Device for releasing a textile from a printing plate

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for releasing a textile from a printing plate, in particular in direct printing and / or screen printing and / or with several colors, comprising a lifting device which has a gripper for gripping a first end of the textile and a first axis of movement for lifting the gripper; and a release slide which can be inserted via a second axis of movement between the printing plate and the first end of the textile lifted by the lifting device in order to release the textile from the printing plate.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for releasing a textile from a printing plate, particularly in direct printing and / or screen printing and / or with multiple colors.

[0002] In the textile printing industry, particularly in direct printing / screen printing, complex, multi-colored print designs are frequently used. The textile must not slip between the individual printing stations on the printing plate, as this would otherwise lead to distortion or blurring of the printed image.

[0003] To counteract this, a double-sided adhesive film is applied between the printing plate and the textile. This prevents the textile from slipping during printing, but it makes removing the textile and transferring it to the drying tunnel conveyor more difficult. Automatic removal is not yet possible with multi-color printing. Manual removal is usually inconvenient and time-consuming for the operator due to the position of the printing plate. Furthermore, it carries the risk of damaging the still-fresh print image due to uneven pressure on the textile during removal.

[0004] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for removing a textile from a printing plate, which replaces the previously practiced manual removal.

[0005] This problem is solved by a device according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0006] The present invention comprises a device for releasing a textile from a printing plate, comprising a lifting device which has a gripper for grasping a first end of the textile and a first axis of movement for lifting the gripper; and a release slide which can be inserted via a second axis of movement between the printing plate and the first end of the textile lifted by the lifting device in order to release the textile from the printing plate.

[0007] The gripper grasps and secures the textile at the first, preferably lower, end and lifts it sufficiently to allow the release slider to engage between the textile and the printing plate. This slider then evenly detaches the textile from the adhesive film, enabling manual or automatic removal of the textile in the next step.

[0008] The device according to the invention can be positioned at a suitable location relative to the printing plate, thereby eliminating the poor accessibility associated with previous manual removal methods. Furthermore, the textile is removed evenly by the removal slider, thus preventing damage to the printed image.

[0009] The device according to the invention can be combined with a device for automatically removing the textile from the printing plate and therefore allows such automatic removal even in multi-color prints by detaching the textile from the adhesive film / printing plate before removal. After the textile has been detached, automatic removal and transfer to a drying tunnel can then take place. However, the device according to the invention also facilitates manual removal of the textile.

[0010] The device according to the invention can be used in particular for direct printing and / or screen printing and / or printing with multiple colors.

[0011] Furthermore, the device according to the invention can be used in particular when the textile adheres to the printing plate during printing, and in particular is fixed to the printing plate via at least one adhesive layer and in particular a double-sided adhesive film.

[0012] Furthermore, the device according to the invention can be used, in particular, for printing on a textile which is mounted on the printing plate with a lower opening and therefore surrounds it. The release slider is preferably inserted into this lower opening, with its first end corresponding to the lower end of the textile.

[0013] The device according to the invention can be used in particular for printing on T-shirts.

[0014] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the gripper is a mechanical gripper with two clamping elements between which the first end of the textile can be clamped. In particular, the clamping elements can be clamping strips.

[0015] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the release slide comprises a push plate which is linearly movable via a telescopic rail structure.

[0016] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, a front edge of the release slider, in particular the push plate, has a chamfer to lift and release the textile.

[0017] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the device includes a size adjustment mechanism by which the position of the lifting device can be adapted to the position of a first end of the textile. This allows different textiles, which end at different positions on the printing plate, to be printed.

[0018] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the position of the lifting device is adjustable via the size setting in a direction parallel to the extension direction of the second axis of movement of the release slide.

[0019] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the size adjustment comprises a third axis of movement, via which the position of the lifting device can be adjusted in a direction transverse to the direction of the first axis of movement. The third axis of movement can be adjustable manually and / or by motor.

[0020] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the position of the lifting device is adjusted relative to an assembly comprising the bearing of the release slide, wherein the bearing of the release slide is preferably not adjusted in its position. Adjusting the movement of the release slide to the size of the textile is usually unnecessary or can be achieved by adjusting the travel distance of the release slide.

[0021] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the position of the lifting device on a support arm, which carries a bearing for the release slide, can be adjusted by adjusting the size.

[0022] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the size adjustment comprises a sensor that detects the position of the first end of the textile, and a control unit that adjusts the position of the lifting device to the position of the first end of the textile based on the sensor data. In particular, the control unit actuates an actuator of the size adjustment unit.

[0023] The sensor could be, in particular, a vision sensor and / or a camera recognition system.

[0024] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the size setting allows for manual specification of the position of the lifting device, in particular via a separate input element or a control panel.

[0025] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the size adjustment includes a projector for projecting a marking, the marking preferably indicating the position at which the first end of the textile must be positioned in order to be gripped with the current size adjustment setting. This allows, in particular, easier manual adjustment of the position.

[0026] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the gripper comprises a gripping factor by which it is actuated by a motor.

[0027] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the first axis of movement comprises an actuator by means of which it is motor-operated.

[0028] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the second axis of movement comprises an actuator by means of which it is motor-operated.

[0029] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the third axis of movement comprises an actuator by means of which it is motor-operated.

[0030] The actuators can be, for example, electric, pneumatic and / or hydraulic actuators.

[0031] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a control unit which controls the actuators of the gripper and / or the first and / or second and / or third axis of movement.

[0032] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the control is automatic.

[0033] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the actuator(s) are controlled such that the device performs the actions and / or process steps described above and below.

[0034] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the control unit has an interface for coupling with the control unit of a printing press and / or a device for handling printing plates with textiles applied to them. In particular, the control unit of the device according to the invention can be controlled via such an interface.

[0035] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the control system is designed such that the device performs the following procedure, in particular automatically: Gripping the first side of the textile via the gripper; lifting the first side of the textile by moving the gripper using the first axis of movement; inserting the release slider via a second axis of movement between the pressure plate and the first end of the textile raised by the lifting device and releasing the textile from the pressure plate.

[0036] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the control is further carried out such that, after the insertion of the release slider and the removal of the textile, the release slider is moved back via a second axis of movement.

[0037] The device according to the invention can be integrated into a device for handling printing plates or a printing press, in particular as the penultimate station of such a handling device and / or printing press and / or after the last printing station and / or before the removal station.

[0038] The present invention further comprises a device for handling printing plates of a printing machine, which includes a device for releasing a textile from a printing plate as described above.

[0039] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the device for handling pressure plates comprises a movement axis via which a pressure plate can be moved into the area of ​​the device for releasing a textile from the pressure plate. Furthermore, the pressure plate with the released textile can be moved further along the movement axis to a removal station.

[0040] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the printing plate can be moved by the handling device to at least one printing station and preferably to several printing stations.

[0041] In particular, the printing plate with the textile can be moved by the device for handling printing plates to one or more printing stations and then to a station which is formed by the device for removing the textile.

[0042] The device for handling printing plates can in particular include a rotary table with several holders of printing plates, and transport the printing plates in a timed manner from one station to the next.

[0043] The present invention further comprises a printing machine with a device for handling printing plates and / or with a device for releasing a textile, as described above.

[0044] The printing machine may also have a drying station onto which the textiles are placed after being removed from the printing plates.

[0045] When the present invention refers to an axis of motion, it means a mechanical guide that allows movement in at least one direction and / or about at least one axis. However, an axis of motion can also enable more complex movements.

[0046] In particular, an axis of motion according to the present invention can comprise one or more linear axes and / or rotary axes.

[0047] In particular, the axes of movement of the device according to the invention for removing a textile, as described above, are each formed by a linear axis.

[0048] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the control system comprises a microprocessor and non-volatile memory in which a program containing instructions is stored. When executed on the microprocessor, these instructions control the device, and in particular, control it in such a way that the device performs the activities and / or functions described in the present application. Alternatively, the control system can also be implemented in hardware or mechanically. The control system is preferably connected to the actuators and, if applicable, sensors via signal lines.

[0049] The present invention further comprises methods for operating a printing press as just described, comprising the steps: Applying a textile to a printing plate, in particular by adhering the textile; printing on the textile, in particular by direct printing and / or screen printing and / or with several colors; gripping the first side of the textile via the gripper; lifting the first side of the textile by moving the gripper by means of the first axis of movement; inserting the release slide via a second axis of movement between the printing plate and the first end of the textile raised by the lifting device and releasing the textile from the printing plate; and preferably: retracting the release slide via a second axis of movement.

[0050] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the operation of the device for releasing a textile is automatic.

[0051] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment and drawings: This shows:

[0052] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a device according to the invention for removing a textile in a starting position in which the textile adheres to the printing plate; Fig. 2 shows the in Fig. 1 The embodiment shown is in an intermediate position in which the gripper picks up the first end of the textile, and Fig. 3 shows the embodiment in Fig. 1 and 2 The illustrated embodiment is shown in a working stroke in which the release slide is inserted between the textile and the printing plate and releases the textile from the printing plate.

[0053] Figs. 1 to 3 Figure 10 shows an embodiment of a device 10 according to the invention for removing a textile, which can be integrated into a printing machine, in particular in the area of ​​direct printing / screen printing, for example as the penultimate station before removal.

[0054] Reference numeral 20 shows part of a device for handling printing plates of the printing press, by which the printing plates are moved from one station to the next. For example, it could be a rotary table with several arms on which the printing plates are arranged.

[0055] To produce complex, multi-colored print designs, the textile 32 must not slip between the individual printing stations on the printing plate 30, as this would otherwise lead to distortion of the printed image or blurring of the print. To counteract this, a double-sided adhesive film 31 is applied between the printing plate 30 and the textile 32. This prevents the textile from slipping during printing.

[0056] The device 10 serves to detach the textile 32 from the printing plate 30 after printing. It comprises a lifting device with a gripper 11 and a movement axis 14 for lifting the gripper 11. The gripper 11 grasps and secures the textile 32 at its lower end 33. By lifting the gripper 11, it raises the lower end 33 of the textile sufficiently to allow the release slide 12 of the device to engage between the textile 32 and the printing plate 30. In doing so, it detaches the textile 32 evenly from the adhesive film 31, so that the textile can be removed manually or automatically in the next step.

[0057] The device allows for automated detachment of the textile from the adhesive film / printing plate, enabling subsequent automatic removal even with multi-color prints. It can also be combined with manual removal. After removal, the textile can be transferred to a drying tunnel conveyor.

[0058] In this embodiment, the gripper 11 comprises a receptacle and clamping / fixing mechanism for the textile 32 at its lower end 33 (usually on the side facing the printing press), which is strong enough to withstand the tensile force exerted by the release slide 12. In this embodiment, the gripper is a mechanical gripper with two clamping jaws or clamping bars 19, between which the lower end 33 is clamped. In this embodiment, the axis of movement 14 lifts the gripper perpendicular to the extent of the printing plate 30 and / or the direction of movement of the release slide. It is preferably driven by a motor.

[0059] The release slide 12 comprises a push plate mounted on a telescopic rail 15 and is driven by an actuator (electric or pneumatic) and inserted between the pressure plate 30 and the textile 32. The push plate has a chamfered edge 13 at the front to lift and release the textile while it is simultaneously held by the gripper 11. When the release slide 12 is retracted, the textile is placed back onto the pressure plate 30 with adhesive film 31, except that this time, due to the lack of pressure, no adhesion is established with the adhesive film 31.

[0060] Subsequently, the printing plate 30 with the released textile is transported by the device 20 to a removal station, in particular by further rotating the device 20.

[0061] The device is preferably operated automatically. For this purpose, a control system (not shown) is provided, which controls the actuators of the device accordingly.

[0062] In the exemplary embodiment, the device 10 for releasing the textile comprises a (preferably automatic) size adjustment 16, by which the gripper 10 of the lifting device is aligned with the lower edge 33 of the textile 32 to be printed.

[0063] For example, in the case of a T-shirt, the lifting device is moved depending on the size of the shirt. In the exemplary embodiment, the lifting device is linearly movable along a support arm 17, in particular via an actuator 18.

[0064] The position value for the adjustment axis can be determined either by a vision sensor / camera recognition or by a value manually set by the operator (e.g., with a laser line and encoder value or via employee input on the control panel). Depending on the size / length of the textile, the size setting of the lifting and clamping mechanism therefore adjusts accordingly.

[0065] Furthermore, the travel distance of the release slide can be adjusted to the size of the textile.

Claims

1. A device for releasing a textile (32) from a printing plate (30), in particular during direct printing and / or screen printing and / or with multiple colors, comprising: a lifting device which has a gripper (11) for gripping a first end (33) of the textile (32) and a first movement axis (14) for lifting the gripper (11); and a detachment slide (12) which can be inserted via a second movement axis between the printing plate (30) and the first end (33) of the textile (32) lifted by the lifting device in order to release the textile (32) from the printing plate (30).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the gripper (11) is a mechanical gripper with two clamping elements (19) between which the first end (33) of the textile (32) can be clamped.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the detachment slide (12) comprises a push plate which is linearly movable via a telescopic rail structure (15).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a front edge (13) of the release slide (12) has a bevel to lift and release the textile.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, which comprises a size adjustment (16) by means of which the position of the lifting device can be adapted to the position of a first end (33) of the textile (32), wherein the position of the lifting device is preferably adjustable in a direction parallel to the extension direction of the second movement axis of the detachment slide (12).

6. Device according to claim 5, wherein the position of the lifting device on a support arm (17) which carries a bearing of the detachment slide (12) is adjustable by the size adjustment (16).

7. Device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the size adjustment (16) comprises a sensor which detects the position of the first end (33) of the textile (32), and a controller which adapts the position of the lifting device to the position of a first end (33) of the textile (32) on the basis of the data from the sensor, wherein the sensor is preferably a vision sensor and / or a camera detection.

8. Device according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the size adjustment (16) allows a manual specification of the position of the lifting device, in particular via a separate input element or an operating panel and / or wherein the size adjustment (16) has a projector for projecting a marking, wherein the marking preferably indicates the position at which the first end (33) of the textile (32) must be arranged in order to be able to be gripped with the current setting of the size adjustment.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the gripper (11) comprises a gripping factor via which it is actuated, and / or wherein the first and / or the second movement axis comprise an actuator via which they are actuated.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims with a control which controls actuators of the gripper (11) and / or the first and / or second movement axis, in particular automatically, wherein the control preferably comprises an interface for coupling to the control of a printing press and / or a device for handling printing plates with textiles applied thereto.

11. Device according to claim 10, wherein the control is designed to carry out the following method: - gripping the first side (33) of the textile (32) via the gripper (11); - lifting the first side (33) of the textile (32) by moving the gripper (11) by means of the first movement axis; - inserting the detachment slider (12) via a second movement axis between the pressure plate (30) and the first end (33) of the textile (32) lifted by the lifting device and detaching the textile (32) from the pressure plate (30); and preferably: - moving the detachment slider (12) back via a second movement axis.

12. Device (20) for handling printing plates of a printing press with a device (10) for detaching a textile (32) from a printing plate (30) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (20) for handling printing plates (30) preferably comprises a movement axis via which a printing plate (30) can be moved into the area of the device (10) for detaching a textile (32) from the printing plate (30), wherein the printing plate (30) can be moved by the device (20) for handling preferably to at least one printing station and preferably to several printing stations.

13. Printing machine with a device (20) for handling printing plates according to claim 12 and / or with a device for releasing a textile according to one of claims 1 to 11.

14. A method for operating a printing press according to claim 13, comprising the steps of: - applying a textile (32) to a printing plate (30); - printing the textile (32), in particular by direct printing and / or screen printing and / or with multiple colors; - gripping the first side (33) of the textile (32) via the gripper (11); - lifting the first side (33) of the textile (31) by moving the gripper (11) by means of the first movement axis; - inserting the release slide (12) via a second movement axis between the printing plate (30) and the first end (33) of the textile (32) raised by the lifting device, and detaching the textile (32) from the printing plate (30); and preferably: - moving the release slide (12) back via a second movement axis.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the operation of the device for releasing a textile is automatic.

Images