Printing machine

Abstract

To provide a printing machine that enables realizing a structure capable of preventing sheets from floating up.SOLUTION: In a printing machine according to the present invention, a processing body comprises: intermediate suction mechanisms and sheet-bottom suction mechanisms. The intermediate suction mechanism comprises: an intermediate suction box; an intermediate valve device; and an intermediate connecting pipe connecting the intermediate suction box and the intermediate valve device. The sheet-bottom suction mechanism comprises a plurality of sheet-bottom suction boxes; a sheet-bottom valve device; and a plurality of sheet-bottom connecting pipes connecting each of the plurality of sheet-bottom suction boxes to the sheet-bottom valve device. The intermediate valve device comprises an intermediate pipe body. The intermediate pipe body comprises an intermediate through-portion communicating with the inside and outside thereof, as well as, communicating with the intermediate connecting pipe. The sheet-bottom valve device comprises a sheet-bottom pipe body. The sheet-bottom pipe body comprises sheet-bottom through-portions communicating with the inside and outside thereof. The sheet-bottom through-portions are configured to be selectively connectable to the plurality of sheet-bottom connecting pipes along with axial movement of the sheet-bottom pipe body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing press equipped with a processing cylinder (suction cylinder) that sucks and transports printed sheets that have been handed over. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a sheet-fed printing press in which a drying device (17) installed close to and facing the outer peripheral surface of a processing cylinder (double-sized intermediate cylinder 3b) having grippers with claws and claw bases irradiates UV (ultraviolet) light onto the sheets being transported by the processing cylinder, thereby drying (hardening) the UV ink printed on the sheets.

[0003] In the above-mentioned sheet-fed printing press, in order to prevent the tail end of a sheet being transported by the processing drum from floating up from the outer periphery of the processing drum and coming into contact with surrounding components such as a drying device, a tail end suction box (suction box 15a, 15b) that adsorbs the tail end of the sheet is provided on the outer periphery of the processing drum, and an air shower (50) is installed near the outer periphery of the processing drum upstream of the drying device as an air injection means for pressing the sheet against the outer periphery (see Figure 6, paragraphs 0032 and 0033).

[0004] The tail end of the sheet, which is aligned along the outer periphery from the leading edge due to the action of the air shower, is adsorbed by the tail end suction box, so that the sheet is transported along the outer periphery of the processing drum, preventing the sheet from floating up. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3935797 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, even though the tail end suction box is able to suck the tail end of the sheet as described above, slack can occur in the middle of the sheet, causing the sheet to lift up from the outer circumferential surface of the processing drum, leaving room for improvement.Incidentally, it is conceivable to eliminate the sheet lift up by adding a middle suction box to the processing drum, which sucks up the middle part of the sheet in the conveying direction, but in this case, a separate valve device for the middle suction box must be provided in addition to the valve device for the tail end suction box, which has the disadvantage of complicating the structure.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing press that can easily realize a structure that prevents sheets from floating up. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, a printing press according to the present invention comprises a drying device that dries ink printed on sheets, and a processing drum that is disposed opposite the drying device and that sucks and transports the sheets that have been handed over after printing, the processing drum is connected to a suction device that generates a suction airflow, and is equipped with a middle suction mechanism that sucks the middle portion of the sheet in the transport direction, and a trailing edge suction mechanism that sucks the trailing edge of the sheet that is the rear portion in the transport direction, the middle suction mechanism comprises a middle suction box having a middle suction hole portion provided at at least one location on the outer circumferential surface of the processing drum corresponding to a middle region in the transport direction of the sheet to be transported, a middle valve device that supplies suction force from the suction device to the middle suction box, and a middle connecting pipe that connects the middle suction box and the middle valve device, and the trailing edge suction mechanism sucks the trailing edge region of the outer circumferential surface of the processing drum in the transport direction of the sheet to be transported. the processing drum, and the processing drum. The processing drum is characterized in that it comprises a bottom end suction box having bottom end suction holes provided at multiple locations corresponding to the length dimensions of the sheets, a bottom end valve device for supplying suction force from the suction device to the bottom end suction box, and multiple bottom end connection pipes connecting each of the multiple bottom end suction boxes to the bottom end valve device, the intermediate valve device comprising an intermediate pipe body provided on the axis of the processing drum, the intermediate pipe body communicating with the inside and outside at at least one axial location and having an intermediate through portion communicating with the intermediate connection pipe, the bottom end valve device comprising a bottom end pipe body provided on the axis of the processing drum and movable in the axial direction, the bottom end pipe body having a bottom end through portion communicating with the inside and outside at at least one axial location, the bottom end through portion being configured to be selectively connectable to the multiple bottom end connection pipes as the bottom end pipe body moves in the axial direction.

[0009] According to the above configuration, the tail end of the sheet is sucked by the tail end suction box selected according to the length of the sheet, and the intermediate suction box sucks and transports the middle part of the sheet in the transport direction, thereby preventing the middle part of the sheet from floating up. Moreover, by arranging the middle pipe and the tail end pipe on the axis of the processing drum to form the middle valve device and the tail end valve device, the structure for preventing the sheet from floating up can be simplified and easily incorporated into the processing drum.

[0010] In addition, in the printing press of the present invention, as the processing cylinder rotates, a connected state in which the paper-end through-portion is connected to the paper-end connection pipe and a disconnected state in which the paper-end through-portion is not connected to the paper-end connection pipe are switched, and as the processing cylinder rotates, a connected state in which the intermediate through-portion is connected to the intermediate connection pipe and a disconnected state in which the intermediate through-portion is not connected to the intermediate connection pipe are switched, and the timing of the transition from the connected state to the disconnected state as the processing cylinder rotates may be earlier for the intermediate through-portion than for the paper-end through-portion.

[0011] As described above, by putting the intermediate region of the sheet into the non-adsorbed state earlier than the trailing edge region, it is possible to effectively prevent the sheet from floating up.

[0012] In addition, the printing machine of the present invention may be configured so that the paper-end pipe body has a plurality of paper-end through-holes, and a plurality of paper-end connection pipes that communicate with these plurality of paper-end through-holes, and so that suction force is supplied to each of the paper-end suction boxes simultaneously via the plurality of paper-end connection pipes.

[0013] As described above, by supplying suction force to each trailing edge suction box through a combination of multiple trailing edge penetrations and multiple trailing edge connection pipes, the unevenness of the suction force acting on the trailing edge of the paper sheet can be reduced. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, a printing press can be provided that can easily realize a structure that prevents sheets from floating up by arranging an intermediate tube and a tail tube on the same axis inside the processing drum. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a printing press. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the paper discharge section of the printing press, which is provided with a processing cylinder. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a portion of the processing cylinder having an intermediate suction hole portion. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a portion of the processing drum that includes the first to third suction holes for the trailing edge of paper. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a portion of the processing drum that includes the fourth to sixth suction holes for the trailing edge of paper. [Figure 7] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of an intermediate valve device of a processing cylinder. [Figure 8] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the paper tail valve device of the processing cylinder, showing the position of the second tubular valve when the longest sheet is being sucked. FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the paper tail valve device portion of the processing drum, showing the position of the second tubular valve when the fourth longest sheet is being sucked. FIG. [Figure 10] 10(a), (b), and (c) are explanatory views showing the rotational position of the shaft portion of the processing body relative to the second tubular valve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a printing press 1. The printing press 1 includes a paper feed unit 2 for feeding sheets of printing paper one by one from a pile bed via a feeder or the like, a printing unit 3 for printing on the sheets supplied one by one from the paper feed unit 2, a drying unit 4 for drying the ink printed on the sheets in the printing unit 3, and a paper discharge unit 5 for receiving and discharging the sheets dried in the drying unit 4. In this embodiment, the printing unit 3 includes six printing units 3A-3F capable of printing six colors, but may also include printing units for one, two, or more colors. The ink used for printing is electron beam-curable ink (also known as EB ink), which instantly cures upon exposure to an electron beam. However, other inks may also be used, such as UV ink, solvent-based ink, alcohol-based ink, water-based ink, or oil-based ink. If the type of ink changes, a corresponding drying unit is used.

[0017] Printing unit 3A includes a plate cylinder 31, a blanket cylinder 32, an impression cylinder 33, and a paper feed cylinder 2A. Each of printing units 3B to 3F includes a plate cylinder 31, a blanket cylinder 32, an impression cylinder 33, and a transfer cylinder (also called an intermediate cylinder) 34. Although not shown, paper feed cylinder 2A is provided with a gripper at one circumferential position that grips a sheet with a claw base and claws. Furthermore, impression cylinder 33 and each transfer cylinder 34 are so-called double cylinders, and although not shown, each impression cylinder 33 and each transfer cylinder 34 is provided with grippers at two circumferential positions that grip a conveyed sheet with a claw base and claws.

[0018] The paper discharge section 5 includes a paper discharge tray 51 on which paper sheets are stacked, and a chain gripper device 52 that receives paper sheets from a processing drum 35 (described later) and transports them to the paper discharge tray 51. The chain gripper device 52 includes a pair of sprockets 52A, 52B, an endless chain 52C that is wound around the pair of sprockets 52A, 52B, and a plurality of paper discharge grippers (not shown) that are provided at approximately equal intervals on the endless chain 52C and that receive paper sheets from the processing drum 35 (described later).

[0019] The drying unit 4 is arranged after (downstream of) the final printing unit 3F in the sheet transport direction and immediately before the discharge section 5. The drying unit 4 includes a transfer cylinder (intermediate cylinder) 34 to which the sheet is transferred from the impression cylinder 33 of the final printing unit 3F, a processing cylinder (also called a suction cylinder) 35 to which the sheet is transferred from the transfer cylinder 34, and a drying device 36 for drying the ink (electron beam curable ink) printed on the sheet being transported by the processing cylinder 35. The processing cylinder 35 is a double-sized cylinder and includes grippers G at two circumferential positions that grip the front end of the sheet in the transport direction with a claw base and claws. The processing cylinder 35 transfers the sheet to a discharge gripper of the chain gripper device 52.

[0020] 2, the drying unit 4 further includes an upstream air shower 37 equipped with nozzles 37A that blow air toward the outer peripheral surface of the processing drum 35 upstream of the drying device 36. Blowing air makes it easier to align the paper sheets with the outer peripheral surface of the processing drum 35. The upstream air shower 37 may be omitted.

[0021] The drying device 36 is installed above the processing drum 35 and is equipped with an EB head (electron beam head, not shown) that cures (dries) the electron beam curable ink printed (applied) on the sheet. This EB head irradiates electron beams toward the outer circumferential surface of the processing drum 35. The irradiation area irradiated by the EB head is shielded and shielded from light from the outside by a shielding device (not shown) provided in the drying device 36. Nitrogen gas is supplied to the irradiation area. For this reason, the shielding device is provided close to the outer circumferential surface of the processing drum 35. With this configuration, if the sheet becomes loose and lifts up from the outer circumferential surface of the processing drum 35, there is a high possibility that the sheet will come into contact with components of the shielding device and be damaged.

[0022] As shown in Figure 3, the processing drum 35 is equipped with an intermediate suction mechanism 6 that sucks the intermediate portion of the sheet gripped by the gripper G in the conveying direction, and a trailing edge suction mechanism 7 that sucks the trailing edge of the sheet, which is the rear portion in the conveying direction. Since the processing drum 35 is a double-sized drum, the intermediate suction mechanism 6 and the trailing edge suction mechanism 7 are provided in two locations around the circumference of the processing drum 35. The intermediate suction mechanism 6 and the trailing edge suction mechanism 7 are connected to suction devices (suction pumps) that generate suction airflow.

[0023] 3 and 4, each intermediate suction mechanism 6 includes an intermediate suction box 62 having an intermediate suction hole 61 provided on the outer circumferential surface of the processing drum 35 in a position corresponding to an intermediate region in the conveying direction of the sheet to be sucked, an intermediate valve device 63 (see FIG. 7) for supplying suction force from the suction device to the intermediate suction box 62, and an intermediate connection pipe 64 consisting of a flexible hose connecting the intermediate suction box 62 and the intermediate valve device 63. As shown in FIG. 4, the intermediate suction hole 61 has two circumferential rows of hole regions 61R, each with a predetermined number of circular holes, and each row of hole regions 61R is formed in five locations spaced apart in the width direction, for a total of ten hole regions 61R. The range in which the intermediate suction hole 61 is formed is not limited to that shown in FIG. 4.

[0024] 3, 5, and 6, each tail end suction mechanism 7 includes tail end suction boxes 81-86 having tail end suction holes 71-76 provided at multiple locations (six locations) corresponding to the length of the sheet in the tail end region of the sheet to be sucked on the outer circumferential surface of the processing drum 35 in the conveying direction, a tail end valve device 77 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) for supplying suction force from the suction device to the tail end suction boxes 81-86, and multiple (six) tail end connection pipes 91-96 connecting each of the multiple locations (six locations in this embodiment, but any number as long as two or more locations) of the tail end suction boxes 81-86 to the tail end valve device 77. The tail end suction hole 71 is used when the length of the sheet in the conveying direction is shortest, and as the length of the sheet in the conveying direction increases, the tail end suction holes 72, 73, 74, 75, and 76 are used in that order. In this embodiment, the interior of one suction box member for bottom end of paper is divided into three spaces, thereby configuring it to serve as three suction boxes for bottom end of paper 81, 82, 83, and the interior of another suction box member for bottom end of paper is divided into three spaces, thereby configuring it to serve as three suction boxes for bottom end of paper 84, 85, 86, but it is also possible to implement this by providing six suction box members for bottom end of paper.

[0025] The trailing edge of the sheet is sucked by a tail end suction box (e.g., 86) selected according to the length of the sheet in the conveying direction, and the intermediate suction box 62 sucks and conveys the middle portion of the sheet in the conveying direction, thereby preventing the sheet from floating up. Furthermore, the middle portion of the sheet in the conveying direction can be prevented from floating up when the sheet is handed over to a downstream conveying device. In this embodiment, the middle portion of the sheet in the conveying direction is prevented from floating up by the intermediate suction box 62 sucking and conveying the middle portion of the sheet in the conveying direction, which occurs when the movement speed of the discharge gripper of the chain gripper device 52, which is the downstream conveying device, is slower than the circumferential speed of the processing drum 35. Even if the downstream conveying device is a drum, if the circumferential speed of the drum is slower than that of the processing drum 35, the middle portion of the sheet in the conveying direction may float up, as described above.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 5, the three trailing edge suction holes 71-73, from the first trailing edge suction hole 71 located at the front side of the sheet conveyance direction to the third trailing edge suction hole 73, have the same configuration. Each of the first to third trailing edge suction holes 71, 72, 73, like the intermediate suction hole 61, has five hole regions 71R, 72R, 73R, each with a predetermined number of holes, spaced apart in the width direction. Also, as shown in FIG. 6, the three trailing edge suction holes 74-76, from the fourth trailing edge suction hole 74 to the sixth trailing edge suction hole 76, have the same configuration. Each of the fourth to sixth trailing edge suction holes 74, 75, 76, like the intermediate suction hole 61, has seven hole regions 74R, 75R, 76R, each with a predetermined number of holes, spaced apart in the width direction. That is, the fourth to sixth trailing edge suction holes 74, 75, 76 are larger in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction than the first to third trailing edge suction holes 71, 72, 73. This is to accommodate various standard sizes of paper sheets.

[0027] <Intermediate valve device> 7, the intermediate valve device 63 is provided with a first valve hole 65A formed on the axis (center line) of the shaft portion 65 of the processing body 35 from one axial end side (drive side) to the other axial end side (operation side), and a first tubular valve 66 as a circular tubular intermediate pipe body fitted into the first valve hole 65A from the one axial end side. The first tubular valve 66 does not rotate in the circumferential direction even when the processing body 35 (shaft portion 65) rotates.

[0028] A first suction port 65K penetrating the shaft portion 65 of the processing barrel 35 in the inward and outward directions opens on the inner peripheral surface of the first valve hole 65A. Because the processing barrel 35 is configured as a double-sized barrel, this first suction port 65K is formed in two locations 180 degrees apart in the circumferential direction (only one of the two locations is shown in FIG. 7). Each first suction port 65K is connected from the outer peripheral surface side of the shaft portion 65 to a corresponding intermediate suction box 62 via an intermediate connection pipe 64 (see FIG. 3).

[0029] The first tubular valve 66 has a first valve opening 66K as an intermediate through-portion that communicates with the intermediate connecting pipe 64 via the first suction port 65K of the shaft portion 65. This first valve opening 66K is an elongated hole-shaped opening formed in a predetermined range in the circumferential direction, and as the processing body 35 rotates, the first suction port 65K and the first valve opening 66K communicate with each other in a predetermined angular range, and suction air from the suction device is supplied to the intermediate suction box 62 only while they are in communication.

[0030] The first tubular valve 66 is equipped with a first closing member 8 that closes the tip end in the insertion direction. The tip end of the first tubular valve 66 is supported on the tip side (rear side) of the first valve hole 65A by two tip-side bearings 9 arranged on the tip shaft portion of the first closing member 8, and is supported at the entrance portion of the first valve hole 65A by a base-side bearing 10 installed closer to the base end. A seal 11 is installed on the tip side of the base-side bearing 10.

[0031] The base end of the first tubular valve 66 is installed so as to protrude outside the case through a hole in a flange member 13 fixed to the outer surface of the drive-side case 12. The first tubular valve 66 is fixed to the drive-side case 12 via the flange member 13. By adjusting the installation angle of the first tubular valve 66 about its axis relative to the flange member 13 when fixed by the flange member 13, it is possible to adjust the rotation angle of the processing barrel 35 when the first suction port 65K and the first valve opening 66K begin to communicate with each other and when the communication is cut off. In other words, the flange member 13 constitutes an adjustment means for adjusting the suction timing of the intermediate suction hole portion 61. The base end 66A of the first tubular valve 66 is connected to a suction device.

[0032] <Paper end valve device> As shown in Figure 8, the paper-end valve device 77 is provided with a second valve hole 65B formed on the axis (center line) of the shaft portion 65 of the processing drum 35 from the other axial end (operation side) toward one axial end (drive side), and a second tubular valve 67 as a circular paper-end pipe that is fitted into the second valve hole 65B from the other axial end (i.e., the opposite side of the processing drum 35 from the first valve hole 65A) and is arranged axially movable. The second tubular valve 67 does not rotate circumferentially even when the processing drum 35 rotates. The second valve hole 65B and the first valve hole 65A are not in communication. Therefore, the first tubular valve 66 of the intermediate valve device 63 and the second tubular valve 67 of the paper-end valve device 77 are arranged on the same axis on the shaft portion 65 of the processing drum 35. By arranging them in this way, the structure of the intermediate valve device 63 and the paper tail valve device 77 can be simplified, and they can be easily incorporated into the processing drum 35.

[0033] The inner peripheral surface of the second valve hole 65B is provided with two second suction ports K1-K6, each penetrating the shaft portion 65 of the processing drum 35 inward and outward, spaced apart in the axial direction. The second suction ports K1-K6 are offset in the circumferential direction to change the suction timing. Two second suction ports K1-K6 are provided for each of the first to sixth bottom end suction boxes 81 to 86, which supply suction air to the first bottom end suction hole 71, to supply suction air from two second suction ports (for example, second suction ports K1, K1 for the first bottom end suction box 81). These twelve second suction ports K1, K1-K6, K6 are formed in two locations 180 degrees apart in the circumferential direction (only one of the two locations is shown in Figures 8 and 9). The second suction ports K1, K1 to K6, K6 are connected to the corresponding bottom end suction boxes 81 to 86 from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 65 via bottom end connection pipes 91, 91 to 96, 96. For example, the second suction ports K1, K1 are connected to the corresponding bottom end suction box 81 from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 65 via bottom end connection pipes 91, 91. In Figures 8 and 9, only the bottom end connection pipe 91 is shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0034] The second tubular valve 67 is installed so as to be movable axially by a switching means 19, which will be described later. The second tubular valve 67 has two distal second valve openings 67A, 67A as through-holes for the tail end of paper that selectively communicate with either the second suction port K1, K1, the second suction port K2, K2, or the second suction port K6, K6 of the two second suction ports K1, K1 to K6, K6 as it moves axially. The second tubular valve 67 has two proximal second valve openings 67B, 67B as through-holes for the tail end of paper that selectively communicate with either the second suction port K3, K3, the second suction port K4, K4, or the second suction port K5, K5 of the two second suction ports K1, K1 to K6, K6 as it moves axially. Furthermore, the axial positions of the four second valve openings 67A, 67A, 67B, 67B and the total of 12 second suction ports are set so that when the tip-side second valve openings 67A, 67A are connected to the second suction port (any of K1, K1 or K2, K2 or K6, K6), the base-side second valve openings 67B, 67B are in a non-communicating state (blocked state) that is not connected to any of the second suction ports (K3, K3 or K4, K4 or K5, K5), and when the base-side second valve openings 67B, 67B are connected to the second suction port (any of K3, K3 or K4, K4 or K5, K5), the tip-side second valve openings 67A, 67A are in a non-communicating state (blocked state) that is not connected to any of the second suction ports (K1, K1 or K2, K2 or K6, K6).

[0035] The four second valve openings 67A, 67A, 67B, 67B are formed in a predetermined range in the circumferential direction of the circular tubular portion of the second tubular valve 67, and as the processing cylinder 35 rotates, the second suction ports and the second valve openings communicate with each other over a predetermined angular range, and only while they are in communication is suction air from the suction device supplied to the tail end suction box 86 via the tail end connection piping. In the state shown in Figure 8, the second suction ports K6, K6 communicate with the tip side second valve openings 67A, 67A, and suction air from the suction device is supplied to the tail end suction box 86 via the tail end connection piping 96 (not shown) only during the predetermined angular range during which they are in communication. By dividing the second valve opening into a tip-side second valve opening 67A and a base-side second valve opening 67B, each corresponding to a separate second suction port, the axial movement distance of the second tubular valve 67 can be kept small compared to a configuration in which they are not divided, preventing the device from becoming larger, and also shortening the movement time of the second tubular valve 67 by the switching means 19, which will be described later. Also, by configuring each tail edge suction box 81-86 to supply suction force from multiple locations simultaneously via multiple (two) tail edge connection pipes 91-96, it is possible to reduce axial variation in the suction force acting on the sheets.

[0036] As the processing body 35 rotates, the state is switched between a connected state in which the first valve opening 66K is connected to the intermediate connecting pipe 64 and a non-connected state in which the first valve opening 66K is not connected to the intermediate connecting pipe 64, and as the processing body 35 rotates, the state is switched between a connected state in which the tip side second valve openings 67A, 67A or the base side second valve openings 67B, 67B are connected to one of the paper end connecting pipes 91-96 and a connected state in which the tip side second valve openings 67A, 67A or the base side second valve openings 67B, 67B are not connected to the paper end connecting pipes 91-96. As described above, by adjusting the installation angle around the axis of the first tubular valve 66, the timing of transition from the connected state to the disconnected state accompanying the rotation of the processing drum 35 can be made earlier for the first valve opening 66K than for the tip-side second valve openings 67A, 67A or the base-side second valve openings 67B, 67B. Therefore, in accordance with the desired suction timing, the intermediate region of the sheet can be made to enter the non-suction state earlier than the trailing edge region.

[0037] The second tubular valve 67 includes a second closing member 14 that closes its distal end (the right end in FIG. 8 ) in the insertion direction into the shaft portion 65. The second tubular valve 67 also includes a third closing member 15 that closes its proximal end (the left end in FIG. 8 ). The distal end of the second tubular valve 67 is supported at the back of the second valve hole 65B by two distal bearings 16 installed on the distal shaft portion of the second closing member 14, and its proximal end is supported by a proximal bearing (self-aligning ball bearing) 17 provided at the other end of the shaft portion 65 of the processing barrel 35. The proximal end of the second tubular valve 67 protrudes from the shaft portion 65 of the processing barrel 35 toward the other end. A through-hole 67K that communicates with the outside is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the proximal end of the second tubular valve 67. A connecting member 18 having a hole 18A that communicates with the through-hole 67K is attached to the proximal end of the second tubular valve 67. A suction device is connected to the hole 18A of the connecting member 18.

[0038] The connecting member 18 is connected to a switching means 19 for axially moving the second tubular valve 67. The connecting member 18 also has a rotation prevention function that restricts rotation of the second tubular valve 67 around its axis.

[0039] The switching means 19 includes a coupling member 20 connected to the connecting member 18, a guide member 21 that guides the axial movement of the coupling member 20, an electric motor 22 that generates driving force, a threaded shaft 23 that rotates when driven by the electric motor 22, a conversion member 24 that is fixed to the coupling member 20 and threadedly engages with the threaded shaft 23 to convert the rotation of the threaded shaft 23 into axial movement, and a gear mechanism 25 that has two gears that transmits the rotational driving force from the electric motor 22 to the threaded shaft 23. The electric motor 22 is configured as a geared motor. The switching means 19 also includes a potentiometer P as detection means for detecting the amount of rotation of the threaded shaft 23 and identifying the axial position of the second tubular valve 67 relative to the shaft portion 65.

[0040] Therefore, by inputting the length size of the paper sheets (for example, the longest size) into a control unit (not shown), the control unit drives the electric motor 22 based on detection information from the potentiometer P so as to align the leading-edge second valve openings 67A with the sixth second suction port K6. Fig. 8 shows a state in which the leading-edge second valve openings 67A are aligned (communicated) with the sixth second suction port K6, and Fig. 9 shows a state in which the leading-edge second valve openings 67B are aligned (communicated) with the fourth second suction port K4.

[0041] Then, printing begins, and the front end of the printed sheet in the transport direction is gripped by the gripper G of the processing drum 35. Next, the middle part of the sheet in the transport direction is positioned and sucked into the middle suction box 62 (middle suction hole 61) of the processing drum 35, and then the trailing edge of the sheet is positioned and sucked into the trailing edge suction box 86 (trailing edge suction hole 76) corresponding to the size (longest size) of the sheet. In this state, the electron beam curable ink on the surface of the sheet is cured (dried) by the drying device 36 while it is transported. The sheet is then handed over to the chain gripper device 52 and discharged.

[0042] 10(a), (b), and (c) are diagrams illustrating the relationship between the tubular valves 66 and 67 and the valve holes 65A and 65B, showing, as an example, the relationship between the tip-side valve opening 67A of the second tubular valve 67 and the second suction port K1 of the second valve hole 65B. Also, FIGS. 10(a), (b), and (c) show the timing from just before the tail-end suction box 81 (tail-end suction hole 71) starts suction to just before suction ends, as the shaft 65 of the processing barrel 35 rotates relative to the second tubular valve 67 as the processing barrel 35 rotates counterclockwise (in the direction of the arrow in the figure). FIG. 10(a) shows the state in which one circumferential end of the tip-side second valve opening 67A of the second tubular valve 67 approaches the upstream end T of the rotational direction of the second suction port K1 formed on the shaft 65 at the lower right, i.e., the state just before suction begins. As the processing drum 35 rotates counterclockwise (in the direction of the arrow in the figure) from the state shown in Figure 10(a), suction of the sheet begins. Figure 10(b) shows a state in which the second suction port K1 and the leading-edge second valve opening 67A are in communication and suction is in progress. Figure 10(c) shows a state in which the downstream end S of the second suction port K1 in the direction of rotation has reached the other circumferential end of the leading-edge second valve opening 67A of the second tubular valve 67, i.e., a state in which suction has ended. In this way, the suction state and the non-suction state are switched as the processing drum 35 rotates.

[0043] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the intermediate suction mechanism 6 and the trailing edge suction mechanism 7 are provided, but a front suction mechanism that sucks the portion of the sheet forward of the intermediate portion in the conveying direction may also be added.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the sheets are not limited to paper, but may be resin sheets, glass sheets, steel sheets, or the like.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the timings for starting and ending suction for the intermediate suction mechanism 6 and the bottom edge suction mechanism 7 are realized by a mechanical configuration, but it is also possible to realize the timings for starting and ending suction by an electrical configuration by connecting an intermediate valve between the suction device and the intermediate suction mechanism 6, and connecting multiple bottom edge suction boxes and the same number of bottom edge valves between the suction device and the bottom edge suction mechanism 7, and providing a control unit that controls the opening and closing of these intermediate valves and bottom edge valves. However, it is easier to stabilize the timings for starting and ending suction by setting the timings by a mechanical configuration. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1...printing press, 2...paper feed section, 2A...paper feed cylinder, 3...printing section, 3A to 3F...printing unit, 4...drying unit, 5...paper discharge section, 6...intermediate suction mechanism, 7...paper trailing edge suction mechanism, 9...front end bearing, 10...base end bearing, 11...seal, 12...drive side case, 13...flange member, 16...front end bearing, 17...base end bearing (self-aligning ball bearing), 18...connecting member, 18A...hole, 19...switching means, 20...coupling member, 21...guide member, 22...electric motor, 23...screw shaft, 24...conversion member, 25...gear mechanism, 31...plate cylinder, 32...blanket cylinder, 33...impression cylinder, 34...transfer cylinder (intermediate cylinder), 35...processing cylinder (suction cylinder), 36...drying device, 37...upstream air shower, 37A...nozzle, 51...paper discharge tray, 52...chain gripper Device, 52A, 52B... sprockets, 52C... endless chain, 61... intermediate suction hole portion, 61R... hole area, 62... intermediate suction box, 63... intermediate valve device, 63... intermediate suction box, 64... intermediate connecting pipe, 65... shaft portion, 65A... first valve hole, 65B... second valve hole, 66... first tubular valve, 66A... base end, 66K... first valve opening , 67...second tubular valve, 67A...tip side second valve opening, 67B...base side second valve opening, 67K...through hole, 71 to 76...suction hole portion for end of paper, 71R to 76R...hole area, 77...end of paper valve device, 81 to 86...end of paper suction box, 91 to 96...end of paper connection pipe, G...gripper, P...potentiometer, S...downstream end in the direction of rotation, T...upstream end in the direction of rotation

Claims

1. The printing machine is provided with a drying device that dries ink printed on a paper sheet, and a processing cylinder that is disposed opposite the drying device and that adsorbs and transports the paper sheet that has been handed over after printing, The processing drum is connected to a suction device that generates a suction airflow, and includes a middle suction mechanism that sucks a middle portion of the sheet in the conveying direction, and a trailing edge suction mechanism that sucks a trailing edge of the sheet, which is a rear portion of the sheet in the conveying direction, The intermediate suction mechanism comprises an intermediate suction box having an intermediate suction hole provided at at least one location on the outer peripheral surface of the processing drum corresponding to an intermediate region in the conveying direction of the conveyed sheets, an intermediate valve device for supplying suction force from the suction device to the intermediate suction box, and an intermediate connecting pipe connecting the intermediate suction box and the intermediate valve device, The trailing edge suction mechanism comprises a trailing edge suction box having trailing edge suction holes provided at a plurality of locations corresponding to the length of the sheet in the trailing edge region of the outer peripheral surface of the processing drum in the conveying direction of the conveyed sheet, a trailing edge valve device for supplying suction force from the suction device to the trailing edge suction box, and a plurality of trailing edge connection pipes connecting each of the plurality of trailing edge suction boxes to the trailing edge valve device, the intermediate valve device includes an intermediate pipe provided on the axis of the processing body, the intermediate pipe communicating with the inside and outside at at least one axial location and having an intermediate through-portion communicating with the intermediate connecting pipe, A printing press in which the paper end valve device is provided on the axis of the processing drum and comprises a paper end pipe body that is movable axially, the paper end pipe body having a paper end through-portion that communicates with the inside and outside at at least one axial location, and the paper end through-portion is configured to be selectively connectable to the multiple paper end connection pipes as the paper end pipe body moves in the axial direction.

2. 2. A printing machine as described in claim 1, wherein, as the processing drum rotates, a connected state in which the end-of-paper through-portion is connected to the end-of-paper connecting pipe and a disconnected state in which the end-of-paper through-portion is not connected to the end-of-paper connecting pipe are switched, and as the processing drum rotates, a connected state in which the intermediate through-portion is connected to the intermediate connecting pipe and a disconnected state in which the intermediate through-portion is not connected to the intermediate connecting pipe are switched, and the timing of the transition from the connected state to the disconnected state as the processing drum rotates is earlier for the intermediate through-portion than for the end-of-paper through-portion.

3. A printing press as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the paper-end pipe body has a plurality of paper-end through-holes, a plurality of paper-end connection pipes that communicate with these plurality of paper-end through-holes, and suction force is supplied to each of the paper-end suction boxes simultaneously via the plurality of paper-end connection pipes.

Images