CN113135032B - Equipment for manipulating printing plates on a printing press - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for handling printing plates on a printing press (1), the printing press having a first printing unit (2) and a second printing unit (3), the device comprising a belt conveyor (28) for printing plates (8). The belt conveyor (28) is arranged to convey the first printing plate (8) and the second printing plate (8) in a conveying direction (T) towards the first printing unit and the second printing unit. An orientation device (53) is provided, which orients the first printing plate (8) in accordance with the first printing unit and the second printing plate (8) in accordance with the second printing unit laterally transversely to the conveying direction (T).

Description

Equipment for manipulating printing plates on a printing press

Technical Field

The invention relates to a device for handling printing plates on a printing press having a first printing unit and a second printing unit, comprising a belt conveyor for printing plates.

Background technique

EP 2 338 683 B1 describes a device for handling printing plates which has a belt conveyor, by which used printing plates are transported to a disposal basket, so that there are no high demands on transport accuracy.

During the production and installation of multi-color printing presses, dimensional deviations within predefined tolerances, depending on the individual printing units, are unavoidable with respect to the plate cylinders or the plate changers, which can prevent the automated feeding of new printing plates.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a printing plate handling device which operates with high transport accuracy.

This object is achieved by a device for manipulating printing plates on a printing press having a first printing group and a second printing group, the device comprising a belt conveyor for printing plates, characterized in that the belt conveyor is arranged to convey the first printing plate and the second printing plate in a conveying direction toward the first printing group and the second printing group, and that an orienting device is provided, which orients the first printing plate laterally (transversely to the conveying direction) so that it is adapted to the first printing group and the second printing plate is adapted to the second printing group.

The device according to the invention has the advantage that it is suitable not only for conveying used printing plates but also for conveying new printing plates.

The embodiments of the invention described below can be realized individually or (as long as they are not technically mutually exclusive) in any desired combination with one another:

The orientation device can have a control device in which a first desired value is stored for orienting a first printing plate adapted to a first printing unit and a second desired value is stored for orienting a second printing plate adapted to a second printing unit.

The control device can be connected to a sensor which measures the actual value of the position of the first printing plate and the second printing plate in the lateral direction and communicates this to the control device in the form of a signal.

The belt conveyor may have a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt that is pivotable into a position aligned with the first conveyor belt and into a position at an angle relative to the first conveyor belt.

A sensor can be assigned to the second conveyor belt in order to measure, in an angled position of the second conveyor belt, the lateral position of the first printing plate or the second printing plate respectively held on the second conveyor belt.

The control device can be connected to a servo drive/regulating actuator (Stellantrieb), which, when oriented, moves the belt conveyor laterally in order to compensate for the deviation between the setpoint and the actual (or the difference between the setpoint and the actual). The regulating actuator can drive the belt conveyor via a helical gear mechanism in order to move the belt conveyor laterally.

When travelling sideways, the belt conveyor can be guided by linear guides.

The belt conveyor can have at least one vacuum box with negative pressure acting therein for holding the first printing plate and the second printing plate, and during the orientation the belt conveyor runs together with the vacuum box in the sideways direction.

According to the invention, an adjusting actuator and a linear guide can be provided for the lateral movement of the conveyor belt of the belt conveyor during the alignment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

From the following description of the exemplary embodiments and the associated drawings, further developments emerge, which can be realized individually or (as long as they are not technically mutually exclusive) in any combination with each other or with the previously mentioned developments.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a device for handling printing plates on a printing press,

FIG. 2 shows the device from FIG. 1 in a top view,

FIG. 3 shows the belt conveyor of the apparatus from FIGS. 1 and 2 in an enlarged side view, and

FIG. 4 shows the belt conveyor from FIG. 3 in a top view.

Detailed ways

The printing press 1 comprises printing units 2, 3 arranged in a row for offset printing on sheets, which form a stack 5 in a feeder 4. Each printing unit 2, 3 is equipped with a plate changer 6, 7 for printing plates 8, which has a shaft 9 for new printing plates 8 (so-called new printing plates) and a shaft 10 for used printing plates 8 (so-called old printing plates). The printing press 1 is combined with a plate logistics system, which transports the printing plates 8 to the plate changer 6, 7 and transports them back after use. The operator removes a tray 12 with the printing plates 8 therein from a floor transport device 11 and delivers the tray 12 to a tray lift 13.

The orthogonal coordinate system in the drawing includes a vertical direction z and horizontal directions x, y, wherein x corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the printing press 1 and y corresponds to the transverse direction of the printing press 1 .

The carriage lifting device 13 is arranged in front of the feeder 4 in the direction x and transports the carriage 12 in the directions z and y to a loading and unloading station 14, which is arranged above the stack 5 and the suction head 15 of the feeder 4. The loading and unloading station 14 is used to unload new printing plates from the carriage 12 and load them with old printing plates, and has a first carriage carrier 16 and a second carriage carrier 17, which are arranged one after the other in the direction y. The carriage lifting device 13 has a third carriage carrier 18. The first carriage carrier 16 and the second carriage carrier 17 are fastened to a carriage 20 via a plurality of coupling transmission mechanisms 19, and the carriage 20 can be adjusted in the direction y by means of a rail 21.

An adjusting actuator 22 is connected to the coupling mechanism 19, by which the first and second tray carriers 16, 17 are pivoted relative to the third tray carrier 18. In this case, the third tray carrier 18 has a gripping action on the tray carrier 16 or 17 that was previously moved along the rail 21 into an opposite position aligned with the third tray carrier 18 in the direction x. During this gripping action, the third tray carrier 18 delivers or transfers the tray to or from the other tray carrier 16 or 17.

The swivel arm 23 belonging to the loading and unloading station 14, which has a conveying side 25 for the printing plates 8, can be swiveled about an axis 24 extending in the direction y at its lower end. The swivel arm 23 swivels from its left end position (drawn with a solid line) with reference to FIG. 1 into its right end position (drawn with a dashed line) and back again and in this process flips over each time through its vertically oriented position. In the right end position, the conveying side 25 rises obliquely to the upper right and extends parallel to the first carrier 16 or the second carrier 17 and the corresponding carrier 12 (or 26) therein. In the left end position, the conveying side 25 rises obliquely to the upper left and extends parallel or flush with the conveying run of the first conveyor belt 27 of the belt conveyor 28, which is arranged above the sheet supply table 29 of the feeder 4.

The swing arm 23 has a reciprocating suction device 30, which extends from the conveying side 25 and grabs the topmost printing plate 8 of the printing plate stack on the carrier 12. The swing arm 23 is swung from the right end position to the left end position together with the printing plate 8 sucked by the reciprocating suction device 30, and the reciprocating suction device 30 moves inward into the swing arm 23 again to place the grabbed printing plate 8 on the first conveyor belt 27. Then, the working cycle of the swing arm 23 is repeated, and the swing arm 23 takes the printing plates 8 out of the carrier 12 one by one and places them on the belt conveyor 28.

The belt conveyor 28 comprises a second conveyor belt 31, which is supported so as to be alternately swingable around a geometric axis 32 in a first operating position (drawn with a solid line) and in a second operating position (drawn with a dotted line) by adjusting an actuator 52. The second conveyor belt 31 is oriented vertically in the first operating position and forms a common conveying plane 33 with the first conveyor belt 27 in the second operating position. The two conveyor belts 27, 31 are respectively composed of a plurality of endless belts, which have the same length and extend parallel to each other around deflection wheels. The deflection wheels through which the endless belt of the first conveyor belt 27 runs are arranged alternately along the axis 32 with the deflection wheels through which the endless belt of the second conveyor belt 31 runs. In other words: the endless belt of the second conveyor belt 31 runs in the gap between the endless belts of the first conveyor belt 27.

The oscillating arm 23 has an arrangement of pointed teeth extending in the direction y, which are aligned with the gaps between the endless circulating belts of the first conveyor belt 27 and mesh with these gaps in the left end position of the oscillating arm 23 .

The first and second conveyor belts 27, 31 are configured as suction belts, on which the printing plate 8 is fixedly held by vacuum during its transport, and the first and second conveyor belts 27, 31 each include a vacuum box. The vacuum box sucks the printing plate 8 through the gaps between the endless belts or through the perforations in the endless belts, thereby pneumatically holding the printing plate 8 on the endless belts.

The belt conveyor 28 delivers new printing plates to a plate conveyor belt 34 arranged above the printing units 2, 3 and subsequently takes over old printing plates from the plate conveyor belt 34. The plate conveyor belt 34 comprises pulleys 35, the number of which corresponds to the number of printing units 2, 3 to be supplied with printing plates 8. The pulleys 35 are fastened to an endlessly circulating traction device 36 or mesh with the endlessly circulating traction device, in particular a toothed belt, and are jointly driven by a drive wheel 37 via the traction device 36. When new printing plates are transferred from the loading and unloading station 14 to the printing units 2, 3, the traction device 36 revolves in the clockwise direction with reference to FIG. 1, while when old printing plates are transferred from the printing units 2, 3 to the loading and unloading station 14, the traction device 36 revolves in the counterclockwise direction. Accordingly, the electric motor connected to the drive wheel 37 as a direct drive is reversed in order to cause a change in direction of the traction device 36.

The rail system 38 for guiding the trolleys 35 comprises an upper rail section 39 and a lower rail section, the lower rail section being composed of a horizontal rail 40 extending in the direction x. The entire rail system 38 has an oval or elongated ring shape along which the trolleys 35 circulate. In order to form this ring shape, the upper rail section and the lower rail section are connected to each other at their ends by arcuate rail sections, the upper rail section and the lower rail section being straight and extending parallel to each other.

On the trolleys 35 are arranged suspended beams 41, which have grippers 42 for holding the printing plates 8 by clamping. The beams 41 extend over their length in the direction y, wherein in the direction y each beam 41 is at least as long as the width of the printing plate 8. In this example, the number of grippers 42 arranged in an array on the shaft 49 is two for each beam 41, and can also be three. The printing plates 8 are suspended vertically on the beams 41 while they are transported along the horizontal rails 40 in synchronization with one another.

Arranged on a plate 43 are: a control cam 44 for operating a gripper 42, a trolley 35 with a beam 41, a rail system 38 for guiding the trolley 35, and a traction device 36 for driving the trolley 35. The plate 43 is supported by columns 45, each of which is assigned to a different printing unit 2, 3. These columns 45 can be configured as telescopic rail guides 50. Each column 45 forms a vertical rail 46 for guiding these plate members 43 or has such a vertical rail 46. Along the vertical rail 46, the plate 43 together with the aforementioned elements arranged thereon are adjusted downward and upward by one or more adjustment actuators (not shown in the drawing) in these columns 45. These adjustment actuators can be arranged inside these columns 45. The rail system 38 is adjusted downward, which is used to introduce these new printing plates into the plate changer 6, 7 (especially the shaft 9) synchronously with each other. The aforementioned upward adjustment also serves to pull the old printing plates out of the plate changer 6 , 7 (in particular the shaft 10 ) synchronously with one another.

These control cams 44 are arranged on a rod 47, on which an adjustment actuator 48 acts, which moves the rod 47 in the direction x in order to transfer the rod 47 into the required position (for example, to open the gripper 42). Each control cam 44 has an inclined surface inclined relative to the direction x, which presses on a curved roller 51 on the plate 43 when the control cam 44 is adjusted in the direction x, thereby moving the rod 47 in the direction y in order to operate the gripper 42 via a lever connected to the gripper 42.

When delivering each printing plate 8 from the second conveyor belt 31 to the corresponding beam 41, the second conveyor belt 31 is turned downward, that is, it is in its first operating position mentioned above. Here, the printing plate 8 to be delivered and in a vertical position is pneumatically held on the second conveyor belt 31 (that is, by the suction box of the second conveyor belt 31). The end of the printing plate 8 pointing upward here protrudes beyond the second conveyor belt 31 and the conveying plane 33 and can therefore be easily grasped by the gripper 42. The hook-shaped bend of the aforementioned protruding end of the printing plate 8 is used to securely fasten the printing plate 8 to the plate cylinder of the printing unit and has the additional effect here: to secure the printing plate 8 to prevent it from slipping out of the gripper 42 that is then closed.

In order to switch the loading and unloading station 14 from loading the carriage 26 with old printing plates to unloading new printing plates from the carriage 12, the carriage 20 with the first and second carriage carriers 16, 17 is moved along the rails 21 in the direction y. In this process, the first carriage carrier 16 with the carriage 12 still loaded with printing plates is brought into the active position, in which the first carriage carrier 16 and the swivel arm 23 are in an opposite position aligned with reference to the direction x, and the second carriage carrier 17 is brought into the passive position on the drive side of the printing press 1, as shown in FIG. 2. During unloading, the swivel arm 23 successively takes over the new printing plates from the carriage 12 and places them on the belt conveyor 28.

In order to switch the loading and unloading station 14 from unloading new printing plates from the carriage 12 to loading the carriage 26 with old printing plates, the carriage 20 and the first and second carriage carriers 16, 17 are moved in opposite directions along the rails 21. In this process, the second carriage carrier 17 with the still empty carriage 26 for the old printing plates is brought into the active position, in which it is in an opposite position aligned with the reference direction x with the swivel arm 23, and the first carriage carrier 16 is brought into the passive position on the operating side of the printing press 1. During loading, the swivel arm 23 successively takes over the old printing plates from the belt conveyor 28 and places them in the carriage 26.

3 and 4 show an orientation device 53 of the belt conveyor 28, which is not shown together in FIG1 and FIG2 for the sake of simplicity of the drawing. The orientation device 53 orients the printing plate 8 (in particular a new printing plate) in the direction y (i.e., orthogonally to the conveying direction T of the belt conveyor 28).

This may be necessary in order to compensate for lateral deviations of the printing units 1, 2. These deviations may relate to register deviations of the plate cylinders on which the printing plates 8 are to be clamped and tolerance deviations of the plate changers 6, 7 (in particular the shaft 9). In the electronic control unit 54, for each printing unit 1, 2, its individual setpoint values for the lateral orientation of the individual printing plates 8 (y-setpoint position of the printing plates 8) are stored.

The printing plate 8 is conveyed by the second conveyor belt 31 in a frictional engagement with the second conveyor belt 31 toward a stop 61 (so-called front mark) arranged on the belt conveyor 28 and is oriented in the conveying direction by the stop 61. The y-actual position of the printing plate 8 is then measured by the sensor 55 and signaled to the control device 54. This is done while the printing plate 8 is on the second conveyor belt 31 that is turned downward. The sensor 55 is a line sensor (e.g., a CCD line sensor) and is fastened to the frame separately and independently from the second conveyor belt 31.

The control device 54 programmed accordingly performs a comparison between the setpoint and the actual and, depending on the result of the comparison between the setpoint and the actual, controls the adjustment actuator 56. The adjustment actuator 56 thus moves the belt conveyor 38 and, thus, also the second conveyor belt 31 together with the printing plate 8 fixedly held thereon, in the direction y or in the opposite direction y by the amount necessary for compensation.

Thus, the printing plate 8 is delivered by the second conveyor belt 31 to the gripper 42 in the lateral orientation required for the printing unit 1, 2 for which the printing plate 8 is intended, where it remains in the required orientation until the printing unit 1 or 2. After delivering the printing plate 8, the belt conveyor 28 moves back to its initial position (preferably the middle position) for the orientation of the next printing plate 8. The process described here is repeated one printing plate 8 after another, wherein the amount required for compensation can be of different magnitude for each printing unit 1, 2.

It is therefore advantageous that before the new printing plates are simultaneously introduced into the plate changers 6, 7 (this is achieved by the lowering of the plate conveyor 34 as explained above), a state is ensured in which, above each plate changer 6, 7, the new printing plate intended for this plate changer is suspended on the corresponding gripper 42 and is fixed in the desired y-orientation by its clamping action.

The adjusting actuator 56 is an electric motor and drives the two conveyor belts 27, 31 and the vacuum box 62 assigned to them (that is, the entire so-called suction belt table) along or against the direction Y via a helical gear transmission 57 (so-called screw transmission). The belt conveyor 28 is guided by a linear guide device 58 during its lateral adjustment, which can have, for example, a first rail 59 and a second rail 60 parallel thereto, which can be a T-nut profile.

Reference numerals list

1 Printing press

2 Printing unit

3 Printing unit

4 Feeder

5. Stacking

6 Plate Changer

7 Plate Changer

8 Print version

9 Hoistway

10 Well

11 Ground Transportation Devices

12 Bracket

13 Bracket lifting device

14 Loading and unloading station

15 Suction head

16 First bracket carrier

17 Second bracket carrier

18 Third bracket carrier

19 Coupling transmission mechanism

20 Slide

21 tracks

22 Adjustment actuator

23 Swing arm

24 Axis

25 Conveying side

26 Bracket

27 First Conveyor Belt

28 Belt conveyor

29-sheet feed table

30 Reciprocating Aspirator

31 Second conveyor belt

32 Axis

33 Transmission plane

34 Plate conveyor belt

35 Pulley

36 Traction Devices

37 Drive wheel

38-track system

39 Upper track section

40 Horizontal rail

41 Liang

42 Grab

43 Panels

44 Control curves/control cams

45 Column

46 vertical rail

47 shots

48 Adjustment actuator

49 Axis

50 Telescopic rail guide

51 Curve Roller

52 Adjustment actuator

53 Orientation equipment

54 Control Device

55 Sensor

56 Adjustment actuator

57 Helical gear transmission mechanism

58 Linear guide device

59 First Track

60 Second Track

61 Stopper

62 Vacuum box

T Conveying direction

x direction

y direction

z direction

Claims (10)

1. A device for handling printing plates on a printing press (1), the printing press having a first printing unit (2) and a second printing unit (3), the device comprising a belt conveyor (28) for printing plates (8), It is characterized in that The belt conveyor (28) is arranged to convey the first printing plate and the second printing plate in a conveying direction (T) toward the first printing unit (2) and the second printing unit (3), and An orientation device (53) is provided which orients the first printing plate to the first printing unit (2) and the second printing plate to the second printing unit (3) laterally transversely to the transport direction (T). 2. The device according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The orientation device (53) has a control device (54) in which a first setpoint value and a second setpoint value are stored, the first setpoint value being used to orient the first printing plate so that it is adapted to the first printing unit (2) and the second setpoint value being used to orient the second printing plate so that it is adapted to the second printing unit (3). 3. The device according to claim 2, It is characterized in that The control device (54) is connected to a sensor (55) which measures the actual value of the lateral position of the first printing plate and the second printing plate and communicates this to the control device (54) in the form of a signal. 4. The device according to claim 3, It is characterized in that The belt conveyor (28) has a first conveyor belt (27) and a second conveyor belt (31). The second conveyor belt can be pivoted into a position aligned with the first conveyor belt (27) and into a position at an angle relative to the first conveyor belt (27). 5. The device according to claim 4, It is characterized in that The sensor (55) is associated with the second conveyor belt (31) for measuring the lateral position of a first printing plate or a second printing plate respectively held on the second conveyor belt (31) in an angled position of the second conveyor belt (31). 6. The device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, It is characterized in that The control device (54) is connected to an adjusting actuator (56) which, during the orientation, moves the conveyor belt (28) laterally in order to compensate for a deviation or a difference between a setpoint and an actual value. 7. The device according to claim 6, It is characterized in that The adjustment actuator (56) drives the belt conveyor (28) via a helical gear transmission mechanism (57) so as to cause the belt conveyor (28) to move laterally. 8. The device according to claim 6, It is characterized in that The belt conveyor (28) is guided by a linear guide (58) as it travels laterally. 9. The device according to claim 6, It is characterized in that The belt conveyor (28) has at least one vacuum box (62) in which negative pressure is provided for holding the first printing plate and the second printing plate, and The belt conveyor travels laterally together with the vacuum box (62) during the orientation. 10. The device according to claim 1, It is characterized in that An adjusting actuator (56) and a linear guide (58) are provided for moving the conveyor belt (27, 31) of the belt conveyor (28) laterally during the orientation.