Metering device for fluid in a printing press

Abstract

The invention relates to a metering device for a fluid in a printing press, comprising a anilox roller (1) and a chamber blade (2) which can be pressed onto the anilox roller by an actuator (7), the chamber blade having a connection for the fluid. The connection is configured as a second coupling half (22.2) of a line coupling (22) with a first coupling half (22.1). The line coupling (22) can be closed by the same actuator (7) with which the chamber blade (2) is pressed onto the anilox roller (1), wherein the actuator (7) presses the first coupling half (22.1) onto the second coupling half (22.2) when closing the line coupling (22).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a metering device for fluid in a printing press, comprising an anilox roller and a chamber doctor blade capable of being pressed onto the anilox roller by an actuator. Background Technology

[0002] DE 43 40 867 A1 describes a device for a doctor blade in a pressure-closing and pressure-removing chamber, which has an input section arranged in the middle in the upper chamber region and two output sections in its lower chamber region. The entire device can be removed from a support device after emptying and decoupling the input section and the output section, and then pressed back onto the application roller for printing operation, wherein the input and output sections remain connected. The doctor blade is pressed onto the application roller by means of axially adjusting the pressure-closing and pressure-removing levers via a working cylinder.

[0003] Its disadvantages are that the decoupling of the input and output sections must be done manually. This is time-consuming and poses a high risk of contamination to the operator and the surrounding environment due to the operation of the hoses. Furthermore, manual operation is prone to various errors, increasing the risk of needing to spend considerable time cleaning the entire varnishing mechanism. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The objective of this invention is to provide a metering device suitable for automation.

[0005] This task is solved by a metering device for fluids in a printing press, comprising an anilox roller and a chamber doctor blade capable of being pressed onto the anilox roller by an actuator. The chamber doctor blade has a connector for the fluid, characterized in that the connector is configured as a second connector half of a conduit connector having a first connector half; and the conduit connector is capable of being closed by the same actuator pressing the chamber doctor blade onto the anilox roller, wherein the actuator presses the first connector half onto the second connector half when closing the conduit connector.

[0006] Its advantages include automated coupling and decoupling of the piping. This reduces setup time and minimizes the risk of contamination to operators and the surrounding environment. Furthermore, it eliminates the possibility of malfunctions that can occur during time-consuming cleaning of the entire varnishing mechanism.

[0007] Various extensions of the measuring device of the present invention are possible:

[0008] The first connector half can be constructed on a beam that can extend parallel to the chamber scraper.

[0009] Inlet and / or return lines may be introduced into the beam.

[0010] The chamber scraper may have an adapter that may have a bypass.

[0011] The bypass can short-circuit the inflow line and the return line, which can be done by bypassing the chamber of the chamber scraper.

[0012] The actuator can be connected to the beam via an elbow.

[0013] The elbow can extend beyond the dead point position.

[0014] The elbow can extend past the dead point into a position in which the elbow is locked by an associated stop.

[0015] When the pipe connector is closed, the actuator can move a bolt in an elongated hole of a stop, wherein the bolt can be positioned on the chamber scraper.

[0016] When the pipe connector is closed, the actuator can cause the bolt to move against the action of a spring in the elongated hole, the spring being either part of or associated with the stop. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Further solutions are derived from the following description of the embodiments and accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 The measuring device is shown in a side view.

[0019] Figure 2 A metering device with a modified guide device is shown.

[0020] Figure 3 The measuring device is shown in top view.

[0021] Figure 4a The first chamber scraper is shown.

[0022] Figure 4b The second chamber scraper is shown.

[0023] Figure 5a The first chamber scraper in the metering device is shown.

[0024] Figure 5b The second chamber scraper in the measuring device is shown, and

[0025] Figure 6 The auxiliary frame of the measuring device is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0026] Figure 1The metering device of the printing press is shown in a side view. This metering device is used to meter fluids, such as varnish and printing ink. The metering device includes an anilox roller 1 and a chamber doctor blade 2. The chamber doctor blade 2 has two blades 11 and 12 that rest against the anilox roller 1 during printing operations. The chamber doctor blade 2 is held on a beam 3, which extends parallel to the chamber doctor blade along its entire length. The beam 3 enhances the flexural strength of the chamber doctor blade 2.

[0027] A groove 4 is arranged below the chamber scraper 2, opening upwards. The chamber scraper 2 is part of a loop in which fluid circulates, a portion of which is transferred to the anilox roller 1. Untransferred portions of the fluid can flow back from the chamber scraper 2 via the groove 4, which is connected to the loop and serves as an intermediate storage tank. Alternatively, untransferred portions can also flow back via a closed conduit, where the groove 4 is not connected to the loop and serves only as a collection tank, as shown in the attached figures.

[0028] The chamber scraper 2 has two ends, one end being on the drive side of the printing press and the other end being on the operating side. Figure 1 Only one of these two ends is visible. Each end of the chamber scraper 2 is equipped with a stop 5, which is adjustable for adjusting the chamber scraper 2. Two U-shaped elongated holes 5.1 and 5.2 are introduced into each stop. Bolts 13 and 14 are fixedly seated in the elongated holes. The width of the elongated holes and the diameter of the bolts are coordinated such that one of the push hinges of the corresponding stop 5 has a large clearance orthogonal to the push direction and forms a floating bearing, while the other push hinge has almost no clearance orthogonal to the push direction and forms a fixed bearing. For example, with the same width of the elongated holes, the two bolts may have different diameters or—as shown—one of the two bolts may be flattened on the side. These two stops 5 are used for precise positioning of the unit 10 consisting of the chamber scraper 2 and the beam 3.

[0029] The slot 4 is held at each end by clamping devices 6. Each clamping device 6 includes a slide and two bolts, which are fixedly seated in the slot 4 and engage with the slide when the slot 4 is locked. The slide forms a bayonet locking mechanism.

[0030] An actuator 7 is present, which moves unit 10, consisting of chamber scraper 2 and beam 3, from a first position toward an anilox roller 1 to a second position. In the first position, chamber scraper 2 moves a few millimeters away from an anilox roller 1, wherein the pins 13 and 14 are still in the elongated holes 5.1 and 5.2. This first position makes it possible for the operator to change an anilox roller 1. In the second position, chamber scraper 2 presses its blades 11 and 12 against an anilox roller 1. This second position is the operating position. Actuator 7 is, for example, a pneumatic cylinder.

[0031] Actuator 7 adjusts unit 10 via elbow 15. Elbow 15 has two legs interconnected by a rotary hinge, one leg hinged to unit 10 and the other to the frame. The rotary hinge connecting the two legs forms an "elbow," on which actuator 7 acts with its piston rod. Figure 1 The second position is shown, in which actuator 7 moves elbow 15 past its dead position 34 (extended position) and presses the elbow against stop 35. In the second position, bolts 13 and 14 press against springs 16 and 17, which are integrated into the stop 5. These springs 16 and 17 define the stroke of unit 10 and push the unit back. These springs 16 and 17 are return springs and hold the chamber scraper 2 in persistent contact with beam 3 when beam 3 is pulled back to the first position by actuator 7.

[0032] The unit 10 can be adjusted to a third position, which is not shown in the figure. In this third position, the unit is repeatedly depressed from the anilox roller 1 as in the first position. This third position makes it possible to replace the chamber scraper, in which case the chamber scraper 2 is separated from the beam 3. The replacement of the chamber scraper can be performed automatically, for example, by means of an associated bin changer, in which the chamber scraper 2 is stored.

[0033] To coarsely position the unit 10, a guiding device is provided, which guides... Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, it is constructed as a linear guide device 9 and in Figure 2 The variant shown is constructed as a swing support device 8. A linear guide device 9 includes a rail on which a slider slides, and the unit 10 sits on the slider. The swing support device 8 includes a hinge about which a carrier can swing, and the unit 10 sits on the carrier. This guide device (swing support device 8 or linear guide device 9) has clearance to allow for precise positioning of the unit 10 via a stop 5. One such guide device can be present on each machine side (drive side, operating side).

[0034] The locking of the slot 4 in the clamping device 6 and the hydraulic coupling (pipeline coupling) of the slot 4 can be achieved by an actuator 7, if there is a drive connection to the actuator (e.g., via the beam 3). Alternatively, an additional actuator may be present to lock and hydraulically couple the slot 4.

[0035] exist Figure 1 and 2As shown, a piping system is integrated into the beam 3. Inlet pipes 18 and 20 and return pipes 19 and 21 belong to the piping system. The inlets of inlet pipes 18 and 20 and return pipes 19 and 21 respectively form the first connector half 22.1 of the pipe connector 22 (see Figure 22). Figure 3 The chamber scraper 2 has a port-shaped connector through which fluid flows into and out of the chamber scraper 2. These connectors respectively form a second connector half 22.1. Thus, each pipe connector 22 includes a first connector half 22.1 and a second connector half 22.2, which are aligned with each other when the chamber scraper 2 is abutted against the beam 3.

[0036] exist Figure 3 The metering device is shown in a top view, where the return line 19 is shown in a dual implementation. Fluid flows from the inlet line 18 into the chamber scraper 2 at the middle and from the chamber scraper 2 at both ends into the return line 19. The pipe connector 22 and other pipe connectors each have a sealing device 23 arranged on the chamber scraper 2. These sealing devices 23 are part of the second connector half 22.2. The sealing device 23 for the inlet line 18 and other sealing devices are arranged on the adapter 2.1 and constructed as a ring. All sealing devices are made of rubber or rubber-elastic plastic. The adapter 2.1 is constructed as a plate, forming the rear wall of the chamber scraper 2. Holes are introduced into the adapter 2.1, through which the joints of the chamber scraper 2 are formed.

[0037] exist Figure 4a The adapter 2.1 of the chamber scraper 2 is shown in detail, while the beam 3 is not shown together for clear reasons. The positions of the pipe openings of the pipe system of beam 3 aligned with the pipe sealing device are shown together. It can be seen that the sealing device 23 together annularly surrounds the inlet pipe 18 and the return pipe 21. In the chamber scraper 2 equipped with adapter 2.1, the joints aligned with the inlet pipe 18 and the return pipe 21 are sealed or absent, for example, by means that no corresponding holes are introduced in adapter 2.1. Through adapter 2.1 or its sealing device 23, the inlet pipe 18 and the return pipe 21 are shorted, thereby forming a bypass 33. This bypass 33 allows the unactivated fluid circuit to be cleaned by means of a cleaning agent, such as flushing water, which overflows directly from the inlet pipe 20 through adapter 2.1 into the return pipe 21 without reaching the chamber 24 of the chamber scraper 2 (see Figure 3 The cleaning is performed during the printing run, in which the printing fluid circulates in an activated fluid loop and flows into the chamber scraper or its chamber 24 through the inlet line 20 and the fitting of the chamber scraper 2 aligned with the latter.

[0038] exist Figure 4b The diagram shows an adapter 2.2 for another chamber scraper, which is identical in structure to the chamber scraper 2 except for the adapter construction. In this adapter 2.2, the sealing device 23 only surrounds the inlet line 18 and the connector of the chamber scraper aligned with the inlet line. Another sealing device 25 surrounds both the inlet line 20 and the return line 21 to short-circuit them together in the event of a bypass.

[0039] If the actuator 7 presses the beam 3 against the chamber scraper 2, the sealing devices 23 and 25 undergo slight elastic deformation. A support element 29, which is formed as a protrusion on or mounted on the beam 3, prevents excessive elastic deformation of these sealing devices 23 and 25. The support element 29 can be adjusted, for example, as an adjusting screw screwed into the beam 3, and serves as a stop for the chamber scraper 2. The adjustable support element 29 compensates for flatness tolerances and enables the beam 3 to be manufactured cost-effectively.

[0040] The two chamber doctor blades are alternately inserted into the metering device to print different fluids. One chamber doctor blade is used in one printing job and the other chamber doctor blade is used in another printing job. Here, each chamber doctor blade is connected to another fluid circuit via the same beam 3. Each of the two fluid circuits includes a reservoir for the fluid and at least one pump for circulating the fluid. The type of fluid, such as its color, can vary from printing job to printing job. Different adapters 2.1 and 2.2 for the multiple chamber doctor blades allow them to be explicitly assigned to a fluid circuit. The fluid circuit can be emptied, flushed, or filled by shorting the piping of the corresponding active fluid circuit via adapters 2.1 and 2.2 or their sealing devices 23 and 25, which can be done in parallel with the fluid circulation (varnish circulation or printing ink circulation) in the other active fluid circuit during the printing run. The inlet line 18 or 20 and the return line 19 or 21 for cleaning fluid, such as water, can be coupled to the chamber doctor blade 2 using the adapters 2.1 and 2.2.

[0041] An assembly for increasing the pressure of the cleaning fluid and / or an assembly for condensing fluids (varnish or printing ink), such as an ultrasonic device for degassing the fluid, can be integrated into beam 3. Furthermore, beam 3 may have elements or display devices for visualizing the operating mode and / or operating status. At least one backflow throttle and / or at least one pressure relief valve can be installed in the piping system of beam 3. Each backflow throttle installed in beam 3 can be remotely adjusted. If multiple backflow throttles are installed, they can be mechanically synchronized or coupled to each other, for example, via a transmission rod. At least one pressure sensor and / or at least one pulse damper and / or at least one directional valve and / or at least one sensor for detecting the liquid level in tank 4 can also be integrated into beam 3. Additionally, an inflation valve or an exhaust valve may be present.

[0042] Figure 5a and 5b These are top views, in which additional components are shown, for clear reasons. Figure 3 It was not shown together with the text. Figure 5a As shown, a first sensor 26 and a second sensor 27 are mounted on beam 3, which detect the type of scraper corresponding to the chamber of the metering device. Both sensors 26 and 27 are inductive sensors. Figure 5a The chamber scraper 2 or its adapter 2.1 shown is provided with a mark 28, which is opposite to the sensor 26 and is identified by the sensor. Figure 5b The chamber scraper or its adapter 2.2 shown is marked with a mark 28, which is opposite another sensor 27. These sensors 26 and 27 are connected to a control device that controls the fluid circuit based on the signals from these sensors 26 and 27.

[0043] Figure 6 An auxiliary frame 30 in plate form is shown. This auxiliary frame 30 is mounted to a switching frame (not shown in the figure) via four screws 31. The switching frame moves together with the anilox roller 1 during its switching motion. Before being secured by the screws 31, the auxiliary frame 30 is finely adjusted relative to the switching frame by means of three eccentric members 32. These eccentric members 32 are rotatably seated in the switching frame and engage with elongated holes machined in the auxiliary frame 30. The auxiliary frame 30 carries a stop 5, a clamping device 6, an actuator 7, and an elbow 15. One such auxiliary frame 30 is provided on the operating side and the drive side of the printing press, respectively.

[0044] List of reference numerals

[0045] 1. Anilox Roller

[0046] 2. Chamber scraper

[0047] 2.1 Adapter

[0048] 2.2 Adapter

[0049] 3 beams

[0050] 4 slots

[0051] 5 Stop

[0052] 5.1 Elongated hole

[0053] 5.2 Elongated hole

[0054] 6. Clamping device

[0055] 7 Actuator

[0056] 8. Swing support device

[0057] 9. Linear guide device

[0058] Unit 10

[0059] 11 knives

[0060] 12 knives

[0061] 13 bolts

[0062] 14 bolts

[0063] 15 Elbow Bar

[0064] 16 Springs

[0065] 17 Springs

[0066] 18 Inlet Pipeline

[0067] 19 Return Pipeline

[0068] 20 Inlet Pipeline

[0069] 21 Return Pipeline

[0070] 22 Pipe connectors

[0071] 22.1 First connector half

[0072] 22.2 Second connector half

[0073] 23 Sealing device

[0074] 24 chambers

[0075] 25 Sealing device

[0076] 26 sensors

[0077] 27 Sensors

[0078] 28 marks

[0079] 29 Supporting elements

[0080] 30 Auxiliary racks

[0081] 31 Screws

[0082] 32 Eccentric parts

[0083] 33 Bypass

[0084] 34 Dead Point Position

[0085] 35 Stop.

Claims

1. A metering device for a fluid in a printing machine, comprising a anilox roller (1) and a chamber blade (2) which can be pressed onto the anilox roller by an actuator (7), which chamber blade has a connection for the fluid, characterized in that the connection is configured as a second coupling half (22.2) of a line coupling (22) with a first coupling half (22.1); and the line coupling (22) can be closed by the same actuator (7) which presses the chamber blade (2) onto the anilox roller (1), wherein the actuator (7) presses the first coupling half (22.1) onto the second coupling half (22.2) when closing the line coupling (22).

2. The metering device of claim 1, wherein, The first coupling half (22.1) is configured on a beam (3) which extends parallel to the chamber blade (2).

3. The metering device of claim 2, wherein, An inflow line (18) and an outflow line (21) are introduced in the beam (3).

4. The metering device of claim 3, wherein, The chamber blade (2) has an adapter (2.1) which has a bypass (33).

5. The metering device of claim 4, wherein, The bypass (33) short-circuits the inflow line (18) and the outflow line (21) to one another with bypassing of a chamber (24) of the chamber blade (2).

6. The metering device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that The actuator (7) is connected to the beam (3) via a toggle lever (15).

7. The metering device of claim 6, wherein, The toggle lever (15) can be extended beyond a dead center position (34).

8. The metering device of claim 7, wherein, The toggle lever (15) can be extended beyond the dead center position (34) into a position in which the toggle lever (15) is blocked by an associated first stop (35).

9. The metering device of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, When closing the line coupling (22), the actuator (7) moves a peg (13, 14) arranged on the chamber blade (2) in an oblong hole (5.1, 5.2) of a second stop (5).

10. The metering device of claim 9, wherein, When closing the line coupling (22), the actuator (7) moves the peg (13, 14) in the oblong hole (5.1, 5.2) against the action of a spring (16, 17) of the second stop (5).

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