Apparatus for the treatment of ribbon-like elements

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for the treatment of ribbon-like elements, which comprises means for feeding a ribbon-like element (10) and at least one treatment assembly (20) which is configured to perform a printing / lacquering treatment at at least one portion of a surface (11) of the ribbon-like element (10), and means (2) for moving the ribbon-like element (10) toward the treatment assembly (20) along a movement direction (100) which is substantially parallel to the direction of extension of the ribbon-like element (10). The treatment assembly (20) comprises a first counter-pressure roll (31), which engages the ribbon-like element (10) and defines a working position (61), and at least one second counter-pressure roll (32), which is arranged spaced apart from the first counter-pressure roll (31) and defines at least one first preparation position (62) and is in disengagement from the ribbon-like element (10), there being at least one first and one second printing / lacquering station (41, 42), which can move with respect to the first counter-pressure roll (31) and the second counter-pressure roll (32) and can be associated selectively with the first counter-pressure roll (31) in the working position (61) and with the at least one second counter-pressure roll (32) in the preparation position (62) without any need to cut and splice the ribbon-like element (10) during such operation

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for the treatment of ribbon-like elements such as plastic films, fabrics, synthetic hides, paper and the like.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for printing / lacquering.

[0003] Processes are known for printing or lacquering ribbon-like elements which involve the use of dosage units that draw the ink or the lacquer directly or indirectly from a vessel in order to then transfer it to the ribbon-like element to be treated.

[0004] The ribbon-like element is interposed between the dosage unit, normally arranged below, and a rubber-coated counter-pressure cylinder, arranged above the dosage unit so as to define a printing and / or lacquering station.

[0005] The fine-tuning of the printing / lacquering process is sometimes so laborious as to require a great deal of time with consequent production shutdowns of the apparatus.

[0006] Considering that often there may be more than one printing / lacquering stations in an apparatus, the production outage times can become considerable, with a great reduction in productivity.

[0007] Apparatuses are known which, in order to reduce apparatus down times, are provided with pairs of movable printing stations (Fig. 1, Prior Art). While one of the printing stations is in the working position, the other one is in the preparation position.

[0008] Upon a change of production, the ribbon-like element is cut, and the printing stations are translated in order to bring the station that was in the preparation position to the working position, and the station that was in the working position is in turn brought to the preparation position.

[0009] At this point the ribbon-like element is spliced and production is resumed.

[0010] This solution, while enabling a reduction in the apparatus outage times, is however not devoid of drawbacks.

[0011] In fact, since the cutting and splicing of the ribbon-like element needs to be performed, there are still the machine shutdown times and discards: such operations require both great care and specialist personnel.

[0012] Apparatuses are also known which have multiple printing / lacquering stations in which only a part is in operation while the rest is in preparation, with considerable additional costs.

[0013] US 2022 / 072845 A1 discloses a mobile handling carriage for handling a rotary roll in a printing unit which includes a mobile chassis; a support member for supporting the roll; a first drive device configured to drive the support member in translation in a vertical direction; an actuator mounted on the support member and configured to collaborate with the roll positioned a distance above the support member; a second drive device configured to drive the actuator in translation in a longitudinal direction; a control circuit configured to control a first sequence including, in succession: a raising of the support member; a longitudinal translation of the support member in a first direction; a lowering of the support member; and a longitudinal translation of the actuator in the first direction.

[0014] JP H08 108517 A discloses a plate cylinder replacing device for a gravure printer, which comprises a first transfer unit arranged directly under between an operating side supporting mechanism for detachably attaching a plate cylinder and a drive side supporting mechanism for supporting a pallet placing a plate cylinder at an elevation base having elevating means and transferring it to the axial direction of the cylinder, and a moving base for moving a plurality of second transferring mechanism disposed at the extension line of the cylinder horizontal transferring position of the first transfer unit for supporting and transferring the pallet in parallel to move in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the cylinder.

[0015] The aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for the treatment of ribbon-like elements which is capable of improving the known art in one or more of the above-mentioned aspects.

[0016] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to make available an apparatus for the treatment of ribbon-like elements that makes it possible to manage the change of production extremely effectively and economically.

[0017] Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for the treatment of ribbon-like elements that is highly reliable, easy to implement and at low cost.

[0018] This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by an apparatus for the treatment of ribbon-like elements according to claim 1, optionally provided with one or more of the characteristics of the dependent claims.

[0019] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description that follows of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the apparatus for the treatment of ribbon-like elements according to the invention, which is illustrated for the purposes of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows, in three operating sequences, the substitution of the printing / lacquering station in a conventional apparatus (prior art); Figures 2 and 3 show, in sequence, the situation of changing the printing / lacquering station in an apparatus according to the invention.

[0020] With reference to the figures, the apparatus for the treatment of ribbon-like elements 10 according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises feeding means (not shown in the figures) for feeding a ribbon-like element 10 and at least one treatment assembly 20 for performing a printing / lacquering treatment at at least one portion of a surface 11 of the ribbon-like element 10, and means 2 for moving the ribbon-like element 10 toward the treatment assembly 20 along a movement direction 100 which is substantially parallel to the direction of extension of the ribbon-like element 10.

[0021] According to the present invention, the treatment assembly 20, typically of the rotogravure, flexographic, screen printing and offset type, comprises a supporting structure for a first counter-pressure roll 31, which engages the ribbon-like element 10 and defines a working position, and at least one second counter-pressure roll 32, which is arranged spaced apart from the first counter-pressure roll 31 and defines at least one first preparation position 62 and is in disengagement from the ribbon-like element 10.

[0022] The treatment assembly 20 for printing / lacquering further comprises at least one first and one second printing / lacquering station 41, 42, which can move with respect to the first counter-pressure roll 31 and the second counter-pressure roll 32 and can be associated selectively with the first counter-pressure roll 31 in the working position and with the at least one second counter-pressure roll 32 in the preparation position without any need to cut and splice the ribbon-like element 10 during such operation.

[0023] Basically, the first and the second printing / lacquering station 41, 42 cooperate with the counter-pressure roller 31, 32 with which they are selectively associated in order to define a respective printing / lacquering head.

[0024] Conveniently, the first and the second counter-pressure cylinder 31, 32 comprise a respective rubber-coated cylinder.

[0025] Advantageously, the first and the second printing / lacquering station 41, 42 comprise a supporting structure (41a, 41b) for a dosage unit 42a, 42b associated with a supply vessel 43a, 43b.

[0026] Conveniently, the treatment assembly 20 comprises a supporting structure for a first counter-pressure roll 31, which engages the ribbon-like element 10 and defines a working position 61, and for two second counter-pressure rolls 32, which are spaced apart from and on opposite sides with respect to the first counter-pressure roll 31 in order to define two preparation positions 62.

[0027] Preferably, the second counter-pressure rolls 32 are spaced apart from the first counter-pressure roll 31 in a manner that corresponds to the distance between the first and the second printing / lacquering station 41, 42.

[0028] It is possible for the apparatus 1 to have guides on which the printing / lacquering stations 41, 42 can translate between the working position 61 and the preparation position or positions 62.

[0029] The operation of the apparatus 1, according to the invention, is the following.

[0030] With reference to the situation shown in Figure 2, the ribbon-like element 10 engages, at the working position 61, with the first counter-pressure roll 31, while the printing station 41b is also arranged at the working position 61, so as to provide a printing / lacquering head working on the ribbon-like element 10.

[0031] With reference to the situation shown in Figure 2, the other printing station 41a is positioned at the second counter-pressure roll 32 located to the left of the first counter-pressure roll 31, and defines the preparation position 62.

[0032] In this manner, when it becomes necessary to change the production, as shown in Figure 3, it will be sufficient to bring the printing station 41a (which was prepared earlier) to the first counter-pressure roll 31 without the need to intervene on the ribbon-like element 10 which remains wound on the first counter-pressure roll 31, and bring the printing station 41b to the preparation position 62 located to the right of the working position (shown in dotted lines in Figure 2), and therefore below the first counter-pressure roll 32.

[0033] In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects by providing an apparatus for the treatment of ribbon-like elements that is extremely practical and has low running costs.

[0034] The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0035] In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0036] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, such reference signs have been inserted for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) for the treatment of ribbon-like elements, which comprises means for feeding a ribbon-like element (10) and at least one treatment assembly (20) for performing a printing / lacquering treatment at at least one portion of a surface (11) of said ribbon-like element (10), and means (2) for moving said ribbon-like element (10) toward said treatment assembly (20) along a movement direction (100) which is substantially parallel to the direction of extension of said ribbon-like element (10), characterized in that said treatment assembly (20) comprises a first counter-pressure roll (31), which engages said ribbon-like element (10) and defines a working position (61), and at least one second counter-pressure roll (32), which is arranged spaced apart from said first counter-pressure roll (31) and defines at least one first preparation position (62) and is in disengagement from said ribbon-like element (10), there being at least one first and one second printing / lacquering station (41, 42), which can move with respect to said first counter-pressure roll (31) and said second counter-pressure roll (32) and can be associated selectively with said first counter-pressure roll (31) in said working position (61) and with said at least one second counter-pressure roll (32) in the preparation position (62) without any need to cut and splice the ribbon-like element (10) during such operation.

2. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first and said second counter-pressure roll (31, 32) comprise a respective rubber-coated cylinder.

3. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first and said second printing / lacquering station (41, 42) comprise a supporting structure (41a, 41b) for a dosage unit (42a, 42b) which is associated with a supply vessel (43a, 43b).

4. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said treatment assembly (20) comprises a supporting structure for a first counter-pressure roll (31), which engages said ribbon-like element (10) and defines a working position (61), and for two second counter-pressure rolls (32), which are spaced apart from and on opposite sides with respect to said first counter-pressure roll (31) in order to define a first preparation position and a second preparation position (62).

5. The apparatus (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said second counter-pressure rolls (32) are spaced apart from said first counter-pressure roll (31) in a manner that corresponds to the distance between said first and said second printing / lacquering station (41, 42).

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