a which is attributed to the print interface <NUM> and comprises an evaporator <NUM> adapted to evaporate the coolant.

The first coolant circuit portion 36a is positioned adjacent to the printing unit <NUM>. Alternatively, the first coolant circuit portion 36a is at least partially located inside the printing drum <NUM> or adjacent to the printing drum <NUM>.

Consequently, the first coolant circuit portion 36a is adapted for absorbing heat <NUM> originating from the printing unit <NUM> and uses this heat <NUM> for evaporating the coolant.

The coolant circuit <NUM> also has a second coolant circuit portion 36b which is attributed to the dryer interface <NUM> and comprises a condenser <NUM> adapted to condense coolant.

The second coolant circuit portion 36b is positioned adjacent to the dryer unit <NUM>.

Consequently, the second coolant circuit portion 36b is adapted for delivering heat <NUM> to the dryer unit <NUM> by condensing coolant.

The coolant circuit is completed by a compressor <NUM> being positioned between the first coolant circuit portion 36a and the second coolant circuit portion 36b, when regarded in the sense of coolant flow <NUM>. In the example shown the compressor <NUM> is interposed between the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM>.

Moreover, the coolant circuit <NUM> comprises an expansion valve <NUM> being positioned between the second coolant circuit portion 36b and the first coolant circuit portion 36a, when regarded in the sense of coolant flow <NUM>.

Additionally, the refrigeration unit <NUM> comprises a ventilation unit <NUM> positioned adjacent to the second coolant circuit portion 36b. The ventilation unit <NUM> is adapted to create an air flow in the area of the second coolant circuit portion 36b, which enhances heat transfer from the coolant to the dryer unit <NUM>.

The air flow created by the ventilation unit <NUM> may be directly fed to the dryer unit <NUM>.

In this context, the dryer unit <NUM> may also comprise a central ventilation system 18c, wherein the heat <NUM> originating from the printing unit <NUM> is transferred to the central ventilation system 18c.

The ventilation system 18c may supply the intracolor dryers 18b with heated air via conduits 18d and the main dryer 18a via conduits 18e.

The coolant circuit <NUM> may use a hydrocarbon coolant, e.g. propane or butane.

The refrigeration unit <NUM> operates as follows.

Coolant is evaporated in the evaporator <NUM> by heat <NUM> originating from the printing unit <NUM>.

Subsequently, gasified coolant is fed to the condenser <NUM> via the compressor <NUM>, where it is condensed, i.e. the coolant is liquefied. The heat <NUM> resulting from the condensation process is fed to the dryer unit, especially to a central ventilation system 18c thereof. This process is assisted by the ventilation unit <NUM>.

After that, the coolant flows back to the evaporator <NUM> via the expansion valve <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Refrigeration unit (<NUM>) for a printing machine (<NUM>), especially for a flexographic printing machine, comprising
a dryer interface (<NUM>) connectable to a dryer unit (<NUM>) of the printing machine (<NUM>) in a heat conductive manner, and
a print interface (<NUM>) connectable to a printing unit (<NUM>) of the printing machine (<NUM>) in a heat conductive manner,
wherein the refrigeration unit (<NUM>) is adapted to transfer heat (<NUM>, <NUM>) from the print interface (<NUM>) to the dryer interface (<NUM>) ,
and wherein the heat transfer from the print interface (<NUM>) to the dryer interface (<NUM>) is realized by means of a single coolant circuit.