Cylinder with several support elements carrying a number of magnetic elements in the circumferential direction one behind the other, and machine for generating optically variable image elements

Abstract

Cylinder (26), which, viewed in the axial direction in the region of its outer circumference, comprises a number m of columns, each with a number n of elements (24) providing magnetic fields arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction, hereinafter referred to as magnetic elements (24), wherein several or all of the magnetic elements (24) of several or all columns are arranged as a respective group on or on a respective ring-segment-like support element (31) interrupted over an angular range, with a leading and a trailing end (106; 107) with respect to a production rotation direction (D), wherein the respective support element (31) is detachably arranged on a cylinder inner body (32) encompassed by the cylinder (26) and is variable in its axial position when detached, and wherein, when the support element (31) is mounted on the cylinder inner body (32), in the region between the leading and trailing ends (106;107) of the ring-segment-shaped support element (31) on the inner cylinder body (32) a clamping device (108) is provided, by which the two circumferentially spaced ends (106; 107) of the support element (31) can be subjected to a circumferentially directed force towards each other via adjusting means (109) encompassed by the clamping device (108), characterized in that the clamping device (108) engages at the two ends (106; 107) of the support element (31) and its length effective for engaging both sides can be varied circumferentially via the adjusting means (109) encompassed by the clamping device (108).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cylinder with a plurality of support elements carrying a number of magnetic elements one behind the other in the circumferential direction, as well as to a machine for generating optically variable image elements according to the preamble of claim 1 or 14.

[0002] EP 2 114 678 B1 discloses a printing press with a screen printing unit and a device for aligning magnetic or magnetizable particles contained in the printing ink or varnish. The device comprises a cylinder with a plurality of elements on the circumference that create a magnetic field and are arranged in a plurality of axially adjustable support rings. The support rings have openings on their inner circumference that interact with openings on a shaft carrying the support rings for passing suction air. In one example, openings on the shaft can be selectively closed by plugs, e.g., screwable elements. The support rings can be axially positioned on a shaft and clamped thereto by a tensile force acting in the circumferential direction.

[0003] US 2011 / 0168088 A1 relates to a device for orienting magnetic flakes, wherein in one embodiment magnets are arranged on the circumference of discs which are arranged on an axis and are interchangeable with discs with a different distribution.

[0004] CN 103192591 A discloses a device for aligning magnetic or magnetizable particles contained in coating agents. The device comprises a cylinder comprising magnetic elements arranged in a matrix around its outer circumference. Groups of magnetic elements arranged axially adjacent to one another in the circumferential direction are each arranged on axially extending support elements and are axially movable thereon. After axial positioning, the magnetic elements can be clamped in the support elements by means of screws acting in the circumferential direction. The support elements can be positioned in the circumferential direction.

[0005] WO 2014 / 037221 A1 discloses a magnetic cylinder with multiple cylinder sections, each of which comprises a plurality of magnetic elements arranged one behind the other along its circumference, as well as areas with suction air openings on both sides of the magnetic elements. Support elements with a cylindrical circumferential surface are provided between such cylinder sections.

[0006] DE 10 2020 102 621 A1 relates to a sheet-fed printing machine arrangement, wherein a first printing unit, a second printing unit with a screen printing device and a magnetic cylinder downstream of the screen printing unit are provided, by means of which magnetic cylinder particles contained in the printing fluid applied by the screen printing device can be magnetically aligned.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of creating a cylinder with several support elements carrying a number of magnetic elements one behind the other in the circumferential direction and a machine for generating optically variable image elements.

[0008] The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1 and 14 respectively.

[0009] The advantages that can be achieved with the invention are, for example, that the cylinder inner body can be particularly easily equipped with ring elements when the clamping connection is released and / or that a precise fit in the circumferential direction is possible despite axial positioning.

[0010] For example, the ring structure, which is open over an angular range, allows the ring element to be moved more easily on the cylinder body than with a nearly closed ring structure. A particularly advantageous design in which a circumferentially acting shim interacts with a clamping device different from the ring element is also advantageous when fitting the cylinder inner body. The shim and the counterpart can form a play-free fit on both sides without impeding the axial positioning of the ring element.

[0011] In a cylinder according to the invention having, viewed in the axial direction in the area of ​​its outer circumference, a number m of columns each having a number n of magnetic elements arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction, several or all of the magnetic elements of several or all of the columns are arranged as a respective group on or on a respective ring-segment-like support element which is interrupted over an angular range over the entire ring cross-section and has a with respect to.arranged at a leading and a trailing end in a direction of rotation in production, wherein the respective support element is detachably arranged on an inner cylinder body encompassed by the cylinder and, in the released state, is variable in its axial position, and wherein, when the support element is mounted on the inner cylinder body, a clamping device is provided on the inner cylinder body in the area between the leading and trailing ends of the ring-segment-like support element, by means of which clamping device the two ends spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction can be subjected to a force directed towards one another in the circumferential direction via adjusting means encompassed by the clamping device. In particular, the clamping device acts on the two ends of the support element and, via the adjusting means encompassed by the clamping device, its effective length for engaging both sides can be varied in the circumferential direction.

[0012] In an additional combination of the clamping device that fixes the ring elements with a further development described below by means of structural units and / or by means of a mobility of individual or all magnetic elements in the axial and / or circumferential direction and / or by means of a clamping device that clamps the magnetic elements or structural units, a high degree of accuracy in the treatment of optically variable image elements and / or a high degree of flexibility in the application or process spectrum for the provision of optically variable image elements can be enabled or increased.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment for processing a printed substrate by a cylinder designed as a magnetic cylinder, this comprises in the area of ​​its outer circumference a number, for example n × m (with n, m ∈ ℕ), of magnetic elements arranged in axially parallel rows and in circumferentially extending columns, as well as suction elements with outwardly facing suction openings,

[0014] In an advantageous development, in several, preferably all, of the columns of magnetic elements, several, in particular all, of the magnetic elements arranged one behind the other are each combined with at least one associated suction element in respective structural units as active units and as such, i.e. including the magnetic element and suction element, and independently of all other such active units, can be positioned in the circumferential direction and / or detached from the cylinder. In an advantageous development, active elements designed as structural units of a same row or preferably a same column are mounted row by row or preferably column by column on a common support element which can be positioned, for example, on an inner cylinder body as a whole in the circumferential direction or preferably in the axial direction - at least within a respective adjustment range.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment of the further development, a plurality of such structural units, each of which comprises on its underside at least one line interface for the passage of suction air, are provided on an inner cylinder body or on common support elements arranged on the inner cylinder body, wherein the inner cylinder body and / or the respective support element comprises on an outwardly directed side a plurality of line interfaces with selectively closable passages, in particular bores, for the passage of suction air.

[0016] Basically independent of the embodiment with the above-mentioned active units, but particularly advantageous in conjunction therewith, a particularly advantageous further development of the device for aligning magnetic or magnetizable particles contained in printing ink - in particular particles which are provided in the printing ink of printing elements applied in columns and rows on a section of printing material - has a cylinder which, viewed in the axial direction in the region of its outer circumference, has next to one another a number, e.g. four to eight columns or groups, each with a number, e.g. 2 to 12, in particular 5 to 10, of elements which provide magnetic fields and are arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction, in short magnetic elements, wherein in several of the columns orGroups of magnetic elements arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction, at least one of the magnetic elements being arranged or mounted on a single- or multi-part cylinder body of the cylinder so as to be axially adjustable, independently of at least one other magnetic element of the same column or group. The axial direction refers here and below – unless explicitly stated otherwise – to a direction parallel to the cylinder's rotational axis. Preferably, several or even all of the magnetic elements of several or even all of the columns or groups are mounted or mounted so as to be axially adjustable.

[0017] Basically independent of the embodiment with the above-mentioned active units, but particularly advantageous in conjunction therewith, is an advantageous further development of the device for alignment, wherein at least two, preferably all of the magnetic elements provided one behind the other in a same column are mounted as a group on or on a common support element and can be varied together with this and independently of the magnetic elements of an adjacent column with regard to their axial position in or on the cylinder, the at least two or all of the magnetic elements of the group in question are arranged on respective magnetic element carriers that can be positioned independently of one another in the circumferential direction on the common support element and / or detachable from the support element and are mounted on the magnetic element carrier in question so that they can be adjusted in the axial direction within an adjustment range. This preferably applies to several, in particular all, columns.

[0018] Basically independent of the embodiment with the above-mentioned active units and / or of an above-mentioned embodiment with axially positionable magnetic elements, but preferably in conjunction with one or more of the above-mentioned advantageous embodiments, an advantageous further development of the device for aligning magnetic or magnetizable particles contained in coating agents on a substrate has a cylinder which, in the region of its outer circumference, comprises a number, e.g. n × m, with n, m ∈ ℕ, of magnetic elements in a matrix-like manner, which are arranged in rows running parallel to the axis and in columns running in the circumferential direction, wherein at least two, preferably all of the magnetic elements provided one behind the other in the same column are arranged on or in different magnetic element carriers which can be positioned independently of one another in the circumferential direction on the cylinder, and wherein the at least two orall magnetic elements arranged on the respective magnetic element carriers are mounted so as to be adjustable in the circumferential direction within an adjustment range relative to the magnetic element carrier carrying the respective magnetic element.

[0019] Basically independent of the embodiment of the cylinder with the above-mentioned active units and / or of an above-mentioned embodiment of the cylinder with axially positionable magnetic elements and / or of an above-mentioned embodiment of the cylinder with magnetic elements positionable in the circumferential direction, but preferably in conjunction with one or more of the above-mentioned advantageous embodiments, a particularly advantageous further development of the cylinder has, in the region of its outer circumference, viewed in the axial direction, a number m of groups, each with a number of magnetic elements arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction, wherein several or all magnetic elements of a group, in particular several or all groups, are mounted on or on a common ring-like support element arranged on an inner cylinder body and can be positioned on the support element in the circumferential direction, and wherein the magnetic elements,a holder accommodating the magnetic elements or a magnetic element carrier carrying the magnetic elements, viewed in the axial direction of the cylinder, comprises at least one clamping element on each side, the effective end of which engages under a stop surface which, in the mounted state, extends in the circumferential direction on the respective end face of the ring-like support element and is directed inwards, ie with its surface normal pointing into the interior of the cylinder, and / or counteracts a radial removal of the magnetic element or magnetic element carrier by interacting with the clamping element in the clamping position.

[0020] In a particularly advantageous embodiment in conjunction with an above-mentioned clamping device for the magnetic elements, the holders or the magnetic element carriers, an assembly aid is provided for the assembly and / or positioning of magnetic elements on such a cylinder, which assembly aid can be placed on the magnetic element or on a magnetic element carrier carrying the magnetic element and which comprises actuating arms which, when placed on the magnetic element or the magnetic element carrier, can be brought into operative connection with the clamping elements provided on both sides of the relevant magnetic element, wherein an existing clamping connection between the clamping elements on both sides and the carrier element can be released via the actuating arms by actuating a drive means which is included in the assembly aid and acts on the actuating arms.

[0021] In particular, a machine, e.g. a security printing press, for producing optically variable image elements on printing material sections, with a printing material template, in particular designed as a sheet feeder, with at least one printing unit, in particular a screen printing unit, by means of which substrate guided on a transport path through the machine is and / or can be printed in a matrix-like manner on at least a first side using a number of columns and a number of rows, and with a product holder, by means of which processed substrate can be combined in bundles, in particular designed as a stack delivery, preferably comprises in the transport path of the printing material sections between the printing unit and the product holder a device for aligning magnetic or magnetizable particles in an above-mentioned or combined design or an above-mentioned cylinder.

[0022] Further details and design variants can be found in the examples.

[0023] Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are described in more detail below.

[0024] They show: Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a machine for generating optically variable image elements on a substrate; Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a substrate printed in printing elements with optically variable coating agent, wherein a) shows a state with not yet oriented magnetic or magnetizable particles and b) shows a state after alignment of an imaging part, here exemplarily in the form of a number "1"; Fig. 3 a schematic representation of a printing and downstream alignment process with an imaging printing cylinder and a cylinder having magnetic elements, shown as an example with a substrate sheet widening trapezoidally towards the trailing end; Fig. 4 an embodiment of a magnetic cylinder in perspective view; Fig. 5 a detailed view of a support element equipped with several exemplary magnetic elements one behind the other in the circumferential direction; Fig. 6 a sectional view through a support element equipped with a magnetic element, but in opposite Fig. 5 narrower version; Fig. 7 a section of a longitudinal section through a cylinder according to Fig. 4; Fig. 8 an embodiment of a valve that selectively opens and closes a suction air opening; Fig. 9 an embodiment of an active unit comprising a magnetic element and a suction element in a less complex design; Fig. 10 a plan view of an active unit according to Fig. 9, but without magnet and housing; Fig. 11 a section through an embodiment of an active unit comprising a magnetic element and a suction element with a recognizable adjusting mechanism for axially adjusting the magnetic element; Fig. 12 a section through an embodiment of an active unit comprising a magnetic element and a suction element with a recognizable adjusting mechanism for adjusting the magnetic element in the circumferential direction; Fig. 13 a perspective view of an assembly aid for attaching or removing and / or positioning an active unit; Fig. 14 a perspective view of an active unit arranged on a ring element with an attached assembly aid from Fig. 13; Fig. 15 a perspective view of a cylinder inner body equipped with six ring elements; Fig. 16 a cross-sectional view of a cylinder with an inner cylinder body, a ring-segment-like support element arranged thereon and, by way of example, ten active units arranged on the latter; Fig. 17 a section enlarging the fastening device for the supporting element; Fig. 18 a section showing a detail of the fastening device for the supporting element.

[0025] A machine 01, e.g. printing press 01, in particular security printing press 01, for producing optically variable image elements 03 on a substrate 02, e.g. a web-shaped or sheet-shaped printing material 02, comprises an application device 04, e.g. a printing unit 04, by means of which optically variable coating agent 06, e.g. optically variable printing ink 06 or varnish 06, can be applied to at least one application point, e.g. printing point 11, onto at least one first side of the substrate 02, e.g. the printing material 02, over the entire surface or in partial areas in the form of print image elements 08, as well as a device 07 for aligning particles P contained in the optically variable coating agent 06 applied to the substrate 02 and responsible for the optical variability (see e.g. Fig. 1). This device 07 is also referred to below as alignment device 07 or, since it effects an image for the optically variable pattern or motif through defined alignment of the particles P, also as imaging alignment device 07. An application of coating agent 06 containing particles P on the printing substrate 02 and an image element 03 obtained by subsequent imaging alignment of previously randomly oriented particles P is, for example, in Fig. 2 is schematically illustrated by a representation of the number "1." This represents a) a state in which the coating agent 06 has been applied and is, for example, still randomly oriented, and b) a state in which an image-forming alignment has taken place.

[0026] The printed image elements 08 made of variable coating agent 06, which are applied to the substrate 02 by the application device 04 prior to treatment by the alignment device 07, can correspond in size and position to the optically variable image elements 03 to be produced or, if necessary, can be larger than these, possibly even extending over the surface of several panels 09. In the case of larger printed image elements 08, for example, an optically variable image element 03 is not produced by alignment on the entire surface coated with optically variable coating agent 06.

[0027] The particles P responsible for the optical variability contained in the coating agent 06, e.g. the printing ink 06 or the varnish 06, are magnetic or magnetizable, non-spherical particles P, e.g. pigment particles P, hereinafter also referred to as magnetic flakes.

[0028] The machine 01 is preferably designed for producing blanks 09, e.g., securities 09, in particular banknotes 09. This should also include, in particular, the production of intermediate security products, e.g., the production of printing substrate 02, in particular in the form of web- or sheet-shaped printing substrate sections 02, in particular printing substrate sheets 02, with print images of multiple securities 09. The substrate 02 can be formed by paper—e.g., paper based on or at least containing cellulose or preferably cotton fibers—a plastic polymer, or a hybrid product thereof. It can be uncoated or already coated prior to coating in the above-mentioned application device 04; it can be unprinted or already printed once or multiple times in one or more upstream processes, or otherwise mechanically processed.On a printing material section 02 formed by a longitudinal section of web-shaped substrate 02 or by a sheet of a sheet-shaped substrate 02, a plurality of blanks 09, e.g. banknotes 09 to be produced or their print images, are preferably arranged in a matrix-like manner in rows running transversely to the transport direction T next to one another and in columns running one behind the other in the transport direction T or are to be arranged in the course of the processing of the substrate 02 (indicated e.g. in . Fig. 2 and in Fig. 3).

[0029] The machine 01 designed as a printing press 01 can basically comprise one or more printing units 04 using any printing process. In the embodiment shown here, however, for the sake of simplicity, it comprises a printing unit 04, in particular a printing unit 04 operating according to the flexographic printing process or preferably according to the screen printing process, by means of which the optically variable coating agent 06 is or can be applied to a first side of the printing substrate 02. By means of the aforementioned printing processes, in particular the screen printing process, a greater layer thickness can be applied, for example, compared to other printing processes. The term “first side” of the substrate 02 or of the printing material 02 is chosen arbitrarily and is intended to designate the side of the printing material 02 on which the optically variable coating agent 06 to be treated downstream by the alignment device 07 is or was or can be applied.

[0030] In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, the printing press 01 comprises a substrate template 13, preferably designed as a sheet feeder 13, from which the substrate 02, designed, for example, as a sheet-shaped printing material 02, is or can be fed - optionally via further printing or processing units - to the at least one printing unit 04 applying the optically variable coating agent 06, e.g. flexographic or preferably screen printing unit 04, which forms a printing point 11 for printing, for example, a first side of the printing material 02 between a printing unit cylinder 14, in particular a forme cylinder 14, e.g. a screen printing cylinder 14, and a common impression cylinder 17 (see, for example, Fig. 1).

[0031] The printing unit 04 preferably comprises, as the imaging cylinder, a forme cylinder 14 with a plurality of, in particular similar and / or identical, imaging printing elements 18, hereinafter also referred to as printing subjects 18, or, in particular similar and / or identical, groups of imaging printing elements 18 or printing subjects 18 on the circumference, which are arranged on a circumferential length corresponding to the print image length in several columns, e.g. a number, e.g. from four to eight, in particular five to seven, e.g. six, spaced from one another transversely to the transport direction T, and on a cylinder width corresponding to the print image width in several rows spaced from one another in the transport direction T. In the case of a printing unit 04 operating according to the flexographic printing method, these printing subjects 18 are designed in the manner of letterpress reliefs and, in the preferred case of a printing unit 04 operating according to the screen printing method, in the manner of screen printing stencils.

[0032] From the printing unit 04 applying the optically variable coating agent 06, the printing substrate 02 can be fed to the alignment device 07 via conveying means, e.g., one or more conveying devices 12 configured as transport cylinders 12. In the case of web-shaped printing substrate 02, the conveying means could be formed by one or more positively driven and / or non-driven rollers.

[0033] After passing through the alignment device 07 described in detail below, the printing substrate 02 can be fed directly or via further conveying means, e.g. further transport cylinders, to a further, e.g. second, conveying device 21 and fed by this to a product holder 22 for receiving the printing substrate 02 processed and / or finished in the machine 01, in the case of sheet-shaped printing substrate 02, to a stack delivery 22. For the preferred case of sheet-shaped printing substrate 02, sheet-conveying means, e.g. one or more transfer cylinders or drums or, as shown here, a conveying device 21 designed, e.g. as a gripper circulating conveyor 21, in particular a chain gripper system 21, are provided as conveying means, by means of which the printing substrate sheets 02 are taken over from the transport path section of the alignment device 07 via, if necessary, one or more further transport cylinders and fed, e.g. to the stack delivery 22.

[0034] On the transport path leading away from the alignment device 07, at least one drying device with one or more dryers 23 directed toward the first side of the printing substrate 02, e.g., radiation dryers 23, and optionally a cooling device (not shown), e.g., a cooling roller, can be provided. In a further development (not shown), an inspection device (not shown), e.g., an area or line scan camera, can be provided on the transport path between the alignment device 07 and the stack delivery 22.

[0035] In an advantageous further development, the printing unit 04 and the alignment device 07 can be structurally combined, e.g., in the form of a module, to form a device 16 for generating optically variable image elements. Such a device can, for example, be provided several times in succession in the machine 01 in one further development. In an advantageous embodiment in the form of a module, the device 16 is or can be inserted into the transport path of the machine 01 to be equipped, with input and output interfaces to corresponding interfaces of a conveyor system extending upstream and downstream.

[0036] The alignment device 07 described in detail below is, in principle, arbitrary in its designs, design variants or configurations, but is preferably provided or can be provided in a machine 01 or printing machine 01 described above.

[0037] The alignment device 07 for forming optically variable image elements 03, e.g. for forming the optically variable effect in the optically variable coating agent 06 previously applied - e.g. in the form of print image elements 08 - to the substrate 02, in particular to the printing material 02, comprises a defined transport path along which the substrate 02 to be conveyed by the alignment device 07 is brought into operative connection in a defined manner from an input area, in which the substrate 02 to be treated and having optically variable coating agent 06 on its first side is fed or can be fed, with an alignment device 26, which comprises elements 24 providing magnetic fields as active elements 24, in short magnetic elements 24.can be, preferably in such a way that the magnetic elements 24 of the alignment device 26, which serve for image-forming alignment, and the printing substrate 02 printed with the printing ink 06 containing the particles P move synchronously with one another at least over a section of the transport path. The alignment device 26 is designed here as a magnetically active cylinder 26, or magnetic cylinder 26 for short, which has an arrangement of magnetic elements 24 on its circumference and via which the printing substrate 02 is guided or conveyed from an input region towards an output region of the alignment device 07.

[0038] The magnetic elements 24 can be formed directly by single-part or multi-part magnets 27 themselves or preferably comprise one or more magnets 27 which are arranged - preferably detachably - in or on a holder 28, e.g. on or in a base 28. Magnets 27 are generally understood here to be magnetically effective devices which permanently or switchably create a magnetic field at least towards the side of the transport path - in particular a magnetic field which is sufficiently strong for aligning particles P contained in the coating agent 06 on the substrate 02 guided thereover as described here. The magnets 27 can be formed by one or more permanent magnets with or without engraving, by electromagnets or by combinations of one or more permanent magnets and / or one or more electromagnets. Regardless of whether it is a single magnet or a combination of several magnets, e.g.Since the term “magnet 27” is used below to refer to permanent magnets and / or electromagnets, the term “magnet 27” is also used to refer to a plurality of magnets 27 assigned to the same magnetic element 24 and as a whole forming a magnetic unit, unless explicitly stated otherwise. The term “magnet element 24” is also intended to include designs having a plurality of single-part or multi-part magnets 27 spaced apart from one another and encompassed by the magnetic element 24, as can be used, for example, in the case where the same panel 09 is to be subjected to a respective magnetic field at two different points. Such a magnet 27 or an arrangement of a plurality of magnets 27 of a same magnetic element 24 can be accommodated in a housing 38 of the magnetic element 24, which housing is arranged, for example, in or on the holder 28 so as to be detachable from the holder 28.

[0039] In principle, two such magnetic cylinders 26 can also be provided in the transport path, which are arranged on the same or on different sides of a substrate 02 to be conveyed along the transport path.

[0040] In an advantageous embodiment, the alignment device 07 is assigned a drying and / or curing device 19, e.g., a radiation dryer 19, in particular a UV radiation dryer 19, or UV dryer 19 for short, which is preferably designed as a UV-LED dryer 19 and / or is directed at a location in the transport path at which the substrate 02 interacts with the magnetic cylinder 26.

[0041] The magnetic cylinder 26 is preferably arranged on the second side of the transport path of the substrate 02 to be conveyed, so that its first side, which is coated in particular upstream inline with optically variable coating agent 06, points outwards when passing the magnetic cylinder 26, in particular during transport via the magnetic cylinder 26.

[0042] The magnetic cylinder 26 comprises a single-part or preferably multi-part cylinder body 29, on or on which the magnetic elements 24 are arranged, preferably detachably. The single-part or preferably multi-part cylinder body 29 can be rotatably mounted or mounted in a frame. The term cylinder body 29 is intended to include both closed structures, ie with a more or less closed cylinder surface, and open structures, ie framework- or frame-like structures such as the Fig. 4 example.

[0043] The magnetic cylinder 26 has, in the region of the side facing the substrate path, e.g., in the region of the outer circumference, in particular in the region of an outer cylindrical envelope surface of the cylinder body 29, the plurality of magnetic elements 24, which serve to orient at least some of the magnetic or magnetizable particles P of the coating agent 06 applied to the passing printing substrate 02.

[0044] In particular for the case, which is preferred and explained here, of a plurality of blanks 09 per substrate section, e.g. per printing material or substrate sheet 02, on the cylinder body 29, viewed in the axial direction, a plurality of columns or groups, in particular a number m corresponding to the number of columns on the printing material section 02 (m ∈ ℕ > 1), each with a plurality of axially parallel rows, in particular a number n corresponding to the number of rows of blanks 09 on the printing material section 02 to be treated (n ∈ ℕ > 1), or magnetic elements 24 arranged one behind the other in a column or group, viewed in the transport direction T of the substrate 02 and / or in the circumferential direction of the cylinder 26, are provided or arranged in a matrix-like manner, ie a number of n × m, in other words n times m; with n, m ∈ ℕ, magnetic elements 24 are provided on the outer circumference in a matrix-like manner. They are preferably arranged in such a way that each column orgroup, the same number n of magnetic elements 24 are provided on the circumference and are arranged in rows running parallel to the axis and / or in particular in such a way that, when developed on the substrate 02 - assuming correct registration between the substrate position in the transport direction T and the cylinder angular position - they correspond to the pattern of the image elements 03 on the substrate 02 to be subjected to magnetic fields. The row- or column-wise arrangement should also be understood to mean the corresponding grid- or matrix-like arrangement in the event that they are slightly offset from one another in the axis-parallel direction for correction or adjustment purposes. The n magnetic elements 24 of the columns orGroups are then arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction, for example, at least in such a way that they at least overlap when unrolling along a circular circumferential line and / or are located in panels 09 of the same column of a substrate 02 to be treated, even if they are partially offset from one another for correction or adjustment purposes. The same applies to the axially parallel arrangement for any minor mutual deviations in the circumferential direction.

[0045] By guiding the substrate 02 over a magnetic cylinder 26 designed in this way, wherein, for example, the first substrate side points outwards during transport over the first cylinder 26, an alignment or orientation of particles P in the area of ​​the image elements 03 provided on the blank 09 can be effected by means of the magnetic elements 24, in this case, for example, through the substrate 02.

[0046] The number m of columns or groups is, for example, four to eight, in particular five to seven, e.g., six, and / or the number n of magnetic elements 24 in a column or group is, for example, two to twelve, advantageously five to ten. The magnetic cylinder 26 or its cylinder body 29 is preferably designed such that the number m of columns or groups and / or the number n of rows or magnetic elements 24 arranged one behind the other in a column or group can be varied—for example, within the above-mentioned limits—in order to adapt them to different requirements.

[0047] Preferably, the magnetic elements 24 - preferably in or on a corresponding holder 28 together with the latter - are arranged or can be arranged detachably on the cylinder 26 in such a way that, in the assembled state, they can be arranged at a defined location on the circumference of the cylinder 26 and preferably can be completely removed from the cylinder 26 and / or can be positioned on the circumference of the cylinder 26 in the axial and / or circumferential direction.

[0048] For a matrix-like arrangement as mentioned above, magnetic elements 24 can be arranged and mounted on or in a cylinder body 29 in such a way that they are mounted on or in a variable manner, at least relative to other magnetic elements 24 of the same column or group of magnetic elements 24, in their axial position relative to the single- or multi-part cylinder body 29. This can be realized, for example, via axially extending guides on the circumference of the cylinder body 29, in or on which the respective magnetic elements 24 are mounted directly or indirectly and can be brought into different axial positions. Such guides could, in principle, be individually designed for individual magnetic elements 24 of a row (see, for example, the embodiment according to Fig. 11, but possibly also provided continuously for several or all magnetic elements 24 of a same row. In this case, the guides could be provided on the above-mentioned axially extending support elements that carry all magnetic elements 24 of the same row.

[0049] In an advantageous embodiment, the magnetic elements 24 of a respective row or, preferably, of a respective column - optionally in addition to an independent axial and / or circumferential positionability of individual or all magnetic elements 24 of the row or column as a whole and independently of an adjacent row or column, in the case of the row with regard to their position in the circumferential direction and, in the case of the column presented here, as a group with regard to their axial position on the magnetic cylinder 26 or on the cylinder body 29 - as explained in more detail below, can be varied. For the case of a row combined as a group, not shown here, in particular several, preferably the magnetic elements 24 of all rows are combined row by row as groups that can be positioned together in the circumferential direction, for example on axially extending support elements.In the preferred case of columns combined as groups, in particular several, advantageously at least the two columns closest to the end face of at least three, advantageously all columns as groups are mounted in this way in or on the magnetic element carrier 29, in particular cylinder body 29, so as to be axially movable.

[0050] In the preferred case of columns combined into groups, the magnetic elements 24 can be arranged or can be arranged - directly or indirectly - in or on several, e.g. a number m of e.g. four to eight, in particular from five to seven, e.g. six, preferably ring-like support elements 31, e.g. here ring elements 31, which are axially spaced from one another and preferably partially or entirely positionable in the axial direction on an inner cylinder body 32, in particular an axially extending shaft 32, wherein in or on these ring elements 31 in turn several, e.g. from two to twelve, advantageously five to ten, magnetic elements 24 are arranged or can be arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction and preferably at least partially or entirely positionable in the circumferential direction (see e.g. Fig. 4 and Fig. 5).

[0051] In the case of a web-shaped substrate 02, the magnetic cylinder 26 can be designed without any holding means acting on the substrate 02 and, for example, with ring elements 31 closed in the circumferential direction. For the case of a sheet-shaped substrate 02, which is preferred here, holding means 33, e.g. grippers 33 of a so-called gripper bar, are preferably provided on the circumference of the cylinder 26, by means of which a substrate sheet 02 to be conveyed via the cylinder 26 can be picked up with its leading end and can be or is held over an angular range during a rotation of the cylinder 26. A magnetic cylinder 26 designed in this way simultaneously serves to transport the substrate 02. The ring elements 31 are, for example, as shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 is clearly interrupted in the circumferential direction to accommodate the holding means 33. Therefore, the term "ring-like" support elements or "ring elements" is intended to include non-closed, i.e., ring-segment-like elements, unless explicitly differentiated. Fig. 5 are fastening means that may be used for fastening - as they are used, for example, in connection with an embodiment according to the figures Fig. 15 to Fig. 18 and also for the explanations in the figures Fig. 1 to Fig. 14 are applicable - not further shown.

[0052] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the magnetic cylinder 26, individual structural units 36, which are positioned or positionable in a matrix-like manner in columns and rows on or in the cylinder body 29 in the above sense, are provided for several or all of the magnetic elements 24, hereinafter also referred to as active units 36, in particular magnetic unit 36, which each comprise at least one magnetic element 24 and at least one suction element 34.

[0053] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the device 07 for aligning magnetic or magnetizable particles P, in several, preferably in all of the m columns of magnetic elements 24, several, in particular all, of the magnetic elements 24 arranged one behind the other are combined with at least one associated suction element 34 in respective structural units 36 as active units 36 and as such can be positioned as a whole and independently of all other such active units 36 in the circumferential direction and / or can be detached from the cylinder 26.

[0054] The active units 36 each comprise a magnetic element carrier 37, on or in which the magnetic element 24 is arranged on its outward-facing side. The at least one suction element 34 can be integrated into the magnetic element carrier 37 as part of the latter or can be arranged thereon as a separate part. Preferably, the active unit 36 ​​comprises - viewed in the axial direction of the cylinder 26 - at least one suction element 34 on each side of the magnetic element 24. The respective suction element 34 comprises a plurality of suction openings 42 in the surface directed outwards, i.e., outside the cylinder 26 and / or at the level of the cylinder envelope, which openings can be arranged, for example, in a suction air duct 39 (see, for example, Fig. 11) in the suction element 34, preferably detachably fastened above the suction channel 39. A channel arrangement not visible in the figures leads from the respective suction air channel 39 through the active unit 36 ​​to a bottom-side line interface 43, which, for example, is formed by at least one recess 43 open towards the interior of the cylinder (see, for example, Fig. 11) is formed in a base of the active unit 36 ​​facing the cylinder interior. Through this at least one recess 43 or the line interface 43 formed thereby and assigned to the active unit 36, air can be sucked in from the suction openings 42 connected via the channel arrangement and the suction air channel 39.

[0055] In an embodiment not shown, the active units 36 can basically be arranged or can be arranged in a matrix-like manner, directly or indirectly, for example, on a cylindrical outer surface 44 of the axially extending cylinder inner body 32, in particular the shaft 32. This or these has, for example, on a longitudinal section directly or indirectly supporting the magnetic elements 24, suction air openings 46 directed radially outward as line interfaces 46 carrying suction air, which are connected, for example, via radially extending passages 47, e.g., bores 47, to a channel 48, e.g., a suction air channel 48, which runs, for example, axially in the shaft 32 and is to be supplied with suction air from at least one cylinder end.

[0056] In the event that the active units 36 are or are to be arranged in a matrix-like manner directly, i.e. directly on the above-mentioned outer surface 44 of the axially running cylinder inner body 32 or the shaft 32, the active units 36 are or will be positioned on the outer surface 44 in such a way that the line interface 43 on the base of the active unit 36, here for example the free cross section of the above-mentioned recess 43 in the base of the respective active unit 36, overlaps with at least one of the line interfaces 43 formed by for example suction air openings 46 in the shaft 32. The above-mentioned recess 43 forms here for example B. a chamber 43 delimited on the bottom side by the jacket surface 44, wherein a wall completely surrounding the recess 43 in the foot region of the active unit 36 ​​with an opposite region of the jacket surface 44 of the shaft 32 form a sealing surface sealing the chamber 43 all around.In this embodiment, the air is sucked in from the suction openings 42 in the respective suction element 34 via the suction air channel 39 and the channel arrangement, via the line interface 43 of the active unit 36 ​​formed, for example, by the recess 43, and at least one suction air opening 46 of the cylinder inner body 32, as well as the suction air channel 48. For such an embodiment, suitable fastening means, e.g., in the form of clamp or screw connections, must be provided, by means of which the respective active unit 36 ​​can be fixed to the outer surface 44.

[0057] In the particularly advantageous embodiment shown here, however, the active units 36 are not arranged or can be arranged directly on the section of the cylinder inner body 32 or the shaft 32 having the suction air openings 46, but several or preferably all of the active units 36 provided for a respective column as a group on or on an already mentioned, in particular annular support element 31, e.g. ring element 31, wherein advantageously at least the outermost on both sides, but preferably all of the support elements 31 carrying the respective group or column of active units 36 on the cylinder inner body 32 or the shaft 32 can be varied in their axial position.

[0058] The preferably ring-like support elements 31 or ring elements 31 have, on the side facing inwards, i.e. in the assembled state towards the inner cylinder body 32 or the shaft 32, as well as on an outwards-facing side, line interfaces 49; 51 assigned to the respective support element 31, as well as a channel arrangement which connects one or more of the inside line interfaces 49 to one or more of the outside line interfaces 51 for the passage of suction air. On the inside, for example, recesses 49 are provided as line interfaces 49 in a wall 52 facing towards the interior of the cylinder, which are each connected via one or more channels 53 running in the ring element 31 to passages 54, e.g. bores 54, which lead through the support element 31 to outside line interfaces 51 and which run radially, for example.Although the openings of individual bores 54 could also simultaneously represent the outwardly effective line interfaces 51, one or in particular several of the bores 54 preferably also lead on the outside into a recess 51 in the outwardly facing wall 56 of the support element 31, for example, forming the outer line interface 51.

[0059] The ring elements 31 are or will be positioned, for example, on the casing surface 44 in particular in such a way that the respective line interfaces 49 on the inside of the ring element 31, here, for example, the free cross section of the above-mentioned recess 49, overlap with at least one of the suction air openings 46 in the shaft 32 or the cylinder inner body 32. The above-mentioned recess 49 forms, for example, a chamber 49 delimited on the bottom side by the casing surface 44, wherein a surface of the inward-facing wall 52 of the ring element 31 lying outside the recess 49 on the inward-facing side of the ring element 31 forms a sealing surface that seals the chamber 49 with an opposite region of the casing surface 44. In a similar way, for example, B. the active units 36 are positioned in particular on the outwardly directed side of the ring element 31 so that the line interface 43 is at the bottom of the active unit 36, here e.g.the free cross-section of the above-mentioned recess 43 in the base of the respective active unit 36 ​​overlaps with at least one of the outer line interfaces 51 on the outward-facing side of the ring element 31. The recess 43 forms, for example, a chamber 43 delimited on the base side by the outer wall 56, wherein the wall completely surrounding the recess 43 in the base region of the active unit 36 ​​forms, with an opposite region of the wall 56 of the support element 31, a sealing surface sealing the chamber 43. In this embodiment, the air is drawn in from the suction openings 42 in the respective suction element 34 via the suction air channel 39 and the channel arrangement, via the line interfaces 43; 51 formed, for example, by the overlapping recesses 43 and 51, the channel arrangement of the ring element 31, which, for example, B. line interface 49 formed by the recess 49 on the inside of the ring and at least one suction air opening 46 as well as the suction air channel 48 and e.g.sucked in via a rotary union from a suction air source located outside the cylinder 26.

[0060] The respective pattern of the suction air openings 46 or line interfaces 46 on the inner cylinder body 32 and the position and shape of the interacting line interface(s) 43 or recess(es) 43 in the bottom region of the active unit 36 ​​in conjunction with the first above-mentioned variant (without support element 31) are preferably coordinated with one another in such a way that a continuous positioning of the active unit 36 ​​in the circumferential direction over at least one adjustment range of two suction air openings 46 on the shaft 32 that are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction is made possible by the fact that in the first variant, in each position lying in the respective adjustment range, at least one of the suction air openings 46 or line interfaces 46 is completely covered by the underside of the active unit 36, while at the same time the opening cross-section of the at least one suction air opening 46 or line interface 46 is at least partially covered by the bottom-side line interface 43 orRecess 43 of the active unit 36 ​​overlaps.

[0061] The respective pattern of the suction air openings 46 or line interfaces 46 on the inner cylinder body 32 and the position and shape of the interacting line interface(s) 49 or recess(es) 49 on the inside of the support element 31 as well as the position and shape of the interacting line interfaces 51; 43 or recesses 51; 43 on the outside of the support element 31 on the one hand and in the bottom region of the active unit 36 ​​on the other hand in connection with the second variant (comprising the support elements 31) are preferably coordinated with one another in such a way that in the circumferential direction a continuous positioning of the active unit 36 ​​in the second variant over an adjustment range of at least two line interfaces 51 or recesses 51 on the outside of the support element 31 is made possible by at least one line interface 51 orRecess 51 on the outside of the support element 31 is completely covered by the underside of the active unit 36, while at the same time the opening cross-section of the at least one line interface 51 or recess 51 on the outside of the support element 31 at least partially overlaps with the bottom-side line interface 43 or recess 43 of the active unit 36.

[0062] In connection with variable positioning, in a particularly advantageous further development, line interfaces 46; 51 are provided at more locations in the axial direction of the cylinder inner body 32 and / or in the circumferential direction on the support elements 31 than would be necessary for a single specific operational configuration. However, in order to prevent any false air from being sucked in through these line interfaces 46; 51 not covered by the active units 36 or ring elements 31, closure means 57; 58 are provided, by means of which passages 47; 54 on the cylinder inner body 32 and / or on the outer circumference of the support element 31, supplying line interfaces 46; 51 not covered by the active units 36 or the support elements 31, can be selectively closed. In the simplest case, this can be a type of plug that is inserted into the relevant passages 47; 54 for closing and removed from them again as needed.

[0063] Preferably, however, closure means 57; 58, designed as valves 57; 58, for example, are provided in the passages 47 and 54, which are to be closed selectively, which are or can be brought into the closed position in passages 47 and 54 of passages 47 and 54 which are not or only partially covered directly by active units 36 or by support elements 31, while at least some of the passages 47 and 54 of line interfaces 46; 51 which are completely covered by active units 36 or by support elements 31 are or can be brought into a pass-through position.

[0064] A preferred embodiment of such a closure means 57; 58 is designed in the manner of a valve 57; 58, which can be brought into a through position and a closed position as required - without the need to remove or insert it. In an advantageous embodiment, the passages 47; 54, which are designed in particular as bores 47; 54, are in line connection on only one side of the clear cross-section with the channels 48 and 53 of the inner cylinder body 32 or the support element 31, which adjoin on the suction side. The valve 57; 58 is formed, for example, in a particularly advantageous embodiment by a sleeve 57; 58, which has on one side a recess 61 in the lateral wall 62, which, in a rotational position representing a through position, forms the path into the passage located on the suction side in the inner cylinder body 32 orin the support element 31, while in another rotational position it interrupts the connection to the relevant channel 47; 54 through the sleeve wall. In an advantageous embodiment, the sleeve-like valve 57; 58 has, e.g. at least in a section located further outwards in the assembled state, an actuating interface 63 engageable with a tool 59, via which the valve 57; 58 can be rotated between the open and closed positions by the corresponding tool 59 - in particular without it having to be removed. The corresponding tool interface pair 59, 63 used here is, for example, a polygonal wrench 59 and an inner peripheral section 63 in the sleeve 57; 58 designed as an internal polygon 63.

[0065] In a further development of the cylinder 26, a support element 66 is provided between each two columns or groups of construction or active units 36, which support element has a support surface 67; 68 at the level of the cylinder envelope for supporting the substrate 02 conveyed via the cylinder 26. The support surface 67 can be the outwardly directed cylindrical surface 67 of a circular ring-shaped support disk 64 or the outwardly directed surface 68 of a support plate 71, e.g. made of plastic or metal, arranged on a support disk 69. The term "circular ring-shaped" is also intended to include a support disk 69 which is not entirely closed around its circumference, i.e. which is similar to a circular ring segment.

[0066] In a particularly advantageous embodiment for the fastening of magnetic elements 24 on the cylinder 26, wherein several or all of the magnetic elements 24 of a group are mounted on or on a common, ring-like support element 31 and can be positioned on the support element 31 in the circumferential direction, the magnetic elements 24 or a magnetic element carrier 37 carrying the magnetic elements 24, viewed in the axial direction, comprise on both sides at least one clamping element 72; 73, e.g. a clamping lever 72; 73, the ends of which act for clamping each engage under a stop surface 74; 77 which, in the mounted state, runs in the circumferential direction on the respective end face of the ring-like support element 31 and is directed inwards, i.e. with its surface normal pointing into the interior of the cylinder, and / or counteracts a radial removal of the magnetic element 24 or magnetic element carrier 37 by interacting with the clamping element 72; 73 in the clamping position.In a particularly advantageous embodiment, this stop surface 74; 77 can be an inwardly directed surface of a groove 76; 78 running in the circumferential direction on the end face of the support element 31, into which groove the clamping element 72; 73 engages with its effective, e.g., claw- or clamp-like end. In this case, the circumferentially extending stop surface 74; 77 or groove 76; 78 should include, in addition to a stop surface 74; 77 or groove 76; 78 preferably continuous over the full angular range or, as shown, the relevant circular arc section, a possibly interrupted stop surface 74; 77 or groove 76; 78 continuing in several circular arc sections. However, the latter can limit the variability of the positioning in the circumferential direction.An "inwardly" directed surface here includes, in addition to surfaces pointing strictly radially inward, surfaces inclined thereto, whose surface vector is directed into the cylinder interior, but preferably as a circumferential surface focused on the same point on the cylinder axis line for each end face, thus providing the clamping element 72; 73 with a stop directed against radial removal. In an advantageous embodiment, particularly to increase the stability of the seat, two clamping elements 72; 73 spaced apart in the circumferential direction or one clamping element 72; 73 with two claws spaced apart from one another and cooperating with the support element 31 are provided on each side.

[0067] Even if the clamping element 72; 73 could in principle also be designed as a one-armed lever 72; 73, it is preferably designed in the manner of a two-armed lever 72; 73 which can be pivoted about an axis 81, e.g. pivot axis 81, which is mounted on the magnetic element 24 or its holder 28 or a structural unit 36 ​​comprising the magnetic element 24, the lever arm of which closer to the cylinder center has the part, e.g. claw-like or clamp-like part, which interacts with the stop surface 74; 77, and the lever arm further out serves for actuation. The clamping element 72; 73 is preferably self-locking, e.g. by a lever 72; 73, in particular the lever arm located further outwards, and the magnetic element 24 or the holder 28 or the structural unit 36, a spring element 79, in particular a compression spring 79, is spring-loaded in such a way that it is in the clamping position in the rest state, ie without actuation, and the magnetic element 24 or.the bracket 38 or the assembly 36 is held on the support element 31. The described fastening device offers particular advantages when used in conjunction with an assembly aid 97, which is described in more detail below.

[0068] The above-mentioned type of fastening with the fastening means 72; 73, 74, 77 is fundamentally independent of, but advantageous in conjunction with, the design of the above-mentioned structural units 36, in particular active units 36, and / or the special type of suction air guidance or supply and / or an axial mobility of individual magnetic elements 24 (described in more detail below) and / or a mobility of individual magnetic elements 24 in the circumferential direction (described in more detail below). The clamping elements 72; 73 enable the connection to be released from the outside without having to remove the respective magnetic element 24. Continuous adjustability allows release just enough for the respective magnetic element 24 to be positioned in the circumferential direction against any frictional forces that may still exist, but without, for example, the risk of tipping, slipping, or falling off.

[0069] On some of the figures, e.g. Fig. 11, Fig. 12 and Fig. 14, an optionally provided line 84 is shown or indicated, which, in the event that the magnet 27 in the magnetic element 24 is designed to be rotatable by a motor, supplies the motor with signals and / or with electrical energy.

[0070] As already mentioned above in connection with Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, respective columns of image-forming print subjects 18 extending in the circumferential direction of the forme cylinder 14 relate to a same column of blanks 09 provided or to be provided one after the other on the substrate 02. These blanks 09 are ideally aligned with one another along the transport direction T and have a uniform width. In cases deviating from this, for example, if a trapezoidal deformation of the substrate 02, possibly already previously printed in the pattern of blanks 09, has occurred in a preceding process or due to other mechanical or physical stress, such a changed geometry can be counteracted by a correspondingly varied arrangement of the print subjects 18 on the forme cylinder 14. In this case, the print subjects 18 of individual columns are not strictly aligned with one another in the circumferential direction, for example, but rather lie, for example, partly on helical lines slightly inclined relative to the circumferential line (e.g. in Fig. 3 (shown exaggerated for better perception). The width of the blanks 09 on the substrate 02 increases, for example, from the leading to the trailing end of the substrate section or substrate sheet 02 or - e.g., with correspondingly reversed feed at the entrance to the printing press 01 - possibly vice versa. However, there may also be other reasons for a deviation in the relative position between the axial position of individual magnetic elements 24 and the target position for their effect on the substrate 02, such as, for example, slightly incorrect axial positioning of the magnetic elements 24 on the cylinder 26, etc.

[0071] Basically independent of an arrangement of the magnetic element 24 in an above-mentioned structural unit 36 ​​and / or of the design of an above-mentioned fastening device and / or an adjustability in the circumferential direction, but preferably in conjunction with one or more of the advantageous embodiments mentioned, in a particularly advantageous embodiment at least in several, preferably in all of the columns or groups of magnetic elements 24 running in the circumferential direction, at least one of the magnetic elements 24 is mounted independently of at least one further magnetic element 24 of the same column or group, at least in the axial direction, adjustably or movably, directly or indirectly on the cylinder body 29 of the magnetic cylinder 26.Preferably, several, advantageously at least all but one, but particularly advantageously all, magnetic elements 24 of a same group are axially movable independently of other magnetic elements 24 of the group and / or several, advantageously all but one or all, magnetic elements 24 of at least the two closest to the end face, in particular all columns or groups of at least three columns or groups are mounted axially movable in or on the cylinder body 29 independently of other magnetic elements 24 of the respective column or group. In this way, the aforementioned random or systematic relative deviations of individual magnetic elements 24 in the axial position can be readjusted or corrected. In particular in conjunction with the aforementioned indirect mounting of the magnetic elements 24 via magnetic element carriers 37, which are directly or via the aforementionedSupport elements 31 are provided indirectly on the cylinder body 29, such axially adjustable magnetic elements 24 are preferably axially adjustable on the relevant magnetic element carrier 37 relative to the latter.

[0072] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the cylinder 26 with the nxm magnetic elements 24 arranged in a matrix, at least two or all of the magnetic elements 24 provided one behind the other in a same column are mounted on or on an above-mentioned common support element 31 and can be varied together with this and independently of an adjacent group with regard to their axial position in or on the cylinder 26, wherein in addition to this, the at least two or preferably all of the magnetic elements 24 of this or preferably each column are arranged on respective magnetic element carriers 37 which can be positioned independently of one another in the circumferential direction on the common support element 31 and / or detachable from the support element 31 and are mounted on the respective magnetic element carrier 37 so as to be adjustable in the axial direction within an adjustment range, for example of a total of at least 1 mm, preferably at least 2 mm.

[0073] In this embodiment, the axially movable magnet 27 or the holder 28 is thus carried indirectly via the associated magnetic element carrier 37, which carries the respective, at least axially movable magnetic element 24 and is preferably itself variably positionable in the circumferential direction on the ring element 31.

[0074] In a simple and inexpensive embodiment (see e.g. Fig.10), the respective magnetic element 24 or the holder 28 is fastened in or on the magnetic element carrier 37 or its holder 28 by means of a fastening means 83, e.g., a screw 83, such that after at least partial loosening of the fastening, e.g., by at least partial loosening of the screw 83 using a suitable tool, the magnetic element 24 or the holder 28 is released to such an extent that it is axially movable—at least within a relevant adjustment range on the magnetic element carrier 37. The fastening means 83, e.g., designed as a screw 83, can be reached, for example, through a recess designed as an elongated hole 82 in a base region of the holder 28 receiving the magnetic element 24 after removal of the magnetic element 24.

[0075] However, a movement or positioning of the magnetic element 24 or the holder 28 encompassed by it in the axial direction is preferably carried out - in contrast to, for example, a purely manual and / or tool-free movement - via mechanical actuating means 86, 87, 89, in particular comprising a gear.

[0076] Although the actuating means 86, 87, 89 causing an axial movement can be implemented by any suitable mechanisms or gears, in the illustrated and particularly advantageous case they comprise a gear that converts a rotational movement - in particular on the input side - into a linear movement - in particular of the magnetic element 24 or the holder 28 supporting the magnetic element 24, e.g. directly or indirectly - in particular an eccentric drive, which converts a rotary movement of an eccentric 86, e.g. formed by an eccentrically mounted shaft section 86, into a - here axially extending - linear movement of a carriage 87, e.g. a support element 87 that directly or indirectly supports the magnetic element 24 or its holder 28, which is directly or indirectly operatively connected via a contact with the active surface on the eccentric casing side and is mounted for linear movement in or on the magnetic element carrier 37.The eccentric 86 preferably runs with its axis of rotation radially to the cylinder 26 and / or can be actuated directly or indirectly from the outward-facing cylinder side. For this purpose, for example, a shaft 89 surrounding the eccentric 86 or continuing outwards has, in the region of its outward-facing end, an actuating interface 88, e.g., a polygon socket 88, which can be actuated, in particular pivoted, by means of a corresponding tool, here e.g., a polygon wrench. As an alternative to the eccentric 86 being arranged radially with the axis of rotation, a tangential position or a position parallel to the tangent is also conceivable, in which case it can then be actuated, for example, from a side facing in the circumferential direction or from the outside via a corner gear.

[0077] An adjustment range in the axial direction, viewed from a central position, is, for example, at least ± 1.0 mm (i.e., a total adjustment range of at least 2 mm), preferably at least ± 1.2 mm, e.g., ± 1.5 mm.

[0078] In the above embodiment, as an active unit 36 ​​comprising at least one suction element 34, in one embodiment variant, the at least one suction element 34 can be axially movable together with the magnetic element 24 on the magnetic element carrier 37. A corresponding suction air passage must be provided, e.g., via relatively movable sealing surfaces or a flexible line.

[0079] There may also be deviations in the relative position between the position of individual magnetic elements 24 in the circumferential direction of the cylinder 26 and the target position for their effect on the substrate 02 in the transport direction T, which may have a variety of reasons, such as limited possibilities for rough and / or manual pre-positioning on the cylinder body 29 or in particular on a possibly provided support element 31.

[0080] Fundamentally independent of an arrangement of the magnetic element 24 in an above-mentioned structural unit 36 ​​and / or of the design of an above-mentioned fastening device and / or an above-mentioned adjustability in the axial direction, but preferably in conjunction with one or more of the advantageous embodiments mentioned, in a particularly advantageous embodiment, at least in several, preferably in all axially extending rows of magnetic elements 24, at least one of the magnetic elements 24 is mounted so as to be adjustable or movable at least in the circumferential direction, independently of at least one other magnetic element 24 of the same row, directly or indirectly on the cylinder body 29 of the magnetic cylinder 26. Preferably, in several, in particular all, rows, several, advantageously at least all but one, but particularly advantageously all, magnetic elements 24 of the same row are mounted so as to be axially movable, independently of other magnetic elements 24 in the row.

[0081] Instead or in addition to this, in a particularly advantageous embodiment of the cylinder 26 with the matrix-like arranged magnetic elements 24, at least two magnetic elements 24 provided one behind the other in the same column are arranged on or in different magnetic element carriers 37 that can be positioned independently of one another in the circumferential direction on the cylinder 26, wherein the at least two, in particular all, magnetic elements 24 arranged on the respective magnetic element carriers 37 are mounted so as to be adjustable in the circumferential direction relative to the magnetic element carrier 37 carrying the magnetic element 24 within an adjustment range, e.g., of a total of at least 1 mm, preferably at least 2 mm. This preferably applies to at least two or all magnetic elements 24 of all columns.

[0082] In contrast to, for example, purely manual and / or tool-free movement, the magnetic element 24 or the holder 28 encompassed by it is moved or positioned in the circumferential direction preferably via mechanical actuating means 91, 92, 94, in particular by means of a gear mechanism.

[0083] In this context, a setting or adjustment movement in the circumferential direction should be understood not only as a movement along a circular arc, but also explicitly as a movement along a rectilinear path running tangentially or parallel to the tangent along the circumference – across the relevant adjustment range. Since this is usually a very small relevant adjustment range compared to the cylinder diameter, the linear adjustment path generally does not lead to excessively large imaging errors.

[0084] Although the actuating means 91, 92, 94 causing a movement in the circumferential direction can be implemented by any suitable mechanisms or gears, in the illustrated and particularly advantageous case they comprise a gear that converts a rotational movement - in particular on the input side - into a linear movement - in particular of the magnetic element 24 or the holder 28 supporting the magnetic element 24, e.g. directly or indirectly - in particular an eccentric drive that converts a rotary movement of an eccentric 91, e.g. formed by an eccentrically mounted shaft section 91, into a linear movement of a carriage 92, e.g. a support element 92 that directly or indirectly supports the magnetic element 24 or its holder 28, which is directly or indirectly operatively connected via a contact with the active surface on the eccentric casing side and is mounted for linear movement in or on the magnetic element carrier 37.The linear movement in the above sense should be both a rectilinear movement, which is preferable due to the complexity, but also, if necessary, a movement along a circular arc. The eccentric 91 preferably runs with its axis of rotation radially to the cylinder 26 and / or can be actuated from the outward-facing cylinder side. For this purpose, for example, a shaft 94 surrounding the eccentric 91 or continuing outwards has, in the region of its outward-facing end, an actuating interface 93, e.g., a polygon socket 93, which can be actuated, in particular pivoted, by means of a corresponding tool, here, for example, a polygon wrench. As an alternative to the eccentric 91 being arranged radially with the axis of rotation, a tangential position or a position parallel to the tangent is also conceivable, in which case it can then be actuated, for example, from a side facing in the circumferential direction or from the outside via a corner gear.

[0085] A circumferential adjustment range, viewed from a central position, is, for example, at least ± 1.0 mm (i.e., a total adjustment range of at least 2 mm), preferably at least ± 1.2 mm, e.g., ± 1.5 mm.

[0086] In the above embodiment, as an active unit 36 ​​comprising at least one suction element 34, in one embodiment variant, the at least one suction element 34 can be movable in the circumferential direction together with the magnetic element 24 on the magnetic element carrier 37. A corresponding suction air passage must be provided, e.g., via relatively movable sealing surfaces or a flexible line.

[0087] In the event that both axial and circumferential adjustability of the magnetic elements 24 on the respective magnetic element carrier 37 is provided, the two carriages 87; 92 can be arranged directly or indirectly on and / or above one another in the manner of a cross guide.

[0088] In one of the above-mentioned embodiments, the respective magnetic element 24 can be positioned in the axial and / or circumferential direction by a remotely operable drive means, e.g., an electric motor driving the eccentric 86; 91, for example, via a reduction gear.

[0089] Basically independent of an arrangement of the magnetic element 24 in an above-mentioned structural unit 36 ​​and / or of an above-mentioned adjustability in the axial direction and / or an above-mentioned adjustability in the circumferential direction, but preferably in conjunction with one or more of the advantageous embodiments mentioned, an assembly aid 97 as already mentioned above is provided, which can be placed on the magnetic element 24 or a magnetic element carrier 37 carrying the magnetic element 24 or a structural unit 36 ​​comprising the magnetic element 24 and by means of which the clamping fit or a clamping connection between the clamping elements 72; 73 on both sides and the support element 31 can be released. Preferably, the clamping by the assembly aid 97 or a drive means 102 comprised by the assembly means 97, in particular a drive means which can be operated manually, is not only releasable and openable in such a way that the magnetic element 24 orthe structural unit 36 ​​encompassing it is removable from the support element 31, but can also be released in an intermediate position in terms of the strength or degree of opening of the clamping to such an extent that the magnetic element 24 or the structural unit 36 ​​is not yet completely free, but can nevertheless be positioned overall in the circumferential direction on the support element 31. In this case, the degree of opening can be adjusted just so that there is still contact between the clamping elements 72; 73, but positioning is possible by overcoming any slight frictional forces that may still exist. For this purpose, the actuating arms 98 can be positioned by the drive means 102, preferably continuously over an adjustment path between a clamping position in which the clamping elements 72; 73 exert the full clamping force on the support element 31, and a position in which the clamping is released to such an extent that the magnetic element 24 or the magnetic element carrier 37 carrying it can be removed from the support element 31.

[0090] In order to be able to carry out simple actuation from the outside of the cylinder and / or in particular also such a defined opening, the assembly aid 97 comprises, in addition to a base 104 which can be placed on the relevant magnetic element 24 or the relevant structural unit 36, actuating arms 98 on both end sides which run in the radial direction to both end sides of the magnetic element 24 or the structural unit 36 ​​and can be brought into operative connection with the respective end-side clamping element(s) 72; 73 for actuating them. Furthermore, the assembly aid 97 comprises the above-mentioned drive means 102, in particular an actuator 102, by means of which the actuating arms 98 can be brought into a first position in which they - e.g. counter to the above-mentioned spring force - clamp the clamping elements 72; 73 open so far that the magnetic element 24 or the assembly 36 can be attached to the support element 31 orcan be completely released from it, up to a second position in which the clamping elements 72; 73 exert the full clamping force on the support element 31 without the actuating arms 98 absorbing any force counteracting the clamping force. Preferably, all intermediate positions can be adjusted by the drive.

[0091] In the above-mentioned embodiment of the clamping elements 72; 73 as two-armed levers 72; 73, the actuating arms 98 each engage directly or indirectly on the outermost lever arm and can be moved towards one another by the drive means 102 to open the clamping connection, i.e. in the direction of the support element 31, and apart again to close the clamping connection. In the above-mentioned case of two clamping elements 72; 73 arranged next to one another, these are coupled to one another, for example via a coupling member 96 connecting the two outermost lever arms to one another, for example a connecting axis 96 mounted in both outer lever arms, which simultaneously serves as an engagement point for the respective actuating arm 98. In the case of a single clamping element 72; 73, the respective actuating arm 98 can act directly or indirectly on the outermost lever arm of the respective clamping element 72; 73.

[0092] As drive means 102, any drive mechanism is conceivable in principle, by means of which the two opposing actuating arms 98 can be moved towards and away from each other in the above sense. However, a drive mechanism with a self-locking gear is preferred here, as is the case, for example, with a screw drive. The drive means 102 thus comprises, for example, a first part 99, e.g., a first bushing 99, which supports the actuating arm 98 on one side, and a second drive part 99, e.g., a second bushing 101, which is mounted so as to be rotationally fixed against the first part 99 but axially movable and supports the actuating arm 98 on the other side, as well as an internally formed screw drive, by means of which, via a not shown, e.g.via a manual actuation interface 103, such as a rotary handle 103, a rotatable threaded spindle on the one hand and an internal thread on the other of the two parts 99; 101 of the drive means 102, the parts carrying the actuation arms 98 can be moved apart and towards each other.

[0093] In the embodiment of the magnetic cylinder 26 with support elements 31, in particular ring-like ones, whose axial position can be varied, these axially positionable support or ring elements 31 can in principle be fastened in any way that enables a detachable connection between the respective support element 31 and the cylinder inner body 32 and an axial relative movement. In particular, a connection is particularly advantageous in which, in the region of line interface pairs passing through suction air, consisting of line interfaces 46 on the shaft 32 and cooperating line interfaces 49 on the inwardly facing wall 52 of the ring element 31, the surfaces surrounding these line interfaces 46; 49 are pressed together by the connection in such a way that they together form a sealing surface that is largely closed against the passage of suction air.

[0094] Basically independent of an arrangement of the magnetic element 24 in an above-mentioned structural unit 36 ​​and / or of an above-mentioned adjustability in the axial direction and / or an above-mentioned adjustability in the circumferential direction and / or of an above-mentioned clamping device for clamping the magnetic elements 24 or holders 29 or structural units 36, but preferably in conjunction with one or more of the advantageous embodiments mentioned, in a preferred embodiment for the fastening of ring elements 31, a clamping device is provided for fastening, by means of which the support or ring element 31 can be clamped onto the cylinder inner body 32, which is designed in particular as a shaft 32, so that an above-mentioned sealing surface can be formed. It is helpful in this case to design the ring element 31, which here is actually designed in the shape of a circular ring segment, in such a way that an inner diameter of the ring element 31 in the segment angle range is slightly, e.g.2 to 50 µm, in particular 5 to 20 µm larger than an outer diameter of the cylinder inner body 32 designed as a shaft 32 in the cooperating angular range.

[0095] In a cylinder 26 with magnetic elements 24 arranged in columns, as already described, the magnetic elements 24 of several or all columns are provided as a respective group on or on a respective support element 31. The respective support element 31 is explicitly designed here as a ring-segment-like support element 31, i.e., a ring-like support element 31 interrupted over an angular range, and has a leading and trailing end 106; 107 with respect to a production direction of rotation D. The production direction of rotation D is defined, for example, by the arrangement of a gripper bar, as already mentioned above, which has grippers 33 at the leading end 106 of the segment-like ring element 31 that open and close during operation to pick up a substrate sheet 02. The respective support element 31 is detachably arranged on the cylinder inner body 32 encompassed by the cylinder 26 and, in the released state, can be varied in its axial position.In order to fasten the support element 31 in a desired position on the cylinder inner body 32, a clamping device 108 is provided in the region between the leading and trailing ends 106; 107 of the ring-segment-like support element 31 on the cylinder inner body 32 when the support element 31 is mounted on the cylinder inner body 32. By means of said clamping device, the two ends 106; 107 spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction can be subjected to a force directed towards one another in the circumferential direction via adjusting means 109 encompassed by the clamping device 108. As a result, the segment-like ring element 31 is pressed tightly against the outer surface of the shaft 32 via possibly a slight elastic deformation, so that the aforementioned sealing surface is created.

[0096] The clamping device 108 engages in particular at the two ends 106; 107 of the support element 31 and can be varied in its effective length for engaging on both sides in the circumferential direction via the adjusting means 109 comprised by the clamping device 108.

[0097] Preferably, the clamping device 108 comprises a clamping bar 111, which is arranged in the area between the leading and trailing ends 106; 107 of the support element 31 on the circumference of the cylinder inner body 32 and is secured at least on one side against relative movement to the cylinder inner body 32 in the circumferential direction. Preferably, however, the clamping bar 111 and the cylinder inner body 32 are secured against rotation in the circumferential direction by stop pairs effective in both directions of rotation. Such a securing can be realized, for example, by corresponding deviations of the inner circumferential line of the ring element 31 and the outer circumferential line of the cylinder inner body 32 acting as stop pairs. In an advantageous embodiment shown here, however, such a relative anti-twist device is provided by a so-called fitting element 112, also commonly referred to as a feather key 112, which, for example,anchored in the outer surface of the cylinder inner body 32 and interacts in a snug fit with a recess, in particular a groove, in the clamping bar 111, or vice versa. A fitting element 112 with a correspondingly interacting recess is advantageous in that it enables simple radial fitting of the cylinder inner body 32 with the clamping bar 111. In addition to the anti-twist device, fastening means (not shown), e.g., screws, can be provided, by means of which the clamping bar 111 can be radially attached to the cylinder inner body 32.

[0098] Preferably, the clamping bar 111 can then be removed from the cylinder inner body 32 in the relaxed, ie force-free, state of the clamping device 108 immediately or after the release of the above-mentioned fastening means with the support element 31 still remaining on the cylinder inner body 32 or can be inserted onto the cylinder inner body 32 in the region of the interruption with the ring element 31 already positioned on the cylinder inner body 32.

[0099] In an advantageous embodiment, the clamping device 108 engages one of the ends 107; 106, preferably the trailing end 107, statically, i.e. in a fixed relative circumferential position between the clamping bar 111 and the respective end 107; 106, and the other, preferably the leading end 106, via the adjusting means 109 in a distance-variable manner, i.e. in a variable relative circumferential position between the clamping bar 111 and the respective other end 106; 107. This means, for example, that with the adjustment, the point of engagement and thus the respective end 106; 107 can be displaced closer to the clamping bar 111 or - e.g. by the elastic restoring force in the ring element 31 - can be returned to the starting position.

[0100] For static engagement, a circumferentially effective positive locking is provided via a stop pair acting between the respective end 107; 106 and the clamping bar 111. The stop pair 106, 107 is formed, for example, by opposing surfaces of a hook-like projection on the clamping bar 111 and a hook-like projection 117 engaging in the opposite direction, e.g., as a suspension edge 117, at the end 107 of the ring element 31.

[0101] In a preferred embodiment, a point of engagement via the adjusting means 109 at the respective end 106; 107 is located, viewed in the circumferential direction, straight or at least with no more than a 5° deviation at a point at which a tangent applied to the circumference of the cylinder inner body 32 runs parallel to the adjustment direction of the adjusting means 109. This allows, in the small adjustment range present here, the end 106; 107 attracted by the adjusting means 109 to be subjected to a force essentially tangentially, thus preventing radial deformation, which may occur due to a force direction deviating from the tangent.

[0102] Although in principle they can also be implemented in other ways, the adjusting means 109 are preferably formed by a screw drive 113, 114 which is supported on the clamping bar 111 and can be operated manually, for example, e.g. a threaded rod 113, in particular a screw 113, which is rotatably mounted in the clamping bar 111, and a corresponding thread 114, e.g. a threaded bushing 114, directly in the end region of the ring element 31 or preferably in a clamping means 116 which acts on the ring element 31 and is positionally variable in the adjusting direction of the screw drive 113, 114 via the screw drive 113, 114, wherein the clamping means 116 is designed and arranged to cooperate with the relevant end 106 via a pair of stops which act in the circumferential direction. B. by opposing surfaces of a tensioning means 116 designed as a tension bar 116 and a hook-like projection 118 receiving the tension bar 116, e.g. as a suspension edge 118, on the ring element 31.

[0103] In an advantageous further development, the tension bar 116, viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the cylinder axis, dips with at least a part into a recess 122 or cutout 122 in the tension bar 111 corresponding in shape and cross-section in such a way that a movement of the tension bar 116 guided by the cutout 122 along the adjustment direction is ensured.

[0104] In principle, a respective clamping bar 111 and / or a respective associated clamping means 116 can be provided for each ring element 31 to be fastened. In a preferred embodiment, however, a clamping bar 111 extending in the axial direction of the cylinder 26 over several or all of the support elements 31 arranged on the cylinder inner body 32 and / or a clamping means 116 extending in the axial direction of the cylinder 26 over several or all of the support elements 31 arranged on the cylinder inner body 32 is provided. In this case, a fixed numerical or spatial allocation of adjusting means 109 or screw drives 113, 114 to be assigned to a ring element 31 is no longer required. The fastening device can be retained, regardless of the number and position of the ring elements 31, with which a continuous or possibly split clamping device 108 cooperates for clamping them. In particular, an above-mentionedClamping device 108 without tension bar 116, ie with adjusting means 109 engaging directly into the ring element 31, is less suitable for continuous positioning work, since the possible positions depend on the hole spacing for the threaded rods 113.

[0105] The clamping bar 111 can be arranged and configured such that it simultaneously forms the base support of a single- or multi-part gripper bar. For example, bearings 121 supporting a gripper shaft 119 are arranged on the clamping bar 111 forming the base support.

[0106] In a preferred embodiment, such a cylinder 26 is a component of the above-mentioned machine 01 and / or is particularly advantageous in conjunction with one or more aspects for the adjustability of individual magnetic elements 24 on respective magnetic element carriers 37 in the axial and / or circumferential direction and / or for the formation of the above-mentioned active units 36 with respective magnetic and suction elements 24; 34 and / or the clamping of individual magnetic elements 24 or their holders 28 or magnetic element carriers 37 on the ring element 31. List of reference symbols 01 Machine for producing optically variable image elements, printing machine, security printing machine 02 Substrate, printing material, printing material section, printing material sheet, substrate sheet 03 Image element 04 Application device, printing unit, flexographic printing unit, screen printing unit 05 - 06 Coating agents, printing inks, varnish 07 Device for aligning magnetic particles in image elements, alignment device 08 Print image element 09 Benefit, security, banknote 10 - 11 pressure point 12 Conveyor system, transport cylinder 13 Substrate template, sheet feeder 14 printing cylinders, forme cylinders, screen printing cylinders 15 - 16 Device for generating optically variable image elements 17 impression cylinders 18 Print element, print subject 19 Drying and / or curing device, radiation dryer, UV radiation dryer, UV dryer, UV-LED dryer 20 - 21 Conveyor system, gripper conveyor, chain gripper system 22 Product intake, stacking delivery 23 dryers, radiation dryers 24 active element, element, magnetic element 25 - 26 Alignment device, cylinder, magnetic cylinder 27 Magnet 28 Bracket, base 29 cylinder body 30 - 31 Supporting element, ring element 32 Cylinder inner body, shaft 33 Holding devices, grippers - 34 Suction element 35 - 36 structural unit, active unit, magnetic unit 37 magnetic element carriers 38 housings 39 Suction air duct 40 - 41 Cover element 42 Suction opening 43 Line interface, recess, chamber 44 lateral surface (32) 45 - 46 Line interface, suction air opening (32) 47 Implementation, drilling 48 channel, suction air channel 49 Cable interface, recess 50 - 51 Cable interface, recess 52 Wall 53 Channel 54 Implementation, drilling 55 - 56 Wall 57 Closure, valve, sleeve 58 Closure, valve, sleeve 59 Tools, polygonal wrench 60 - 61 recess 62 wall 63 Actuating interface, internal polygon, inner peripheral section 64 support disc 65 - 66 Support element 67 Support surface, area 68 support surface 69 Support disc 70 - 71 Support plate 72 clamping element, clamping lever, lever 73 clamping element, clamping lever, lever 74 Stop surface 75 - 76 grooves 77 Stop surface 78 groove 79 Spring element, compression spring 80 - 81 Axis, swivel axis 82 slot 83 Fasteners, screw 84 Line 85 - 86 Eccentric, shaft section 87 Slide, supporting element 88 Actuating interface, polygon socket 89 Wave 90 - 91 Eccentric, shaft section 92 carriage, supporting element 93 Actuating interface, polygon socket 94 Wave 95 - 96 coupling link, connecting axis 97 assembly aids 98 Actuating arm 99 part, first, socket 100 - 101 Part, second, socket 102 Drive means, actuator 103 Actuation interface, rotary handle 104 Base 105 - 106 End, leading (31) 107 End, trailing (31) 108 clamping device 109 setting agents 110 - 111 Tension bar 112 Shim, feather key 113 Threaded rod, screw 114 thread, threaded bushing 115 - 116 clamping device, tension bar 117 Overhang, hanging edge 118 Overhang, hanging edge 119 Gripper shaft 120 - 121 warehouses 122 recess, cutout D Production direction of rotation P particles, pigment particles T Transport direction

Claims

[1] Cylinder (26) which, viewed in the axial direction in the region of its outer circumference, comprises a number m of columns, each with a number n of elements (24) providing magnetic fields, in short magnetic elements (24), arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction, wherein several or all of the magnetic elements (24) of several or all of the columns are arranged as a respective group on or on a respective ring-segment-like support element (31) which is interrupted over an angular range and has a...a production direction of rotation (D) leading and a trailing end (106; 107) are arranged, wherein the respective support element (31) is arranged detachably on an inner cylinder body (32) encompassed by the cylinder (26) and, in the released state, is variable in its axial position, and wherein, when the support element (31) is mounted on the inner cylinder body (32), a clamping device (108) is provided on the inner cylinder body (32) in the region between the leading and trailing ends (106; 107) of the ring-segment-like support element (31), by means of which clamping device the two ends (106; 107) of the support element (31), which are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction, can be subjected to a force directed towards one another in the circumferential direction via adjusting means (109) encompassed by the clamping device (108). characterized bythat the clamping device (108) engages at the two ends (106; 107) of the support element (31) and can be varied in the circumferential direction in its length effective for engaging on both sides via the adjusting means (109) comprised by the clamping device (108). [2] Cylinder according to claim 1, characterized by that the clamping device (108) comprises a clamping bar (111) which is arranged in the region between the leading and trailing ends (106; 107) of the support element (31) on the circumference of the cylinder inner body (32) and is secured at least on one side against a relative movement to the cylinder inner body (32) in the circumferential direction. [3] Cylinder according to claim 2, characterized bythat the clamping bar (111) and the cylinder inner body (32) are secured against rotation in the circumferential direction by stop pairs effective in both directions of rotation and / or that the clamping bar (111) can be removed from the cylinder inner body (32) in the relaxed, ie force-free, state of the clamping device (108) immediately or after the release of an additional, radially effective connection with the support element (31) still remaining on the cylinder inner body (32). [4] Cylinder according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that the clamping device (108) acts statically at one of the ends (107; 106), ie in a fixed circumferential relative position between the clamping bar (111) and the respective end (106; 107), and at the other end via the adjusting means (109) in a distance-variable manner, ie in a variable circumferential relative position between the clamping bar and the respective other end (106; 107). [5] Cylinder according to claim 4, characterized bythat for the static engagement, a form fit effective in the circumferential direction is provided between the respective end (107; 106) and the clamping bar (111). [6] Cylinder according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by that a location of engagement via the adjusting means (106; 107) at the relevant end (106; 107) viewed in the circumferential direction takes place straight or at least with no more than 5° deviation at a location at which a tangent lying on the circumference of the cylinder inner body (32) runs parallel to the adjusting direction of the adjusting means (109). [7] Cylinder according to claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized by that the distance-variable engagement is provided via the adjusting means (109) at the leading end (106). [8] Cylinder according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, characterized bythat the adjusting means (109) are formed by a screw drive (113, 114) supported on the clamping bar (111) and a clamping means (116) whose position can be changed via the screw drive (113, 114) in the adjusting direction of the screw drive (113, 114), wherein the clamping means (116) is designed and arranged to cooperate with the relevant end (106) via a pair of stops (117, 118) acting in the circumferential direction. [9] Cylinder according to claim 8, characterized by that the clamping bar (111) and / or the clamping means (116), viewed in the axial direction of the cylinder (26), extends over several or all of the support elements (31) arranged on the cylinder inner body (32) and cooperates with these. [10] Cylinder according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, characterized bythat several or all of the magnetic elements (24) provided one behind the other in the several or all of the columns are arranged on or in different magnetic element carriers (37) which can be positioned independently of one another in the circumferential direction on the cylinder (26) on the respective support element (31). [11] Cylinder according to claim 10, characterized by that the majority or all of the magnetic elements (24) arranged on the respective magnetic element carriers (37) are mounted so as to be adjustable relative to the magnetic element carrier (37) carrying the respective magnetic element (24) within an adjustment range in the circumferential direction and / or within an adjustment range in the axial direction. [12] Cylinder according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11, characterized bythat in the several or all of the columns of magnetic elements (24), several or all of the magnetic elements (24) arranged one behind the other are each combined with at least one associated suction element (34) in respective structural units (36) as active units (36) and as such can be positioned as a whole and independently of all other such active units (36) in the circumferential direction on the relevant support element (31) and / or can be detached from the cylinder (26). [13] Cylinder according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, characterized byin that several or all of the magnetic elements (24) of a group mounted on the respective several or all of the support elements (31) can be positioned independently of one another in the circumferential direction on the respective support element (31), and in that the magnetic elements (24) or holders (28) receiving the respective magnetic elements (24) or magnetic element carriers (37) carrying the respective magnetic elements (24) comprise, on both sides, as viewed in the axial direction of the cylinder (26), at least one clamping element (72; 73), the effective ends of which each engage under a stop surface (74; 77) which, in the mounted state, runs in the circumferential direction on the respective end face of the ring-like support element (31) and is directed into the interior of the cylinder (26) and / or counteracts a radial removal of the magnetic element (24) or the holder (27) or the magnetic element carrier (37) by interacting with the clamping element (72; 73) in the clamping position. [14] Machine (01) for producing optically variable image elements (03) on a substrate (02), comprising a substrate template (13), at least one printing unit (04), by means of which a substrate (02) guided on a transport path through the machine (01) is and / or can be printed in a matrix-like manner with blanks (09) of a number m of columns and a number n of rows at least on a first side, a product holder (22), by means of which processed substrate (02) can be combined in bundles, and an alignment device (07) provided in the substrate path between the printing unit (04) and the product holder (22) with a magnetic cylinder (26) for aligning magnetic or magnetizable particles (P), characterized by the design of the magnetic cylinder (26) according to a cylinder (26) according to one of claims 1 to 13.

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