JP3148015B2 - Plate cylinder changer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotary printing press such as a gravure rotary printing press, in which a used plate cylinder (hereinafter referred to as an old plate cylinder) is removed, transported to a predetermined storage location, and stored in a storage location. The present invention relates to a plate cylinder changing device capable of automatically attaching a new plate cylinder to a printing press.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In gravure printing, a pattern to be printed is formed as an intaglio on the surface of a cylindrical roll or plate cylinder, and this plate cylinder is replaced on a printing press every time a printing item is changed. .

Conventionally, as an apparatus for automatically performing plate cylinder replacement, a carriage having a plate cylinder holding frame capable of stacking two plate cylinders vertically is provided at a standby position and a plate cylinder replacement position in front of a printing unit. Each printing unit is provided with a plate cylinder exchanging arm capable of transporting the plate cylinder into and out of the printing unit, and a new plate cylinder is mounted on one of the plate cylinder holding frames of the carriage, and the printing unit is placed in front of the printing unit. It is known that the old plate cylinder is taken out by the plate cylinder changing arm, the old plate cylinder is taken out by the plate cylinder changing arm, placed on the empty plate cylinder holding frame of the carriage, and then the new plate cylinder is fed to the predetermined position in the printing unit. (See, for example, JP-A-1-145143).

[0004]

However, in such a conventional apparatus, it is possible to automatically exchange the plate cylinder for the printing unit, but to transport the new plate cylinder from the storage location,
Workers need to manually carry out the work of putting on the trolley for plate cylinder replacement and the work of removing the old plate cylinder taken out of the trolley for plate cylinder replacement and transporting it to the specified storage location. There was a problem that it took time and trouble.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and not only replaces old and new plate cylinders in a printing press, but also supplies new plate cylinders from a storage location and transports old plate cylinders to a storage location. It is another object of the present invention to provide a plate cylinder exchanging device capable of automatically performing the same.

[0006]

According to the present invention , a plurality of plate cylinders for transporting and storing old and new plate cylinders are provided.
With use of the holding palettes, and automatic warehouse and a stacker crane to perform the loading and unloading of the pallet number of shelves for storing the pallet and for the shelves, automatic storehouse
Between the warehouse and the transfer station located near the printing press
Pallet transportation means for transporting pallets carrying plate cylinders with
The door is provided, each printing unit of the printing press, the standby position of the side of the plate cylinder exchange position and press against plate cylinder changing arm provided with a plate cylinder changing arm for performing transfer of the plate cylinder in the printing unit and out And a movable transfer cylinder, and the transfer cylinder and the transfer cylinder at the standby position.
Plate cylinder transfer clay that transfers plate cylinders to and from a pallet
This is provided with a configuration in which a component is provided.

Here, in the case of a plate cylinder with a shaft having a plate cylinder shaft whose plate cylinder projects at both ends, a pallet for transporting and storing the plate cylinder is provided.
As Tsu DOO, comprising a pair of shaft support members, Rukoto using the configuration pallet to hold the plate cylinder by placing the plate cylinder shaft to the shaft supporting member is preferable.

[0008]

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention like that has held the Rutotomoni plurality of plate cylinders with an automatic warehouse storage of the plate cylinder as described above configuration pallet
Storage, management and access to the plate cylinder
This can be performed automatically and with good workability. Soshi
When using the stored plate cylinder,
The pallets holding the desired new plate cylinders are
The stacker crane takes it out and picks it up
The stage is transported to the transfer station, and the plate cylinder transfer crane is
Take out the plate cylinder from the pallet for each printing unit
The plate cylinder exchange trolley, and the plate cylinder exchange trolley
Move the printer in front of the printing unit and replace the old and new cylinders.
After that, the plate cylinder exchange truck carrying the old plate cylinder is in the standby position.
When returning, the plate cylinder transfer crane transfers the old plate cylinder to the station
On the empty pallet in
The pallet is returned to the automatic warehouse, where the old plate cylinder is stored and managed in a predetermined position to prepare for the next removal.
In this way, it is possible to automate all the operations of storing and transporting the plate cylinder and exchanging it in the printing unit.

Here, a plurality of plate cylinders are used for storing and transporting the plate cylinders.
Workability is good because a pallet that holds Further, the plate cylinder is transported from the automatic warehouse to the transfer station with the plate cylinder mounted on a pallet. The pallet is easier to transport than the plate cylinder, and therefore, the design of the pallet transport means becomes easier.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an entire plate cylinder changing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a plate cylinder with a shaft having plate cylinder shafts projecting from both ends is used as the plate cylinder. The plate cylinder changing device is roughly classified into an automatic warehouse 1 for storing plate cylinders, and each printing unit 2 of the printing press.
And a plate cylinder exchange arm 3 (see FIG. 11) for transferring a plate cylinder into and out of the printing unit, and can be moved to a plate cylinder exchange position with respect to the plate cylinder exchange arm and a standby position beside the printing press. It has a plate cylinder exchange truck 4 and a plate cylinder transfer means 5 for transporting the plate cylinder between the plate cylinder exchange truck 4 at the standby position and the automatic warehouse 1.

FIG. 2 shows a pallet 8 used for storing and transporting the plate cylinder 7. As described above, the plate cylinder 7 has the plate cylinder shafts 7a protruding at both ends thereof. Pallet 8
It comprises a rectangular frame 8a, a pair of shaft support members 8b mounted on the upper surface thereof, on which the plate cylinder shaft 7a can be mounted, and a plurality of columns 8c of the same height. The column 8c is provided so that the plurality of pallets 8 can be stacked without any trouble. In FIG. 2, the shaft support member 8b is configured to hold three plate cylinders 7. However, the number of plate cylinders that can be held can be appropriately increased or decreased according to the plate cylinder diameter. The height of 8b can be appropriately changed according to the plate cylinder diameter. However, the shape and the size of the frame 8a are constant, so that different types of pallets can be stacked.

In FIG. 1, the automatic warehouse 1 stores a pallet 8 holding a plate cylinder (see FIG. 2). The storage unit 11 has a number of shelves for storing the pallets. A stacker crane 12 (see FIG. 3), a warehouse-side control device (not shown) for managing the type and number of plate cylinders stored in the storage unit 11 and controlling the stacker crane 12 are provided. Here, the many shelves provided in the storage unit 11 are configured to hold only both ends of the pallet. For this reason, the lower surface of the pallet is supported by the fork of the stacker crane. It is possible to take in and out pallets. In addition, the intervals between the shelves in the height direction are determined so that pallets having desired heights can be stored.

At the bottom of one end of the storage section 11, an entry / exit port 13 for taking in / out the plate cylinder is formed. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a pallet support 15 is provided at the entrance 13. This pallet support 15
Has four pillars 15a and its reinforcing material 15b,
The pallet 8 can be put on the column 15a by the stacker crane 12.

In FIG. 1, a plate cylinder transferring means 5 includes a pallet carrying means for carrying a pallet carrying a plate cylinder between the automatic warehouse 1 and a transfer station S near the printing press, and a transfer station. A plate cylinder transfer crane 17 for transferring a plate cylinder between the pallet 8 in S and the plate cylinder exchange cart 4 is provided. The pallet transporting means is a first automatic guided vehicle 19 for loading and unloading pallets to and from the entrance 13 of the automatic warehouse 1.
A second automatic guided vehicle 20 for further transporting the pallets carried by the first automatic guided vehicle 19; and a transfer conveyor 21 for receiving the pallets from the first automatic guided vehicle 19 and transferring the pallets to the second automatic guided vehicle 20. And a pallet transport conveyor 22 that receives a pallet from the second automatic guided vehicle 20 and transports the pallet to the transfer station S.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an entrance / exit port 1 of the automatic warehouse 1.
3, a first automatic guided vehicle 19, a second automatic guided vehicle 20, a transfer conveyor 21 and the like, 23 is a rail on which the first automatic guided vehicle 19 travels, and 24 is a travel on which the second automatic guided vehicle 20 travels. And is provided at right angles to the rail 23. The rail 23 extends into the entrance 13 so that the first automatic guided vehicle 19 can be sent into the entrance 13.

The first automatic guided vehicle 19 has a self-propelled bogie main body 26 provided with wheels running on rails 23 and a motor (not shown) for rotating the wheels. A rotary table 27 rotatably held about a central axis, a rotary drive device (not shown) for rotating the rotary table 27 back and forth by 90 °, and a lifting table 28 held by the rotary table 27 to move up and down. ing. This elevator 28
Is a size that allows the pallet 8 to be put thereon, and the support 15 of the pallet support 15 of the entrance / exit 13.
It is of a size that can enter between a. Therefore, the pallet 8 to be stored in the automatic warehouse 1 is placed on the elevator 28, and the first automatic guided vehicle 1 is moved in a state where the elevator 28 is raised.
When the pallet 9 moves in the entrance 13, the pallet 8 is positioned above the column 15 a without interfering with the column 15 a, and then the pallet 8 is lowered by lowering the elevator 28. Can be put on top. In addition, the pallet 8 to be taken out is placed on the column 15a, and the first automatic guided vehicle 19 is caused to enter the entrance 13 with the elevator 28 lowered, and then the elevator 28
The pallet 8 is moved up and down
The pallet 8 can be taken out of the automatic warehouse 1 by moving the first automatic guided vehicle 19 from the entrance / exit port 13 thereafter.

The transfer conveyor 21 is arranged at an end of the rail 23 on the rail 24 side, and has a pair of chain conveyors 21a arranged at intervals. The distance between the pair of chain conveyors 21a is such that the first unmanned transport vehicle 19 can enter between them, and the pallet 8 held on the first unmanned transport vehicle 19 is taken out from the entrance / exit port 13. It is set so that both ends of the pallet 8 can be held in a state where the pallet 8 is turned by 90 °. The height of the chain conveyor 21a is determined so that the pallet 8 is not interfered with when the elevator 28 is raised, but the pallet 8 can be held when the elevator 28 is lowered. ing. Therefore,
The first automatic guided vehicle 19 receives the pallet 8 from the entrance 13 and rotates the pallet 8 by 90 ° by rotating the turntable 27 by 90 ° (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3). The pallet 8 can be lowered onto the transfer conveyor 21 by the first automatic guided vehicle 19 self-propelled into the transfer conveyor 21 and lowering the elevator 28.

The second automatic guided vehicle 20 is self-propelled having wheels running on rails 24 and a drive motor for the wheels, and has a chain conveyor 30 on its upper surface. The chain conveyor 30 is provided at substantially the same height as the transfer conveyor 21, and can receive a pallet sent out by the transfer conveyor 21 and send out a pallet held onto the transfer conveyor 21. It can be driven in the forward and reverse directions so that it can be operated.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the second automatic guided vehicle 20 and the pallet conveyor 22 and the like. The pallet transport conveyor 22 is located near the printing machine,
Are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the rail 24 on which the pallet travels, and the pallets can be taken in and out of the second automatic guided vehicle 20. In this embodiment, three conveyor parts which can be operated independently are provided. 22A, 22B, 22
C. Each conveyor part 22A, 22
B and 22C are each capable of transporting a pallet in the forward and reverse directions, and are constituted by a pair of chain conveyors 32, 33 and 34 arranged at intervals. The third conveyor part 22C is located at the transfer station S,
In the transfer station S, a chain conveyor 34,
A pallet elevating device 36 is provided between the pallets 34. Thus, the pallet 8 sent to the transfer station S by the pallet transport conveyor 22 is lifted to a predetermined height by the pallet elevating device 36 as required, and the pallet 8 is set at the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 transfer position. Can be.

The first and second conveyor sections 22A,
A pallet stocker 40 for storing the empty pallets 8 in a stacked state is provided on each of the pallet stockers 40, and below the pallet stockers 40 between the chain conveyors 32, 32 and between the chain conveyors 33, 33. Pallet lifting / lowering devices 42 and 43 for taking pallets in and out are provided. The pallet stocker 40 is provided at a height that does not interfere with the passage of the pallet 8 carrying the plate cylinder on the conveyor portions 22A and 22B. The pallet stocker 40 includes a horizontal support frame 45 and a pallet attached to the support frame 45. A support member 46 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the pallet support member 46 is mounted on a rotatable support 47.
A pallet supporting member 46 is attached to the pallet 8
9A and a support position for supporting the pallet 8 [a position shown in FIG. 9B].
And an air cylinder 48 for moving the air cylinder.

The pallet storage and pallet loading / unloading operation by the pallet stocker 40 having this configuration is performed as follows. It is assumed that the empty pallet 8 is held on the pallet support member 46 as shown in FIG. In this state, when an empty pallet 8 to be stored is sent and stopped by the chain conveyor 32 of the pallet transport conveyor 22, the pallet lifting device 42 moves up and lifts the empty pallet 8. When the empty pallet 8 is lifted by raising the pallet elevating device 42, the support 8
c lifts the empty pallet 8 previously stored. In this state, the air cylinder 48 moves the pallet support member 46 to a retracted position (a position shown in FIG. 10B) that does not interfere with the pallet. Thereafter, the pallet lifting device 42 further moves up, and lifts the lowermost pallet 8 above the pallet support member 46 as shown in FIG.
Thereafter, the air cylinder 48 operates to move the pallet support member 46 to the support position, and then the pallet lifting device 4
2 descends to its original lower position. Thus, the empty pallets 8 are held by the pallet support members 46 in a stacked state. By repeating the same operation, empty pallets can be sent one after another and stored in a stacked state. In addition, by performing the reverse operation, the empty pallet 8 is moved to one.
Individual pieces can be taken out on the pallet conveyor 22. Although not shown, appropriate guides are provided at appropriate positions around the storage positions of the empty pallets (for example, near the corners of the empty pallets) to prevent the stacked empty pallets from collapsing. Have been.

In FIG. 1, a crane track 50 is arranged from above the transfer station S in parallel with the printing press, and holds the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 so as to be able to travel.
The lower part of the crane track 50 is a standby position of the plate cylinder exchange truck 4 provided corresponding to each printing unit 2.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show the plate cylinder transfer crane 17, wherein FIG. 7A is a schematic sectional view of the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 viewed from the side, and FIG. It is an outline sectional view. The plate cylinder transfer crane 17 includes a truck 52 having wheels 51 running on a crane track 50, a column member 54 provided substantially perpendicular to the column 52, and a rail 55 provided on the column member 54. , That rail 5
5 has a lifting / lowering member 57 having a slide block 56 slidably held thereon, a driving device (not shown) for lifting / lowering the lifting / lowering member 57, and a key portion 58a at a lower end for holding a plate cylinder shaft. A pair of arms 58 and a pair of arms 5
8, a support beam 59 for fixing the plate 8 at a fixed interval, a stopper 60 for restraining the plate cylinder shaft held by the key portion 58a at the lower end of the arm 58 from falling off, and an air cylinder 61 for driving the same
And a bearing holder 62 for holding the bearing 7b attached to the plate cylinder shaft, and an air cylinder 63 for driving the bearing. The pair of arms 58 are held movably in the lateral direction by a linear guide 65 with respect to the elevating member 57, and are usually held at a fixed position with respect to the elevating member 57 by a spring (not shown). Position is regulated. The linear guide 65 allows the arm 58 to escape when an undesired lateral force or impact is applied to the pair of arms 58 or the plate cylinder 7 held at the time of delivery or transportation of the plate cylinder. Is provided.

The plate cylinder transfer crane 17 is provided with a driving device (not shown) for driving the wheels 51 to run on their own. The means for running the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 is not limited to this, and other means, for example, a drive chain or a belt is arranged along the crane track 50,
Means may be used in which the drive chain or belt is connected to the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 and the drive chain or belt is driven by a motor.

The plate cylinder transfer operation by the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 is performed as follows. That is, FIG.
First, the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 moves above the transfer station S and stops. The stop position at this time is determined by the plate cylinder 7 from which the arm 58 is to be taken out of the pallet 8.
Is slightly displaced from the plate cylinder shaft 7a. In the transfer station S, the pallet lifting device 36 holds the pallet 8, and the plate cylinder shaft 7 a of the plate cylinder 7 holding the pallet 8 is at the transfer position to the plate cylinder transfer crane 17.
Lift as needed. Next, as shown in FIG. 8B, the elevating member 57 descends to lower the pair of arms 58, and the key portion 58a at the lower end thereof is positioned beside the plate cylinder shaft 7a. At this time, the stopper 60 and the bearing holder 6
2 (see FIG. 7) is open. Next, the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 is slightly moved rightward so that the plate cylinder shaft 7a enters the key portion 58a of the arm 58. afterwards,
When the elevating member 57 is raised, the arm 58 supports and lifts the plate cylinder shaft 7a as shown in FIG. 8C. At the same time, the plate cylinder shaft 7a is restrained so as not to fall off by operating the stopper 60, and the bearing retainer 62 is operated to fix the bearing 7b so as not to move. In this state, the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 travels and conveys the plate cylinder to a predetermined position.

When lowering the plate cylinder 8 held by the plate cylinder transfer crane 17, the above operation may be performed in reverse. The plate cylinder transfer crane 17 also transfers the plate cylinder to the plate cylinder exchange trolley 4, and the transfer is performed in the same manner as in the case of the pallet 8 described above.

In FIG. 1, an emergency plate cylinder transfer capable of transferring a plate cylinder to the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 is provided below an end of the crane track 50 opposite to the transfer station S. A mounting table 70 is provided. The emergency plate cylinder transfer table 70 is used when a trouble occurs in the pallet transport means for transporting the pallets from the automatic warehouse 1 to the transfer station S. The supply of the new plate cylinder or the removal of the old plate cylinder is manually performed by an operator using a cart or the like.

Next, the plate cylinder changing arm 3 provided on the plate cylinder changing carriage 4 and the printing unit 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. The plate cylinder exchanging trolley 4 has a trolley body 72, wheels 74 attached to the trolley body 72 and running on rails 73 provided on the floor, a drive motor 75 for rotating the wheels 74, and the like. The drive motor 75 allows the rail 73 to travel on its own. In addition,
The means for traveling the carriage main body 72 is not limited to this configuration, and a drive chain or belt traveling along the rail 73 may be provided, and the carriage main body 72 may travel by this.

A pair of support bases 77 are provided on the carriage main body 72, hold a rotary shaft 79 via a bearing 78, and also hold a driving device 80 for driving the rotary shaft 79 to rotate. A pair of plate cylinder holding arms 81 for holding the plate cylinder shaft 7a extending to both sides of the plate cylinder 7 inside the bearing 7b are attached to the rotating shaft 79.

The plate cylinder holding arm 81 has two arm portions, that is, a first arm portion 81a and a second arm portion 81b arranged at substantially right angles so as to hold two plate cylinders. At the end of each arm, there is provided a recess 83 for receiving the plate cylinder shaft 7a. As shown in FIG. 11, the concave portion 83 is formed so as to face upward when the arm portion is leveled, so that the plate cylinder shaft can be lowered and held in the concave portion 83 from above. it can. As shown in FIG. 11, FIG. 14, and FIG.
A stopper 85 for fixing the shaft of the plate cylinder housed in the concave portion 83 and an air cylinder 86 for reciprocating the stopper are provided at the leading ends of a and 81b. The stopper 85
It is not limited to the case of opening and closing by reciprocating linearly, but may be configured to be opened and closed by turning. In that case, the shape of the stopper 85 is not limited to a linear shape,
It may be in the shape of an arc opposite to.

In FIG. 11 and FIG.
Has unit frames 90 located on both sides, and the unit frames 90 include the plate cylinder shafts 7 of the plate cylinder 7.
A notch 91 for taking in and out a is formed.
A support portion for holding the bearing 7b of the plate cylinder 7 is formed behind the notch portion 91. The plate cylinder exchange arm 3 is provided on the outside of the unit frame 90 so as to be pivotable about a support shaft 93, and is connected to an air cylinder 94. Further, at the tip of the plate cylinder exchanging arm 3, there is provided an auxiliary arm 97 which is rotatably held about a support shaft 96 and an air cylinder 98 which rotates the auxiliary arm 97. A concave portion 97a for supporting the leading end of the plate cylinder shaft 7a is formed in the plate. Thus, by turning the auxiliary arm 97, the plate cylinder shaft 7a is held at the tip thereof, and the plate cylinder exchanging arm 3 is turned, whereby the plate cylinder can be transported into and out of the printing unit 2.

The auxiliary arm 9 for holding the plate cylinder shaft 7a
Instead of using the printing cylinder 7, a recess for holding the printing cylinder shaft may be formed at the tip of the printing cylinder replacement arm 3, and the printing cylinder shaft 7 may be directly held by the printing cylinder replacement arm 3.

In FIG. 13, the rails 73 on which the plate cylinder exchanging truck 4 travels extend from the front of each printing unit 2 (between the printing units) to the crane track 50 at right angles to the center axis YY of the printing press. , So that the plate cylinder changing carriage 4 can be moved to a plate cylinder changing position in front of the printing unit and to a standby position below the crane track 50.

Next, a description will be given of a plate cylinder exchanging operation using the plate cylinder exchanging trolley 4 and the plate cylinder exchanging arm 3 having the above configuration. When the plate cylinder changing carriage 4 is stopped at the standby position, the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 carries a new plate cylinder 7 and the second arm 81.
b. This operation is performed as follows. That is, the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 lowers the plate cylinder shaft 7a from above and lowers the plate cylinder shaft 7a onto the concave portion 83 with the second arm portion 81b horizontal and the concave portion 83 facing upward, and the stopper 85 opened. Is closed to restrain the plate cylinder shaft 7a. Next, the rotating shaft 79 rotates, and as shown in FIG. 11, the second arm portion 81b is set to the upper position, and the first arm portion 81a is set to the horizontal position.

Next, the plate cylinder exchanging carriage 4 travels along the rail 73 and stops at the plate cylinder exchanging position in front of the printing unit 2, so that the first arm 81a is moved to the horizontal position (plate type) as shown in FIG. The stopper 85 is opened in the state of the body delivery position). Next, the auxiliary arm 97 at the tip of the plate cylinder exchange arm 3
Rotates counterclockwise to support the plate cylinder shaft 7a of the plate cylinder 7 held by the printing unit 2 by the concave portion 97a. Next, the plate cylinder exchanging arm 3 rotates clockwise to move the plate cylinder 7 held by the auxiliary arm 97 to the front of the printing unit 2 and to place the plate cylinder in the concave portion 83 of the first arm portion 81a waiting at that position. The trunk shaft 7a is inserted (see a two-dot chain line in FIG. 14). Thereafter, the plate cylinder 7 is held by the first arm portion 81a by turning the auxiliary arm 97 downward. Next, the stopper 85 is closed, and the plate cylinder shaft 7a of the plate cylinder 7 is
3, the rotation shaft 79 rotates counterclockwise, and as shown in FIG. 15, the second arm 81b holding the new plate cylinder 7 is moved to the horizontal position (plate cylinder transfer position). And At this time, the plate cylinder removed from the printing unit 2 is located below the rotating shaft 79.

Next, the stopper 85 of the second arm portion 81b
Is opened, the auxiliary arm 97 rotates counterclockwise, the plate cylinder shaft 7a of the plate cylinder 7 is held by the concave portion 97a at the tip thereof, and then the plate cylinder exchange arm 3 pivots counterclockwise.
The plate cylinder 7 is carried into the printing unit 2. Thereafter, when the auxiliary arm 97 rotates clockwise, the plate cylinder shaft 7a is rotated.
Is held by the support portion of the unit frame 90. On the other hand, the plate cylinder exchanging trolley 4 on which the detached plate cylinder 7 is placed is then moved along the rail 73 to a standby position beside the printing unit. Next, the rotation shaft 79 rotates, the first arm portion 81a is made horizontal, and the stopper 85 is opened. Thus, one printing cylinder exchange operation in the printing unit 2 is completed. The plate cylinder 7 held by the plate cylinder exchanging cart 4 that has returned to the standby position is taken out by the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 (see FIG. 1) at that position. The two-arm portion 81b is made horizontal to prepare for the next reception of the plate cylinder 7 from the plate cylinder transfer crane 17.

In the above embodiment, the plate cylinder holding arm 8
Although the first arm portion 81a and the second arm portion 81b are configured so as to be substantially perpendicular to each other, the angle between the first arm portion and the second arm portion can be appropriately increased or decreased. However,
As long as this angle does not interfere with taking in and out of the plate cylinder, it is advantageous in terms of space saving that it is as small as possible, and it is preferable that the angle is substantially a right angle as shown in the embodiment. In the above description of the operation, as shown in FIG. 11, a new plate cylinder 7 is held by the second arm portion 81b,
The plate cylinder from the printing unit 2 is received by the horizontal first arm portion 81a in a state where the plate cylinder is held above the upper portion 9, but instead, a new plate cylinder is held by the first arm portion 81a. Alternatively, the plate cylinder from the printing unit 2 may be received by the horizontal second arm portion 81b while holding the plate cylinder below the rotation shaft 79. In addition, after the plate cylinder exchange trolley 4 receives the plate cylinder 7 from the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 or before the plate cylinder exchange trolley 4 transfers the plate cylinder 7 to the plate cylinder transfer crane 17, Rotary shaft 7 at standby position
9, the rotation of the rotating shaft 79 may be performed at the plate cylinder replacement position in front of the printing unit 2, or during the travel between the standby position and the plate cylinder replacement position. Is also good.

A control device for plate cylinder replacement control is provided near the printing press. The printing press-side control device controls the transfer of the printing drum from the loading / unloading port 13 of the automatic warehouse 1 to the printing drum exchange carriage 4, and the printing cylinder exchange work in the printing unit by the printing cylinder exchange carriage 4 and the printing cylinder exchange arm 3. Is performed.
Further, the printing press-side control device can communicate with a warehouse-side control device that controls the automatic warehouse 1. Note that both the warehouse-side control device and the printing press-side control device have a control personal computer and can automatically perform the operations described below, but the control device for performing such control is easily provided. Since design is possible, a description of the configuration is omitted.

The construction and operation of each part constituting the plate cylinder changing apparatus have been described above. The operation of the whole will be described below.

In the automatic warehouse 1, several plate cylinders 7 (two to six) are placed side by side on a pallet 8 as shown in FIG. It is stored in. At this time, a plurality of plate cylinders placed on one pallet are used for the same item. That is, in general, in multicolor gravure printing, there are plate cylinders as many as the number of colors to be printed, and usually there are more than four colors and more than ten colors, and one item is composed of a plurality of plate cylinders. Plate cylinders used for one item are stored on one pallet or on a plurality of pallets. Also, at this time, even if an empty space is generated on the pallet, a rule is set that a plate cylinder of another item is not placed. However, special plate cylinders, such as those commonly used for several items, are not necessarily the same item, and special plate cylinders may be placed on one pallet. Items and types of plate cylinders stored in the automatic warehouse 1 are managed by the warehouse-side control device.

During the operation of the printing press, the operator sets the next item data (especially the plate cylinder number used for the next item and the respective plate cylinders in the unit of the printing press) in the control personal computer of the printing press-side control device. Data), and then press the "delivery button" on the operation panel. Thereby, the discharge of the plate cylinder from the automatic warehouse 1 is started.

In the automatic warehouse 1, a printing cylinder number to be taken out is transmitted by communication from a control personal computer of the printing press control device to a control personal computer of the warehouse control device. The position of the shelf where the pallet on which the plate cylinder is placed is retrieved from the cylinder management file, and the position is indicated to the stacker crane. The stacker crane moves to the shelf position in accordance with this instruction, takes out the pallet 8 stored there with the plate cylinder mounted thereon, and as shown in FIGS.
On the pallet support 15 of FIG. Two entrances 13 and two pallet supports 15 are provided on both sides of the stacker crane, and the stacker crane can be placed on any one.

When the pallet 8 is placed on the pallet support 15, the first automatic guided vehicle 19 enters the pallet support 15 at the entrance 13 with the elevator 28 lowered, and then the elevator 28 is Ascend to hold the pallet 8 thereon. Next, the first automatic guided vehicle 19 travels from the entry / exit port 13 toward the transfer conveyor 21 by itself. Thus, the pallet 8 holding the plate cylinder 7 is taken out of the automatic warehouse 1.

The first automatic guided vehicle 19 stops temporarily on the way to the transfer conveyor 21, and the turntable 27 rotates 90 °.
The direction of the pallet 8 and the plate cylinder 7
Rotate °. This is to correct the difference between the storage angle of the plate cylinder in the automatic warehouse and the plate cylinder mounting angle in the printing press by 90 °. Thereafter, the first automatic guided vehicle 19 starts running again and enters the transfer conveyor 21. Next, the elevating platform 28 descends, and the pallet 8 held is placed on the transfer conveyor 21.

When the pallet 8 is placed on the transfer conveyor 21, a second automatic guided vehicle 20 is waiting beside the transfer conveyor 21. Next, the transfer conveyor 21 and the chain conveyor 30 of the second automatic guided vehicle 20 operate simultaneously, and the pallet 8 is transferred from the transfer conveyor 21 onto the second automatic guided vehicle 20. When the pallet 8 is sent to a predetermined position on the second automatic guided vehicle 20, the transfer conveyor 21
And the chain conveyor 30 stops.

Next, the second automatic guided vehicle 2 on which a pallet is placed
5 travels and stops at the position where the pallet is transferred to the pallet transport conveyor 22 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and then the chain conveyor 3 on the second automatic guided vehicle 20.
0 and the pallet transport conveyor 22 is operated, and the pallet 8
From the second automatic guided vehicle 20 to the transfer station S. After sending out the pallet 8, the second automatic guided vehicle 20 moves again to the side of the transfer conveyor 21 and prepares for the next pallet.

When the pallet 8 reaches a predetermined position of the transfer station S, the pallet conveyor 22 stops, and
Next, the pallet lifting device 36 is operated as required to lift the pallet 8 to a height at which the pallet 8 is transferred to the plate cylinder transfer crane 17. The pallet 8 to be used
There are a plurality of types in which the holding height of the plate cylinder (the height of the plate cylinder shaft) is changed depending on the diameter of the plate cylinder to be held, but the pallet elevating device 36 moves up according to the type of the pallet sent. It has a structure that can change the height,
The plate cylinder shaft 7a of the plate cylinder 7 held on the pallet 8 can be lifted to a certain height. At this time, the height of the transfer station S is set to a height at which the pallet lifting device 36 is at the lowest position and the pallet 8 having the highest plate cylinder holding height can transfer the plate cylinder to the plate cylinder transfer crane 17. In the case of the pallet 8 having the highest holding height of the plate cylinder, it is not necessary to operate the pallet elevating device 36, and the time can be shortened accordingly.

Next, the plate cylinder transfer crane 1 is moved from the pallet 8 lifted to a predetermined height at the transfer station S.
7 removes the plate cylinder 7 in the procedure shown in FIG. 8, and then moves the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 onto the plate cylinder changing carriage 4 corresponding to the printing unit 2 to which the plate cylinder 7 held by the plate cylinder is mounted.
The plate cylinder 7 is supplied to the second arm portion 81b of the plate cylinder exchange cart 4. Next, the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 returns to the transfer station S again, takes out the next plate cylinder 7 on the pallet 8, and travels on the plate cylinder exchange cart 4 corresponding to the plate cylinder 7, and the plate cylinder 7 is supplied to the plate cylinder exchange cart 4. Hereinafter, the same operation is repeated, and the plate cylinder 7 on the pallet 8 is supplied to the plate cylinder exchange carriage 4.

When all the plate cylinders 7 are removed from the pallet 8 on the transfer station S and the pallet 8 becomes empty,
The pallet lifting device 36 descends and lowers the pallet 8 on the conveyor portion 22C of the pallet transport conveyor 22. Thereafter, the pallet transport conveyor 22 operates in the opposite direction to the previous one to transport the empty pallet 8, and the pallet stocker 40 in which the pallet 8 carrying the plate cylinder currently set in the printing press is stored. It is stopped below the different pallet stocker 40 (that is, on the conveyor section 22A in FIG. 5). Next, the pallet lifting device 42 provided at that position is operated to lift the empty pallet 8 and store it in the upper pallet stocker 40.

By the same operation, the pallet 8 on which the next plate cylinder 7 is loaded is discharged from the automatic warehouse 1 and sent to the transfer station S by the same operation. Then, the plate cylinder is taken out and supplied to the plate cylinder exchanging trolley 4, and the empty pallet is thereafter stored in the pallet stocker 40. Thereafter, the plate cylinder 7 to be exchanged is supplied to the plate cylinder exchanging device 4 corresponding to all the corresponding printing units of the printing press, thereby completing the preparation of the plate cylinder exchange in the printing press. These operations are performed during the operation of the printing press, and therefore do not increase the downtime of the printing press.

Next, when the printing operation on the printing press side is completed, and processing such as washing of the old plate cylinder after printing is completed, and it is time to replace the plate cylinder, the operator presses a plate cylinder replacement start button. . Thereby, the plate cylinder exchanging operation in each printing unit 2 is performed in parallel. That is, first, the printing cylinder exchange carriage 4 moves in front of the printing unit 2 as shown in FIG. 11, and then, as shown in FIG. 14, the printing cylinder exchange arm 3 on the printing unit 2 side removes the old printing cylinder 7. Then, it is held in the concave portion 83 of the first arm portion 81b of the plate cylinder changing carriage 4, and then, as shown in FIG.
Arm 81b holding the new plate cylinder 7 by turning
Is set in a horizontal state, the plate cylinder exchanging arm 3 is operated to take out the new plate cylinder, and attach it to a predetermined position in the printing unit. Thereafter, the printing drum exchange carriage 4 holding the old printing drum returns to the standby position, the first arm portion 81a holding the old printing drum becomes horizontal, and the stopper 85 is opened to wait.

As described above, these plate cylinder exchanging operations are performed simultaneously in all the printing units of one printing press.
It is performed in a very short time. After the plate cylinder replacement, the printing press starts printing immediately after performing the work necessary for brand switching.

When the plate cylinder exchange cart 4 returns to the standby position, the operator presses the plate cylinder storage start button, and the old plate cylinder is stored in the automatic warehouse by the operation opposite to the supply operation of the new plate cylinder. Will be That is, the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 takes out the plate cylinder from the first arm portion 81a and moves to the transfer station S. At this time, the empty pallet 8 taken out of the pallet stocker 40 is waiting at the transfer station S, and the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 lowers the plate cylinder on the empty pallet 8. This operation is repeated, and when a predetermined number of plate cylinders are placed on the pallet 8, the pallet lifting device 36 that has lifted the pallet 8 descends and lowers the pallet 8 on the pallet conveyor 22. afterwards,
The pallet transport conveyor 22 transports the pallet 8 from the transfer station S to the second automatic guided vehicle 20, which transports the pallet 8 to the transfer conveyor 21,
The transfer conveyor 21 transfers the pallet 8 to the first automatic guided vehicle 1
9. The first automatic guided vehicle 19 temporarily stops in the course of traveling, rotates the turntable 27 by 90 ° to change the direction of the pallet, and then transfers the pallet 8 to the pallet support table 15 at the entrance 13 of the automatic warehouse 1. Lower it. Then, the stacker crane of the automatic warehouse 1 transfers the pallets to the automatic warehouse 1.
To the specified shelf position. During this time, the pallets 8 stored in the pallet stocker 40 are sequentially taken out from the vacant devices by the same operation to the transfer station S, and the plate cylinder exchanging trolley 4 is placed on the empty pallets 8 by the plate cylinder transfer crane 17. After that, the plate cylinder is loaded, and thereafter, it enters the automatic warehouse 1. Thus, one printing drum exchange operation is completed.

In the above description, the operation of exchanging the old plate cylinder after being used in the printing press with the new plate cylinder has been described. However, the plate cylinder exchanging apparatus of the present embodiment is not limited to this case, and is not limited to this case. It can be used only for the operation of collecting the old plate cylinder that is removed from the old plate cylinder after use and stored in the automatic warehouse, or only for supplying the new plate cylinder that is removed from the automatic warehouse and attached to the printing press. The operation of only supplying the new plate cylinder and recovering the old plate cylinder eliminates unnecessary operations when replacing the new and old plate cylinders. In addition, since the number of plate cylinders used differs depending on the item, even when replacing the old and new plates, only the supply of the new plate or the collection of the old plate may be performed for each printing unit.

In the above embodiment, one pallet 8
Carries the plate cylinder 7 used for the same item. Therefore, after carrying the pallet 8 to the transfer station S,
All the plate cylinders are supplied to the plate cylinder changing device 4, and the empty pallets 8 are stored in the pallet stocker 40. However, in some cases, an unused plate cylinder may be placed on one pallet 8. In this case, after the necessary plate cylinder is taken out by the transfer cylinder S at the transfer station S, the pallet 8 may be returned to the automatic warehouse 1 with the remaining plate cylinder mounted thereon. Further, in the above embodiment, the pallet stocker 40 is provided near the transfer station S and the empty pallets 8 are stored at that position. However, the pallet stocker 40 is omitted, and the empty pallets are stored in the automatic warehouse 1.
You may be comprised so that it may return to. However, when the pallet stocker 40 is provided as in the embodiment, it takes no time to return the empty pallets to the automatic warehouse 1, and the advantage that the plate cylinder supply time can be shortened is obtained.

In the above embodiment, the first automatic guided vehicle 1 transports pallets from the automatic warehouse 1 to the transfer station S.
9, the second automatic guided vehicle 20, the transfer conveyor 21, the pallet conveyor 22 and the like are used, but these can be appropriately changed. For example, it is also possible to use an autopilot automatic guided vehicle that does not use rails for pallet transport from the automatic warehouse 1 to the transfer station S or to the pallet transport conveyor 22. The degree of freedom is increased, and the layout of the automatic warehouse and the printing press is somewhat flexible. Further, a system in which a single conveyor conveys from the automatic warehouse to the transfer station S may be employed.
As a result, the number of facilities is greatly reduced, and control and the like can be simplified.

Further, a transfer station is provided in the vicinity of the automatic warehouse 1, and pallets are taken in and out of the transfer station directly by the stacker crane of the automatic warehouse. The plate cylinder may be transported by a cylinder transfer crane. With this configuration, the number of facilities is greatly reduced and control is simplified.

In the above embodiment, the entrance 1 of the automatic warehouse 1
3 are provided, and a rail 23 and a first automatic guided vehicle 19 are provided for each of the entrances 13.
Both of the two first automatic guided vehicles 19 have the entrance 1
3 may be used for pallet transfer between the transfer station S and one of them, and only one is used for pallet transfer between the loading / unloading port 13 and the transfer station S, and the other is used for management of the automatic warehouse. It may be used for.

[0062]

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to the present invention, a Rutotomoni plurality of plate cylinders with an automatic warehouse storage of the plate cylinder
By storing it on a pallet, the plate cylinder
Storage, management, and taking in and out of work automatically and with good workability.
When using the stored plate cylinder,
A pallet holding the desired new plate cylinder according to the printing item
Take out with a stacker crane in an automated warehouse and palletize
It is transported to the transfer station by transport means, and the plate cylinder transfer crane
Take out the plate cylinder from the pallet and send it to each printing unit
Place it on the corresponding plate cylinder exchange trolley, and print with the plate cylinder exchange trolley.
The old and new cylinders are exchanged for
The old plate cylinder was transferred from the loaded plate cylinder exchange trolley to the plate cylinder transfer crane.
On the empty pallet at the transfer station, and
The pallet is returned to the automatic warehouse by the transporting means, where the old plate cylinder is stored and managed in a predetermined position, and various operations such as preparing for the next take-out can be performed. This has the effect that all the work of replacement in the unit can be automated and the burden on the operator can be greatly reduced.

Further, a plurality of plate cylinders are used for storing and transporting the plate cylinders.
Because of the use of pallets to hold good workability, moreover, from the automatic warehouse to transfer station, it is sufficient transport haul easily pallets, also has an effect that the design of the pallet transport means is facilitated I have .

Here, if a pallet stocker is provided in the vicinity of the transfer station for taking out the plate cylinder from the pallet, there is no need to return the empty pallet to the original automatic warehouse, and the effect that the working time can be shortened is obtained. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an entire plate cylinder changing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 (a) is a plan view, FIG. 2 (b) is a side view, FIG. 2 (c) is an end view, and FIG. The bottom view

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a part extending from a doorway of the automatic warehouse to a rail 24 in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the portion shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a portion from a rail 24 to a transfer station S in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the portion shown in FIG.

7A and 7B show a plate cylinder transfer crane used in the above embodiment, in which FIG. 7A is a schematic sectional view of the crane seen from the side.
(B) is a schematic sectional view of the same viewed from the front.

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are schematic side sectional views illustrating the operation of the plate cylinder transfer crane.

FIG. 9A is a schematic plan view showing the pallet stocker used in the above embodiment, with the pallet supporting member 46 retracted, and FIG. 9B is a pallet stocker showing the pallet supporting member 46 in the pallet supporting position. Schematic plan view of part of

FIGS. 10A and 10B are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating a pallet supply operation to the pallet stocker.

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view showing a printing unit and a plate cylinder exchange cart in the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a schematic front view of the plate cylinder exchange cart.

FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view showing a positional relationship between a printing unit and a plate cylinder exchange cart in the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of the same portion as FIG. 11 showing a state during plate cylinder replacement.

FIG. 15 is a schematic side view of the same part as FIG. 11 showing a state different from FIG. 14;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic warehouse 2 Printing unit 3 Plate cylinder exchange arm 4 Plate cylinder exchange trolley 5 Plate cylinder transfer means 7 Plate cylinder 8 Pallet 11 Storage unit 13 Entry / exit opening 15 Pallet support stand 17 Plate cylinder transfer crane 19 First unmanned carrier Reference Signs List 20 second automatic guided vehicle 21 transfer conveyor 22 pallet conveyor 40 pallet stocker

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Hashimoto 1-1-1, Ichigaya-Kaga-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-1-145143 (JP, A) Kaihei 6-23940 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Showa 60-190708 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41F 13/24 B41F 9/18

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pallet configured to hold a plurality of plate cylinders.
An automatic warehouse comprising a plurality of shelves for storing pallets holding a plurality of plate cylinders, and a stacker crane for taking in and out the pallets to and from the shelves, the automatic warehouse and a printing press
The plate cylinder between the transfer station and the transfer station
Pallet transport means for transporting the pallets , and each printing unit of the printing press is provided so as to be rotatable around an axis parallel to the plate cylinder axis of the printing unit, so that the plate cylinder can be transferred into and out of the printing unit. A plate cylinder exchange arm to be performed, a plate cylinder exchange cart provided corresponding to each printing unit, and movable to a plate cylinder exchange position with respect to the plate cylinder exchange arm and a standby position beside the printing press; and the standby position. Transfer cylinder and the above transfer
Transfer the plate cylinder to and from the pallet at the station
A plate cylinder changing device having a plate cylinder transfer crane . 2. A pallet comprising a pair of shaft support members, the pallet configured to hold a plurality of plate cylinders by mounting a plate cylinder shaft on the shaft support members, and a plurality of pallets holding the plate cylinders. An automatic warehouse equipped with a shelf and a stacker crane for loading and unloading a pallet having a plate cylinder mounted on the shelf, and transferring the plate cylinder between the automatic warehouse and a transfer station disposed near the printing press. Pallet transportation means for transporting loaded pallets and printing units of the printing press,
A plate cylinder exchanging arm which is provided rotatably about an axis parallel to the plate cylinder axis of the printing unit and transfers the plate cylinder inside and outside the printing unit; A plate cylinder exchanging truck movable to a plate cylinder exchanging position with respect to the exchanging arm and a standby position beside the printing press; and a plate cylinder exchanging cart at the standby position and movably provided above a pallet of the transfer station. And a plate cylinder transfer crane for transferring a plate cylinder between a plate cylinder exchange cart and a pallet. Wherein said the transfer station, the plate cylinder exchange device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pallet lifting device for raising and lowering the pallet is provided. 4. The pallet carrying means has a pallet carrying conveyor for taking a pallet in and out of a transfer station, and a pallet stocker for storing empty pallets is provided above the pallet carrying conveyor. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein
Item 2. A plate cylinder changing device according to Item 1 . 5. The plate cylinder exchanging device according to claim 4, wherein the pallet transport conveyor has a pair of chain conveyors arranged at intervals, and a pair of chain conveyors below the pallet stocker and a pair of chain conveyors. A plate cylinder exchanging device comprising a pallet elevating device for taking a pallet in and out of a pallet stocker.