A heat-sensitive flexographic plate making machine
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202522421359.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-11-14
- Publication Date
- 2026-09-29
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-11-14
AI Technical Summary
现有设备的划刻机构多为手动操作(如通过手柄拖动划刀)，刻线深度固定(通常为0.5mm)且间距精度低(±0.5mm)，无法适配多样化切割需求
[0018]本实用新型的有益效果是：本技术方案将张紧、划刻、收料功能与自适应控制结合，设备集成度提升40％，占地面积减少25％；本技术方案通过传感器与PLC闭环控制，适应0.1-2mm厚度的CTP版加工，产品合格率从85％提升至98％；本技术方案伺服驱动与PID调速降低能耗15％以上，同时减少人工操作，单班产能提升30％；本技术方案通过模块化设计与自动化控制，解决了传统制版机张紧力固定、刻线精度低、收料不均匀的问题，尤其适用于柔性印刷领域的多样化生产需求。
Smart Images
Figure CN224810287U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of plate-making machine technology, and in particular to a thermal flexible plate-making machine. Background Technology
[0002] As the core equipment of CTP (Computer-to-Plate) technology, the thermal flexographic plate-making machine has been widely used in flexible printing fields such as packaging printing and label making due to its advantages of "filmless, high precision, and high efficiency". Its working principle is to form images directly on flexible plates (such as aluminum-based CTP plates and resin plates) through thermal imaging technology. After development and drying, the plate is completed, and finally the formed plate is wound into a roll by the take-up mechanism.
[0003] In existing technologies, the following problems generally exist in the material receiving and post-processing stages of thermal flexographic plate making machines:
[0004] The tension adjustment has significant limitations: traditional equipment often uses fixed springs or mechanical counterweights to achieve sheet tension, and the tension cannot be dynamically adjusted. When processing CTP sheets of different thicknesses (e.g., 0.1mm thin sheets versus 2mm thick sheets) or different materials (e.g., aluminum-based versus resin-based), problems such as "overstretching and breaking of thin sheets" or "insufficient tension of thick sheets leading to winding wrinkles" are prone to occur, with material loss rates as high as 5%-8%.
[0005] The scribing process relies on manual intervention: to facilitate subsequent slitting, the sheet material needs to be pre-scribing before winding. Existing equipment's scribing mechanisms are mostly manually operated (e.g., dragging the scribing blade via a handle), with fixed scribing depths (typically 0.5mm) and low spacing accuracy (±0.5mm), failing to meet diverse cutting needs. Manual operation also results in low scribing efficiency, with a single-shift capacity of only 300-500 meters, and the scribing quality is significantly affected by the operator's experience.
[0006] Mismatch between take-up roll diameter and speed: The take-up mechanism is usually driven by a fixed speed motor. As the roll diameter increases (from the initial diameter of 100mm to the full roll diameter of 500mm), the linear speed of the board will gradually increase (e.g., when the motor speed is 1000rpm, the linear speed increases from 3.14m / min to 15.7m / min), causing the tension to fluctuate by more than ±15%. After winding, the roll material will be "tight on the outside and loose on the inside" or wrinkled at the edges, which will easily cause deviations during subsequent slitting.
[0007] Furthermore, in existing technologies, the tensioning, marking, and take-up processes operate independently, lacking a coordinated control mechanism. For example, the marking action requires manual judgment of the take-up roll diameter before initiation, which can easily lead to misalignment of the marking lines due to timing errors; the take-up speed cannot be adjusted in conjunction with changes in tension, further exacerbating winding instability. These problems result in poor adaptability of the equipment to multi-variety, small-batch orders, with changeover and debugging times as long as 1-2 hours, making it difficult to meet the "rapid response, high precision" development needs of the flexographic printing industry.
[0008] Therefore, developing a thermal flexible plate-making machine that integrates adaptive tensioning, automated scribing, and intelligent material collection control has become the key to solving the above-mentioned technical bottlenecks. Utility Model Content
[0009] The main technical problem solved by this utility model is to provide a thermal flexible plate-making machine, which solves one or more of the above-mentioned prior art problems.
[0010] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a thermal flexible plate-making machine, including a plate-making machine body, a discharge port on one side of the plate-making machine body, a take-up mechanism below the discharge port, a tension adjustment mechanism and a scribing mechanism between the discharge port and the take-up mechanism, the innovation of which is: the thermal flexible plate-making machine also includes an adaptive control unit; the tension adjustment mechanism is equipped with a tension sensor, the take-up mechanism is equipped with an encoder for detecting the roll diameter, and the scribing mechanism is equipped with a servo drive component; the adaptive control unit is electrically connected to the tension sensor, the encoder and the servo drive component respectively, and is used to adaptively adjust the tension, scribing parameters and take-up speed according to the real-time tension of the CTP plate and the take-up roll diameter.
[0011] In some embodiments, the tension adjustment mechanism includes a fixed shaft, a positioning sleeve, and an adjustable elastic component; the positioning sleeve is connected to the fixed shaft through the adjustable elastic component, the tension sensor is located on the contact surface between the positioning sleeve and the CTP plate, and the adaptive control unit dynamically adjusts the tension by adjusting the elasticity parameter of the adjustable elastic component.
[0012] In some embodiments, the adjustable spring component is a spring with a locking nut or a miniature pneumatic cylinder; the adaptive control unit changes the preload of the spring component by controlling the tightness of the locking nut or the air intake of the pneumatic cylinder.
[0013] In some embodiments, the scribing mechanism includes a scribing section, a ball screw structure, and a depth adjustment component; the servo drive component is connected to the scribing section through the ball screw structure and drives the scribing section to move along the width direction of the CTP plate; the depth adjustment component is an eccentric wheel or a fine-tuning screw, located between the scribing section and the ball screw structure, and is used to adjust the extension of the scribing section to control the scribing depth.
[0014] In some implementations, the scribing parameters include scribing spacing and depth; the adaptive control unit controls the moving speed and stroke of the servo drive component to adjust the scribing spacing by receiving external input parameters or preset programs, and achieves scribing depth adjustment within the range of 0.1-1mm by controlling the action of the depth adjustment component.
[0015] In some embodiments, the take-up mechanism includes a take-up roller, a drive motor, and a reducer; the encoder is located at the shaft end of the take-up roller and collects the rotation angle of the take-up roller in real time to calculate the current roll diameter; the adaptive control unit adjusts the output speed of the drive motor according to the change in roll diameter through a PID algorithm to keep the linear speed of the CTP plate constant.
[0016] In some implementations, the adaptive control unit includes a PLC controller and a human-machine interface module; the human-machine interface module is a touch screen used to input scribing parameters, tension threshold, and display the device operating status; the PLC controller has a built-in tension control module, speed control module, and scribing control module, which form a closed-loop control with the tension sensor, encoder, and servo drive components, respectively.
[0017] In some implementations, a linkage triggering unit is provided between the scribing mechanism and the take-up mechanism; when the roll diameter of the take-up mechanism reaches a preset threshold, the linkage triggering unit sends a signal to the adaptive control unit to automatically start the scribing mechanism to cut and scribing lines.
[0018] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: This technical solution combines tensioning, scribing, and material collection functions with adaptive control, increasing equipment integration by 40% and reducing floor space by 25%; This technical solution, through sensor and PLC closed-loop control, is suitable for processing CTP plates with a thickness of 0.1-2mm, increasing the product qualification rate from 85% to 98%; This technical solution, through servo drive and PID speed regulation, reduces energy consumption by more than 15%, while reducing manual operation and increasing single-shift capacity by 30%; This technical solution, through modular design and automated control, solves the problems of fixed tension, low scribing accuracy, and uneven material collection in traditional plate-making machines, and is especially suitable for the diverse production needs in the field of flexographic printing. Attached Figure Description
[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort, wherein:
[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a thermal flexible plate-making machine according to this utility model.
[0021] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure.
[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the fixed shaft of a thermal flexible plate-making machine according to this utility model.
[0023] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Cross-sectional view.
[0024] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 Longitudinal section view.
[0025] Figure 6 This is a flowchart of the working process of a thermal flexible plate-making machine according to this utility model. Detailed Implementation
[0026] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this utility model, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of this utility model.
[0027] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, this utility model embodiment includes: a thermal flexible plate-making machine, comprising a plate-making machine body 001, a material outlet 002, a material receiving mechanism, a tension adjustment mechanism, a scribing mechanism, and an adaptive control unit. Wherein:
[0028] The main body 001 of the plate-making machine is the core frame of the equipment, integrating plate processing, transmission and control modules. A discharge port 002 is opened on one side for outputting the processed CTP plate. The receiving mechanism, located below the discharge port 002, is used to wind the formed CTP plate and consists of a receiving roller 301, a drive motor 302, and a reducer 303. The receiving roller 301 is driven to rotate by the drive motor 302, and the reducer 303 is used to adjust the output torque. The tension adjustment mechanism is located between the discharge port 002 and the receiving mechanism to adjust the tension of the CTP plate in real time, preventing wrinkles or loosening during winding. The scribing mechanism is arranged parallel to the tension adjustment mechanism to pre-scribing slitting lines on the surface of the CTP plate for later cutting. The adaptive control unit is the core control module, connected to the tension sensor 115, encoder 304, and servo drive assembly 203 via electrical signals to achieve automated adjustment of equipment parameters.
[0029] The tension adjustment mechanism includes a fixed shaft 111, a positioning sleeve 112, and an adjustable spring assembly. The fixed shaft 111 is horizontally mounted on both sides of the plate-making machine body 001. The positioning sleeve 112 is fitted outside the fixed shaft 111, and a thin-film tension sensor 115 is installed on its contact surface with the CTP plate for real-time acquisition of the plate tension value. The adjustable spring assembly is a spring 114 with a locking nut or a miniature pneumatic cylinder 113, one end of which is connected to the positioning sleeve 112, and the other end is fixed to the fixed shaft 111. The spring force is adjusted by changing the spring compression or the air intake of the pneumatic cylinder.
[0030] When the CTP plate is output from the outlet 002 and passes through the tension adjustment mechanism, the tension sensor 115 transmits the real-time detected tension value to the adaptive control unit. If the tension is lower than the preset threshold (e.g., insufficient stretching of thin plates), the control unit drives the locking nut to tighten the spring or increases the air intake of the pneumatic cylinder to increase the pressure of the positioning sleeve 112 on the plate; if the tension is too high (e.g., excessive stretching of thick plates), the spring component is adjusted in the opposite direction to reduce the pressure.
[0031] The advantages of the above structure are: it solves the problem that traditional fixed springs cannot adapt to CTP plates of different thicknesses and materials, and achieves stepless adjustment of tension force within the range of 0-50N; the tension sensor 115 and the elastic component form a closed-loop control with a response time of ≤0.5 seconds, ensuring that the plate remains in a stable tension state during high-speed transmission (up to 30m / min), and improving the winding flatness by 20%.
[0032] The scribing mechanism consists of a scribing section 201, a ball screw structure 202, a depth adjustment component, and a servo drive component 203. The scribing section 201 is a carbide blade, which is connected to the ball screw slider through the depth adjustment component. The depth adjustment component adopts an eccentric wheel or a fine-tuning screw. Rotating the eccentric wheel or screw can change the extension amount of the scribing section 201. The servo drive component 203 includes a servo motor and a ball screw. The motor drives the screw to rotate, causing the scribing section 201 to reciprocate along the width direction of the CTP plate.
[0033] The user inputs the scribing parameters (spacing 5-50mm, depth 0.1-1mm) through the human-computer interaction module, and the adaptive control unit converts the parameters into control signals:
[0034] Grating spacing adjustment: The servo motor controls the rotation angle of the lead screw according to the input spacing, so that the grading part 201 moves at the set interval, with a movement accuracy of ±0.02mm;
[0035] The depth of the scribing is adjusted by rotating the eccentric wheel driven by a stepper motor or extending and retracting the fine-tuning screw, thereby changing the contact depth between the scribing part 201 and the plate, and adjusting the resolution to 0.01mm.
[0036] Linkage control: The scribing action and the conveying speed of the receiving mechanism are synchronized through encoder 304 to ensure that the scribing line length matches the material feed amount and avoid scribing line deviation.
[0037] The advantages of the above structure are: it replaces the traditional manual drag handle, increases the scribing efficiency by 5 times, and improves the scribing accuracy from ±0.5mm to ±0.05mm; the depth adjustment range covers 0.1-1mm, adapting to the pre-cutting needs of CTP plates of different materials such as aluminum and resin, making it more versatile.
[0038] The receiving roller 301 of the receiving mechanism is equipped with an incremental encoder 304, which outputs 1,000 pulse signals for each rotation; the drive motor 302 is equipped with a frequency converter and is connected to the PID controller built into the adaptive control unit.
[0039] The encoder 304 acquires the rotation angle of the take-up roller 301 in real time, and the adaptive control unit calculates the current roll diameter according to the following formula:
[0040]
[0041] Where D is the roll diameter, L is the cumulative conveying length, and n is the number of rotations of the take-up roller 301;
[0042] When the roll diameter increases and the linear speed exceeds the set value (e.g., 20 m / min), the PID controller reduces the speed of the drive motor 302 through the frequency converter, and conversely increases the speed to keep the linear speed fluctuation within ±0.5 m / min.
[0043] The advantages of the above structure are: it solves the problem of "tight outside and loose inside" caused by traditional fixed speed winding, improves the uniformity of winding density by 30%, and avoids wrinkling at the edge of the board or deformation of the inner layer due to compression.
[0044] The adaptive control unit includes a PLC controller (model S7-1200) and a 7-inch touch screen human-machine interface module; the PLC has built-in tension control module, speed control module and scribing control module, and realizes data interaction with tension sensor 115, encoder 304 and servo motor through Modbus protocol; the touch screen supports parameter input (such as tension threshold, scribing line spacing), real-time status display (such as current roll diameter, tension value) and fault alarm.
[0045] After the equipment starts up, the PLC controller initializes the parameters of each module, and the tension sensor 115 and encoder 304 continuously provide data feedback:
[0046] When the tension deviates from the set threshold, the tension control module drives the adjustable elastic component to move;
[0047] When changes in roll diameter cause fluctuations in linear speed, the speed control module initiates PID regulation.
[0048] When the user inputs a scribing command or the take-up roll diameter reaches a preset threshold (such as 500mm in diameter), the scribing control module triggers the servo drive component 203 to perform the scribing action.
[0049] The advantages of the above structure are: it realizes fully automated control of tensioning, scribing and material collection, reduces manual intervention by 80%, and supports the storage of 10 sets of process parameters, so that there is no need to repeat the debugging when switching between different specifications of sheet materials.
[0050] The workflow of this technical solution is as follows:
[0051] Feeding and Start-up: After the CTP plate is processed by the plate-making machine body 001, it is output from the discharge port 002, passes through the tension adjustment mechanism and the scribing mechanism in sequence, and finally winds around the take-up roller 301;
[0052] Tension adjustment: Tension sensor 115 detects the tension of the sheet material in real time, and the adaptive control unit dynamically adjusts the pressure through the adjustable elastic component to ensure stable tension;
[0053] Material receiving and speed control: Encoder 304 calculates the roll diameter in real time, and PID controller adjusts the speed of drive motor 302 to maintain a constant linear speed;
[0054] Scribing trigger: When the take-up roll diameter reaches the preset threshold or is manually triggered by the user, the scribing mechanism automatically completes the scribing according to the set parameters;
[0055] Winding complete: After the take-up roller 301 is fully wound, the equipment will automatically stop, completing one processing cycle.
[0056] The advantages of this technical solution are:
[0057] Multifunctional integration: Combining tensioning, scribing, and material collection functions with adaptive control, the equipment integration level is increased by 40% and the floor space is reduced by 25%;
[0058] Intelligent adjustment: Through sensor and PLC closed-loop control, it can adapt to the processing of CTP plates with a thickness of 0.1-2mm, and the product qualification rate has been increased from 85% to 98%.
[0059] High efficiency and low power consumption: Servo drive and PID speed regulation reduce energy consumption by more than 15%, while reducing manual operation and increasing single-shift productivity by 30%.
[0060] This invention solves the problems of fixed tension, low engraving accuracy, and uneven material collection in traditional plate-making machines through modular design and automated control, and is especially suitable for the diverse production needs in the field of flexographic printing.
[0061] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.
[0062] The above description is merely an embodiment of this utility model and does not limit the patent scope of this utility model. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made using the content of this utility model specification, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of this utility model.
Claims
1. A thermal flexible plate-making machine, comprising a plate-making machine body (001), wherein a discharge port (002) is provided on one side of the plate-making machine body (001), a receiving mechanism is provided below the discharge port (002), and a tension adjustment mechanism and a scribing mechanism are provided between the discharge port (002) and the receiving mechanism, characterized in that: The thermal flexible plate-making machine also includes an adaptive control unit; the tension adjustment mechanism is equipped with a tension sensor (115), the take-up mechanism is equipped with an encoder (304) for detecting the roll diameter, and the scribing mechanism is equipped with a servo drive component (203); the adaptive control unit is electrically connected to the tension sensor (115), the encoder (304) and the servo drive component (203) respectively, and is used to adaptively adjust the tension, scribing parameters and take-up speed according to the real-time tension of the CTP plate and the take-up roll diameter.
2. The thermal flexographic plate-making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tension adjustment mechanism includes a fixed shaft (111), a positioning bushing (112), and an adjustable elastic component; the positioning bushing (112) is connected to the fixed shaft (111) through the adjustable elastic component, the tension sensor (115) is located on the contact surface between the positioning bushing (112) and the CTP plate, and the adaptive control unit realizes dynamic adjustment of tension by adjusting the elastic parameter of the adjustable elastic component.
3. A thermal flexographic plate-making machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The adjustable elastic component is a spring (114) with a locking nut or a miniature pneumatic cylinder (113); the adaptive control unit changes the preload of the elastic component by controlling the tightness of the locking nut or the air intake of the pneumatic cylinder.
4. A thermal flexographic plate-making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The marking mechanism includes a marking section (201), a ball screw structure (202), a servo drive assembly (203), and a depth adjustment assembly. The servo drive assembly (203) is connected to the marking section (201) through the ball screw structure (202) and drives the marking section (201) to move along the width direction of the CTP plate. The depth adjustment assembly is an eccentric wheel or a fine-tuning screw, located between the marking section (201) and the ball screw structure (202), and is used to adjust the extension of the marking section (201) to control the marking depth.
5. A thermal flexographic plate-making machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: The scribing parameters include scribing spacing and depth; the adaptive control unit controls the moving speed and stroke of the servo drive component (203) to adjust the scribing spacing by receiving external input parameters or preset programs, and achieves scribing depth adjustment within the range of 0.1-1mm by controlling the action of the depth adjustment component.
6. A thermal flexographic plate-making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The receiving mechanism includes a receiving roller (301), a drive motor (302), and a reducer (303); the encoder (304) is located at the shaft end of the receiving roller (301) and collects the rotation angle of the receiving roller (301) in real time to calculate the current roll diameter; the adaptive control unit adjusts the output speed of the drive motor (302) according to the change in roll diameter through a PID algorithm to keep the linear speed of the CTP plate constant.
7. A thermal flexographic plate-making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adaptive control unit includes a PLC controller and a human-machine interface module; the human-machine interface module is a touch screen, used to input scribing parameters, tension threshold and display the operating status of the device; the PLC controller has a built-in tension control module, speed control module and scribing control module, which form a closed loop control with the tension sensor (115), encoder (304) and servo drive component (203) respectively.
8. A thermal flexographic plate-making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: A linkage triggering unit is provided between the scribing mechanism and the receiving mechanism; when the roll diameter of the receiving mechanism reaches a preset threshold, the linkage triggering unit sends a signal to the adaptive control unit to automatically start the scribing mechanism to cut and scribing lines.