U.S. patent application number 12/519696 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-14 for modular film unit.
This patent application is currently assigned to Manroland AG. Invention is credited to Mario Preisner.
Application Number | 20100006234 12/519696 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39272165 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100006234 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Preisner; Mario |
January 14, 2010 |
MODULAR FILM UNIT
Abstract
In order to transfer an image-type coating from a carrier film
to a printed sheet, an image-type adhesive is applied to the
printed sheet. In a film transfer module (2), the carrier film
comprising the image-type coating is rolled over the printed sheet
using contact pressure such that the coating adheres to the
adhesive sections, thus forming an image. In order to improve the
function, simplify the device and increase flexibility, a modular
holder for film rolls of the transfer foil (5) is provided,
allowing simplified handling.
Inventors: |
Preisner; Mario;
(Kirchheim/Teck, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEYDIG VOIT & MAYER, LTD
TWO PRUDENTIAL PLAZA, SUITE 4900, 180 NORTH STETSON AVENUE
CHICAGO
IL
60601-6731
US
|
Assignee: |
Manroland AG
Offenbach
DE
|
Family ID: |
39272165 |
Appl. No.: |
12/519696 |
Filed: |
December 13, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
December 13, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2007/010940 |
371 Date: |
September 10, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
156/540 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2301/5111 20130101;
B65H 2220/03 20130101; B65H 2301/41398 20130101; Y10T 156/1705
20150115; B41P 2219/50 20130101; B41P 2219/00 20130101; B65H
23/1888 20130101; B65H 2301/46018 20130101; B65H 2301/5114
20130101; B41F 19/062 20130101; B41P 2219/60 20130101; B65H 19/1852
20130101; B41P 2219/20 20130101; B41P 2219/51 20130101; B65H
2220/01 20130101; B65H 2301/46018 20130101; B65H 2220/03 20130101;
B65H 2220/01 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
156/540 |
International
Class: |
B65H 37/04 20060101
B65H037/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 20, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 060 243.9 |
Claims
1-15. (canceled)
16. A sheet processing machine comprising an image transfer device
for transferring imaging layers of a carrier film that jointly form
a transfer film (5) onto moving sheets in a cold film transfer
process, said image transfer device including a transfer cylinder
(3) and a sheet guiding impression cylinder (4) that together form
a transfer nip (6) therebetween through which the transfer film (5)
can be guided together with a moving sheet passing through the
sheet processing machine to which an image from the transfer film
is to be transferred, said image transfer device having an
associated first receptacle module comprising a plurality of film
reels mounted on two shafts (22,23; 33,34) arranged in offset
relation to each other for supplying transfer film to the image
transfer device and for receiving the transfer film following
transfer of the image layer thereof.
17. The sheet processing machine of claim 16 in which said first
receptacle module is mounted directly on said image transfer
device.
18. The sheet processing machine of claim 16 including a sheet
processing unit (32) located downstream of said image transfer
device, and a second receptacle module (29) associated with said
processing unit (32) having a plurality of film reels (30,31)
mounted on shafts (35,36) arranged in offset relation to each
other.
19. The sheet processing machine of claim 18 in which said second
receptacle module is mounted directly on said downstream sheet
processing unit (32).
20. The sheet processing machine of claim 18 in which the shafts of
the film reels of said first and second receptacle modules are
arranged in different planes that are offset horizontally and
vertically with respect to each other.
21. The sheet processing machine of claim 16 in which said shafts
of said receptacle module each accommodate a plurality of film
reels for supplying strips of film to adjacent processing
tracks.
22. The sheet processing machine of claim 16 in which said shafts
of said receptacle module are disposed in vertically offset
relation to each other, and a strip tension module associated with
one of the shafts of the receptacle module for guiding film and
regulating the film strip tension.
23. The sheet processing machine of claim 21 including a strip
tension module being operable for individually guiding and
controlling the tension of a plurality of strips of film moving
along adjacent film tracks.
24. The sheet processing machine of claim 16 including a strip
tension module associated with each shaft of the receptacle module
for guiding moving strips of film and controlling strip
tension.
25. The sheet processing machine of claim 24 in which said strip
tension modules (24,37,38) are in the form of removal modules
through which the strips of film pass.
26. The sheet processing machine of claim 22 including a film
connecting device associated with the strip tension module for
connecting two strips of transfer film in a region of the end
section of a first film strip and the starting section of a second
film strip.
27. The sheet processing machine of claim 16 including a film
connecting device associated with the strip tension module for
connecting strips of transfer film for enabling strips of film to
be carried away on reels on different shafts.
28. The sheet processing machine of claim 27 in which said strip
tension module includes sensors for detecting regions between
strips of film of two different reels.
29. The sheet processing machine of claim 21 in which the transfer
film (5) is respectively unwound in the form of fresh film strips
for one or more processing tracks from one first film reel (20) per
processing track that is held on a first shaft (22) and forms part
of the first receptacle module (19) and respectively wound up in
the form of used film strips on a respective second film reel (21)
per processing track that forms part of the same receptacle module
(19) and is held on a second shaft (23) that is vertically and/or
horizontally offset relative to the first shaft (22).
30. The sheet processing machine of claim 21 in which the transfer
film (5) in the form of fresh film strip(s) for one or more
processing tracks is respectively provided as one respective first
film reel (20) per processing track that is held on a first shaft
(22) and/or additional film reels (27, 28) that are held on one or
more additional shafts (33, 34) and form part of a first receptacle
module (26).
31. The sheet processing machine of claim 18 in which the shafts of
said receptacle modules each accommodate a plurality of film reels
for supplying strips of film to adjacent processing tracks, the
transfer film being unwound from one of the film reels (27, 28) per
processing track, guided to the transfer nip (6) and respectively
wound up in the form of used film strip(s) on one or more film
reels (30, 31) per processing track that form part of the second
receptacle module (29) and are arranged on at least one first
and/or one or more additional shafts (35, 36).
32. The sheet processing machine of claim 18 including the shafts
of said receptacle modules each accommodate a plurality of film
reels for supplying strips of film to adjacent processing tracks,
the transfer film being a film connecting device that is operable
in the first receptacle module for each processing track at or
before the end of the use of the transfer film of a film reel in
use for connecting an end of a film strip being unwound is
connected to the beginning of a new film strip for the same
processing track and the unwinding and feeding of the transfer film
(5) for the respective processing track to the transfer nip (6) is
continued from a newly-connected film reel separately and
simultaneously for each of the processing tracks.
33. The sheet processing machine of claim 29 including sensors for
separately detecting for each processing track the connecting
points between strips of film and calculating the position relative
to the connecting points with respect to the position of a sheet to
be coated and marking the sheets at such point with reference to
the region of the sheet to be coated whereby the marked sheets can
be selectively sorted out in a delivery region of the sheet
processing machine.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application is the national phase of
PCT/EP2007/010940, filed Dec. 13, 2007, which claims the benefit of
German Patent Application No. 102006060243.9, filed Dec. 20,
2006.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to printing
machines, and more particularly, to printing machines which include
a station for transferring imaging layers from a carrier film onto
sheets being processed through the printing machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is known to produce metallic layers on sheets by means of
a film transfer method. For example, EP 0 569 520 B 1 discloses a
printing material and a printing device that utilizes this
material. This publication describes a sheet-processing machine
that includes a feeder and a delivery unit, wherein printing units
and a film transfer module are arranged between these two
assemblies. An adhesive pattern is applied in at least one of the
printing units by means of a flatbed printing method. This adhesive
pattern is applied in a cold-printing process. The film transfer
module arranged downstream of the printing unit includes an
impression cylinder and a transfer cylinder and is provided with a
film guide. The film guide is designed in such a way that a film
strip or transfer film is guided from a film supply reel through a
transfer nip of the film transfer module between the impression
cylinder and the transfer cylinder. The film strip is wound up once
again on the outlet side after it emerges from the film transfer
module. The transfer film has a carrier layer onto which imaging
layers such as metallic layers, for example, of aluminum are
applied. During the transport of sheets through the printing unit,
each sheet is provided with an adhesive pattern. Subsequently, the
sheet is guided through the film transfer module, wherein the sheet
lying on the impression cylinder is brought into contact with the
film material by means of the transfer cylinder. During this
process, the metallic layer adheres to the regions of the sheet
that are provided with adhesive. After transport of the sheet
through the film transfer module, the metallic layer adheres only
to the region of the patterns provided with adhesive. Thus, the
metallic layer is removed from the carrier film in the region of
the adhesive patterns and transfer film thereafter is re-wound. The
sheet is thereupon delivered in the coated state.
[0004] It is known to utilize film transfer modules of this type,
for example, in printing units of printing machines. A disadvantage
of known devices is that they cannot be flexibly utilized and the
consumption of transfer film is expensive.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
printing machine that is operable for more reliably, economically,
and precisely effecting the transfer of an imaging layer, such as a
metallization layer, onto sheets being processed through the
printing machine.
[0006] Another object is to provide a printing machine of the
foregoing type which simplifies manufacture, printing machine
setup, and sheet handling.
[0007] In carrying out the invention, one or more modular holders
for reels of transfer film are provided for more efficient access
and utilization. A strip of the transfer film is stored on one or
more film reels within the module, and existing film reel can be
used within the same module in order to change film reels by means
of a film strip connecting device (receptacle modules). Two
variations of modular receptacles for film reels that allow simple
exchange of one of or more such reels are disclosed.
[0008] According to a first embodiment, the receptacles may be
provided in one module, wherein at least two shafts for
accommodating film reels are arranged one on top of the other. One
or more film reels may be arranged on each shaft. Drives may be
provided for the shaft or shafts, and a strip tensioning unit may
be provided for each holder for a film reel. This makes it possible
to improve the set-up times in connection with a film transfer
module.
[0009] According to a second embodiment, the receptacles may be
provided in two modules, wherein at least two shafts for
accommodating film reels are arranged one on top of the other in
each module. One or more film reels may be arranged on each shaft.
Drives again may be provided for the shaft or shafts, and a strip
tensioning unit may be provided for each holder for a film reel in
at least one module. This makes it possible to further improve the
set-up times in connection with a film transfer module because the
exchange of film reels is significantly simplified.
[0010] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon
reference to the drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic depiction of an illustrative
printing machine having a film transfer device;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a printing
machine having a receptacle module in accordance with the invention
for housing film transfer film; and
[0013] FIG. 3 is an alternative embodiment of a receptacle modular
arrangement for handling of transfer film for an image transfer
device of the printing machine.
[0014] While the invention is susceptible of various modifications
and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments
thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below
in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no
intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed,
but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications,
alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the
spirit and scope of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings,
there is shown an illustrative sheet processing machine, namely a
printing machine, that includes at least two printing units. In a
first step, a sheet to be coated is provided with an imaging
adhesive pattern in the application unit 1. A printing unit of an
offset printing machine with inking and dampening units 11, a
printing plate on a plate cylinder 12, an offset blanket or blanket
cylinder 13, and an impression cylinder 4 may be used for this
purpose.
[0016] In a second step, a transfer film 5 is guided through a
transfer nip 6 together with the sheet and pressed against the
sheet. A film transfer module 2 used for this purpose may consist
of a printing unit, a varnishing module, a base unit or another
type of processing station of a sheet-fed offset printing
machine.
[0017] The transfer nip 6 in the film transfer module 2 is formed
by a transfer cylinder 3 and an impression cylinder 4. The transfer
cylinder 3 may correspond to an offset blanket or plate cylinder of
a generally known offset printing unit or a varnishing module of a
sheet-fed offset printing machine. A strip guide for the transfer
film 5 is illustrated within the film transfer module 2. The device
may also be arranged within a printing unit in the form of an
integrated film transfer module FA.
[0018] In the basic arrangement shown in FIG. 1, the film transfer
module 2 has a film supply reel 8 on a side of the sheet feeder.
The film supply reel 8 has a rotary drive 7 operable under
appropriate control for ensuring a continuous, controlled supply of
the transfer film 5 to the film transfer module 2. Furthermore,
control equipment 14 such as deflection and tensioning rollers,
pneumatically actuated control elements, directional baffles or the
like are provided in the region of the film feeder and the film
delivery unit. This makes it possible always to guide the strip of
transfer film 5 without distortions and to maintain the tension of
the film strip constant relative to the transfer cylinder 3.
[0019] The transfer film 5 can be guided around the transfer
cylinder 3, wherein the transfer film 5 can be advantageously
supplied to and delivered from the transfer nip 6 from one side of
the film transfer module 2 only as depicted in broken lines in FIG.
1. In addition, the transfer film 5 essentially may also be guided
on the transfer cylinder 3 tangentially or be looped around said
transfer cylinder by a small angle circumferentially in the
transfer nip 6. The transfer film 5 is fed to one side of the film
transfer module and delivered to its opposite side. A film
collecting reel 9 for winding used film material is illustrated on
the outlet side of the printing unit. A controllable rotary drive 7
is also provided in this case.
[0020] Supplementary dryers 16 further may be arranged in a film
transfer module 2 or FA in order to pre-dry the adhesive on the
substrate and/or to completely dry the finished coating. The
coating quality can be monitored by means of an inspection device
17. Furthermore, cleaning devices R are provided in the film
transfer module 2 or FA in order to remove foreign matter that
drops off the film strip of the transfer film 5 and may adhere to
the cylinders.
[0021] In accordance with the invention, devices for the form of
modular holders are provided for accommodating film reels. FIG. 2
shows an embodiment of a device that includes a single receptacle
module 19 for film reels 20, 21 attached or associated with the
film transfer module 2 or FA. The receptacle module 19 is provided
with two shafts 22, 23 for holding respective film reels 20, 21.
One or more film reels 20, 21 can be held on each shaft 22, 23 in
accordance with processing tracks that lie parallel to one another
relative to the transport direction of the sheets to be coated.
[0022] The transfer film 5 is fed to the transfer nip 6 from one or
more film reels 20 that are held on the lower shaft 22 on the right
side of the film transfer module 2 or FA. The used transfer film 5
is returned from the transfer nip 6 to one or more film reels 21
held on the upper shaft 23 parallel to the film transfer module 2
or FA. All shafts 22, 23 may be provided with rotary drives in
order to drive or decelerate the film reels 20, 21.
[0023] A strip tensioning unit 24 is arranged beneath the lower
shaft 22 or the film reel 20 held thereon. The strip tensioning
unit 24 may be in the form of a retractable module having several
guide rollers 25 that can be adjusted in accordance with the
required strip tension of the film strip relative to its strip
path. The adjustment may be appropriately controllable as a
function of the strip tension. Depending on the number of film
reels 20 that are arranged on the shaft 22 in accordance with the
processing tracks, several strip tensioning units 24 may also be
arranged parallel to one another in the form of exchangeable
modules. Consequently, this arrangement makes it possible to
respectively operate with one film strip of the format width or
with several film strips of a partial format width.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment with a first
receptacle module 26 for film reels 27, 28, similar to the module
19 in FIG. 2, and a second receptacle module 26 for film reels 30,
31. The first receptacle module 26 is coupled or attached to the
film transfer module 2 or FA, and the second receptacle module 29
is coupled or attached to a printing or processing unit 32 of the
sheet processing machine that is arranged downstream thereof. Each
of the receptacle modules 26, 29 is respectively provided with two
shafts 33, 34 and 35, 36, respectively, for holding film reels 27,
28 and 30, 31. One or more film reels 27, 28 and 30, 31 again may
be held on each of the shafts 33, 34 and 35, 36 corresponding to
the processing tracks on the sheet to be printed that need to be
supplied. An again, each of the shafts 33, 34 and 35, 36 may be
provided with a rotary drive for driving or decelerating the film
reels 27, 28 and 30, 31.
[0025] The transfer film 5 is fed to the transfer nip 6 from one or
more film reels 27, 28 of the first receptacle module 26. In this
case, the transfer film 5 can be fed to the transfer nip 6 for each
processing track from either film reels 27 held on the lower shaft
33 or from film reels 28 held the upper shaft 34 on the right side
of the film transfer module 2 or FA. The used transfer film 5 is
returned from the transfer nip 6 to the second receptacle module 29
and its film reels 30, 31 held on upper and lower shafts 35, 36
parallel to the film transfer module 2 or FA.
[0026] In the first receptacle module 26, a strip tensioning unit
37 is arranged underneath the lower shaft 33 or the film reels 27
held thereon. The strip tensioning unit 37 again may be in the form
of a retractable module having several guiding rollers that can be
adjusted in accordance with the required strip tension of the film
strip relative to its strip path, the adjustment of which may be
appropriately controllable as a function of the strip tension.
[0027] Depending on the number of film reels 27, 28 that are
arranged on the shafts 33, 34 in accordance with the required
processing tracks, several strip tensioning units 37 may also be
arranged parallel to one another in the form of exchangeable
modules. In addition, one or more corresponding strip tensioning
unit(s) 38 is/are assigned to the upper shaft 34 or the film reels
28 held thereon.
[0028] In the latter-described arrangement, it is also possible to
respectively operate with one film strip of the format width or
with several film strips or transfer films that are arranged in
accordance with the required processing tracks and respectively
have a partial format width.
[0029] The arrangement also allows for a quick-change operating
mode concept in which several film reels can be used per processing
track. Furthermore, a device is created within the printing machine
that can be fitted with film reels and operated analogously to a
reel changer. For this purpose, a back up supply reel 28 for
transfer film 5 may be provided on a free shaft 34 in the
receptacle module 26 as depicted in FIG. 3, while the active film
reel 27 is processed. The film strip from the back up reel 28 can
be glued to the active film reel 27 at a standstill when or shortly
before the transfer film 5 is completely used up. This may be
effected manually or semi-automatically with the aid of auxiliary
means. Consequently, the new transfer film of the new film reel 28
can be directly pulled into the film transfer module 2 by means of
the transfer film being currently processed.
[0030] This also makes it possible to automate the foregoing
system. For this purpose, a sufficient quantity of transfer film 7
may be stored in a magazine, e.g., in connection with a strip
tensioning unit 37 or 38 for the transfer film being unwound from
the active film reel 27. The active film from the reel 27 can then
be glued to the new film reel 28 to be used. An appropriate
acceleration of the next film reel 28 to be used, if applicable, up
to the machine speed simplifies the exchange between old and new
film reel 27 and 28 to such a degree that a quasi-continuous reel
change takes place. This process can also be fully automated, as is
known in automatic reel changers of web-processing printing
machines. In this case, the conventional arrangement of the film
transfer module in the form of two printing towers according to
FIG. 1 is preserved.
[0031] It would also be possible to effect a double arrangement of
the film reels 30, 31 that wind up the film strip. If an automatic
reel change from a full wind-up reel to an empty wind-up reel also
is required, the processes for set-up and take-down can also be
carried out by the support personnel during idle times or with
minimal or even no production interruptions. The arrangement can be
additionally improved if the shafts 22 or 33, 33 and 34 or 35 and
36 of the receptacle modules 19 or 26 and 29 are loaded and
unloaded on their face sides, e.g., from the rear side of the
printing machine.
[0032] The strip tensioning units 37, 38 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and
3 extend over the entire width of the device. This makes it
possible to accommodate any arrangement and width of the film
strips or partial film strips during the film transfer.
Consequently, strip handling and guiding can be effected in a
completely variable fashion with respect to the position and width
of the partial film strips and their arrangement relative to the
position of the processing tracks on the printing substrate.
[0033] In order to additionally improve the arrangement, a device
may be provided for detecting the gluing point in the film strip to
the film guide. A corresponding sensor arrangement is positioned
between the film being unwound in the receptacle module 19 or 26
and the feed of the transfer film 5 to the transfer nip 6 in the
film transfer module 2. The detection of the gluing point makes it
possible to detect the sheet or sheets that contain the gluing
point or are situated upstream or downstream of the gluing point,
as well as to sort out and identify these sheets in the delivery
stack of the printing machine with the aid of corresponding
auxiliary means. For this purpose, the corresponding distances
traveled by the sheet and the transfer film can be calculated with
the aid of a computer. Alternatively, the gluing point can be
marked by means of an RFID-transponder or a magnetic strip and
detected with sensors. In this context, it is also possible to
transfer the marking element onto the sheets even in case there are
several film strips. Different copies on the sheet can then be
detected as faulty in an additional processing station, such that
copies with film gluing points can be reliably sorted out.
[0034] In addition, the used film strip can be transported away
downstream of the transfer nip by means of turning bars, such that
it is guided laterally out of the printing machine. In this case,
the film strip can be wound up above auxiliary assemblies arranged
beside the printing machine. The used film strip could also be
shredded and removed by suction at this location.
[0035] From the foregoing, it can be seen that the described device
makes it possible to operate with one film reel of the format width
or several narrower film reels over the format width in accordance
with the processing tracks required on the sheet to be printed. The
processing may take place in a synchronized or non-synchronized
fashion.
[0036] A film severing device, if applicable, with a film capture
device may be provided with the film transfer module in the
vicinity of the reel being unwound in order to detect a torn film.
The torn film detection is realized with the aid of the strip
tension measurement or control and/or a strip monitoring sensor
arrangement.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0037] 1 Application unit
[0038] 2 Film transfer module
[0039] 3 Transfer cylinder
[0040] 4 Impression cylinder
[0041] 5 Transfer film/film strip
[0042] 6 Transfer nip
[0043] 7 Reel drive
[0044] 8 Film supply reel
[0045] 9 Film collecting reel
[0046] 10 Press covering
[0047] 11 Inking/dampening unit
[0048] 12 Plate cylinder
[0049] 13 Offset blanket cylinder
[0050] 14 Guiding device
[0051] 15 Protective cover
[0052] 16 UV-dryer
[0053] 17 Monitoring system
[0054] 18 Dancer roll
[0055] 19 Receptacle module
[0056] 20 Film reel (wind-up)
[0057] 21 Film reel
[0058] 22 Shaft
[0059] 23 Shaft
[0060] 24 Strip tensioning module
[0061] 25 Guide roller
[0062] 26 Receptacle module
[0063] 27 Film reel
[0064] 28 Film reel
[0065] 29 Receptacle module
[0066] 30 Film reel (wind-up)
[0067] 31 Film reel (wind-up)
[0068] 32 Printing or processing unit
[0069] 33 Shaft
[0070] 34 Shaft
[0071] 35 Shaft
[0072] 36 Shaft
[0073] 37 Strip tensioning unit
[0074] 38 Strip tensioning unit
[0075] FA Film transfer module
* * * * *