EP0826496B1 - Cleaning device in a pad printing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A tampon pad printing machine (1) holds a tampon (13) within a printing assembly (2). The printing assembly (2) moves back and forth between an ink pick-up unit (3) and a cleaning unit (4). The novelty is that the cleaning unit (4) is located beneath the ink pick-up point (3). The cleaning unit (4) advances to the cleaning point (27), with respect to the ink pick-up point (3).

Description

The invention relates to a pad printing machine with a Tampon, which is held on a printing device, and the from this for color recording to a color recording device, for printing on an object to be printed and for Cleaning is movable to a cleaning device, wherein Means for moving the cleaning device back and forth between one with respect to the color pickup device advanced cleaning position and a withdrawn Rest position are provided.

Such a pad printing machine is known from EP 424 716 B1 known. There is one for color recording Color recording device provided, in which the color with a reciprocating inking device on a Cliché is applied. The inking device has one Spatula to apply and apply the color to the engraving of the clichés and a doctor knife for stripping the excess paint. Then the tampon is placed on the colored engraving of the cliché and the in the The color of the cliché is engraved by the tampon lifted. The printing device then moves the tampon approximately horizontal direction from the area of Color recording device out to the one to be printed Object. The tampon is there on the one to be printed Object placed so that the printing ink towards the printing object is transferred.

In this printing machine is above the inking device a cleaning device is provided, the one Has cleaning table over which a cleaning belt is guided is. The cleaning table with the cleaning tape is with the reciprocating inking device detachably coupled. The inking device remains in for cleaning the tampon stand in an advanced position and the tampon will take place now placed on the cliché on the cleaning tape.

Because of the arranged above the coloring device The cleaning device is the inking device with the Spatula and doctor blade not freely accessible. this has the disadvantage that for refilling color in the Coloring device or cleaning or other The inking device is required for maintenance purposes uncoupling from the cleaning table above and the cleaning table with the cleaning tape from the area of To remove the coloring device.

Further prior art is from DE-A-2 054 442 and DE-A-3 608 125 is known.

The object of the invention is to provide a pad printing machine create, in which the color recording device despite one existing cleaning equipment as freely as possible is accessible.

This task is the beginning of a pad printing machine mentioned type according to the invention in that the Cleaning device below the ink pick-up device is arranged.

The color recording device and in particular the Coloring device is thus free for an operator accessible and can be easily surveyed by her and be monitored. For refilling the paint or other The operator can perform cleaning or maintenance work the color pick-up device without any special additional Measures work. Since the cleaning facility below the Color pickup device is arranged Cleaning device is not a hindrance. The invention thus improves ease of use and maintenance the pad printing machine essential.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention Cleaning device for cleaning the tampon regarding the color pick-up device in a preferred Cleaning position arranged. This means that at Cleaning the tampon the ink pickup device itself makes it noticeable or is a hindrance. The Cleaning device is thus when cleaning the tampon freely accessible for the operator and can be used by her without others are monitored and monitored. So far the invention improves the operating and Maintenance friendliness of the pad printing machine.

In a tampon printing machine in which the tampon for the Printing process in an approximately horizontal direction printing object is moved, the preferred Cleaning position of the cleaning device, for example can be achieved in that the color recording device in Withdrawn with respect to the cleaning facility or is swung out to the side.

In an advantageous development of the invention Means provided for reciprocating the Cleaning device between the preferred Cleaning position and a retracted rest position. This allows the advanced cleaning position of the Cleaning device can be reached without the Color recording device must be moved. Furthermore, the cleaning device in this way during the Printing process to be withdrawn to the rest position in the the cleaning device the printing process and its Operation and monitoring does not interfere. This training can be particularly useful for pad printing machines be, in which the object to be printed below the Color pickup device is arranged, i.e. the tampon is only moved vertically.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the Cleaning device regardless of the Color pick-up device slidable. That way a completely independent of the color recording device Cleaning of the tampon reached. This has an easier one Control of the pad printing machine. Also be through this independence the individual functions of the Pad printing machine more transparent for an operator and thus the operation and monitoring of the Pad printing machine easier and clearer.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the Cleaning device a forward-moving cleaning belt on that from the area of the color recording device is brought out. The cleaning tape is after each Cleaning process of the tampon moved so that for everyone Cleaning process an unused area of the Cleaning tape is available. The new to be added and the used cleaning tape is from the area of Color recording device led out. This ensures that the color recording device in no way by the Cleaning tape is hindered. The color pick-up device can therefore be operated and independent of the cleaning belt being repaired. This again represents an improvement in the In terms of ease of use of the Pad printing machine.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the Cleaning device with an elongated cleaning table a free end over which the cleaning tape to the free End led, redirected there and returned. The Cleaning table is used to guide and support the Cleaning tapes. With the help of the cleaning table, that becomes Cleaning tape from the area of the ink pick-up device led out. The cleaning table can be moved lengthways as are moved in the transverse direction of the pad printing machine and / or be arranged. Furthermore, that is Cleaning tape on the cleaning table so that the tampon touches down on the cleaning belt during cleaning and against the cleaning table is pressed. This edition on the Cleaning table improves the cleaning of the tampon and thus the quality of the printed image is essential.

In an advantageous development, the Cleaning device an unwinding roll and Take up reel on the free end opposite end of the cleaning table are held, and on which the cleaning tape is wound. With the help of Cleaning table is the cleaning belt from the area of Color recording device led out. Only on the free one At the opposite end of the cleaning table are the off and on Winding rollers are provided on which the cleaning tape is wound up. The unwind and take-up rolls are located therefore outside the range of the color pick-up device and can thus operate and maintain the pad printing machine do not hinder.

In one embodiment of the invention, a drive motor is in particular, a stepper motor provided with the Cleaning table is coupled, and with which the cleaning table can be moved back and forth. With the help of the drive motor the cleaning table from the retracted rest position in the advanced cleaning position and vice versa. It is possible to put the cleaning table only in the Move cleaning position when the tampon is cleaned shall be. Otherwise, the cleaning table remains in the withdrawn rest position. It is in itself sufficient, the cleaning table alone, without the off and To move the winding rolls back and forth. In this case advantageously little mass to be moved, but it is required to open and close the cleaning tape accordingly to handle. It is particularly useful, however, the off and Rewinding rolls together with the cleaning table move so that the entire cleaning belt between the Cleaning and the rest position is moved back and forth. In In this case, the cleaning belt can be used for the back and forth Advantageously, the movement remains stationary.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention Tampon movable in an approximately vertical direction and the Cleaning device is in an approximately horizontal direction slidable. The vertical movement of the tampon can on a simple and inexpensive way through the Printing device can be reached. The same applies to the Horizontal movement of the cleaning device. Overall will thus a simple by the mentioned directions of movement and thus inexpensive construction of the pad printing machine reached.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention is a component of the color recording device, in particular the cliché is movable in an approximately horizontal direction and the object to be printed is below the tampon arranged. An approximately horizontal movement of the tampon and the associated design effort is avoided. Instead of the tampon guides the already existing one Vertical movement to the one below the cleaning device and thus also below the color recording device arranged object to be printed. To this end is in particular the cliché of the color recording device in horizontally movable, so that the tampon to can reach the printing object. This horizontal Movement of the cliché is advantageously carried out by a Coupling with the printing device reached.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the is shown in the drawing. The only figure of the Drawing shows a schematic representation of a Pad printing machine according to the invention.

The pad printing machine 1 has a printing device 2, a Ink pickup device 3 and a cleaning device 4 on.

The printing device 2 is inside the pad printing machine 1 housed. Among other things, there is a rod 5 slidably mounted in the vertical direction up and down can be moved. The rod 5 is transverse to one protruding pin 6, a fork 7 of a lever 8th embraces. The lever 8 is pivotally mounted about an axis 9 and can be via arms 10, 11 of one or more Cam 12 can be pivoted. In In a manner not shown, the cam plate 12 can be of a Drive motor rotated become.

If the cam 12 is rotated, so this has a reciprocating pivoting movement of the lever 8 result. The pin 6 is taken along with the fork 7, so that the rod 5 in an up and down movement approximately is displaced in the vertical direction.

At the lower free end of the rod 5 there is a tampon 13 held, which is arranged coaxially to the rod 5. The tampon 13 is together with the rod 5 in an approximately vertical direction can be moved up and down. This is shown in the figure by the Double arrow 14 shown. In the drawing, the tampon is 13 shown in an upper position.

The color recording device 3 is in the lower area of the Pad printing machine 1 arranged. If the tampon 13 is as shown in its upper position, the Ink receiving device can be moved under the tampon 13.

The ink recording device 3 has a cliché 15 and a stationary, not shown coloring device. The Cliché 15 is back and forth in an approximately horizontal direction moveable. This is indicated by the double arrow 16 in the figure shown. The reciprocation of the cliché 15 is shown in not shown by coupling the cliché 15th generated with the printing device 2, which with the lines 31 is indicated.

In the drawing, the cliché 15 is in one retracted position so that the tampon 13 at its Downward movement does not touch the cliché 15. In a The tampon is not shown in the advanced position 13 on a downward movement on the cliché 15. In the The cliché 15 is moved back and forth by the Inking device paint on the cliché 15 and in the Engraved invisible and excess color doctored.

The cleaning device 4 is below the Color recording device 3 arranged. It is with it also on the underside of the pad printing machine 1.

The cleaning device 4 has a cleaning table 17 on that extends horizontally over about the entire Length of the pad printing machine 1 extends. The cleaning table 17 has the shape of a flat, elongated and approximately rectangular plate, which has a small thickness. On The free end 18 of the cleaning table 17 is the tampon 13 facing. At the end opposite the free end 18 of the cleaning table 17 is an unwinding roller 19 and one Winding roll 20 held for a cleaning tape 21.

The cleaning belt 21 extends from the unwinding roller 19 a guide roller 22 and along the top of the Cleaning table 17 to the free end 18 of the cleaning table 17. At the free end 18, the cleaning belt 21 is by means of a Deflection roller 23 deflected by about 180 degrees and then runs along the bottom of the cleaning table 17 and over a Guide roller 24 to the take-up roller 20. The cleaning belt 21 is thus over the cleaning table 17 from the area of Color recording device 3 led out.

With the help of a winding roller 20, not shown and / or the unwinding roller 19 coupled drive motor stepping mechanism, the cleaning tape 21 moved forward in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning table 17 become.

The cleaning table 17 together with the waste and Winding rolls 19, 20 is in the horizontal direction slidably mounted. For this purpose the Cleaning table 17, for example, provided with rollers or as Be designed sledge. The cleaning table 17 can thereby being moved back and forth. In the figure this is through the arrow 25 shown.

In the drawing, the cleaning table 17 is in one retracted rest position 26 shown in the tampon 13 not on the cleaning table during a downward movement 17 touches down. In dashed lines, the Cleaning table 17 an advanced cleaning position 27 in the tampon 13 when moving downwards the cleaning table 17.

The back and forth movement of the cleaning table 17 is with Generated with the help of a drive motor 28 which on the Pad printing machine 1 attached and about one in length adjustable linkage 29 coupled to the cleaning table 17 is. The reciprocation of the cleaning table 17 is thus independent of the cam disc 12 and thus also of the movement of the cliché 15 of the ink recording device 3. But you can with a suitable control with the Cam 12 are coupled.

The cleaning table 17 and thus the cleaning device 4 should now be in the rest position 26. In this Operating state, a printing process can take place. For this is the tampon 13 first in the upper shown Position. The cliché 15 then moves in the direction of Tampons 13, the colored engraving being scraped off, see above that the print image to be transferred onto the cliché 15 is applied. The cliché 15 is not in the shown advanced position, the tampon 13th by a downward movement on the cliché 15 and takes the color contained in the engraving. The tampon 13 lifts again from the cliché 15 and the cliché 15 moves in its illustrated retracted position. Now the Tampon 13 in a further downward movement in not shown way on the object to be printed be placed so that the picked up by the tampon 13 Print image is transferred to the object. Then moved the tampon 13 upwards again into the upper illustrated Position and printing is finished. When pulling back the cliché 15 in the rest position, the engraving on the Inking device, not shown, inked again.

To clean the tampon 13 is the cliché 15 of the Color receiving device 3 in the retracted position and the cleaning table 17 of the cleaning device 4 is in the Advance cleaning position 27 shown in dashed lines brought. The tampon 13 is located above the Cleaning table 17. Furthermore, the cleaning belt 21 if necessary, move forward until one more unused surface 30 of the cleaning tape 21 the tampon 13 faces.

The direction of movement of the cam disc 12 is now reversed, so that the tampon 13 again in the direction of the printed Object is relocated. But instead of the subject the tampon 13 hits against the cleaning tape 21 and pressed the cleaning table 17 so that possible Dirt on the tampon 13 from the cleaning tape 21 be included. The direction of movement of the Cam 12 reversed again and the tampon 13 again lifted. The cleaning table 17 is retracted into the Rest position 26 shifted and the cleaning process is so completed.

A variant provides that the drive of the Color recording device 3 (lines 31) is deactivated so that the cliché 15 remains in its rest position. Instead of the cliché 15 becomes the cleaning device 4 in the direction of the tampon 13 shifted (shown in dashed lines), so that the tampon 13 are pressed onto the cleaning tape 21 can. After cleaning the tampon 13 the Cleaning device 4 back to the rest position and Drive of the ink pickup device 3 (lines 31) is again activated.

Claims (11)

1. A pad printing machine (1) with a pad (13) maintained on a printing device (2) and which for picking up ink can be moved by the latter to an ink pickup device (3), for printing to an object to be printed and for cleaning to a cleaning device (4), wherein means (27, 28) are provided for moving the cleaning device (4) back and forth (25) between a cleaning position (27), being advanced relative to the ink pickup device (3), and a resting position (26) being retracted, characterized in that the cleaning device (4) is disposed below the ink pickup device (3).
2. The pad printing machine in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning device (4) can be displaced independently of the ink pickup device (3).
3. The pad printing machine in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device (4) has a cleaning strip (21), which can be moved forward and is moved out of the area of the ink pickup device (3).
4. The pad printing machine in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that the cleaning device (4) has an elongated cleaning table (17) with a free end (18), over which the cleaning strip (21) is conducted to the free end (18), is reversed there and guided back again.
5. The pad printing machine in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that the cleaning device (4) has an unwinding roller (19) and a winding roller (20), which are maintained at the end opposite the free end (18) of the cleaning table (17) and on which the cleaning strip (21) is wound.
6. The pad printing machine in accordance with one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that a drive motor (28) is provided, which is coupled with the cleaning table (17) and by means of which the cleaning table (17) can be moved back and forth.
7. The pad printing machine in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pad (13) can be moved in an approximately vertical direction (14), and the cleaning device (4) can be displaced in an approximately horizontal direction (28).
8. The pad printing machine in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a component of the ink pickup device (3), in particular a printing block (15), can be moved in an approximately horizontal direction (16), and the object to be printed is disposed below the cleaning device (4).
9. The pad printing machine in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movement direction of the ink pickup device (3) corresponds to the movement direction of the cleaning device (4).
10. The pad printing machine in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ink pickup device (3) has a drive which can be uncoupled.
11. The pad printing machine in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movement direction of the drive of the pad (13) can be reversed.

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