Patent Description:
At present, in the printing sector, and in particular in the sector of printing labels and flexible wrappings, there exists a need to increase the general efficiency of the printing processes by reducing the printing time and by limiting the waste of material, such as the printing medium.

In particular, the step of changing the printing rollers is one of the most critical steps in the entire printing process since the so-called "job change-over" times constitute downtime, during which the printing process is substantially interrupted. Moreover, the change-over between two different printing jobs generally results in a huge amount of wasted material. The trend in the packaging industry is toward smaller series and faster presses. In this respect, the downtime due to the job change-over becomes more critical.

Some solutions for automatically changing the printing rollers are known.

<CIT> discloses a varnishing unit with replaceable cylinders. The varnishing roller is able to travel vertically, while the printing rollers are exchanged along a horizontal line, using a single device for two rollers. The exchange of the rollers is not suitable for just changing a sleeve without changing the shaft of the roller; which makes the system unsuitable for large printing rollers. When running, the varnishing roller, the printing roller and the pressure roller are not aligned, and thus the force applied is dependent on the roller diameter, and some parasitic force will appear. The vertical arrangement causes the pressure to be dependent on the cylinder weight, and if some varnish drops accidentally from the varnish source, it will land on the support. Also, the idle position of the roller depends on the diameter of the roller in operation.

<CIT> discloses a printing unit, with interchangeable rollers, but where the roller to be changed is not the printing roller, but the anilox.

<CIT> discloses a printing unit with interchangeable rollers. The system required the change of the complete printing roller. The inking roller, the printing roller and the pressure roller are arranged in a triangular configuration.

<CIT> discloses a printing unit with interchangeable printing sleeves. The printing sleeve is inserted on a printing shaft. The resulting roller is brought into contact with a pressure cylinder and an inking roller in a triangular configuration. When varying the printing cylinder sleeve diameter, an ad hoc adaptation piece is used to control the printing pressure. There need to be adaptation pieces for each sleeve diameter.

<CIT> discloses a printing unit for a flexographic machine with central drum with interchangeable roller. The rollers are not aligned, and the system is not suitable for being extended with a second printing roller that would substitute itself with the first printing roller in an automated way, by changing the (second) printing roller while the first one is printing.

The invention discloses a printing unit designed to facilitate the change of the printing sleeves and designed for a whole set of printing cylinder diameters.

Another aspect of the invention discloses a system where a printing sleeve can be loaded into the printing unit while the printing unit is printing.

An objective of the invention is to provide a system to change the printing sleeve in a printing unit rapidly.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a printing unit accepting printing sleeves with a large variety of diameters.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a method to avoid too much waste of support in a job change thanks to the automated loading of printing sleeves.

Another objective of the invention is to overcome the limitations of the prior art.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a printing unit whose control of the pressure applied to the printing roller, the inking roller and the pressure roller does neither depend on the printing diameter, nor on the roller weight.

These objectives are fulfilled by the invention as disclosed in the claims.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

This section describes in detail some possible implementations of the invention as defined by the claims followed by specific examples of embodiments. Unless stated otherwise, the features disclosed in distinct paragraphs may be used in distinct embodiments. For example, an embodiment comprising a feature disclosed in a paragraph can be used without the feature disclosed in the next paragraph. Nevertheless, the features disclosed in distinct paragraphs may also be used in combination with the features disclosed in other paragraphs.

The printing unit <NUM> comprises a frame <NUM>, whose function is to hold the various rollers and gearing systems. A pressure roller <NUM> is fixed to the frame, preferably at a fixed location. The frame <NUM> and the unit <NUM> have an operator side <NUM>, where the operator can routinely access the machine to perform, for example, a change of printing sleeve <NUM>. The frame <NUM> and the unit <NUM> have a gear side <NUM>, which is located on the opposite side of the frame or unit compared to the operator side <NUM>. Most of the motors, actuators or pistons that run the printing unit are located on the gear side of the unit.

The printing unit <NUM> can be mounted either with one printing roller system <NUM> or with two printing roller systems <NUM>,<NUM>. When using two printing roller systems, it is possible to change the printing sleeve <NUM> of one of the printing roller systems, while the printing unit is running with the other printing roller system, resulting in a faster change-over time. However, a unit with two printing roller systems is more expensive than a unit with one printing roller system. The unit <NUM> according to this invention can be mounted with a single roller system, and in a second time be mounted with an additional printing roller system. This staged mounting allows to spread the cost of the machine over time, by buying a machine with printing units mounted with only one printing roller system, and whenever the need for efficiency increases, buying at a later time the second printing roller systems. Another (not preferred) alternative, described at the end of the description uses only one printing roller system, is unable to accept two roller systems, is cheaper to build, and has as well the ability to accept - to some extent - a large variety of printing sleeves diameters. The printing unit according to this invention is particularly well suited for an in-line printing machine. In an inline printing unit, the pressure roller <NUM> has a diameter smaller than <NUM>, usually smaller than <NUM> and sometimes smaller than <NUM>.

When running, the printing roller <NUM>,<NUM> is positioned against the pressure roller <NUM>, while the inking roller is positioned against the printing roller. The printing support <NUM> is pinched between the pressure roller <NUM> and the printing roller <NUM>. Said three rollers have their rotation axis spread along a straight line, the longitudinal line <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. In other words, said three axes are comprised in a single plane. This configuration is defined as the running configuration of the printing unit. By definition, in the running configuration, each roller that takes part of the running printing job is in its running position <NUM>, as depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>. When controlling the rollers with pressure (offset or rotogravure printing), aligning the rollers in this way results in a direct effect of the pressure applied on the roller shafts to the point of contact between the rollers. In contrast, if the axis would not be aligned, for example in the triangular setup used in the state-of-the-art, applying pressure along the longitudinal line would result in a force at the contact point between the rollers having a component along the perpendicular direction of the longitudinal line, resulting in a pressure force different from the one applied to the shaft. The difference in the force magnitude depends on the angles of the triangular configuration, and thus depends on the roller diameter. It is, therefore, advantageous to spread the three roller axes along a single line. In the aligned configuration, the pressure applied by the inking roller to the printing roller simply adds up to the pressure applied by the printing roller <NUM> (through the printing roller shaft <NUM>) to the pressure roller <NUM>. When using flexographic printing, the pressure is controlled by positioning the rollers (and preventing them to translate); the pressure being determined by the elasticity of the cliché and the elasticity of the pressure roller. Using the aligned configuration allows to independently control the printing pressure, by positioning the printing roller, and the inking pressure, by positioning the inking roller. It also provides a better positioning precision.

A typical diameter for a printing sleeve for a unit according to the invention ranges between <NUM> and <NUM> inches. Also, a typical inking roller diameter ranges between <NUM> and <NUM> inches. A pressure roller with a diameter of approximately <NUM> is well adapted for this range of printing roller diameters.

Advantageously, the longitudinal line <NUM> can be chosen as being horizontal, as shown for example in <FIG>. In this configuration, the weight of the rollers do not influence the pressure at the contact point of the rollers; the force of gravity being perpendicular to the pressure force. This setup simplifies the control of the printing pressure in the printing unit <NUM> and improves the printing precision.

The printing roller <NUM> is made of a printing shaft <NUM> configured to carry a printing sleeve <NUM>. The printing shaft is attached as a cantilever on a printing shaft support <NUM> which is attached on the gear side <NUM> of the frame <NUM> (through some translation devices). Thus, the printing shaft <NUM> protrudes from the frame gear side <NUM> toward the operator side <NUM>, making the insertion and removal of the sleeve <NUM> convenient. The shaft is able to rotate along its rotation axis. The rotation is controlled by a motor <NUM>, preferably located on the gear side of the frame.

Please note that the printing unit may comprise two printing roller systems: the first printing roller system <NUM> and the second printing roller system <NUM>. A printing roller system comprises a printing shaft and a printing shaft support. When the printing unit is running, a printing sleeve <NUM> is mounted on the printing shaft and is integral in rotation with the printing shaft. The printing shaft and the sleeve <NUM> define a printing roller. These two systems are interchangeable in the sense that properties or behaviours described for one of the systems are also valid for the other system. Also, these two systems are made with the same type of components. When referring interchangeably to either the first printing system <NUM> or to the second printing system <NUM> (or to both) or to any of its sub-components, we omit the keyword "first" or "second" in the description.

The ink supplying module <NUM> comprises an inking roller <NUM> and a device for wetting the inking roller with ink <NUM>. In flexographic printing units, the inking roller is an anilox. The ink supplying module is mounted on a translation device called the inking translation device <NUM>. This device is able to translate the ink supplying module <NUM> along the longitudinal line <NUM>. The translation goes from the running position <NUM> of the ink supplying module to a parking position <NUM>, and vice versa. It allows separating the inking module from the printing roller <NUM>,<NUM> when undergoing a job change. The parking position is chosen to allow the printing module to move, and the printing sleeve <NUM> to be replaced without interfering, i.e. without coming into contact with the ink supplying module <NUM>. The inking translation device sets the ink supplying module out of the way during a job change, and may also be used to control the position and/or pressure applied by the inking roller <NUM> to the printing roller <NUM>,<NUM> when the printing unit is running. In particular, when the ink supplying module <NUM> is positioned at the parking position <NUM>, the printing roller <NUM>,<NUM> can be translated from the running position <NUM> to the intermediate position <NUM> and from the intermediate position <NUM> to the idle position <NUM>,<NUM> without coming into contact with the ink <NUM> carried by the ink supplying module <NUM>.

The printing roller <NUM>,<NUM> is held by a shaft support <NUM>,<NUM> at the gear side <NUM> and by a bearing <NUM> at the operator side <NUM>. The printing roller is able to rotate inside the shaft support and inside the bearing <NUM>. The printing roller and the bearing <NUM> are able to translate along the longitudinal line <NUM>. The bearing <NUM> ensures a precise and stable positioning of the printing shaft <NUM>,<NUM> on the operator side <NUM> of the frame <NUM>. The precise positioning of the printing shaft <NUM>,<NUM> on the gear side <NUM> of the frame <NUM> is controlled thanks to the shaft support <NUM>,<NUM>. The running position <NUM> of the printing roller system <NUM>,<NUM> is variable, depending on the diameter of the printing roller <NUM>,<NUM>, as can be seen by comparing <FIG> with <FIG>. Advantageously, the bearing <NUM> is configured to translate from the running position defined by the smallest acceptable printing roller to an intermediate position <NUM>. The bearing must be able to translate at least from the running position defined by the smallest acceptable printing roller to the running position defined by the largest acceptable printing roller (plus some margin to set the largest acceptable printing roller out of contact with the pressure roller). The printing roller system <NUM>,<NUM> is translated by a longitudinal translation device <NUM> configured to translate the printing roller system from its running position <NUM> to an intermediate position <NUM>. Advantageously, the longitudinal translation device comprises an electric motor <NUM> and a linear guide <NUM>. The longitudinal translation device is located at the gear side <NUM> of the frame <NUM>. Thus, the motor can also be used to control the position or pressure between the printing roller and the pressure roller <NUM> in running position <NUM>. A similar translation device may advantageously be employed to translate the bearing <NUM>, and also to control the position or pressure between the printing roller and the pressure roller when the printing roller is engaged in the bearing <NUM> and in the running position <NUM>.

To perform a job change, the printing roller is moved from its running position <NUM> to an idle position <NUM>,<NUM>. The idle position is adapted for the replacement of the printing sleeve <NUM>. To reach the idle position, the printing roller is first translated alongside the longitudinal line toward and intermediate position <NUM> and then translated, alongside an elevation path <NUM>, toward the idle position <NUM>,<NUM>. The longitudinal line is perpendicular to the rotation axes of the printing <NUM>,<NUM>, the inking <NUM> and the pressure <NUM> rollers. Preferably, the elevation path is located in a plane which is also perpendicular to said rotation axes (in any cases, the elevation path is not parallel to said axis). There is at least one idle position, but preferably two. In the idle position, there is enough space to replace the printing sleeve <NUM>, either thanks to an opening in the frame <NUM> on the operator side <NUM> or because the idle position is above the frame border on the operator side <NUM>.

To be able to travel along the elevation path, the printing roller system <NUM>,<NUM> must be disengaged from the bearing <NUM>. The disengagement is performed by moving the printing roller toward the gear side <NUM> of the frame along the transversal line. This allows the printing roller shaft to have a free end at the operator side <NUM> of printing unit <NUM>, to be able to replace the printing sleeve <NUM>. It also has the advantage to limit the motion of the bearing to a translation along the longitudinal line, and thus provide a more rigid printing module (compared to a situation where the bearing would also move transversally). The disengaging of the printing roller shaft can be done anywhere between the running position <NUM> and the intermediate location <NUM>, or while translating the printing roller along the longitudinal line.

A transversal translation device <NUM>,<NUM> is used to engage and disengage the printing roller shaft <NUM>,<NUM> into and away from the bearing <NUM>, alongside a transversal line <NUM>. The transversal line <NUM> is parallel to the rotations axis of the printing roller and crosses the longitudinal line <NUM>. In an embodiment using a single elevation device <NUM> for two printing roller systems, a single transversal translation device can be used to operate both printing roller systems. In embodiments with two elevation devices <NUM> and <NUM>, a first transversal translation device <NUM> is provided to operate the first printing roller system <NUM> and a second transversal translation device <NUM> is used to operate the second printing roller system <NUM>. The transversal translation device translates the printing shaft along the transversal line <NUM> toward the operator side <NUM> to engage the printing shaft into the bearing <NUM>. The transversal translation device translates the printing shaft along the transversal line <NUM> toward the gear side <NUM> to disengage the printing shaft from the bearing <NUM>.

Because in a high quality press the transversal translation is also used for the lateral register, it is preferably performed by a motor with ball screws. This motor serves the purpose of the lateral register and of disengaging the printing roller from the bearing <NUM>. A lateral register being used to fine tune the lateral printing position in real time during printing according to some alignment marks on the support.

The elevation device <NUM> is used to translate the printing roller system <NUM> from the intermediate position to the idle position <NUM>, alongside the elevation path <NUM>. Advantageously, the elevation path <NUM> is a (straight) line. The elevation path is oriented differently from the longitudinal line to put some distance between the printing roller system and the longitudinal line. This serves two functions: one the one hand, it allows to place the printing roller system <NUM> in a convenient location for replacing the printing sleeve (i.e. the idle position), on the other hand, it frees the space on the longitudinal line to insert a second printing roller system <NUM> while the first roller system <NUM> undergoes the sleeve change. The elevation path makes an angle comprised between <NUM> degrees and <NUM> degrees with the longitudinal line. The exact angle has to be chosen according to the placement of the other subsystems of the printing unit and according to the path of printing support <NUM>. As an alternative, the elevation path could be split into two paths, one above the longitudinal line, making a first angle with the longitudinal line (comprised between <NUM> degrees and <NUM> degrees) the other below the longitudinal line and making a second angle with the longitudinal line (comprised between <NUM> degrees and <NUM> degrees). As another alternative, the elevation path can be an arc, and the elevation device a motor, or a piston operating on a mechanical arm holding the printing roller system and articulated around the centre of the arc. In the (preferred) embodiments where the elevation path is an elevation line, the elevation device is a translation device. In another alternative, the elevation path could be split into two paths, both being above (or below) the longitudinal line.

Advantageously, the elevation path can be a vertical line. Advantageously, the elevation path is perpendicular to the longitudinal line.

An elevation device <NUM> is used to translate the printing roller system <NUM> from the intermediate position <NUM> to the idle position <NUM> and vice versa. When using a printing unit with two printing roller systems <NUM>,<NUM>, there are two alternatives to implementing the elevation device. The first (preferred) alternative uses a first elevation device <NUM> for the first printing roller system <NUM> and a second elevation device <NUM> for the second printing roller system <NUM>. The other alternative uses a single elevation device <NUM> for operating both printing roller systems. In the latter case, when the first printing roller system is moved from the intermediate position <NUM> to the idle position <NUM> along the elevation path <NUM>, then the second printing roller system <NUM> is simultaneously moved from the idle position <NUM> to the intermediate position <NUM>. Also, in the latter case, when one of the printing systems is translated alongside the longitudinal line <NUM>, the other will be translated along a parallel to the longitudinal line, which transforms the idle position in a locus of idle positions parallel to the longitudinal line. Thus, the idle position is then dependent on the diameter of the printing roller system in operation (which might be a disadvantage if the printing sleeve has to be changed by a robot, but is an advantage in terms of costs). The use of a single elevation device does not preclude the possibility to provide a system with only one printing roller system <NUM> to be completed in a later time by a second printing roller system.

The translation devices may comprise an electric motor <NUM> and linear guides positioned along the line. In particular, they can be advantageously implemented using a carriage <NUM> running on a rail. The carriage comprises an internal thread, traversed by a screw <NUM> whose rotation is controlled by the motor. A ball screw could be conveniently used to reduce friction. The translation devices using an electric motor has the advantage of a good positioning precision at any point of the translation. Electric motors are the preferred embodiments for translation devices that operate along the longitudinal axis in a flexographic printing unit.

As an alternative, hydraulic or air operated pistons can be used instead of electric motors as translation devices. The hydraulic or air operated pistons are cheaper and more reliable over time than translation devices operated by motors. However, they are used in translation motions with at most two stop positions. Pistons cannot be used for precise positioning between these two stop positions. Pistons are the preferred embodiment for translation devices along the elevation axis. In addition to the pistons, a mechanical or hydraulic lock can advantageously be used to lock the position of the printing roller at one of the ends of the elevation path (on the longitudinal line) to avoid spurious motions or vibrations along the elevation path.

The translation devices operating along the longitudinal have to position the printing roller and the inking roller in the running position <NUM>. The printing pressure in a flexographic machine is controlled by a precise relative positioning of the printing roller with respect to the pressure roller. The pressure is then determined by the elasticity of the cliché (Plate) and of the pressure roller. When using electric motor driven translation device, this positioning can be provided by a simple control of the motor, making this embodiment the preferred one. When using piston-driven translation devices, a stopping element must be provided that stops the printing roller and the inking roller in the running positions. Since these positions depend on the printing roller diameter, an ad hoc element for each printing roller diameter must be provided.

The translation devices are advantageously mounted in series, on the gear side <NUM> of the frame <NUM>, which implies that when the printing roller system translates along the longitudinal line, the elevation device and the transversal translation device simultaneously translate following a parallel to the longitudinal line with the longitudinal translation device. Also, when the elevation device displaces the printing roller system along the elevation path, the transversal translation device is also displaced along a parallel to the elevation.

To be as rigid as possible, the frame <NUM> may comprise a wall <NUM>. The wall <NUM> comprises two slots to allow the motion of the printing roller systems along the longitudinal line <NUM> and along the elevation path <NUM>. The first slot <NUM> is parallel to (and at the same height than) the longitudinal line <NUM>. The second slot <NUM> is parallel to (and at the same height than) the elevation path <NUM>. The slots allow the printing roller shaft to cross the wall <NUM>. The longitudinal translation device, the elevation device and the transversal translation device may advantageously be located behind the wall <NUM>, i.e. on the gear side of the wall. The printing sleeve <NUM> is mounted on the operator side <NUM> of the wall <NUM> by the operator.

To replace a sleeve for a job change, the implemented method is as follow: we assume the printing unit is in a running configuration, using a single printing roller system, with the printing roller system <NUM> in the running position <NUM>. The method comprises the steps of.

To replace a sleeve for a job change, in a unit with a two printing roller system installed, the implemented method is as follow: we assume the printing unit is in a running configuration, with the first printing roller system <NUM> in the running position <NUM>. The method comprises the steps of.

Another embodiment of the printing unit according to the invention uses only one printing roller system and avoids the use of the elevation device. To change the sleeve, the roller system is translated along the longitudinal line (and disengaged from the bearing <NUM>) until it reaches a location where the sleeve can be exchanged. As in the other embodiments, the printing roller shaft <NUM> is held by the printing shaft support <NUM> in a cantilever configuration, which is convenient for slipping and unslipping the sleeve <NUM> over the shaft <NUM> from the operator side <NUM>. The inking roller <NUM> also translates along the longitudinal line <NUM> up to a parking position <NUM>, which is located further on the longitudinal line, so as to avoid interfering with the sleeve change. This embodiment has similar advantages to the ones described here except that it cannot be mounted with two printing rollers systems, and thus requires a longer changeover time. Nevertheless, by avoiding the need of the elevation device, it results in a cheaper system while preserving the print quality. In this embodiment, the inking translation device <NUM> must be designed to avoid interfering with the sleeve change and might limit the range of possible sleeve diameters.

Claim 1:
A printing unit (<NUM>) having an operator side (<NUM>) and gear side (<NUM>) at the opposite side of the operator side (<NUM>), the unit comprising
- A pressure roller (<NUM>) and a frame (<NUM>);
- An ink supplying module (<NUM>) comprising an inking roller (<NUM>);
- An Inking translation device (<NUM>) configured to translate the ink supplying module (<NUM>) along a longitudinal line (<NUM>);
- A first printing roller system (<NUM>) comprising
- a first printing shaft (<NUM>) configured to hold a printing sleeve (<NUM>) and defining a first printing roller (<NUM>) when the sleeve is mounted on the first printing shaft;
- and a first printing shaft support (<NUM>) configured to hold the printing shaft as a cantilever from the gear side (<NUM>) of the printing unit (<NUM>);
Wherein the first printing roller system (<NUM>) is configured to allow the printing sleeve (<NUM>) to be replaced from the operator side (<NUM>);
- A first longitudinal translation device (<NUM>) configured to translate the first printing roller system (<NUM>) along the longitudinal line (<NUM>);
Wherein
- The rotation axis (<NUM>) of the first printing roller (<NUM>) is perpendicular to the longitudinal line (<NUM>); and
- When the printing unit (<NUM>) is printing with the printing sleeve (<NUM>) mounted on the printing shaft (<NUM>), the printing roller (<NUM>) is positioned against the pressure roller (<NUM>) and against the inking roller (<NUM>), the respective rotation axis of said three rollers (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) are parallel and distributed along the longitudinal line (<NUM>), and
wherein the longitudinal line (<NUM>) is horizontal, and
wherein the printing unit (<NUM>) is configured for an in-line printing machine,