PRINTING MACHINE WITH ONE PRINTING ROLLER AND ONE ANCHOR ROLLER OR ANCHOR SLEEVE

Description

invention

[0001] The invention relates to a printing machine having the features of the preamble of claim 1 and a method according to claim 10. Technical field of the invention

[0002] The invention lies in the technical field of the graphic industry and there in particular in the area of ​​the use of anilox rollers or anilox sleeves in printing machines, in particular in flexographic printing machines or in gravure printing machines. State of the art

[0003] The market demands that flexographic printing presses of the future print independently or autonomously, as well as reducing downtime and startup waste. It is also important that the press adjusts during production to deliver consistent print quality. The ink system plays a crucial role in this.

[0004] During operation of the printing press, the printing cylinder and the anilox roller are in contact; alternatively, a printing cylinder can also be an air cylinder with a sleeve on which the printing plate is mounted. Another option is to slide a laser-engraved sleeve onto an air cylinder to create an endless printing cylinder (without abutting edges). The medium to be printed is fed between the printing roller and a counter-pressure roller.

[0005] The printing medium can be a web or a sheet.

[0006] The anilox roller is a component of a printing ink system. It is the storage medium that constantly provides the required and defined amount of ink throughout the printing process. On the surface of the roller, which is made of ceramic or chrome, are tiny cells or lines engraved using various engraving processes. The non-recessed areas are called lands, and the recesses are usually called cells. An anilox roller can consist of a core with a sleeve or a core with a screen. The anilox roller can be temperature-controlled, e.g., with water.

[0007] Ink is usually applied using a chamber doctor blade system. A doctor blade is used to remove excess ink from the anilox roller surface, i.e., the lands. This leaves a defined and therefore controllable amount of ink in the recesses. In flexographic printing, the anilox roller transfers the ink directly to the printing plate / cliché by consistently emptying the recesses. However, this emptying is never complete; with each rotation of the roller, ink is flushed through the cells. The rotation of the anilox roller and the resulting consistent ink absorption and removal supply the inking unit with a defined and reproducible ink volume.

[0008] Crucial parameters for the amount of ink transferred are the shape of the cells, their geometry, the opening, and the material components of the anilox roller itself. The cell shape and depth into the roller surface determine how much ink can be absorbed and released. The engraving depth determines the volume of the cell. Although an engraving can be deep, the shape and size of the cell can still allow it to have the same theoretical volume as a shallow engraving.

[0009] Anilox rollers can have a wide variety of engraving types. There are essentially hexagonal, truncated pyramidal, truncated pyramidal, or dome-shaped cell structures, or even linear structures or slalom engravings. The screening can be coarse or fine. As well as screenings (cupping volume) that transport a lot or a little ink. Fine screenings with little ink volume are usually used for CMYK process colors in a 7-color CMYKOGV color palette. Depending on the resolution of the printing plate, however, anilox rollers with a high ink transport capacity / cupping volume are used for varnishes. Certain varnishes require varnish temperature control together with the anilox roller. The varnish temperature control can be influenced directly with the anilox roller (water flow), e.g. by heating it, or the ink feed (e.g. hoses) orPaints and inks can be tempered via piping, trace heating, the paint container itself, or an additional heat exchanger. Tempering paints is intended to positively influence the paint's "laying behavior."

[0010] The current state of the art shows that there is no system that uses information from the anilox roller to deeply intervene in the control system and make adjustments during setup and production. The current state of the art does not intervene in the machine settings during setup or during production.

[0011] Prepress information is exchanged with offset printing presses via PDF / JDF / XJDF. However, there is currently no suitable and standardized interface for flexo or gravure printing presses.

[0012] US2005194087A1 discloses a roller for supplying a flexographic printing plate with printing ink. The roller can include an RFID chip. The chip can be read using a computer. In this way, data on the chip can be stored and updated. The data can also be stored on the computer.

[0013] US2010011978A1 discloses a flexographic printing press with multiple printing units and a central impression cylinder, as well as a mounter. The mounter detects a reference mark on a sleeve and the surface or topography of the sleeve, including the mounted printing forms.

[0014] US2017165956A1 discloses a device for a flexographic printing machine with two sensors, wherein one sensor detects the image of a printed reference field on the printing substrate and the other sensor detects a corresponding negative image on an inking roller. Task

[0015] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improvement over the prior art. Inventive solution

[0016] This object is achieved according to the invention by a printing machine according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 10. Advantageous and therefore preferred developments of the invention emerge from the subclaims as well as from the description and the drawings.

[0017] A printing press according to the invention with a printing roller and an anilox roller or an anilox sleeve for inking a printing form of the printing roller, wherein the anilox roller or the anilox sleeve is assigned a machine-readable ID and wherein a sensor or a camera is provided which detects the ID, is characterized in that a computer retrieves data stored in a digital memory for the detected ID from the memory and that the computer makes settings on the printing press based on the read ID or the retrieved data, wherein the memory is a memory of the computer or a memory in a local or external network or a memory in a cloud.

[0018] Making the adjustment based on the read ID or the retrieved data can be done by using the ID itself and / or by using data stored with the ID regarding the anilox roller or anilox sleeve or the screening (e.g. cell depth).

[0019] It may preferably be provided that: the anilox roller is marked with an ID and the ID contains information on the transfer volume as well as, for example, the geometry, ruling and / or depth of each of the cells and their angulation; or the anilox roller is marked with an ID and information for this ID, such as, for example, the transfer volume, geometry, ruling and / or depth of each of the cells and their angulation, is stored in a data storage or a cloud storage.

[0020] The ID can be provided as a character string.

[0021] A device or method according to the invention serves to supply and remove printing ink to and from a doctor blade device of an inking unit of a rotary printing press. With the aid of the method, the ink system of a flexographic printing press is automatically adjusted. Firstly, when changing the anilox roller and furthermore during the printing process. The anilox roller or anilox sleeve is recognized using an identification feature. Various settings for the ink system of the printing press are made from the data. This is done using stored data and with the aid of algorithms. The settings are made autonomously, and corresponding setting data for the flexographic printing press is derived.

[0022] A device or method according to the invention offers significant added value in terms of automation and increases customer benefits. It not only allows for the ideal setting for the ink system during setup and during production, which is done independently as required by the market, but also penetrates much deeper into the flexo or gravure printing process to deliver consistent print quality across all speed ranges. It can predict data for the flexo or gravure printing process and thus increase efficiency, reduce costs, and mitigate risks in the printing company.

[0023] The invention is based, for example, on the realization that the smallest screen dot on the cliché / printing plate in flexographic printing should always be larger than the cell on the anilox roller. Otherwise, the screen dot will dip into the cell, absorb too much ink, and the over-inking of the screen dot will lead to printing problems, such as moiré or so-called bridging. For example, with a flexographic printing plate screen ruling of 48 l / cm, the anilox roller should have a screen ruling of at least 240 l / cm, i.e., at least a factor of 5.

[0024] The invention is also based on the finding that high print quality is achieved through conformal ink transfer between the printing plate and the anilox roller. The anilox roller must be selected correctly depending on the application of the printing substrate (e.g., cardboard, foil, or aluminum) and take the printing ink, such as its viscosity, into account.

[0025] The invention advantageously makes it possible to automate settings on the printing press with regard to the ink system, consisting of, for example, anilox roller, doctor blade system, doctor blade system, ink feed, ink temperature, ink viscosity, ink pump, ink drying and ink circulation system cleaning. Further developments of the invention

[0026] Preferred exemplary developments of the invention can be characterized as follows. A local network is preferably a network to which the printing press is also directly connected, e.g. the network of a printing company. An external network is preferably a network comprising several such local networks, e.g. a company network. The invention can also be a system comprising a printing press and a memory. that the data is stored in at least one file on the memory. that the data is stored in a database on the memory. that the ID is present on the anilox roller or the anilox sleeve, e.g. attached to its surface or incorporated into its surface (preferably incorporated with a laser). that the ID is present on a body assigned to the anilox roller or the anilox sleeve. The body can be separate from the anilox roller or the anilox sleeve. that the body is magnetic. Such a body can be attached to the anilox roller or the anilox sleeve and removed again as required.that the body is an information carrier, e.g. made of film or paper. that the printing roller is a flexographic printing cylinder or a gravure printing cylinder. that the ID is a one-dimensional or two-dimensional, optically readable code or is a readable RFID chip or an NFC chip. that a chambered doctor blade (6) is provided for supplying the anilox roller (2) or the anilox sleeve (2) with printing ink. that at least one of the following settings is carried out: a. presetting and / or setting and / or changing the position of the ASBS positioning of the anilox roller or anilox sleeve relative to the printing roller based on the geometric shape of the anilox roller or anilox sleeve for presetting and / or setting and / or changing the pressure setting, ie the distance and / or the angle and / or the pressure between, on the one hand, the anilox roller or anilox sleeve and, on the other hand, the printing roller.The geometric shape can be given as: the radii or the diameters of the anilox roller or anilox sleeve i) on the drive side and the BS and / or ii) in the path between the drive side and the BS; where the AS is the so-called drive side and the BS is the opposite operating side of the printing press. b. Adjustment of the dynamic pressure adjustment as a function of the printing speed; c. Adjustment of the dynamic pressure adjustment as a function of the printing speed and the dot density and the type of printing form arranged on the printing roller; d. Adjustment of a doctor blade based on the abrasiveness of the anilox roller or anilox sleeve and / or based on the current or power consumption of a rotary motor of the anilox roller or anilox sleeve, automatically via a motor-driven doctor blade feed; e. Adjustment of the doctor blade based on the abrasiveness of the anilox roller or anilox sleeve, automatically by means of a motor or as an output to an operator; f.Setting of a dryer system, i.e. its dryer air temperature and / or dryer air speed, depending on the printing speed; g. Setting of a curing system for light-sensitive or radiation-sensitive printing inks depending on the printing speed; h. Setting of the idle run speed based on the ink(s), varnish(es) and / or anilox roller characteristics used; i. Automatic selection of a wash-up program for ink cleaning, if necessary also depending on the viscosity of the ink system used; j. Automatic selection of a wash-up program for ink cleaning depending on the viscosity of the ink used; k. Automatic setting and regulation of ink temperature control; l. Automatic setting of an ink feed depending on the printing speed; m. Automatic setting of an ink feed depending on the printing speed by changing the delivery rate of an ink pump - and / or n.Setting and regulating a viscosity value of the ink used. that at least one of the following measures is carried out: a. Comparison of anilox rollers or anilox sleeves used per printing unit using prepress information; b. Comparison of anilox rollers or anilox sleeves used per printing unit using a memory for print jobs for repeat jobs; c. Output of the parameters of the anilox roller or anilox sleeve to an operator, whereby the output is made on a printing unit, smartphone, tablet or control station. d. Output of an overall overview of the anilox rollers or anilox sleeves used in the press to an operator; e. Output of a recommendation for the use of anilox roller or anilox sleeve based on the screen dot size of the printing plate; f. Output of a recommendation for the use of anilox roller or anilox sleeve based on the smallest screen dot size of the printing plate; g.Warning in case of incorrect use of an anilox roller or anilox sleeve based on the smallest screen dot size of the printing plate in order to prevent moiré or ink bridging; h. Prediction of ink consumption based on the anilox roller or anilox sleeve used and the printing areas and / or dot densities on the printing plate; i. Output of a wear indication of the anilox roller or anilox sleeve based on manufacturer, material, abrasiveness, cell shape, engraving, mileage on the machine and current consumption of the rotation motor of the anilox roller or anilox sleeve j. Cleaning of the anilox roller or anilox sleeve with ultrasound.

[0027] Further preferred exemplary developments of the invention may be distinguished as set out below in this section.

[0028] Data is determined based on the ID or directly from the area code / RFID of the anilox roller / anilox sleeve. One identification device is required per printing unit.

[0029] Identification of the anilox roller: a. The anilox roller can be identified using a barcode on the edge of the anilox roller to create a unique ID. The relevant important parameters and data are then stored in the control system for the ID (see below, for example). b. An area code on the edge of the anilox roller or the anilox sleeve is also possible. The area code either already contains a description of all the important properties, such as cell geometry, ruling [L / cm], depth [µm], angulation [°], volume [cm 3 < / m 2 < ], land / cup ratio [1:x], or a unique ID is lasered into the area code, where important parameters and data are stored in the control system (see above).

[0030] There are various area codes, QR codes, data matrix, etc.

[0031] Alternatively, an integrated NFC could be used.

[0032] The ID or data of the anilox roller is transferred from the machine to the machine control system via a reader. The machine then performs the necessary adjustments.

[0033] The data flow from prepress to the printing press is significantly more complex in flexographic and gravure printing than in offset or digital printing. Prepress and printing are generally separated. This means that one prepress company supplies various printing companies with printing plates, and printing companies receive printing plates from different prepress companies.

[0034] Furthermore, entire print jobs are efficiently assembled from different printing plates across the working width shortly before production.

[0035] Furthermore, prepress and press are not under one roof and therefore cannot be easily networked via network cables, meaning that data from prepress is not directly available to the press. The process for automatically adjusting the ink system on a flexographic printing press, including the position adjustment for the anilox roller, starts right here and carries out or checks settings.

[0036] Currently, there is no known interface that delivers prepress data directly to a flexo or gravure printing press. A possible solution could be the industry standard JDF or XJDF, which has successfully established itself as a cross-manufacturer interface in digital and offset printing.

[0037] The method for the automatic adjustment of the ink system in a flexographic printing press, including the position adjustment for the anilox roller, is a useful addition to a measuring device / measuring method for measuring elevations on a flexographic printing form, as filed in the not yet published DE102020111341.

[0038] Other sensors or other identification systems could potentially be used. From today's perspective, an imaging method or sensor that responds to electromagnetic waves is the most suitable and most cost-effective option.

[0039] A possible future step, however, could be to apply the prepress data directly to the anilox roller or in the printing unit—or to make it available to the printing press. However, the identification of which anilox roller is or will be inserted remains. However, the system is capable of processing prepress data in the form of (PDFs / JDFs / XJDFs) and is also capable of assigning this to the applied printing units. Embodiments of the invention

[0040] The invention and its preferred developments are described in more detail below with reference to drawing 1 using a preferred embodiment.

[0041] Figure 1 shows a printing press 1 according to the invention with an anilox roller 2 (alternatively: with an anilox sleeve 2) and a printing roller 3 (can also be referred to as a printing cylinder). The printing roller is preferably a flexographic printing cylinder with a sleeve and flexographic plates mounted thereon (alternatively: preferably a gravure cylinder). The ink supply is preferably provided by a chambered doctor blade 6.

[0042] The anilox roller includes an ID. The ID can be a one-dimensional barcode or a two-dimensional matrix code. The ID can be read optically. For this purpose, the printing press 1 includes a sensor 4 or a camera 4. The ID can alternatively be an NFC chip or an RFID chip. In this case, a corresponding reader 4 is provided instead of the sensor / camera.

[0043] The read ID is transmitted to a computer 5 of the printing press 1. The ID can simply be a unique identification of the anilox roller, e.g., a number; however, it can also contain further information about the anilox roller, e.g., the engraving type and / or the engraving depth.

[0044] The computer 5 is preferably connected to at least one (not shown) actuating means of the printing machine, e.g. to a motor or an ink pump of the ink supply.

[0045] The computer 5 makes at least one setting on the printing press 1 based on the read ID. List of reference symbols

[0046] 1Printing machine / device 2Anilox roller / Anilox sleeve 2aID / Identification feature 3Printing roller 4Sensor / Camera 5Computer 6Chamber doctor blade

Claims

1. Printing press with a printing roller (3) and a screen roller (2) or an anilox sleeve (2) for inking a printing form of the printing roller, wherein a machine-readable ID (2a) is assigned to the screen roller (2) or the anilox sleeve (2) and wherein a sensor (4) or a camera (4) is provided which detects the ID (2a), characterized in that a computer (5) retrieves data stored in a digital memory for the recorded ID from the memory and in that the computer (5) makes settings on the printing press on the basis of the scanned ID or the retrieved data, the memory being a memory of the computer (5) or a memory in a local or external network or a memory in a cloud.

2. Printing press according to claim 1, characterized in that that the data is stored in at least one file in the memory.

3. Printing press according to claim 1, characterized in that the data is stored in a database in the memory.

4. Printing press according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the ID is present on the screen roller or anilox sleeve.

5. Printing press according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the ID is present on a body assigned to the screen roller or the anilox sleeve.

6. Printing press according to claim 5, characterized in that the body is magnetic.

7. Printing press according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printing roller is a flexographic printing cylinder or a gravure printing cylinder.

8. Printing press according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ID is a one-dimensional or two-dimensional, optically readable code or a readable RFID chip or an NFC chip.

9. Printing press according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a chambered blade (6) is provided for supplying the screen roller (2) or the anilox sleeve (2) with printing ink.

10. Method for adjusting a printing press according to one of the preceding claims, whereby at least one of the following settings or measures is carried out: Presetting and / or adjusting and / or changing the position of the DS / OS positioning of the screen roller or anilox sleeve relative to the printing roller on the basis of the geometric shape of the screen roller or anilox sleeve for presetting and / or adjusting and / or changing the impression pressure adjustment, i.e. the pitch distance and / or the engaging and / or the pressure between the screen roller or anilox sleeve and the printing roller; Setting the dynamic impression pressure adjustment depending on the printing speed; Setting the dynamic impression pressure adjustment depending on the printing speed and dot density and the type of printing form arranged on the printing roller; Adjustment of a doctor blade based on the abrasiveness of the screen roller or anilox sleeve and / or by means of a current or power consumption of a rotary motor of the screen roller or the anilox sleeve, automatically via a motorized infeed of the doctor blade; Adjustment of the doctor blade based on the abrasiveness of the screen roller or anilox sleeve, automatically by means of a motor or as output to an operator; Adjustment of a drying system, i.e. its dryer air temperature and / or dryer air speed, depending on the printing speed; Setting a curing system for light-sensitive or radiation-sensitive printing inks depending on the printing speed; Setting the self-running speed based on the ink(s), varnish(es) used and / or characteristic values of the screen roller; Automatic selection of a wash program for ink cleaning, where necessary also depending on the viscosity of the ink system used; Automatic selection of a wash program for ink cleaning depending on the viscosity of the ink used; Automatic setting and regulation of ink temperature control; Automatic setting of an ink supply depending on the printing speed; Automatic setting of an ink supply depending on the printing speed by changing the delivery rate of an ink pump; Setting and regulation of a viscosity value of the ink used; Comparison of screen rollers or anilox sleeves used per printing unit using prepress information; Comparison of screen rollers or anilox sleeves used per printing unit using a memory for print jobs for repeat jobs; Output of the characteristic values of the screen roller or anilox sleeves to an operator, whereby the output takes place on a printing unit, smartphone, tablet or control station; Output of a complete overview of the screen rollers or anilox sleeves used in the machine to an operator; Output of a recommendation for the use of a screen roller or anilox sleeve based on the dot size of the printing plate; Output of a recommendation for the use of a screen roller or anilox sleeve based on the smallest dot size of the printing plate; Warning in the event of incorrect use of a screen roller or anilox sleeve based on the dot size of the printing plate to prevent moiré or ink bridge formation; Warning in the event of incorrect use of a screen roller or anilox sleeve based on the smallest dot size of the printing plate to prevent moiré or ink bridge formation Prediction of ink consumption based on the screen roller or anilox sleeve used and the printing areas and / or dot densities on the printing plate; and / or Output of a wear indicator for the screen roller or anilox sleeve based on manufacturer, material, abrasiveness, cell shape, gravure, operational performance on the machine and current consumption of the rotary motor of the screen roller or anilox sleeve. Cleaning of the screen roller or anilox sleeve with ultrasound.