EP1362697B1 - Device for handling printing sleeves - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for handling sleeves for cylinders of printing machines according to the preamble of claim 1.

Printing presses usually have a plurality of cylinders, for example Printing cylinders, applicator rollers and the like, which occasionally, for example, when converting the press to another print job, have to be replaced. There are known alternating systems, in which the cylinders in the printing press hydraulically or pneumatically an axle to be clamped, which also during a cylinder change one-sided stored in the printing press, so that the cylinder axially peel off postpone. In this case, the cylinders have one continuous coaxial channel on the machine-fixed axis is enforced when the cylinders are installed in the printing press. This continuous channel can then also for handling the cylinder use outside the printing press by the entire logistics system for the preparation, storage, transport and installation of cylinders equipped with holders, each one substantially horizontal, have freely projecting mandrel on which attach the cylinder to let.

On the other hand, so-called sleeve systems are known in which each cylinder a core and a sleeve slidably pushed onto the core, the so-called sleeve exists. When converting the printing press then not the entire cylinder needs to be replaced, but only the sleeve is removed and replaced with another sleeve, while the cylinder core remains in the press. The sleeves are mostly relatively thin-walled and have at least a relatively large Inner cross section, which corresponds to the outer cross section of the cylinder core and is significantly larger than the inner cross section of the channel at the initially mentioned printing cylinders. The removal of the sleeves from the cylinder core and pushing them on the cylinder core is done mostly so far by hand. However, EP-A-1 090 754 discloses one in the printing press built-in device described with the removal of the sleeve from Cylinder core and sliding on the cylinder core partially automated can be.

From US 5,745,968 is a tool for sliding a sleeve on a Pressure cylinder known. The tool has on the handling side tubular handle on and on the opposite side of an Spacers attached ring on which the sleeve is pushed, so that it is clamped coaxially to the handle. The handle has a by the spacers predetermined distance from the sleeve, so that the tool only for pushing, but not to transport the Sleeves is suitable.

The object of the invention is to provide a device that handling the sleeve is facilitated outside the printing press.

This object is achieved by a device according to the preamble solved by claim 1, wherein the support tube is a continuous coaxial channel and in the case of clamped sleeve and in the initial position located clamping device, the support tube coaxial extends through the sleeve.

By the tensioning device, the sleeve is thus connected to the support tube, in that the support tube extends coaxially through the sleeve. Consequently, that can Sleeve then be held on the support tube and transported without that relatively thin-walled sleeve deformation forces is exposed, which leads to a Damage to the sleeve could result. Overall, the configuration corresponds from sleeve and handling device then a complete cylinder with a continuous coaxial channel of the type described above, wherein the channel is formed by the inner cross section of the support tube. The sleeve with handling device can therefore be in the same way as the complete cylinder on a mandrel of a handling robot, one Attach the trolley, a shelf and the like.

The solution according to the invention thus makes it possible already for the cylinders the printing press existing logistics system in the same way for the Use sleeves. For example, printing cylinder sleeves can be before or after sticking the clichés on the handling device according to the invention be clamped and then with the help of this handling device be attached to the thorn-like holder of a trolley, with which they are transported to a warehouse. The camp can in turn have thorn-like holder, on which, as needed, complete impression cylinder or attach the sleeves provided with the handling device to let. In the case of a fully or semi-automatic warehouse, a Handling device may be provided, which arranged side by side and one above the other Bins (spikes) approaches to the sleeves or impression cylinders to store at the respective desired storage location or from the warehouse remove. The handling device can in turn have a thorn, in the channel of the printing cylinder or the support tube of the handling device engages for the sleeves. The sleeves taken from the warehouse, which are needed for use in the printing press can help with of the handling device on a turn equipped with thorn-like holders Transfer car and be driven with this to the printing press, where they be pushed onto the cylinder cores. In a similar way can the sleeves removed from the printing press are stored in the warehouse again become.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

Preferably, on the support tube at a distance from the clamping device a disc-shaped support member arranged by the clamped sleeve surrounded with little play. This will cause excessive deformation avoided if external forces directly on the Sleeve should act. In addition, the support element facilitates the Sliding the sleeve onto the cylinder core in the press. If the sleeve is to be pushed, the support tube of the handling device aligned coaxially with the cylinder core in the printing press, the tensioner is loosened, and the sleeve is made by hand or automatically pushed by the handling device on the cylinder core, wherein the support member prevents tilting of the sleeve while it is still not pushed far enough onto the cylinder core.

In particular, the handling of sleeves is facilitated, the - accordingly the printing width of the printing press - a great length of 2000 mm or have more.

According to one embodiment of the invention can at the free end of the support tube a centering piece may be provided which is connected to a stub axle of the cylinder core or to the end of a cylinder core passing through the machine Axis can be coupled. In this way, a precise alignment of the sleeve with respect to the cylinder core, so that the Sleeve then effortlessly postpone to the cylinder core.

In the following, embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing explained in more detail.

Fig. 1

einen axialen Schnitt durch eine Handhabungsvorrichtung und ein darauf aufgespanntes Sleeve zusammen mit einem in einer Druckmaschine gelagerten Zylinderkern, auf den das Sleeve aufgeschoben werden soll;

Fig, 2

eine Seitenansicht der Handhabungsvorrichtung;

Fig. 3

eine Stirnansicht der Handhabungsvorrichtung;

Fig. 4

eine Darstellung analog zu Figur 1 während des Aufschiebens des Sleeves auf den Zylinderkern; und

Fig. 5 und 6

Teilschnitte durch eine Handhabungsvorrichtung gemäß einer anderen Ausführungform.

Show it:

Fig. 1

an axial section through a handling device and a sleeve mounted thereon together with a cylinder core mounted in a printing machine, on which the sleeve is to be pushed;

Fig. 2

a side view of the handling device;

Fig. 3

an end view of the handling device;

Fig. 4

a representation analogous to Figure 1 during the sliding of the sleeve on the cylinder core; and

FIGS. 5 and 6

Partial sections through a handling device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a cylinder core 10 of a printing machine shown mounted on a machine-fixed axis 12. The axis 12 is on one side of the cylinder core 10, right in Figure 1, tilt-stable in two camps 14, 16 stored. At the opposite end of the cylinder core 10 is the axis 12 stored in a removable bearing 18. This camp is loosened and removed when the cylinder core 10 is to be subtracted from the axis 12 or when a sleeve 20 is pushed onto the remaining cylinder core 10 in the machine shall be. After removing the bearing 18, the axis 12 and the cylinder core 10 like a cantilever held by the two bearings 14, 16, so that the sleeve 20 can be pushed freely from the free end.

The sleeve 20, which is shown in an axial section in FIG. 1, is in the example shown, a Druckzylindersleeve on the outer peripheral surface in a known manner, several clichés 22 have been attached. Optionally, however, sleeve 20 could also be e.g. around a grid roller sleeve act a flexographic printing machine.

The sleeve 20 is held on a handling device 24. This handling device has a support tube 26 on which at one end a Clamping device 28 is attached. The clamping device 28 has the shape of a graduated disc with its reduced diameter section in the end of the sleeve 20 engages and at one point of its circumference a continuous from its central opening to the outer peripheral edge slot 30 is interrupted, as apparent from Figures 2 and 3. In a Wall of the slot 30 is mounted an eccentric 32, which by means of a clamping lever 34 can be clamped against the opposite wall of the slot. In this way, the disc is slightly widened something, so that you in the Sleeve 20 engaging part tight against the inner surface of the sleeve stretched becomes. As a result, the sleeve 20 in a cantilevered, coaxial with Support tube 26 oriented position held.

The handling device 24 is in turn removably attached to a holder 36, which has a mandrel 38 engaging in the support tube 26.

With the help of the holder 36, the part of a handling robot or a trolley or the like, the handling device 24 is with the unfolded sleeve 20 has been moved to the printing press, that the support tube 26 is substantially coaxial with the axis 12 of the printing machine is aligned. A provided with an inner cone centering 40th at the free end of the support tube 26 makes it easier, the end of the support tube to the To couple axis 12, so that a precise alignment of the sleeve 20 on the Cylinder core 10 is achieved.

On the support tube 26 is at a distance to the clamping device 28, shown in FIG Example about halfway along the sleeve 20, a disk-shaped support element 42 attached, that of the inner surface of the sleeve 20 with little play (for example of the order of 1 mm) is surrounded.

To postpone the sleeve 20 on the cylinder core 10, the first Clamping device 28 solved by means of the clamping lever 34. Subsequently, will the sleeve 20, for example, moved by hand in the direction of the cylinder core 10, so that the previously clamped end of the sleeve of the clamping device 28 slips off. The sleeve is then without significant radial displacement held in position by the support member 42. When moving further the sleeve slides its other end on a run-on slope at the end of the cylinder core 10, so that the sleeve again precisely on the cylinder core 10 is centered.

The cylinder core 10 has in a known manner a compressed air system in the Peripheral surface lying air outlets 44, which over the axis 12 with Compressed air is fed. The air outlets 44 are in particular on a wreath arranged immediately adjacent to the free end of the cylinder core 10. As soon as the end of the sleeve 20 is pushed onto this end of the cylinder core has therefore causes the exiting the air outlets 44 compressed air a slight widening of the sleeve, so that the sleeve on an air cushion low friction on the cylinder core 10 can postpone, as shown in Figure 4 is. When the sleeve 20 is completely pushed and a stop 46th at the end of the cylinder core 10, the compressed air supply is interrupted, so that the sleeve shrinks and then sits firmly on the cylinder core 10. The Handling device 24 is then moved away with the aid of the holder 36.

By reversing the above-described operations, the sleeve 20 can also be remove again from the cylinder core 10 and back to the handling device Transfer 24 so that it transported to a warehouse or the like can be.

For the final phase of the sliding movement of the sleeve 20 on the cylinder core 10 as well as for the initial phase of the movement when removing the sleeve from the cylinder core may also be installed in the printing machine auxiliary device be used, the partially deferred sleeve completely against the Stop 46 pulls and / or the deducted sleeve a little way from the stop 46, as described in EP-A-1 090 754.

Optionally, it is also possible to further automate the sleeve change process, for example, characterized in that the handling device described above 24 with an actuator, such as a hydraulic or pneumatic Drive is provided, the tensioning device 28 on the Support tube 26 moves to postpone the sleeve on the cylinder core. Possibly should then be the support member 42 slidably so that it itself together with the tensioning device 28 in the direction of the free end of Can move support tube 26. During the return movement of the clamping device 28 in the starting position, the support member 42, for example, magnetic be taken along until it stops in its starting position strikes while then the clamping device 28 alone continues to End of the support tube 26 moves.

Also, instead of the clamping lever 34 may be a pneumatic or electromechanical Device for clamping and releasing the clamping device 28 is provided be.

Finally, it is also possible on or in the handling device 24, for example on or in the clamping device 28 forming disc, preferably programmable encoding, such as in the form of a semiconductor device or in the form of a transponder carrying an identification the sleeve 20 and / or the associated storage space in the warehouse allows and automatically read the reading device integrated in the holder 36 can be.

FIG. 5 shows a tensioning device 24 according to another embodiment. The disk is not interrupted here by a radial slot, but has instead in the reduced diameter part in a circumferential groove recessed clamping ring 46 made of elastic material, for example made of rubber, which protrudes slightly beyond the peripheral surface. If the sleeve 20 is pushed onto this peripheral surface, as shown in Figure 6, so the compression ring is compressed so that it holds the sleeve in position.

Claims (8)

1. A device for handling sleeves (20) for cylinders of printing presses, having a carrying tube (26) on which a clamping device (28), engaging the sleeve (20), is arranged for clamping the sleeve in a position aligned coaxially with the carrying tube (26), the clamping device (28) being arranged, at least in a starting position thereof, at one end of the carrying tube (26), characterised in that the carrying tube has a continuous coaxial channel and, when the sleeve (20) has been clamped and the clamping device (28) is in the starting position, the carrying tube (26) extends coaxially through the sleeve (20).
2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the clamping device is in the form of stepped disk which forms a stop for the end of the sleeve (20) and which, by a portion of reduced diameter, engages the end of the sleeve.
3. A device according to claim 2, characterised in that the disk of the clamping device (28) has a radial slot (30) and a device (32, 34) for widening that slot and thus expanding the disk.
4. A device according to claim 3, characterised in that the device for widening the slot (30) is an eccentric (32).
5. A device according to claim 2, characterised in that the disk of the clamping device (28) has in its portion of reduced diameter a grip ring (46) inserted into a circumferential groove.
6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a support element (42) for the sleeve (20) is arranged on the carrying tube (26) at a distance from the clamping device (28).
7. A device according to claim 6, characterised in that the support element (42) is in the form of a disk which is surrounded by the inner surface of the sleeve (20) with slight clearance.
8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the carrying tube (26) has at the free end a centring piece (40) for centring the carrying tube with respect to a cylinder core (10) onto which the sleeve (20) is to be slid.

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