Sheet processing machine, use of the sheet processing machine, method for conveying sheets and use of sheet guiding elements containing deionization devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a sheet-processing machine (1) with sheet-processing units and a delivery unit (4), wherein the last unit of the machine (1) is followed by a delivery unit (4) with a delivery chain circuit which, by means of a gripper carriage, takes the sheets from the last sheet guide cylinder (5) and conveys them to a delivery stack, wherein at least one mechanical sheet guide element is arranged in the delivery unit (4) below the sheet conveying path to the delivery stack, which guides the sheets after the last sheet guide cylinder on the way to the delivery stack, and wherein a deionization device (8) is associated with the first part of the sheet guide element. The invention also relates to a use of the sheet-processing machine (1), a method for conveying sheets in a sheet-processing machine (1), and a use of sheet guide elements containing deionization devices.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a foil sheet processing machine, a method for conveying sheets in a sheet processing machine and the use of a sheet guiding element containing a deionization device in a turning device of a foil sheet processing machine.

[0002] For example, in sheet-fed printing presses, especially at high speeds, increased electrostatic charging of the sheets can occur, especially in the printing units. This leads to a printed sheet being attracted to the following sheet guide plates due to the charge, even despite the air cushions, and the fresh ink on the underside smearing off the sheet guide plates.

[0003] In the reversing area, too, especially at high speeds, increased electrostatic charging of the printed sheets can occur. This causes the sheets to run wavy into the cylinder gussets between the reversing drum and the impression cylinder, or into the subsequent printing zone. During the smoothing process, the sheet can no longer be pushed along the impression cylinder surface and is folded.

[0004] EP 0 306 682 A2 discloses a device for conveying sheets through the printing zone of the blanket cylinder and impression cylinder of a sheet-fed rotary printing press. To neutralize the sheets, deionization bars are arranged upstream of the two ionization bars generating opposite charges. These deionization bars are directed onto the sheet from below and above, respectively, and both are supplied with a suitable alternating voltage, for example. This neutralization of the charges creates clear initial conditions for the subsequent positive charging of the sheet. To eliminate the frictional connection between the sheet and a cover, another deionization bar is arranged shortly before the transfer point of the printed sheet to the gripper systems of the sheet take-off drum. This arrangement is quite complex and increases the adhesion of the sheets to the cylinder.

[0005] EP 1 155 834 A2 discloses a device for removing electrical charges from flat material. The positive charge of a print substrate resting on a metal plate is compensated by first ionizer tips. Due to the remaining negative charge on the underside of the print substrate, the discharged surface of the substrate contacts another metal plate, with the negative charge being compensated by the downstream ionization bar. This complex arrangement is not suitable for sheet guide elements in sheet-processing machines, especially in turning devices of sheet-processing machines.

[0006] EP 1 679 187 B1 and US 2006 / 150841 A1 disclose a sheet guiding device with an electrically insulated, comb-shaped edge, wherein a discharge device for discharging the printing substrate sheets is arranged in the area of ​​the edge. The arrangement in the edge close to the printing cylinder results in reduced effectiveness. The edge, made of non-conductive material, is subject to increased wear, especially in the critical area of ​​the sheet transfer zone, and causes stability weaknesses in the event of a crash. Furthermore, the arrangement of the discharge device in the concentric guide path makes it difficult to maintain the optimal electrode spacing, which leads to reduced effectiveness.

[0007] DE 197 55 745 A1 discloses a device for electrostatically influencing signatures. A flat charging electrode is applied to the guide surface of a sheet guide plate. The device is designed to attract the sheets to the sheet guide plate and keep them suspended by a blast of air. In reality, a stable suspension height of the sheets cannot be maintained with such a device. Furthermore, the flat support electrode interferes with the nozzle distribution, which must be configured according to the sheet support requirements.

[0008] DE 100 38 774 A1 discloses a fan unit in a printing press that includes controllable ion fans. In a sheet turning device, a sheet of printing material can be guided and turned by means of a generated vacuum, adhering to the turning drum. For this purpose, fan units containing ion fans can be arranged within a cylinder or integrated into its surface. This is complex and not sufficiently effective.

[0009] DE 10 2007 049 643 A1 discloses a device for turning a sheet during conveyance through a printing press, wherein a braking arrangement for a sheet is arranged fixedly to the frame. The braking arrangement consists of a generator for an alternating magnetic field and a pneumatic guide device for the sheet. As the sheet passes the generator, a current is induced in the ferromagnetic material of the sheet or the printing ink on the sheet. A magnetic field emanating from the eddy current is intended to counteract the field of the generator, thus braking the sheet. The effectiveness of this principle is questionable. The sheets are also not discharged because no ions are emitted by the generator.

[0010] From DE 10 2010 028 702 A1 a turning device of a sheet-fed printing press is known, wherein an ionization device is assigned to the sheet transport path on or in connection with a storage drum, wherein the sheets guided on the storage drum or fed to the storage drum can be charged with electrical charges.

[0011] DE 100 56 018 A1 shows a device for supporting sheet guidance and sheet deposit, wherein a sheet guidance element blowing air encloses a deionization device inside.

[0012] DE 10 2008 001 165 A1 shows a sheet-guiding cylinder of a processing machine, wherein the cylinder contains a base body on which a cylinder jacket that is electrically insulated from the base body is arranged.

[0013] The invention is based on the object of creating an alternative sheet-processing machine or an alternative method for conveying sheets in a sheet-processing machine, or of improving sheet guidance in general in a sheet-processing machine, in particular a turning device of a sheet-processing machine. In particular, reliable sheet guidance is to be improved, especially in the area of ​​a turning device, especially with low grammage or film sheets.

[0014] According to the invention, the object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

[0015] The invention has the advantage of creating an alternative sheet-processing machine or an alternative method for conveying sheets in a sheet-processing machine. In particular, sheet guidance is further improved, particularly in the area of ​​a turning device, which can advantageously lead to a significant increase in the performance of a sheet-processing machine, for example, a sheet-fed printing press, in particular a sheet-fed offset printing press.

[0016] According to the invention, deionization of a sheet is achieved after detaching the sheet from a sheet guide cylinder, in particular a storage drum in a turning device

[0017] The machine can be suitable or equipped for processing low-grammage sheets and / or for processing foil sheets. The machine can process, in particular print and / or varnish, sheet material with a grammage of over 250 g / m², but preferably under 250 g / m², particularly preferably under 150 g / m², and most preferably under 80 g / m².

[0018] Preferably, one, two, or more discharge electrodes can be arranged in the region of the sheet guide element, in particular a sheet guide plate of a turning device. The arrangement can be in the form of a cassette. For example, one or more discharge electrodes can be placed on the sheet guide plate, or one or more discharge electrodes can be embedded in the sheet guide plate. Embedded electrodes are preferably positioned between insulators whose surfaces are in particular tangential to the sheet guide plate.

[0019] The sheet guiding element, in particular a sheet guiding plate, preferably delimits the long side of a turning space of a turning device at the bottom. The sheet guiding element, in particular a sheet guiding plate, is preferably spaced from the cylinder tangent between a storage drum and a turning drum such that the distance to the sheet corresponds to the optimal electrode spacing. Furthermore, a device, in particular a suction device on the storage drum, can be provided, which additionally clamps or tensions the sheet near the cylinder tangent between the storage drum and the turning drum.tightened, so that not only the optimal electrode distance is maintained over the entire arc length, but the influence can be exerted on the arc where it remains free from ion-binding contact with mass-laden machine parts on the top and bottom, so that the ions can pass into the activated deionizing ambient air with little hindrance, which ultimately leads to the maximum possible discharge of the arc.

[0020] Preferably, a discharge cassette is installed in the sheet guide element, in particular a sheet guide plate under the perfecting unit for discharging the sheets. This frees a discharged sheet from electrostatic forces and allows it to be flattened, allowing it to pass through the subsequent processing station or printing zone without waves or wrinkles.

[0021] For machines with perfecting devices, it is particularly advisable, especially when processing low-grammage or film substrates, to provide deionization devices in addition to the deionization device in the perfecting unit, in other or preferably all printing units and, if necessary, in other units and / or a delivery, since the substrate is always recharged in a printing zone. Preferably, sheet guide elements designed as sheet guide plates containing deionization devices are used for this purpose. These, at a suitable distance from the sheet conveyor path, ensure optimal unloading and guidance of the substrates.

[0022] The invention will be explained below by way of example. The accompanying drawings illustrate this schematically: Fig. 1: Section of a sheet-processing machine with a sheet guide element assigned to a sheet conveying system of a printing unit; Fig. 2: Enlarged view of a sheet guide plate with comb fingers and deionization device; Fig. 3: Perspective view of the sheet guide plate with comb fingers and deionization device; Fig. 4: Enlarged view of a sheet guide plate with a cover; Fig. 5: Cover for deionization device; Fig. 6: Perspective view of a sheet guide plate with a cover; Fig. 7: Section of a sheet-processing machine with a turning device with a sheet guide element having a deionization device; Fig. 8a: Embodiment of a sheet guide plate of the turning device with attached discharge electrode; Fig. 8b: Embodiment of a sheet guide plate of the turning device with integrated discharge electrodes; Fig.Fig. 9: Section of a sheet-processing machine with a final sheet-guiding cylinder and a delivery; Fig. 10: Sheet-guiding cylinder with downstream sprocket shaft and sheet guide plate arranged below the sprocket shaft; Fig. 11: Sheet-guiding cylinder with downstream sprocket shaft and sheet guide plate with a cover arranged below the sprocket shaft.

[0023] The Fig. 1 shows, for example, a section of a sheet-fed processing machine 1, in particular a sheet-fed printing press, here specifically a sheet-fed offset rotary printing press, preferably in a unit and series design, in particular for foil sheet processing. In a preferred embodiment, the machine 1 is a foil sheet-processing machine, in particular with corresponding equipment. An offset printing press 1 can accordingly be operated using the offset process, although other printing processes such as screen printing, inkjet, etc. can also be used in the machine 1. The machine 1 contains any number of sheet-processing units, which can be designed, for example, as a feed, priming, printing, coating, drying, inspection and / or finishing unit, for example as an inline processing unit.In the unit and series design, the successively arranged units of the machine 1 are preferably largely identical in construction, whereby, for example, identical substructure modules can be used. Furthermore, the machine 1 can contain a feeder for sheet feeding or an output device for outputting the processed sheets. Furthermore, the machine 1 could also have inline processing devices and / or one or more inline processing units, which can be designed, for example, as foil finishing units, cold foil units, calendering units, punching units, numbering units, screen printing units, perforating units, embossing units, etc. Between two units of the machine 1, in particular, a turning device 3 is arranged, with which the sheets are turned in a front-and-back printing mode. The machine 1 is preferably designed so that it can be switched between the front-and-back printing and front-and-back printing modes.

[0024] The machine 1 contains, in particular, at least two or a plurality of printing units 2 and / or one or more coating units for processing sheets. The printing units 2 of the machine 1 preferably each contain a transfer cylinder or blanket cylinder 6 and a forme cylinder or plate cylinder (not shown in detail). A blanket cylinder 6 of a printing unit 2 interacts with a respective sheet guide cylinder, in particular an impression cylinder 5. Between two sheet guide cylinders, in particular impression cylinders 5, a sheet conveying system, preferably a sheet conveying drum 7 or a transfer drum or transfer cylinder, is provided. The impression cylinders 5 and the sheet conveying drum 7 are double-sized here, and the blanket cylinders 6 and the plate cylinders are single-sized. Single-sized cylinders can accommodate approximately one sheet of maximum format, and double-sized cylinders can accommodate approximately two sheets of maximum format simultaneously on their circumference.In an alternative design, the sheet guiding cylinders, in particular printing cylinder 5, or transfer drums could also be single-sized, triple-sized or larger.

[0025] The double-sized printing cylinders 5 and the sheet conveyor drum 7 preferably each have two gripper systems for securing sheets to be conveyed, in particular foil sheets. These gripper systems, arranged diametrically opposite one another, for example in gripper channels, hold the sheet to be processed for conveyance. The gripper systems preferably have fixed gripper stops which interact with gripper fingers movable, for example, by means of control cams and cam rollers via roller levers, to clamp the sheets. The gripper stops of the printing cylinder 5 and the sheet conveyor drum 7 describe a gripper stop path during their respective rotation, which largely corresponds to the sheet conveyor path. During conveyance, the sheets can rest on the respective cylinder or the cylinder surface of a sheet guide cylinder, in particular the printing cylinder 5.The sheets are transferred between the sheet guide cylinders, in particular impression cylinders 5, and the sheet conveying systems, in particular sheet conveying drums 7, of the printing units 2 of the press 1, preferably in gripper engagement. The last unit of the press 1 is preferably followed by a delivery unit 4 with a delivery chain circuit, which, by means of gripper carriages, receives the sheets from the last sheet guide cylinder, in particular an impression cylinder 5, and conveys them to a delivery pile. For example, a last unit of the press 1 upstream of the delivery unit 4 can be designed as a printing, coating, drying, inspection, or finishing unit, such as an inline processing unit.

[0026] In the printing units 2 of the press 1, the blanket cylinders 6 are operatively connected to the plate cylinders and known inking or inking and dampening units are arranged, which apply the corresponding printing ink to a printing plate stretched on the respective plate cylinder. A plate cylinder is inked by at least one, but preferably several, rollers of the associated inking or inking and dampening unit during its rotation. As the plate cylinder rolls on the blanket cylinder 6, the printing ink is transferred according to the motif to the blanket cylinder 6 covered with a rubber blanket. A printing nip or printing zone is formed between a blanket cylinder 6 and an impression cylinder 5, through which the sheet to be printed is conveyed by the impression cylinder 5 by means of the gripper systems. In the printing nip, the printing ink is transferred from the blanket cylinder 6 to the sheet according to the motif.The printing cylinder 5 has in particular a full-surface surface for carrying the sheets to be conveyed, which forms the printing nip with the rubber blanket of the rubber cylinder 6.

[0027] A plate cylinder and a blanket cylinder 6 of a respective printing unit 2 of the press 1 preferably each have a cylinder journal on both sides, via which the cylinders are rotatably mounted in the frame of the respective printing unit 2. Both the plate cylinder and the blanket cylinder 6 preferably have bearer rings (not shown) arranged on both sides. The plate cylinder bearer rings are in contact with the blanket cylinder bearer rings during the printing process and roll against each other under pressure. The bearer rings are preferably dimensioned such that no significant torque transfer occurs between the cylinders during printing operation, i.e., no predetermined torque is transmitted via the bearer rings.

[0028] The machine 1 preferably has a drive gear train which, particularly preferably as a continuous drive gear train, drives the sheet guide cylinders, in particular impression cylinders 5, of the printing units 2. The sheet conveying systems, in particular the sheet conveying drums 7 or transfer drums or transfer cylinders, are preferably also driven by the drive gear train. The impression cylinders 5 and the sheet conveying drums 7 each have intermeshing gears which form the drive gear train. The drive gear train is driven by at least one main drive motor which is driven centrally or preferably in the region of the front units of the machine 1. For example, the main drive motor can be driven in the first first printing unit 2 immediately following the feed unit in the sheet conveying direction BFR, in particular on the gear assigned to the shaft of the first impression cylinder 5. The cylinders orDrums are driven about their respective rotational axes. Preferably, the blanket cylinders 6 of the printing units 2 are also driven by the drive gear train. Other rotating bodies or rollers of the machine 1 or the printing units 2 can also be driven, at least temporarily, by the drive gear train, and these can also be designed to be coupled to the drive gear train.

[0029] For example, an individual drive, in particular a plate cylinder direct drive, can be assigned to one or each plate cylinder of a printing unit 2. Direct drives are in particular individual drives whose rotors are aligned and concentric, preferably directly mounted to the assigned cylinders. During printing, the respective plate cylinder can then be electronically synchronized to track the blanket cylinder 6, which is preferably driven by the main drive motor via the drive gear train. For this purpose, a rotary encoder can be assigned to the plate cylinder and / or blanket cylinder 6, which can be connected to a quality control device, a control unit of the printing unit 2 and / or the machine control system. Alternatively, the drive of the plate cylinder(s) can also be effected via the drive gear train from the main drive motor, for example via couplings.

[0030] In a foil sheet processing machine 1, sheet substrate containing foil material or sheet substrate consisting of foil material is processed, in particular printed and / or varnished. For processing foil sheets, the sheet processing machine 1 has, in particular, suitable equipment. The foil sheet processing machine is preferably designed as a foil sheet printing machine at least for printing foil sheets. In particular, the machine 1 can have a foil sheet processing package that is specifically adapted to the foil material. For example, the machine 1 can contain at least one priming unit arranged upstream of the printing units 2, for example, and / or a special double sheet control device, and / or the gripper systems of the machine 1 can be adapted to the low thickness of the foil sheet material, and / or the printing inks and / or varnishes or dryers used can be adapted to the foil material.Film material can be PVC, PP, PS, or PET, for example. Furthermore, machine 1 could also process specialty papers, laminated papers, or cardboard.

[0031] Particularly during foil printing, the foil sheets are charged in each active printing unit 2 of the machine 1. In this case, the foil sheets are extremely statically charged again, particularly during each printing process. In particular, deionization devices 8 are therefore provided at least in the printing units 2 and / or coating units of the machine 1, which are arranged downstream of the printing nip of the first printing unit 2 of the machine 1 with respect to the sheet conveying direction BFR. Deionization devices 8 are preferably provided in all units of the machine 1 arranged downstream of the first printing unit 2. However, a deionization device 8 can also be assigned to a feed unit and / or the first printing unit 2 of the machine 1 in a further development. The deionization devices 8 are provided in particular in each printing unit 2 and / or coating unit of the machine 1, wherein in particular only one deionization device 8 is arranged in each printing unit 2 and / or coating unit.Further preferably, such a deionization device 8 is also provided in one or each additional unit, such as the coating, drying, inspection, or finishing unit. Charging devices for the targeted charging of cylinders or sheets are, in particular, not provided.

[0032] The sheets, in particular foil sheets, are conveyed or transported along a sheet conveying path by the sheet guiding cylinders, in particular impression cylinder 5, and the sheet conveying systems, in particular sheet conveying drums 7, of the machine 1. A sheet guiding element beginning in the region of the sheet guiding cylinder, in particular impression cylinder 5, is provided, in particular below and along the sheet conveying path in one or all printing units 2. Such a sheet guiding element is preferably designed, in particular, as a metallic sheet guiding plate 9, which extends, in particular, across the width of the machine. In particular, such a sheet guiding plate 9 has comb fingers 10 in the region facing the sheet guiding cylinder, in particular impression cylinder 5.With regard to the sheet conveying direction BFR, the comb fingers 10 are each followed by a deionization device 8, wherein the comb fingers 10 of the sheet guide plate 9 are particularly partially or entirely made of metallic material. Furthermore, the comb-shaped regions of the sheet guide elements could be provided with blast air openings and, in particular, could be convertible to blast air, so that a pneumatic force acting on the sheets can be generated in these regions. In particular, the sheets, in particular foil sheets, could therefore be peeled off the outer surface of the upstream sheet guiding cylinder, in particular impression cylinder 5, by the pneumatically acting comb fingers 10. Accordingly, blast air openings that can be subjected to overpressure are assigned to the sheet guiding surfaces of the comb fingers 10. In particular, the overpressure above ambient pressure exerts a blast air effect on the sheets conveyed along the sheet conveying path.

[0033] A sheet guiding element, in particular a sheet guiding plate 9, beneath a sheet conveying system, in particular a sheet conveying drum 7, can consist of a single-piece plate or can be composed of several sections. For example, an upstream guiding piece can form a first area and a downstream guiding piece can form a second area for sheet guidance. For example, a first section or partial plate can extend from the jacket of the sheet guiding cylinder, in particular impression cylinder 5, to vertically below the axis of rotation of the sheet conveying drum 7. A second section or partial plate can adjoin it in the sheet conveying direction BFR and reach up to the jacket surface of the downstream sheet guiding cylinder, in particular impression cylinder 5. A deionization device 8 is assigned in particular to the first section of the sheet guiding element. In particular, the deionization device 8 is assigned to the sheet guiding element orthe sheet guiding surface of the sheet guiding element in the region of the upstream sheet guiding cylinder, in particular printing cylinder 5. Particularly preferably, the deionization device 8 forms the sheet guiding surface in its arrangement region.

[0034] In particular, the section or a second region of the sheet guiding element, in particular sheet guiding plate 9, arranged downstream with respect to the sheet conveying direction BFR, is designed concentrically to the axis of rotation of the sheet conveying system, in particular the sheet conveying drum 7. In particular, the sheet guiding surface of the second section of the sheet guiding element, in particular sheet guiding plate 9, is designed concentrically around the axis of rotation or the gripper impact path of the sheet conveying drum 7. The first section of the sheet guiding element, in particular sheet guiding plate 9, can have a sheet guiding surface in or from the area of ​​the sheet guiding cylinder, in particular impression cylinder 5, that continuously approaches the axis of rotation of the sheet conveying system, in particular sheet conveying drum 7. The sheet guiding element is thus designed spirally. The first section can also be designed concentrically around an axis spaced from the axis of rotation of the sheet conveying drum 7.

[0035] In particular, at least one fan 14 can be assigned to a sheet guiding element, in particular a sheet guiding plate 9, which fan can be controlled in particular to generate blowing and / or suction air. Preferably, a fan 14 is arranged on the sheet guiding element, in particular a sheet guiding plate 9, in such a way that it generates blowing and / or suction air in the region of the sheet guiding surface of the sheet guiding element, in particular the sheet guiding plate 9. Corresponding openings, for example Venturi nozzles, are assigned to the sheet guiding element, in particular the sheet guiding plate 9, facing the sheet conveying path. Outside of any openings provided, however, the sheet guiding element, in particular the sheet guiding plate 9, preferably has a closed sheet guiding surface.

[0036] In particular, a sheet guiding element, in particular sheet guiding plate 9, can be designed such that a sheet guiding surface extends in the region of the outer surface of the sheet guiding cylinder, in particular impression cylinder 5, starting as far as the downstream sheet guiding cylinder, in particular impression cylinder 5, below the sheet conveying system, in particular sheet conveying drum 7. In this case, a first region of the sheet guiding element, in particular sheet guiding plate 9, starting in the region of the upstream sheet guiding cylinder, in particular impression cylinder 5, can have the comb fingers 10 and be spaced further from the axis of rotation of the sheet conveying system, in particular sheet conveying drum 7, than a subsequent second region of the sheet guiding element, in particular sheet guiding plate 9. The comb fingers 10 and the first region of the sheet guiding plate 9 preferably form a largely closed sheet guiding surface for the sheets.

[0037] The first region of the sheet guide plate 9 can begin in a rotation angle range of the sheet conveyor drum 7 that is spaced between 15° and 25°, in particular approximately 20°, from the transfer center formed by the gripper closure between the upstream printing cylinder 5 and the sheet conveyor drum 7. The sheet guide plate 9 or the comb fingers 10 can be arranged at a distance of, for example, 2 mm to 50 mm, in particular between 25 mm and 30 mm, from the sheet conveyor path formed by the gripper impacts of the sheet conveyor drum 7. The first region of the sheet guide plate 9 preferably steadily approaches the rotation axis of the sheet conveyor drum 7 or the sheet conveyor path.

[0038] In a second region of the sheet guide plate 9 adjoining the first region of the sheet guide plate 9 in the sheet conveying direction BFR, the sheets are preferably guided concentrically to the axis of rotation of the sheet conveying drum 7 or guided parallel to the gripper impact path of the sheet conveying drum 7 or parallel to the sheet conveying path. The second region of the sheet guide plate 9 can, for example, be designed at a distance of 5 mm to 10 mm from the sheet conveying path. The second region of the sheet guide plate 9 can, for example, begin in a rotation angle range of 60° to 90° distance from the transfer center between the printing cylinder 5 and the sheet conveying drum 7. The sheet guide element, in particular the sheet guide plate 9, can thus be designed such that its first region upstream with respect to the sheet conveying direction BFR is at a multiple, for example double or triple, distance from the gripper impact path orto the sheet conveying path compared to the downstream second area.

[0039] Preferably, a deionization device 8 is arranged in the first region of the sheet guide plate 9, wherein, if comb fingers 10 are provided, said deionization device is arranged downstream of the comb fingers 10 in the sheet conveying direction BFR. Comb fingers 10 can, for example, extend over a rotation angle range of the sheet conveying drum 7 of approximately 5°. A deionization device 8 can be directly adjacent to the comb fingers 10 or extend over a rotation angle range of the sheet conveying drum 7 of at least approximately 10°. The sheet guiding surface of the sheet guide plate 9 formed by the comb fingers 10 and / or the deionization device 8, as viewed in the sheet conveying direction BFR, in particular steadily approaches the axis of rotation of the sheet conveying drum 7 or its gripper impact path or the sheet conveying path.For example, the first region of the sheet guide plate 9 can transition into the second region within a rotation angle range of the sheet conveyor drum 7 of, for example, approximately 60°, which is largely concentric with the sheet conveyor path. The machine 1 can have additional units or printing units 2, wherein some or preferably all units or printing units 2 comprise or contain sheet guide elements, in particular sheet guide plates 9, for sheet guidance. The sheet guide elements, in particular sheet guide plates 9, of the machine 1 are in particular structurally identical.

[0040] The Fig. 2 shows an enlarged view of a sheet guide element designed as a sheet guide plate 9 with a deionization device 8. The deionization device 8 here has a cassette arranged in the sheet guide plate 9 with at least one discharge electrode 12. The cassette can preferably be embedded in the sheet guide plate 9 below a sheet conveyor system, in particular the sheet conveyor drum 7, and can also have several preferably identical discharge electrodes 12. The cassette here preferably has two discharge electrodes 12. The cassette is preferably arranged downstream of metallic comb fingers 10, wherein an upstream guide surface section 9.1 can also be formed between the comb fingers 10 and the cassette. In the sheet conveying direction BFR, a downstream guide surface section 9.2 of the sheet guide plate 9 is preferably directly adjacent to the cassette of the deionization device 8.In this arrangement, the upstream guide surface section 9.1 and the downstream guide surface section 9.2 are part of a common guide surface of the sheet guiding element 9. Particularly preferably, the upstream guide surface section 9.1 and / or the downstream guide surface section 9.2 are also made of metal.

[0041] The sheet guiding element, in particular the sheet guiding plate 9, preferably encloses the sheet conveying system, in particular the sheet conveying drum 7, for example a transfer drum without a surface area, in a spiral shape. This means that the front part of the sheet guiding element, in particular the sheet guiding plate 9, is held at a greater distance from a rotational axis of the sheet conveying system, in particular the sheet conveying drum 7, than the subsequent part of the sheet guiding element, in particular the sheet guiding plate 9. Subsequently, the sheet guiding element, in particular the sheet guiding plate 9, preferably transitions tangentially into a concentric radius to the sheet conveying system, in particular the sheet conveying drum 7, in order to achieve the optimal electrode spacing in the areas of the furthest distance from the guide plate spiral, excluding the comb fingers 10.This means that the guide surface of the sheet guiding element 9 approaches the radius of the sheet conveying drum 7 in the sheet conveying direction BFR and then guides around it concentrically to the radius of the sheet conveying drum 7.

[0042] The Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the sheet guiding element, in particular sheet guiding plate 9, with comb fingers 10 and deionization device 8. The comb fingers 10 facing a sheet guiding cylinder, in particular the impression cylinder 5, contain spaced-apart, in particular metallic, finger elements between which the movable gripper fingers of the gripper systems of the sheet guiding cylinder, in particular the impression cylinder 5, can be guided. The comb fingers 10 can, for example, be arranged at a distance of a few millimeters, for example between 1 and 10 mm, preferably between 2 mm and 3 mm, from the outer surface of the impression cylinder 5. With respect to the sheet conveying direction BFR, the deionization device 8 is arranged downstream of the comb fingers 10. The deionization device 8 preferably contains both insulators 11 and one or more discharge electrodes 12 provided with electrical connections.The discharge electrodes 12 are connected to a controllable generator, in particular a high-voltage generator.

[0043] The insulators 11 of the deionization device 8 are each arranged transversely to the sheet conveying direction BFR, preferably across the entire width of the sheet guide plate 9, and have surfaces arranged perpendicular to the sheet conveying path or to the sheet guiding surface of the sheet guide plate 9. Each discharge electrode 12 is arranged here, in particular, between two insulators 11. A front insulator 11 with respect to the sheet conveying direction BFR adjoins, with its vertical or tangential surface, the comb fingers 10, in particular metallic ones. Downstream of the deionization device 8, the sheet guide plate 9 preferably directly adjoins a vertical or tangential surface of a rear insulator 11, or the last insulator 11 with respect to the sheet conveying direction BFR.

[0044] The Fig. 4 shows an enlarged view of a sheet guiding element having a cover, in particular a sheet guiding plate 9. The complete deionization device 8 or the complete discharge cassette can be arranged interchangeably in the sheet guiding plate 9. Alternatively, the deionization device 8 can also be left in the sheet guiding element, for example rigidly or by displacement, wherein a cover, for example a cover part 13, can also close the opening. For example, the discharge-generating elements are covered by a cover made of non-conductive material, in particular plastic, which in particular has openings or cutouts. The cutouts are preferably arranged such that the charge carriers of the discharge electrodes 12 are not affected.An arrangement above the discharge cassette is preferably such that the ions exit through preferably narrow slots and can thus reach the underside of the arc.

[0045] The Fig. 5 shows, for example, a cover for a deionization device 8 of a sheet-processing machine, as described above. The cover is arranged as a cover part 13 transversely to the sheet conveying direction BFR above the deionization device 8 (not shown), in particular a discharge electrode 12, and is in particular made entirely of a non-conductive material, in particular plastic. The cover part 13 has a plurality of preferably uniformly arranged elongated holes oriented transversely to the sheet conveying direction BFR, which here, for example, have a dimension of 25 mm transversely to the sheet conveying direction BFR and 8 mm in the sheet conveying direction BFR. In this case, in particular, each elongated hole is assigned a positive ion-emitting and a negative ion-emitting electrode tip of the deionization device 8, in particular the discharge electrode 12.The electrode tips indicated here act through the elongated holes, but in particular do not protrude into the arc guide surface of the cover. The electrode tips are therefore preferably arranged below the surface or at a distance from the arc guide surface of the cover part 13. A discharge electrode 12 here has alternating positive and negative ion-emitting electrode tips, in particular arranged at equal distances from one another, which can operate with or without blast air support.

[0046] The Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a sheet guiding element having a cover part 13, in particular a sheet guiding plate 9. The cover part 13 is inserted into the sheet guiding plate 9 in such a way that a preferably continuous sheet guiding surface is formed which is as trouble-free as possible. Blowing air openings in the sheet guiding element, in particular the sheet guiding plate 9, can be provided and are not shown. However, Venturi nozzles are preferably provided in the sheet guiding surface of the sheet guiding element, in particular the sheet guiding plate 9, blowing to the side. These are particularly preferably arranged on the inlet and / or outlet side with a blowing direction component towards the edges of the sheet guiding surface. This enables a resulting balanced floating height of the sheets on an air cushion which lies approximately in the gripper impact path, i.e.that the pressure forces of the flow on the bend are merely a counterpart to its surface load, which, for example, is only 1 Pa for a 100 g / m 2< bend and almost 0 Pa for, for example, a 28 g / m 2< bend. The forces acting on the bend through the Venturi nozzles are therefore dependent on the flow gap between the bend guide surface and the bend. If there is a deviation from the balanced levitation height, the force effect always aligns back to this balanced levitation height. The increase in pressure forces below the levitation height as the bend approaches the bend guide surface is comparatively higher than the increase in suction forces as it moves away from the bend guide surface beyond the levitation height.

[0047] The mechanism of action is that disruptions are caused by the extreme adhesion forces resulting from the printing pressure between the sheet, especially the foil sheet, and the sheet guide cylinder, especially the impression cylinder 5. When transferring the sheet from the sheet guide cylinder, especially the impression cylinder 5, to the sheet conveyor system, especially the sheet conveyor drum 7, the sheet is difficult to detach because the pull-off forces only act tangentially. As the sheet progresses, the pull-off forces in the sheet cause it to intersect the sheet conveyor drum radius as a secant, and the resulting "excess" of unwound sheet length allows the sheet adhering to the impression cylinder surface to continue following the impression cylinder 5.This increases the only truly detaching radial components of the previously only tangential pull-off force, but these are still small, and the sheet continues to follow the surface of the printing cylinder until the sheet's detachment loop is peeled off by the pneumatic forces of the comb plate, particularly without mechanical contact. The air cushion generated by the Venturi nozzles cannot contribute to the sheet's detachment from printing cylinder 5, as the suction potential of the air cushion is not effective on the regular sheet path or the balanced levitation height.

[0048] Furthermore, when the sheet is pulled off the sheet guide cylinder, in particular impression cylinder 5, the electrostatic charge attracts the sheet to the sheet guiding element, in particular sheet guiding plate 9, and it would come into contact with the sheet. The air cushion provided by the sheet guiding plate 9, as a surface load, would not be able to create an equilibrium and therefore a state of suspension against the unevenly distributed field forces of the electrostatic charge. This would lead to areas of intensive contact with the sheet guiding plate 9. However, any intensive contact with the sheet guiding plate 9 leads to visible scratches in the surface of the sheets, in particular foil sheets, and to smearing, especially on paper sheets. However, the special design of the sheet guiding element, in particular a sheet guiding plate 9, described above, provides effective measures to maintain the distance and ensure scratch-free or evenSmear-free guidance of sheets, in particular foil sheets, on the sheet guide surface under a sheet conveyor system, in particular the sheet conveyor drum 7, after the sheet has been detached from the sheet guide cylinder, in particular the impression cylinder 5. The solution created prevents contact of the sheet, in particular foil sheets, with the sheet guide element, in particular the sheet guide plate 9, specifically with the comb and the following guide surface sections, and thus prevents scratches or smearing.

[0049] Furthermore, a control system or an automatic sensor-controlled regulation of the one, several or all of the discharge electrodes 12 of one, several or all of the deionization devices 8 of the machine 1 can be provided in the machine 1. For example, individual discharge electrodes 12 or several discharge electrodes 12 of a deionization device 8 or of several or all of the deionization devices 8 of the machine can be connected to a generator, in particular a high-voltage generator. The discharge effect can be adjusted by controlling the generator. For example, the intensity of the deionization device 8 can be controlled or regulated using measuring technology in such a way that it is possible to control or regulate the discharge in a way that is adapted to the existing static on the sheet, in particular the film sheet.Furthermore, particularly in the case of interchangeable unloading cassettes, these can be arranged at a different location on the machine 1. In particular, such a cassette or deionization device 8 can be used in the turning area. The unloading cassettes can thus be designed to be interchangeable or modular in the machine 1.

[0050] The Fig. 7 shows a section of a sheet-processing machine 1, equipped, for example, for processing foil sheets, in particular as described above, with a turning device 3 and with a sheet-guiding element. The turning device 3 is designed here as a three-drum turning device and contains a transfer drum 15, a storage drum 16, and a turning drum 17. The turning device 3 is preferably arranged between printing units 2 of the machine 1, with a sheet-guiding cylinder, in particular an impression cylinder 5, of a printing unit 2 being arranged directly upstream of the transfer drum 15, and a sheet-guiding cylinder, in particular an impression cylinder 5, of the following printing unit 2 being arranged downstream of the turning drum 17. The impression cylinders 5 are in turn operatively connected to a blanket cylinder 6, and this is further operatively connected to a plate cylinder (not shown) in the printing units 2, as described above.Machine 1 can be switched between the straight printing and perfecting printing modes, whereby in the straight printing mode the sheet is conveyed without turning by transferring the leading edge of the sheet between the drums.

[0051] The transfer drum 15 and the turning drum 17 of the turning device 3 are, for example, single-sized, and the storage drum 16 is, for example, double-sized. For sheet conveying, the transfer drum 15 has a gripper system (not shown) arranged in a gripper channel for clamping the sheets at the leading edge. The sheets are transferred at the gripper closure to a gripper system (likewise not shown) of the storage drum 16, which is arranged in a gripper channel. From the storage drum 16, the sheets are clamped at the leading edge and fed to the turning drum 17 while the storage drum 16 rotates. The turning drum 17 contains a gripper system (likewise not shown) for sheet conveying, in particular grippers and / or suction cups, which are pivotably mounted in the turning drum 17. Alternatively, the turning drum 17 can also contain a pincer gripper system for taking over or conveying the sheets. Other cylinder arrangements orOther cylinder sizes are also possible. For example, the transfer drum 15 can be double-sized.

[0052] In straight printing mode, the sheets are picked up by the gripper system of the turning drum 17 in a transfer center at the leading edge by a gripper system of the storage drum 16. When a sheet is turned in perfecting mode, this sheet is guided past the transfer center by the storage drum 16 and gripped at the trailing edge by the gripper system of the turning drum 17. This gripped sheet is then turned as the turning drum 17 rotates according to the trailing edge turning principle, so that its old trailing edge becomes the new leading edge upon reversal of its movement, and the old leading edge lying on the storage drum 16 becomes the new trailing edge. To assist sheet guidance, particularly in straight printing mode, a sheet guide element is assigned to the turning device 3.For example, a sheet guide element, particularly designed as a sheet guide plate 9, can be arranged below the storage drum 16 and the turning drum 17 to assist sheet guidance. The sheet guide element, particularly sheet guide plate 9, can also be designed, for example, as a sheet guide element that can be displaced depending on the operating mode, particularly sheet guide plate 9. Such a displaceable sheet guide element, particularly sheet guide plate 9, can be positioned along the sheet conveying path for sheet guidance, at least in the perfecting mode.

[0053] The storage drum 16, not shown in detail, can, for example, have format-adjustable shell segments that interlock like a comb when the format is adjusted and form the sheet-supporting shell surface. The two gripper systems of the double-sized storage drum 16, arranged diametrically opposite one another, for the leading edges of the sheets are located on preferably fixed front shell segments. The rear shell segments, which are adjustable relative to the front shell segments, can each have fixing systems, in particular suction systems, for example rotary suction cups and / or tensioning suction cups, for taking over and guiding the trailing edges of the sheets. By means of rotary suction cups, the sheets can be tensioned, in particular lengthwise and / or crosswise, while lying on the storage drum 16 during sheet conveyance from the transfer drum 15 to the turning drum 17.Even when the turned sheet is pulled off the storage drum 16 by the turning drum 17, the sheet can preferably be tightened by the fixing systems, in particular suction systems such as the rotary suction cups or also tightening suction cups in the tines of the rear adjustable casing segments of the storage drum 16.

[0054] To support sheet guidance in perfecting and perfecting, the sheet guiding element arranged below the storage drum 16 and the turning drum 17 can be designed to be adjustable, so that its sheet guiding surface is aligned at least approximately parallel to the sheet conveying path. The sheet conveying path corresponds at least approximately to a surface which is tangential to both the outer surface of the storage drum 16 and the turning drum 17. The sheet guiding surface of the sheet guiding element, in particular of the sheet guiding plate 9, can also be slightly approximated to the turning drum 17. The sheet guiding element, in particular the sheet guiding plate 9, has, at least in some regions, a flat guide surface 9.3, which is particularly preferably located below the turning drum 17, in particular below the rotational axis of the turning drum 17. The sheet guiding element, in particular the flat guide surface 9.3 of the sheet guide plate 9, a deionization device 8 is assigned. The deionization device 8 has at least one discharge electrode 12 for discharging a sheet. The deionization device 8, in particular the at least one discharge electrode 12, ensures that a discharged sheet is freed from electrostatic forces, so that it can be smoothed and passed through the subsequent printing nip or printing zone without waves or wrinkles.

[0055] The Fig. 8a shows an embodiment of a sheet guide plate 9 of the turning device 3 with an attached discharge electrode 12. The discharge electrode 12 is arranged transversely to the sheet conveying direction BFR, preferably across the machine width, and is provided with corresponding electrical connections. The discharge electrode 12 is preferably assigned to the flat guide surface 9.3 of the sheet guide plate 9, wherein an area approximating the turning drum 17 can adjoin the flat guide surface 9.3 in the sheet conveying direction BFR. Preferably, at least one fan 14 can be assigned to the sheet guide element, in particular the sheet guide plate 9, which fan can be controlled in particular to generate blowing and / or suction air. Corresponding openings, for example Venturi nozzles, are assigned to the sheet conveying path to the sheet guide element, in particular the sheet guide plate 9. In particular, suction and / or blowing air can be supplied by the fan 14 at least in the area of ​​the flat guide surface 9.3 of the sheet guide plate 9. The fan 14 can be provided in the area of ​​the discharge electrode 12 on the opposite side of the sheet guide plate 9. The sheet guide element, in particular the sheet guide plate 9, can also be designed as a single piece or consist of several sections, whereby a fan 14 can also be assigned to an upstream section arranged largely below the storage drum 16.

[0056] The Fig. 8b shows an embodiment of a sheet guide plate 9 of the turning device 3 with an integrated deionization device 8. The deionization device 8 can have a cassette, which is particularly designed to be replaceable and is embedded in the sheet guide plate 9. The deionization device 8 preferably has a plurality of discharge electrodes 12, which are arranged at a distance from one another transversely to the sheet conveying direction BFR, preferably across the machine width. Between the discharge electrodes 12, which are preferably embedded here, insulators 11 are preferably positioned, the surfaces of which end tangentially with the sheet guide plate 9, in particular as already described above. The sheet guide element, in particular sheet guide plate 9, can preferably be assigned at least one fan 14 for generating blown and / or suction air, in particular at least in the region of the flat guide surface 9.3, as described above.Furthermore, a cover can be provided for the at least one recessed discharge electrode 12 to create a largely closed sheet guide surface in the region of the discharge electrode 12. A cover part (not shown) having openings adapted to one or more discharge electrodes 12 can be assigned to the sheet guide plate 9, in particular directly above the discharge electrode 12 or discharge electrodes 12, in particular as described above. The cover part (not shown) can be designed or arranged as described above.

[0057] One of the described sheet guiding elements, in particular such a sheet guiding plate 9, is assigned to the transfer area between the storage drum 16 and the turning drum 17 in the machine 1. A sheet guiding plate 9 delimits in particular the long side of the turning area downwards and is arranged at a distance from the cylinder tangent between the storage drum 16 and the turning drum 17 such that the distance to the sheet corresponds to the optimal electrode distance. Furthermore, the fixing systems, in particular suction systems, for example rotary suction cups and / or tensioning suction cups, of the storage drum 16 can fix the sheet lying on the storage drum 16, so that the sheet is additionally stretched or taut near the cylinder tangent between the storage drum 16 and the turning drum 17.This ensures that not only is the optimal electrode spacing maintained across the entire arc length, but the influence can also be applied where the arc remains free of ion-binding contact with grounded machine parts on both the top and bottom sides. This advantageously ensures that the ions can pass into the activated deionizing ambient air with minimal hindrance.

[0058] The Fig. 9 shows, for example, a section of a sheet-processing machine 1, in particular a foil-sheet processing machine 1, for example as described above, with a delivery 4. The machine 1 is accordingly preferably equipped for foil-sheet processing and in particular is designed as a foil-sheet processing machine, as already described above. The delivery 4 contains a sheet-conveying sheet conveyor system (not shown in further detail), which takes the sheets processed in the machine 1, for example printed and / or varnished, from the last sheet guide cylinder and conveys or transports them to a delivery stack (not shown in further detail). This sheet conveyor system is preferably designed as a chain conveyor system with two delivery chains, each guided laterally on the frame of the delivery 4, between which gripper carriages are arranged equally spaced and parallel to one another.The gripper carriages feature sheet-holding systems that grip the leading edges of the sheets being conveyed. The gripper carriages can pick up the leading edges of the sheets from the last sheet-guiding cylinder of machine 1 at the gripper closure. The continuously driven and guided gripper carriages feature movable gripper fingers, particularly against fixed gripper impacts, for picking up the sheets, preferably at the leading edge, from the last sheet-guiding cylinder of machine 1.

[0059] In delivery 4, the gripper carriages are guided by the delivery chains on a gripper carriage track in the sheet conveying direction BFR up to above the delivery pile, where the gripper carriages release the sheets for stacking. To release the sheets, the clamped leading edges of the sheets are released by lifting the gripper fingers from the gripper stops permanently attached to the gripper carriage. The movement of the gripper fingers can be controlled by control cams and control levers via a gripper shaft on which the gripper fingers are permanently attached. With regard to the sheet conveying direction BFR, a sheet brake is preferably arranged upstream of the delivery pile, which decelerates the sheets to be deposited from machine speed to stacking speed after they are released. After deceleration by the sheet brake, the sheets are aligned, for example, on leading, trailing and / or side edge stops and neatly deposited on the delivery pile.The delivery pile is lowered by a pile lifting drive during the sheet depositing process in such a way that the delivery pile surface forms an at least approximately constant deposit level for the incoming sheets.

[0060] On the sheet conveyor path to the delivery pile, at least one mechanical sheet guiding element is arranged below the sheet conveyor path in the delivery 4, which guides the sheets after the last sheet guiding cylinder on their way to the delivery pile. The sheets, which have been fully printed on both sides in the machine 1, for example, are conveyed from the last sheet guiding cylinder to the delivery pile by the endlessly rotating gripper carriages of the chain conveyor system. The gripper stops rotating with the gripper carriages describe a gripper stop path which largely corresponds to the sheet conveyor path or limits and thus defines it on one side. The last sheet guiding cylinder of the machine 1 is in particular a printing cylinder 5 of the last printing, coating, drying, inspection or finishing unit, which in particular has an at least approximately closed outer surface.The printing cylinder 5 is preferably double-sized and contains two gripper systems arranged diametrically opposite one another in gripper channels, as already described above. These gripper systems also have, in particular, movable gripper fingers corresponding to the gripper stops that limit or define the sheet conveying path. The leading edges of the sheets are picked up by these gripper systems by the gripper carriages of the chain conveyor system in the gripper closure. To pick up the leading edge of the sheet, the gripper fingers of the printing cylinder 5 are spaced apart from the gripper fingers of the gripper carriages. This pick-up of the leading edge of the sheet takes place in a transfer center, in which the leading edge of the sheet is briefly held by both grippers.

[0061] The chain conveyor system in the delivery 4 has a sprocket shaft arranged adjacent to the last sheet guiding cylinder, in particular printing cylinder 5, with two coaxial and spaced-apart sprockets 18, which are firmly connected to the sprocket shaft. The delivery chains run over the sprockets 18 and can be driven by them in rotation. The sprocket shaft can be driven, for example, via the continuous drive gear train together with sheet conveying systems and sheet guiding cylinders in the units or printing units 2 of the machine 1. Below the sprocket shaft, between the sprockets 18, is the sheet guiding element, which is preferably designed as a sheet guiding plate 9 extending across the machine width and arranged between the side walls. This sheet guiding plate 9 preferably has an at least approximately closed surface for the sliding and / or floating guidance of the sheets.

[0062] The sheet guide plate 9 can be provided with an ink-repellent coating. Furthermore, nozzle openings, in particular Venturi nozzles, can be assigned to the sheet guide plate 9 for pneumatically guiding the sheets.

[0063] For example, one or more blow boxes or fans 14 can be arranged below the sheet guide plate 9, which can also be formed from joined partial guide plates, via which blow boxes or fans 14 the blow air nozzles of the sheet guide plate 9 can be supplied with blow air and / or suction air, so that a supporting air cushion can be formed between the sheet guide plate 9 and the sheets conveyed or transported by the gripper carriages, in particular for perfecting. The sheet guide element, in particular sheet guide plate 9, can be assigned a preferably deactivatable smoothing device. Such a smoothing device can be deactivated or is not used when sheets with fresh ink, for example in perfecting or foil sheets, are transported or guided. The sheet guide elements, in particular sheet guide plates 9, of the machine 1 are in particular designed to be identical.To prevent sheets from sticking together on the delivery pile, dryers and / or powdering devices (not shown) can be provided in the delivery 4. It is also possible to integrate a coolant circuit into the sheet guide element to control or regulate the heating of the sheet guide element.

[0064] The sprocket shaft in the delivery 4, in particular, has no outer surface for supporting the sheets. In a further development, the sprocket shaft can contain, in addition to the sprockets 18 for the rotating delivery chains, two or more support disks or suction disks or even individual suction cups, such as corner suction cups. For example, the support disks can be designed with or without corner suction cups, or the suction disks can be axially displaceable and adjustable to the respective sheet side edges. Such disks can also be axially adjusted automatically and / or independently of one another. Such disks contain, in particular, circumferential support surfaces which have a minimal axial extension. Due to this axial extension of the support disks, a respective sheet can be fixed on the outer surface of the sheet guide cylinder, in particular the impression cylinder 5, during sheet transfer.A sheet drop is thus avoided as long as the sheet is located between the discs and the last sheet-guiding cylinder, in particular, impression cylinder 5. Preferably, the sheets are pressed against the outer surface of impression cylinder 5 in small press gaps by support elements arranged on brackets. The support elements can have elastic surfaces. Such discs are preferably also double-sized and can preferably have recesses for the rotating gripper carriages of the chain conveyor system.

[0065] The Fig. 10 shows a last sheet guiding cylinder, in particular impression cylinder 5, of machine 1 with a downstream sprocket 18 of the sprocket shaft and a sheet guiding element arranged below the sprocket shaft, in particular a sheet guiding plate 9 described above. A connecting line is drawn between the rotational axis of the sprocket 18 and the rotational axis of the impression cylinder 5, on which line the transfer center is located in the transfer area. Arranged below the sprocket shaft is the sheet guiding plate 9, which in the area facing the impression cylinder 5 has, in particular, metallic comb fingers 10, in particular as already described for the printing unit 2. In the area of ​​the sheet guiding cylinder, in particular impression cylinder 5, the sheet guiding plate 9 is preferably spaced further from the rotational axis of the sprocket shaft or the sprocket 18 than the adjoining areas of the sheet guiding plate 9 in the sheet conveying direction BFR.The comb fingers 10 can, for example, be arranged at a distance of a few millimeters, for example between 1 and 10 mm, preferably between 2 mm and 3 mm, from the outer surface of the printing cylinder 5. In particular, the sheet guide plate 9 in the delivery 4 is designed to be at least approximately identical in construction to the sheet guide plates 9 in the printing units 2 or units of the press 1. This preferably ensures the same favorable sheet guidance conditions throughout the entire machine 1.

[0066] The Fig. 11shows a sheet guiding cylinder, in particular impression cylinder 5, for example as described above, with a downstream sprocket shaft and a sheet guiding element, in particular a sheet guiding plate 9, arranged below the sprocket shaft and having a cover, as described above. The sheet guiding plate 9, shown in side view, has a cover, in particular a cover part 13 containing the above-described non-conductive or non-metallic material or consisting of non-conductive or non-metallic material. The deionization device 8 can, for example, be removed from the sheet guiding element, in particular the sheet guiding plate 9. The deionization device 8 can, for example, be removed below or between sprockets 18 of the sprocket shaft. The deionization device 8 can, for example, be removed laterally and / or by displacing at least part of the sheet guiding plate 9.The cover, in particular the cover part 13, closes the opening required by the deionization device 8. The cover is preferably dimensioned or attachable in such a way that a continuous or almost full-surface sheet guide surface of the sheet guide plate 9 is created. The cover part 13 can be designed or arranged as already described above.

[0067] How it works: By means of a sheet conveying system in the turning device 3 and / or in a unit or printing unit 2, in particular a turning drum 17 or sheet conveying drum 7 or a gripper carriage in the delivery 4, the sheets are taken over by a sheet guiding cylinder, in particular a storage drum 16 or a printing cylinder 5, and guided along the sheet guiding element, in particular the sheet guiding plate 9, on the sheet conveying path past a deionisation device 8. In a further development, a device can be provided in the area of ​​a transfer drum or a sprocket shaft which additionally guides the sheet past the gripper impact path in a defined manner, held only by the edges, so that the optimum electrode spacing is maintained over the entire length of the sheet and the sheet does not prematurely touch the sheet guiding plate 9 and fall below the said optimum electrode spacing.

[0068] The detachment of the sheets, in particular foil sheets, from the outer surface of the sheet guide cylinder, in particular the printing cylinder 5, is carried out by the sheet guide element, in particular the sheet guide plate 9, preferably with a spiral shape. In particular, the comb fingers 10 of the sheet release loop deviate from the outer surface at a suitable distance during withdrawal. Allowing a minimal withdrawal loop advantageously increases the detaching radial component of the withdrawal forces. By arranging the Venturi nozzles along the guide contour of the sheet guide element in conjunction with the associated balanced floating height of the sheets below the gripper impact path, the suction forces of the air cushion can act on the sheet located on the regular sheet path. In this way, the sheet is held on the outside of the radius of the gripper impact path and the detachment loop is kept small.

[0069] The at least one discharge electrode 12, particularly embedded at the beginning of the guide plate, ensures charge equalization on the sheet until it is sufficiently neutral, so that the sheet is not attracted to the sheet guide element, in particular the sheet guide plate 9, as an electrical conductor. The deionization device 8, in particular, provides positive and negative ions to compensate for the changing charge states on the sheet surface. A deionization device 8 is used in particular in each printing unit 2 or unit of the press 1, because the sheet, especially foil sheets, is extremely recharged during each printing process.

[0070] The sheets are optimally discharged, in particular, by the deionization device 8 of the or each printing unit 2, preferably each unit, the turning device 3, and / or the delivery 4. This unloading process makes it possible to continuously feed the sheet in a suspended state to the next conveyor system, for example, a printing cylinder 5 or a gripper carriage, without the sheet being scratched by contact with the sheet guide element, in particular a sheet guide plate 9. The one or more discharge electrodes 12 of a respective deionization device 8 ensure, in particular, an active discharge with both positive and negative ions. The generators provided preferably operate in a range of 3 to 6 kV, optimally with a high voltage of at least approximately 4.5 kV. The high voltage can also be adjusted depending on the determined electrostatic charge.The deionization devices 8 discharge each sheet, so that the deionized sheets, free from electrostatic forces, lie flat on the sheet guide plate 9 or the air cushion created by the sheet guide plate 9. The sheets remain deformed and smear-free throughout the entire machine 1. List of reference symbols used

[0071] 1 Machine 2 Printing unit 3 Turning device 4 Delivery 5 Printing cylinder 6 Blanket cylinder 7 Sheet feed drum 8 Deionization device 9 Sheet guide plate 9.1 Upstream guide surface section 9.2 Downstream guide surface section 9.3 Flat guide surface 10 Comb fingers 11 Insulators 12 Discharge electrodes 13 Cover part 14 Fan 15 Transfer drum 16 Storage drum 17 Turning drum 18 Sprocket BFR Sheet feed direction

Claims

1. Foil sheet-processing machine (1) comprising sheet-processing units and a delivery (4), wherein a delivery (4) comprising a delivery chain loop (18) is arranged downstream from the last unit of the machine (1), the loop taking the sheets from the last sheet guide cylinder (5) by means of gripper carriages and conveying them to a delivery pile, wherein, on the sheet conveyor path to the delivery pile, at least one mechanical sheet guide element (9) is arranged in the delivery (4) beneath the sheet conveyor path, which guides the sheets downstream from the last sheet guide cylinder (5) on the path to the delivery pile, wherein a deionization device (8) is assigned to the first segment of the sheet guide element (9), wherein such a sheet guide element (9) is configured as a sheet guide plate (9) and has comb fingers (10) in the region facing the sheet guide cylinder (5), wherein, with respect to the sheet-conveying direction (BFR), a respective deionization device (8) adjoins the comb fingers (10), and wherein the sheet guide surfaces of the comb fingers (10) are assigned blower air openings, to which an overpressure can be applied.

2. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the machine (1) comprises a foil sheet-processing package, which is specifically matched to the foil material.

3. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the machine (1) comprises a foil sheet-processing package, which is specifically matched to a foil made of PVC, PP, PS, PET.

4. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the machine (1) comprises at least one primer unit and / or a double-sheet detector unit, and / or the gripper systems of the machine (1) are matched to the thin nature of the foil sheet material, and / or printing inks and / or coating materials or dryers that are used are matched to the foil material.

5. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the machine (1) comprises at least one primer unit arranged upstream from the printing units (2).

6. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein a deactivatable smoothing device is assigned to the sheet guide element (9) in the delivery (4).

7. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the machine (1) comprises at least two printing units (2) for processing sheets, wherein each of the printing units (2) comprises a blanket cylinder (6) and a plate cylinder, and a blanket cylinder (6) of a printing unit (2) cooperates with a respective sheet guide cylinder (5), wherein a sheet conveyor system (7) is provided between two sheet guide cylinders (5), wherein the sheets are conveyed along a sheet conveyor path by the sheet guide cylinders (5) and the sheet conveyor systems (7) of the machine (1), wherein a sheet guide element (9), which starts in the region of the sheet guide cylinder (5), is provided beneath and along the sheet conveyor path in one or all printing units (2), and wherein deionization devices (8) are provided at least in the printing units (2) of the machine (1) that are arranged downstream from the press nip of the first printing unit (2) of the machine (1) with respect to the sheet-conveying direction (BFR).

8. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein the machine (1) comprises a multiplicity of printing units (2) and one or more coating units for processing sheets, and deionization devices (8) are provided at least in the printing units (2) and coating units of the machine (1) that are arranged downstream from the press nip of the first printing unit (2) of the machine (1) with respect to the sheet-conveying direction (BFR).

9. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein such a deionization device (8) is also provided in each case in one or each additional unit, such as a drying, inspection or finishing unit.

10. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, wherein a deionization device (8) is also assigned to an infeed unit and / or the first printing unit (2) of the machine (1).

11. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, wherein one deionization device (8) is exclusively arranged in each printing unit (2) and / or coating unit.

12. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11, wherein the sheet guide plates (9) of the machine (1) are configured to be identical.

13. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, wherein the sheet guide plate (9) in the delivery (4) is configured to be at least approximately identical to the sheet guide plates (9) in the printing units (2) or units of the machine (1).

14. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13, wherein the entire deionization device (8), or the entire discharge cassette, is exchangeably arranged in the sheet guide plate (9).

15. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14, wherein the discharge cassettes are configured to be exchangeable among one another in the machine (1) or have a modular configuration.

16. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15, wherein the first segment of the sheet guide element (9), starting in the region of the sheet guide cylinder (5), has a sheet guide surface that steadily approaches the axis of rotation of the sheet conveyor system (7).

17. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1 or 16, wherein the comb fingers (10) of the sheet guide plate (9) are made partially or completely of metallic material.

18. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 16 or 17, wherein a first region of the sheet guide element (9), which starts in the region of the upstream sheet guide cylinder (5), has the comb fingers (10) and is arranged at a greater distance from the axis of rotation of the sheet conveyor system (7) than a subsequent second region of the sheet guide element (9).

19. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 16, 17 or 18, wherein a substantially closed sheet guide surface for the sheets is formed by comb fingers (10) and the first region of the sheet guide plate (9).

20. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or 19, wherein a sheet guide plate (9) or comb fingers (10) are arranged at a distance of 2 mm to 50 mm, in particular between 25 mm and 30 mm, from the sheet conveyor path formed by gripper pads of a sheet conveyor drum (7).

21. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20, wherein the sheet guide surface of the sheet guide plate (9), which is formed by the comb fingers (10) and / or deionization device (8), steadily approaches the axis of rotation of the sheet conveyor drum (7), or the sheet conveyor path, as viewed in the sheet-conveying direction (BFR).

22. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21, wherein the comb fingers (10) are arranged at a distance of between 1 and 10 mm, preferably between 2 mm and 3 mm, with respect to the lateral surface of an impression cylinder (5).

23. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 or 22, wherein the discharge-generating elements are covered by means of a cover made of non-conducting material.

24. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 or 23, wherein the discharge-generating elements are covered by means of a cover made of plastic material.

25. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the cover has openings or cut-outs, which are arranged in such a way that the charge carriers of the discharge electrodes (12) are not influenced.

26. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 or 25, wherein the intensity of the deionization device (8) is controlled by closed-loop or open-loop control by way of measuring equipment in such a way that it is possible to control the discharge in a manner that is matched to the static electricity at the sheet, in particular the foil sheet.

27. Foil sheet-processing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or 26, comprising a turning device (3), wherein in the turning device (3) sheets can be taken from a sheet guide cylinder (16) by a sheet conveyor system (17) and can be conveyed in a sheet-conveying direction (BFR) on a sheet conveyor path, wherein a sheet guide element (9) is provided beneath and / or along the sheet conveyor path, and wherein a deionization device (8) is assigned to the sheet guide element (9).

28. Method for conveying sheets in a sheet-processing machine (1), wherein foil sheets are processed or printed by the machine (1), wherein sheets are taken from a sheet guide cylinder (5, 16) by a sheet conveyor system (7, 17, 18) and are conveyed in a sheet-conveying direction (BFR) on a sheet conveyor path along a sheet guide element (9), wherein the sheets are guided by the sheet guide element (9), wherein the sheets are guided past a deionization device (8) assigned to the sheet guide element (9), wherein positive and negative ions are provided by the deionization device (8) in order to equalize the alternating charge states on the sheet surface, and wherein a deactivatable smoothing device assigned to a sheet guide element (9) is deactivated when foil sheets are being guided.

29. Method according to claim 28, wherein the discharge through one or more deionization devices (8) is matched to the static electricity of a respective sheet or a multiplicity of sheets by means of a closed-loop or open-loop control device.

30. Method according to claim 28 or 29, wherein, depending on the current job, a cover (13) with or without openings is used to create a sheet guide surface on the deionization device (8).

31. Method according to claim 28, 29 or 30, wherein in a unit (2) and / or a delivery (4) of the machine (1) the sheets are taken from a sheet guide cylinder (5) by a sheet conveyor system (7, 18) and are conveyed in the sheet-conveying direction (BFR) on a sheet conveyor path, wherein the sheets are guided by a sheet guide element (9), which starts beneath and along the sheet conveyor path in particular in the region of the sheet guide cylinder (5), wherein the sheets are guided first by a sheet guide surface of the sheet guide element (9) that is arranged at a greater distance from the axis of rotation of the sheet conveyor system (7, 18) and then by a sheet guide surface of the sheet guide element (9) that is arranged closer to the axis of rotation of the sheet conveyor system (7, 18).

32. Method according to claim 28, 29, 30 or 31, wherein in at least one unit (2) and / or a delivery (4) of the machine (1) the sheets are taken from a sheet guide cylinder (5) by a sheet conveyor system (7, 18) and are conveyed in the sheet-conveying direction (BFR) on a sheet conveyor path, wherein the sheets are guided by a sheet guide element (9) arranged beneath and along the sheet conveyor path, wherein the sheets are guided first on a sheet guide surface of the sheet guide element (9) that has a deionization device (8), which sheet guide surface is arranged at a greater distance from an axis of rotation of the assigned sheet conveyor system (7, 18) than a subsequent sheet guide surface of the sheet guide element (9) in the sheet-conveying direction (BFR).

33. Method according to claim 31 or 32, wherein the sheets are peeled off the lateral surface of the sheet guide cylinder (5) by comb fingers (10) of the sheet guide element (9), which starts in the region of the sheet guide cylinder (5), and are guided to a or the deionization device (8).

34. Method according to claim 31, 32 or 33, wherein the sheets are peeled off the lateral surface of the sheet guide cylinder (5) by pneumatically acting and / or metallic comb fingers (10) of the sheet guide element (9), which starts in the region of the sheet guide cylinder (5), and are guided to a or the deionization device (8).

35. Method according to claim 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 or 34, wherein the sheets are conveyed into a plurality of printing units (2) and / or into a delivery (4) of the machine (1), wherein in the printing units (2) the sheets are printed in press nips, wherein in the printing units (2) and / or in the delivery (4) the sheets are taken from a sheet guide cylinder (5) by a sheet conveyor system (7, 18) and are conveyed in the sheet-conveying direction (BFR) on a sheet conveyor path, wherein in the printing units (2) and / or in the delivery (4) the sheets are guided in each case by a sheet guide element (9), which starts beneath and along the sheet conveyor path in the region of the sheet guide cylinder (5), and wherein after each press nip in the printing units (2) and / or in the delivery (4) the sheets are guided past a deionization device (8).

36. Use of a sheet guide element (9) that contains a deionization device (8) in a turning device (3) of a foil sheet-processing machine (1), wherein a guide surface (9.3) of the sheet guide element (9) that contains the deionization device (8) is arranged at a distance of more than 10 mm from the sheet conveyor path of a sheet guide cylinder (16) and of a sheet conveyor system (17) arranged immediately downstream thereof.

37. Use according to claim 36, wherein positive and negative ions are provided by the deionization device (8) in order to equalize the alternating charge states on the sheet surface.

38. Use according to claim 36 or 37, wherein a sheet guide plate (9) that contains the deionization device (8) is arranged at a distance of 20 mm to 50 mm, or 25 mm to 30 mm, from the sheet conveyor path formed by a cylinder tangent at a storage drum (16) and a turning drum (17).

39. Use according to claim 36, 37 or 38, wherein a guide surface (9.3) of the sheet guide element (9) that contains the deionization device (8) is arranged at a distance of more than 15 mm, 20 mm or 25 mm from the sheet conveyor path.

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