Machine arrangement with a sheet printing press and a conveyor device supplying the sheet printing press

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine arrangement with a metal printing press (02) and with a conveyor device (11) feeding at least one metal sheet (01) to the metal printing press (02), as well as with a metal sheet feeder (01) providing the metal sheet (01), wherein the metal sheet feeder (03) is designed to deliver the metal sheet (01) lying on a first transport device (04) along a linear first transport path, wherein the metal printing press (02) has a second transport device (06), wherein this second transport device (06) is designed to feed the metal sheet (01) to be printed lying along a linear second transport path to a printing unit (07) of the metal printing press (02), wherein the first transport path and the second transport path are arranged parallel to one another at a distance (A),wherein the conveyor device (11) is designed to transport the metal sheet (01) to be printed lying down from the first transport path to the second transport path, wherein the conveyor device (11) has a gripper bar (12) with two spaced-apart positioning marks (13) and a fixing device (14) arranged between the two positioning marks (13) and is designed such that it transports a fixed metal sheet (01) with its front edge in contact with the positioning marks (13) from the first to the second transport path.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a machine arrangement with a metal printing machine and with a conveyor device feeding at least one metal sheet to the metal printing machine, as well as with a metal sheet feeder providing the relevant metal sheet according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] From the subsequently published DE 10 2023 110 016 B3, a conveyor system for horizontal transport of metal sheets is known, comprising a control unit, wherein this conveyor system has a first linear transport path and at least one second linear transport path in a transport plane, wherein each of the second transport paths has at least one transport belt for transporting the metal sheets, wherein the first transport path is designed as a table-shaped transport device and has a flat plate in the transport plane of the metal sheets, wherein this plate has at least one transport belt in a strip-shaped central region extending longitudinally to the transport direction of the metal sheets and a belt-free edge region on each of the two sides of this central region, wherein the at least one second transport path is arranged in the transport plane at right angles to the first transport path,wherein the plate of the transport device forming the first transport path has, in the edge region facing the respective second transport path, at least one recess extending in a straight line transversely to the transport direction of the metal sheets, wherein each of these recesses is arranged in alignment with one of the transport belts of the respective second transport path, wherein each transport belt of the respective second transport path aligned with the respective recess is arranged extending into the respective recess.

[0003] DE 10 2019 118 647 B3 discloses a production line for processing metal sheets having a plurality of different machine units, wherein a transport path of the metal sheets through this production line is linear, wherein a metal printing press and / or a painting machine and / or a loading station and / or a dryer and / or an unloading station are provided successively as machine units in the transport direction of the metal sheets to be processed, wherein at least two machine units each have at least one transport device for transporting at least one metal sheet lying individually on a transport plane.

[0004] DE 10 2021 129 341 B3 discloses a production line for processing metal sheets, comprising a metal printing machine and / or a painting machine, wherein the metal sheets are transported along a linear transport path by means of transport devices having transport belts.

[0005] DE 37 11 584 A1 discloses a device for transversely conveying stacks of sheet material, in particular paper stacks, which are fed from a feed conveyor and transferred to a discharge conveyor running substantially at a right angle to the feed conveyor, wherein a discontinuously drivable transfer conveyor is provided which receives the paper stacks from the feed conveyor on the one hand and transfers them to the discharge conveyor on the other hand, which is equipped with blowing air means which act on the support surface of the paper stacks during a standstill phase.

[0006] US 4,324,522 A discloses a machine for handling metal sheets, characterized by a belt feed conveyor with a belt tensioning arrangement and a support, wherein the support allows the belt elements to be easily removed laterally from the machine for replacement, wherein front end sections in their operating position are allowed to pivot between two different levels, wherein the normal raised position allows the sheets to be fed via a pivoting gate to a horizontal transfer conveyor, wherein the transfer conveyor conveys the sheets via a reject stacking area for deposit in one or more forwardly spaced stacking areas, and wherein the lowered position of an end section of the conveyor allows sheets to be transported to a downwardly and forwardly inclined conveyor leading to a reject stacking area,wherein the pivoting gate, in the lowered position, serves to bridge the gap between the outlet end of the feed conveyor and the inlet end of the transfer conveyor, and wherein the gate, in the raised position, opens the gap and allows access to the inclined reject conveyor when the end section of the feed conveyor is pivoted to the lowered position.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of creating a machine arrangement with a metal printing press and with a conveyor device feeding at least one metal sheet to the metal printing press and with a metal sheet feeder providing the metal sheet in question, wherein a positioning accuracy of the metal sheet to be printed on a transport device transporting this metal sheet to a printing unit of the metal printing press is improved.

[0008] The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. The dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments and / or further developments of the solution found.

[0009] The advantages achievable with the invention consist, in particular, in the improved positioning accuracy of the metal sheet to be printed on a transport device transporting this metal sheet to a printing unit of the metal printing press, and thus to a printing position of this printing unit, compared, for example, to the positioning accuracy achievable with suction grippers. Suction grippers always allow a certain positional shift of the metal sheet to be printed during transport, which is avoided with the solution proposed by the invention. Further advantages will become apparent from the following description.

[0010] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and is described in more detail below.

[0011] They show: Fig. 1 shows a machine arrangement with a metal printing machine and with a conveyor device feeding at least one metal sheet to the metal printing machine and with a metal sheet feeder providing the respective metal sheet; Fig. 2 shows a gripper bar of the conveyor device with two positioning marks and a fixing device; Fig. 3 shows the gripper bar of the Fig. 2 on a linear guide.

[0012] Fig. 1 shows, in a perspective view, an example of a machine arrangement with a metal printing press 02 and with a conveyor device 11 feeding at least one metal sheet 01 to the metal printing press 02, as well as with a metal sheet feeder 03 providing the relevant metal sheet 01. The metal sheet feeder 03 is designed to deliver the relevant metal sheet 01, which is designed in a rectangular format, to the conveyor device 11 along a linear first transport path, lying on a first transport device 04. The metal sheet feeder 03 is equipped with, for example, at least one stack of, in particular, unprinted metal sheets 01, wherein the metal sheet feeder 03 preferably takes the metal sheets 01 individually from the relevant stack using a gripping device in a program-controlled manner and places them sequentially on the first transport device 04, which for example has at least one circulating suction belt.The metal printing press 02 also has a transport device 06, wherein this transport device 06 is referred to below as a second transport device 06 in the context of the proposed machine arrangement. This second transport device 06 is designed, for example, as a conveyor belt circulating in a specific direction, i.e. in a transport direction T, preferably as a suction belt, wherein the transport direction T of the second transport device 06 is defined in such a way that, after a metal sheet 01 to be printed has been taken over from the conveyor device 11 arranged upstream of the second transport device 06, it feeds this metal sheet 01 lying down along a linear second transport path to at least one printing unit 07 of the metal printing press 02. The first transport path and the second transport path are arranged parallel to one another at a distance A.Thus, in this machine arrangement, the metal sheet feeder 03 is arranged longitudinally to the metal printing machine 02.

[0013] The conveyor device 11 is designed, for example, as a conveyor table preferably having several sub-areas, wherein these sub-areas divide the total surface of the conveyor table into fields arranged in columns and / or rows. The respective metal sheet 01 to be printed is taken over by the first transport device 04 into one of the sub-areas of the conveyor table and then transported lying down from the first transport path to the second transport path. The conveyor device 11 thus transfers the respective metal sheet 01 to be printed to the second transport device 06 and, in doing so, bridges the distance A between the first transport path and the second transport path in that this conveyor device 11 conveys the respective metal sheet 01 to be printed transversely to the two aforementioned transport paths.The conveyor device 11 conveys the respective metal sheet 01 to be printed to bridge the distance A between the two aforementioned transport paths along a preferably linear transport path, e.g. via a sliding surface formed in each of the sub-regions of the conveyor table or preferably on several rails arranged parallel to one another, each equipped with at least one row of rollers arranged consecutively in the transport direction. In order to minimize the sliding friction during the transport of the respective metal sheet 01 to be printed transversely to the two aforementioned transport paths, the respective sliding surface can be supported, e.g. by an air cushion formed there that supports the respective metal sheet 01. These air cushions are preferably generated in each of the sub-regions of the conveyor table, in particular by an arrangement of several Venturi nozzles that support the transport of the respective metal sheet 01 in the transport direction.

[0014] According to the invention, the conveyor device 11 has at least one gripper bar 12 with two positioning marks 13 arranged at a distance from one another and a fixing device 14 arranged between the two positioning marks 13, each for the metal sheet 01 to be transported from the first transport path to the second transport path. Fig. 2 As can be seen, the two positioning marks 13 are preferably each designed as a stop that is vertically perpendicular to the first transport path, the metal sheet 01 to be transported being transported by the first transport device 04 belonging to the metal sheet feeder 03 until its front edge abuts the two positioning marks 13. The front edge of the metal sheet 01 to be printed is usually its reference edge, to which the printing positions for a print image to be created by means of the printing unit 07 of the metal printing press 02 refer. The front edge of the metal sheet 01 to be printed is therefore usually directed in the transport direction T of the metal sheet 01 to be transported by the second transport device 06 belonging to the metal printing press 02.

[0015] In the operating state in which the front edge of the metal sheet 01 to be transported is struck against the two positioning marks 13, the fixing device 14 of the gripper bar 12 is open. After the front edge of the metal sheet 01 to be transported has struck against the two positioning marks 13, the fixing device 14 of the gripper bar 12 acting on the front edge of the metal sheet 01 to be transported is closed, so that the metal sheet 01 to be transported is or is fixed at its front edge. The fixing device 14 of the gripper bar 12 is preferably designed as a clamping device that is switched or at least switchable into an open operating position or a closed operating position by a control unit.After the metal sheet 01 to be transported has been fixed at its front edge, this metal sheet 01 is fed from the conveyor device 11 to the second transport device 06 belonging to the metal sheet printing machine 02, preferably triggered by a request from the metal printing machine 02, and transferred to this second transport device 06. After the metal sheet 01 in question has been transferred, its fixation is released by moving the fixing device 14 of the gripper bar 12 into its open operating position. The two positioning marks 13 can be designed so that their respective positions, for example, are variably adjustable in the plane of the metal sheet 01 to be conveyed within a particularly structurally defined range.

[0016] The at least one printing unit 07 of the metal printing machine 02, which prints the relevant metal sheet 01 transported by the second transport device 06, is designed, for example, as a digital printing unit, preferably as an inkjet printing unit, in particular as a printing unit printing using an inkjet printing process.

[0017] Fig. 2 shows in the form of a perspective assembly representation the gripper bar 12 of the conveyor device 11 with two spaced-apart positioning marks 13 and the fixing device 14 arranged in particular centrally between these positioning marks 13, wherein this fixing device 14 is designed, for example, as a clamping device. The two positioning marks 13 are arranged, for example, on a mounting plate 16 in their respective positions, preferably mechanically adjustable. The clamping device has, for example, a clamping rail 08, which is preferably moved or at least movable vertically by a pneumatic or electric drive 17, and a rigid abutment 09, wherein a metal sheet 01 to be fixed is held, or at least can be held, at its front edge between the clamping rail 08 and the abutment 09 in the closed operating position of the clamping device. In this operating position of the clamping device, ieIn the operating state of the fixation, the front edge of the relevant sheet metal panel 01 is in contact with the two positioning marks 13.

[0018] Fig. 3 shows the gripper bar 12 of the Fig. 2 in conjunction with a linear guide 18, wherein this linear guide 18 is driven by an electric motor 19 and moves the gripper bar 12 connected to it bidirectionally along a linear transport path. As can be seen from the Fig. 1 As can be seen, the gripper bar 12, in the closed operating position of its fixing device 14, transports a metal sheet 01 to be printed between the first transport device 04 belonging to the metal sheet feeder 03 and the second transport device 06 belonging to the metal printing press 02. In a preferred embodiment of the conveyor device 11, this conveyor device 11, which is designed, for example, as a conveyor table, has several, e.g. three, preferably identical linear guides 18 parallel to one another and spaced from one another in particular in the format of the metal sheet 01 to be transported, wherein each of these linear guides 18 conveys a metal sheet 01 to be printed synchronously with the other linear guides 18 or independently of the other linear guides 18 to bridge the distance A existing between the transport paths formed by the transport devices 04; 06. In the Fig. 1In three of the six sections of the conveyor table shown, a single metal sheet 01 to be printed is shown lying on the conveyor table in a minimum format and in a maximum format. List of reference symbols

[0019] 01Metal plate 02Metal printing machine 03Metal plate feeder 04First transport device 05- 06Second transport device 07Printing unit 08Clamping rail 09Abutment 10- 11Conveyor device 12Gripper bar 13Positioning mark 14Fixing device 15- 16Mounting plate 17Drive 18Linear guide 19Motor ADistance TTransport direction

Claims

1. Machine arrangement with a metal printing press (02) and a conveyor device (11) feeding at least one metal sheet (01) to the metal printing press (02), as well as a metal sheet feeder (03) providing the respective metal sheet (01), wherein the metal sheet feeder (03) is designed to deliver the respective metal sheet (01) lying on a first transport device (04) along a linear first transport path, wherein the metal printing press (02) has a second transport device (06), wherein this second transport device (06) is designed to feed the respective metal sheet (01) to be printed lying along a linear second transport path to at least one printing unit (07) of the metal printing press (02), wherein the first transport path and the second transport path are arranged parallel to one another at a distance (A),wherein the conveyor device (11) is designed to transport the respective metal sheet (01) to be printed lying down from the first transport path to the second transport path, , characterized in that the conveying device (11) has a gripper bar (12) with two positioning marks (13) arranged at a distance from one another and a fixing device (14) arranged between these two positioning marks (13), wherein the conveying device (11) is designed in such a way that it transports a metal sheet (01) from the first transport path to the second transport path, the front edge of which is directed in the transport direction (T) of the second transport device (06) being in contact with the positioning marks (13) and which is fixed by the fixing device (14).

2. Machine arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing device (14) is designed to act on the front edge of the sheet metal panel (01) to be transported.

3. Machine arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fixing device (14) is designed as a clamping device which is switched or at least switchable into an open operating position or into a closed operating position by a control unit.

4. Machine arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the clamping device has a clamping rail (08) which is moved or at least movable by a pneumatic or electric drive (17) and a rigid abutment (09), wherein a sheet metal panel (01) to be fixed is held or at least can be held at its front edge between the clamping rail (08) and the abutment (09) in the closed operating position of the clamping device.

5. Machine arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4, characterized in thatthe fixing device (14) is designed such that it releases the fixing after the relevant metal sheet (01) has been transferred to the second transport device (06) belonging to the metal printing machine (02).

6. Machine arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5, characterized in that the conveying device (11) is designed such that it conveys the respective metal sheet (01) to be printed along a linear transport path to bridge the distance (A) between the two transport paths.

7. Machine arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6, characterized in that the gripper bar (12) is connected to a linear guide (18) driven by an electric motor (19), wherein this linear guide (18) is designed to move the gripper bar (12) connected to it bidirectionally along the linear transport path.

8. Machine arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7, characterized in that the conveying device (11) is designed as a conveyor table, wherein a total surface of the conveyor table is divided into field-like partial areas arranged in columns and / or rows, wherein the conveying device (11) is designed such that it takes over the metal sheet (01) to be printed from the first transport device (04) into one of the partial areas of the conveyor table and then transports it lying down from the first transport path to the second transport path.

9. Machine arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the conveying device (11) is designed such that it conveys the respective metal sheet (01) to be printed over at least one sliding surface or over a sliding surface formed in each of the partial areas of the conveying table or on rails each equipped with rollers.

10. Machine arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in thatthe respective sliding surface of the conveyor table has an air cushion supporting the respective sheet metal panel (01) to be transported.

11. Machine arrangement according to claim 8 or 9 or 10, characterized in that the conveying device (11) has a plurality of linear guides (18) arranged parallel to one another, each of these linear guides (18) conveying a metal sheet (01) to be printed synchronously with the other linear guides (18) or independently of the other linear guides (18) in order to bridge the distance (A) existing between the transport paths formed by the transport devices (04; 06).

12. Machine arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11, characterized in that the two positioning marks (13) are designed to be variably adjustable in their respective positions within a defined range in the plane of the sheet metal panel (01) to be conveyed.

13. Machine arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12, characterized in that the at least one printing unit (07) of the metal printing machine (02) is designed as a digital printing unit, preferably as an inkjet printing unit, in particular as a printing unit printing using an inkjet printing process.

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