Cylinders for directing magnetic or magnetizable particles contained in a coating on a substrate and machines for producing optically variable image elements

Abstract

The cylinder (26) for orienting the magnetic or magnetizable particles (P) contained in the coating agent (06) on the substrate (02) is arranged in a matrix of n×m (in other words, n times m; where: The cylinder (26) comprises a number of magnetic field providing elements (24), magnet elements (24) for short (TIFF2025506055000008.tif9150), which are arranged in n rows extending parallel to the axis and in m rows extending in the circumferential direction and are provided in the circumferential region with suction elements (34) having outwardly facing suction openings (42). In a number or all of the rows of magnet elements (24), a number or all of the magnet elements (24) arranged one behind the other, respectively, with at least one suction element (34) assigned to them, are grouped together in a respective component (36) as a working unit (36), which itself is configured as a whole and each independently of all other such working units (36) to be positionable in the circumferential direction and / or to be detachable from the cylinder (26). The invention further relates to a system for assembling and / or positioning the magnet elements (24) and to a machine (01) for producing optically variable image elements on a substrate (2).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cylinder for directing magnetic or magnetisable particles contained in a coating agent on a substrate and a machine for producing optically variable image elements according to claims 1 or 13.

[0002] From EP 2114678 a printing machine is known, which comprises a screen printing unit and a device for directing magnetic or magnetisable particles contained in a printing ink or varnish, the device comprising a cylinder having a plurality of elements on its circumference for generating a magnetic field, the elements being arranged in a plurality of axially adjustable support rings. The support rings have a plurality of openings on their inner circumference which interact with a plurality of openings on a shaft carrying the support rings for conducting the intake air. In one embodiment, the openings on the shaft can be selectively closed via plugs, for example screwable elements. The support rings can be axially positioned on the shaft and clamped on the shaft by a tensile force acting in the circumferential direction.

[0003] US 2011 / 0168088 relates to an apparatus for orienting magnetic flakes, in one embodiment in which magnets are arranged on the circumference of a disk, the disk being arranged on an axis and interchangeable with disks having a different distribution.

[0004] CN 103192591 discloses an apparatus for directing magnetic or magnetizable particles contained in a coating agent, the apparatus comprising a cylinder with magnet elements arranged in a matrix in the region of the circumference of the cylinder, whereby groups of circumferentially adjacently arranged magnet elements arranged axially next to each other are respectively arranged on axially extending carrier elements and are axially movable on the carrier elements. After axial positioning, the magnet elements in the carrier elements can be clamped by circumferentially acting screws in the corresponding carrier elements. The carrier elements can be positioned in the circumferential direction. The axially extending carrier elements are clamped at the end sides by circumferentially surrounding support rings on the end faces.

[0005] WO 2014 / 037221 discloses a magnet cylinder with several cylinder sections, each of which has several magnet elements one behind the other on its circumference and has surrounding areas on both sides of the magnet elements with intake air openings, between which a support element with a cylindrical circumference is provided.

[0006] DE 112012006348 A1 discloses a magnet cylinder with a number of spaced apart carrier rings, which are adjustable on the cylinder body with respect to their axial position. The carrier rings have ring grooves on their outer circumference, into which magnet arrangements can be fitted one behind the other in the circumferential direction and which can be adjusted in the circumferential direction on the corresponding carrier rings after releasing the adjusting screws. Openings of a suction air duct system open in the bottoms of the ring grooves and in the shoulders located between them, via which suction air can be sucked in from suction openings in a covering sheet metal forming the cylinder jacket.

[0007] The problem underlying the present invention is to provide a cylinder for directing magnetic or magnetizable particles contained in a coating on a substrate and a machine for producing optically variable image elements.

[0008] The above problem is solved according to the invention by the features of claims 1 and 13.

[0009] Advantages achievable by the features of the present invention are in particular that high precision in creating optically variable image elements and / or high flexibility within the scope of application or process for providing optically variable image elements may be enabled or enhanced.

[0010] In one preferred embodiment of a cylinder for orienting magnetic or magnetizable particles contained in a coating on a substrate, the cylinder is provided with a matrix of n×m (in other words, n times m; where

number

[0011] This allows free positioning of the magnet elements in the circumferential direction, with each assigned suction element being in a defined relative position to the corresponding magnet element and providing good holding.

[0012] Preferably, the working unit has at least one duct interface on its underside facing the inside of the cylinder, and the cylinder inner body which is contained in the cylinder and directly or indirectly carries the respective working unit on its circumference has a plurality of duct interfaces on the outside of the cylinder inner body for conducting the intake air.

[0013] In a particularly advantageous development, at least two magnet elements arranged one behind the other in one and the same row are arranged on or in different magnet element holders which can be positioned independently of one another on the cylinder in the circumferential direction, and at least two magnet elements arranged one behind the other on each magnet element holder are supported so as to be adjustable within an adjustment range in the circumferential direction relative to the magnet element holder carrying the magnet elements.

[0014] In an alternative or additional advantageous development, at least two or all of the magnet elements arranged one after the other in one and the same row are supported as a group on or on a common carrier element and are changeable in terms of their axial position in or on the cylinder together with the carrier element and independently of the magnet elements of adjacent rows; in a particularly advantageous embodiment, at least two or all of the magnet elements of the same row are arranged on respective magnet element holders which are themselves positionable independently of one another in the circumferential direction on the common carrier element and / or detachable from the carrier element, and at least two or all of the magnet elements of the same row are supported on the respective magnet element holders so as to be adjustable within an adjustment range in the axial direction relative to the magnet element holder. Advantageously, in this case, a carrier element having a number of operating units on its circumference and carried by the cylinder body has, on the side of the carrier element facing the inside of the cylinder, a number of line interfaces which interact with the line interfaces on the cylinder body to conduct the intake air, and, on the outside, a number of line interfaces which interact with the line interfaces of the operating units to conduct the intake air.

[0015] A particularly advantageous embodiment of a machine for generating optically variable image elements on a substrate comprises a substrate supply, at least one printing device which prints and / or can print, at least on a first side, an allocation surface of m columns and n rows in a matrix on the substrate guided on a transport path through the machine by means of the printing device, a product receiver capable of bundling the processed substrate together, and an orientation device for orienting magnetic or magnetizable particles with a cylinder, which is provided in the substrate path between the printing device and the product receiver, the cylinder being preferably formed according to an embodiment or a combined embodiment of one of the cylinders described above.

[0016] Both in a combination of several embodiments of a clamping device for fixing the ring elements and / or in one embodiment as a structural unit and / or by the mobility of individual or all magnet elements in the axial and / or circumferential direction and / or by the clamping device for clamping the magnet elements or the structural unit, high precision in handling the optically variable image elements and / or high flexibility within the range of applications or processes for providing the optically variable image elements can be made possible or enhanced.

[0017] In one advantageous embodiment, a number of component units each having at least one line interface on their underside, through which the intake air is conducted, are provided on the cylinder inner body or on a common carrier element arranged on the cylinder inner body, the cylinder inner body and / or the respective carrier element having on its outwardly facing side a number of line interfaces with selectively blockable feed-throughs, in particular holes, for conducting the intake air.

[0018] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the above-mentioned cylinder has, in the region of the outer periphery of the cylinder, rows or groups with, for example 4 to 8 adjacent magnetic field generating elements, for example 2 to 12, in particular 5 to 10 magnetic field generating elements, shortly magnet elements, arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction, as viewed in the axial direction.

[0019] Axial direction here and below refers to a direction extending parallel to the cylinder rotation axis, unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0020] Basically, but not depending on the embodiment with the above-mentioned operating unit, particularly advantageous in this connection is an advantageous development of the orientation device in which at least two, preferably all, of the magnet elements arranged one after the other in one and the same row are supported as a group on or on a common carrier element and are changeable together with the carrier element and independently of the magnet elements of the adjacent row in terms of their axial position in or on the cylinder, and at least two or all of the magnet elements of the group in question are arranged on respective magnet element holders which can be positioned independently of one another in the circumferential direction on the common carrier element and / or can be disengaged from the carrier element and are supported on the respective magnet element holders in an axially adjustable manner within an adjustment range. This preferably applies to several, in particular to all, rows.

[0021] Basically, but not according to the above-mentioned embodiments with an active unit and / or with axially positionable magnet elements, but preferably in conjunction with one or more of the mentioned advantageous embodiments, an advantageous development of the device for directing magnetic or magnetizable particles contained in a coating agent on a substrate comprises a cylinder, which is arranged in a matrix in the area of ​​its circumference, for example n×m, where

number

[0022] Basically, but not according to the above-mentioned embodiment of the cylinder with the operating unit and / or the above-mentioned embodiment of the cylinder with axially positionable magnet elements and / or the above-mentioned embodiment of the cylinder with circumferentially positionable magnet elements, preferably in conjunction with one or more of the mentioned advantageous embodiments, a particularly advantageous development of the cylinder is characterized in that in the region of the outer periphery of the cylinder, side by side, as viewed in the axial direction, are m groups each having a plurality of magnet elements arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction, wherein the magnet elements of one group, in particular of several or all groups, are supported by a common ring-shaped carrier arranged on the cylinder inner body. The magnet element, the holder for receiving the magnet element or the magnet element holder carrying the magnet element is supported against the element or on the carrying element and can be positioned in the circumferential direction on the carrying element, and has at least one clamping element on each side, as viewed in the axial direction of the cylinder, the active ends of the clamping elements engaging from below with stop surfaces which, in the assembled state, extend in the circumferential direction on the respective end faces of the ring-shaped carrying element and are directed inwardly, i.e. whose surface normal faces towards the interior of the cylinder, and / or which counteract radial removal of the magnet element or magnet element holder by interacting with the clamping element present in the clamping position.

[0023] A machine for generating optically variable image elements, in particular on a printing substrate section, for example a security printing machine, comprising a substrate supply, in particular configured as a sheet feeder, at least one printing device, in particular a screen printing device, which prints and / or can print, at least on a first side, a matrix of column and row layout surfaces on a substrate guided on a transport path through the machine by means of the printing device, and a product receiver, in particular configured as a pile delivery, capable of bundling the processed substrates together, preferably comprises, in the transport path of the substrate section, between the printing device and the product receiver, a device for directing magnetic or magnetizable particles with a cylinder of the above-mentioned embodiment or a combined embodiment.

[0024] Further details and implementation variations can be found in the examples.

[0025] An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is explained in more detail below. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a machine for producing optically variable image elements on a substrate. [Diagram 2] Schematic diagram of a substrate printed with an optically variable coating agent in a printing element: a) in a state in which the magnetic or magnetizable particles are not yet oriented, and b) after the image-bearing portion has been oriented, here illustratively in the form of the number "1". [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing process and downstream orientation process, including a printing device cylinder that applies an image, a cylinder with magnetic elements, and a substrate sheet that is exemplary shown expanding in a trapezoidal shape toward a trailing end. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a magnet cylinder. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an isolated view of a carrier element with an exemplary number of magnet elements mounted one behind the other in the circumferential direction. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a carrier element fitted with magnet elements, but in a slimmer configuration compared to that of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 5 is an excerpt from a vertical cross-sectional view of the cylinder shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 8] 1 illustrates one embodiment of a valve for selectively opening and closing an intake air opening. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 shows a more simplified embodiment of a working unit having a magnet element and a suction element. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 shows the functional unit shown in FIG. 9 from above, but without the magnet and the housing. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a working unit with a magnet element and a suction element, in which the adjustment mechanism for the axial adjustment of the magnet element is visible. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a working unit with magnet elements and suction elements, in which the adjustment mechanism for adjusting the magnet elements in the circumferential direction is visible. [Figure 13] 13 is a perspective view of an assembly aid for mounting or removing and / or positioning the function unit; FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an action unit arranged on a ring element, on which the assembly aid shown in FIG. 13 is mounted. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cylinder inner body fitted with six ring elements. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a cylinder with a cylinder inner body, a ring segment-shaped support element arranged on the cylinder inner body, and exemplarily ten working units arranged on the support element. [Figure 17] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged extract of a mounting device for a carrier element. [Figure 18] FIG. 2 is an excerpt showing the essential parts of a mounting device for a carrier element.

[0027] A machine 01 for generating optically variable image elements 03 on a substrate 02, for example a web- or sheet-like printing substrate 02, for example a printing machine 01, in particular a security printing machine 01, comprises an application device 04, for example a printing device 04, by which an optically variable coating agent 06, for example an optically variable printing ink 06 or varnish 06, can be applied in the form of a printed image element 08 over the entire surface or in partial areas to at least one application location, for example a printing location 11, on at least one first side of the substrate 02, for example the printing substrate 02 (see for example FIG. 1 ), which device 07 is also referred to as an orientation device 07 for short in the following, or as an image-applying orientation device 07, since the device 07 causes the application of an image for an optically variable pattern or motif by a defined orientation of the particles P. The application of a coating agent 06 containing particles P on a substrate 02 and the resulting image element 03 by subsequent imagewise orientation of the previously randomly oriented particles P is, for example, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2 under the representation of the number "1", in which a) shows the state in which the coating agent 06 has been applied and is, for example, still present in a randomly oriented state, and b) shows the imagewise oriented state.

[0028] The printed image element 08 consisting of the variable coating agent 06, which is applied by the applicator device 04 onto the substrate 02 before being handled by the directing device 07, may correspond in size and position to the optically variable image element 03 to be generated or may possibly even be larger and may even extend over the surface of several allocation surfaces 09. In the case of a larger printed image element 08, the directing does not result in the generation of an optically variable image element 03, for example, over the entire surface coated with the optically variable coating agent 06.

[0029] As particles P responsible for the optical variability, magnetic or magnetizable non-spherical particles P, such as pigment particles P (also referred to below as magnetic flakes for short), are contained here in a coating agent 06, such as a printing ink 06 or varnish 06.

[0030] The machine 01 is preferably configured for the production of layout surfaces 09, for example securities 09, in particular banknotes 09. This production is also intended to include the production of securities intermediate products, for example the production of a substrate 02 having a printed image of a plurality of securities 09, in particular in the form of a web-like or sheet-like substrate section 02, in particular a substrate sheet 02. The substrate 02 may be formed, for example, by paper, plastic polymers or hybrid products thereof, based on or at least comprising cellulose fibers or preferably cotton fibers. The substrate 02 may be present uncoated or already coated before the coating in the above-mentioned coating device 04, unprinted or already printed once or several times in one or more preceding processes or mechanically processed in another way. On a print substrate section 02 formed by a longitudinal section of a web-like substrate 02 or by a sheet of a sheet-like substrate 02, a number of layout surfaces 09, e.g. banknotes 09 to be produced or their printed images, are preferably arranged in a matrix-like manner, side by side in a number of rows extending transversely to the transport direction T and one after the other in a number of columns extending in the transport direction T, or may be arranged within the processing path of the substrate 02 (as shown, for example, in Figures 2 and 3).

[0031] The machine 01 configured as a printing machine 01 can basically comprise one or more printing units 04 of any printing method. In the embodiment shown here, the machine 01, however, for the sake of simplicity, comprises one printing unit 04, in particular one working by flexographic printing or preferably by screen printing, by means of which the optically variable coating agent 06 is or can be applied to a first side of the substrate 02. By means of the abovementioned printing methods, in particular screen printing, for example, larger layer thicknesses can be applied in comparison with other printing methods. The expression "first side" of the substrate 02 or substrate 02 is chosen arbitrarily here and refers here to the side of the substrate 02 on which or which has been applied or which can be applied with the optically variable coating agent 06, which is to be addressed downstream by a directing device 07.

[0032] In the preferred embodiment shown, the printing machine 01 comprises a substrate supply 13, preferably formed as a sheet feeder 13, by means of which the substrate 02, for example formed as a sheet-like printing substrate 02, is supplied or can be supplied, possibly via further printing or processing units, to at least one printing device 04, for example a flexographic printing device or preferably a screen printing device 04, which applies an optically variable coating agent 06, and which forms a printing station 11 for printing, for example a first side, of the printing substrate 02 between a printing device cylinder 14, in particular a plate cylinder 14, for example a screen printing cylinder 14, and a common impression cylinder 17 (see for example FIG. 1 ).

[0033] Preferably, the printing device 04 has a printing cylinder 14 as an image-applying cylinder, which has on its periphery a number of image-applying printing elements 18, in particular homogeneous and / or identical printing elements 18 (hereinafter also referred to as printing bodies 18), or groups of image-applying printing elements 18 or printing bodies 18, in particular homogeneous and / or identical groups, which printing elements 18 or printing bodies 18 are arranged in a plurality, for example a few, for example 4 to 8, in particular 5 to 7, for example 6, columns spaced apart transversely to the transport direction T over a circumferential length corresponding to the print image length, and in a plurality of rows spaced apart in the transport direction T over the cylinder width corresponding to the print image width. These printing bodies 18 are formed in the form of letterpress reliefs in the case of a printing device 04 working by flexography, or preferably in the form of stencil printing plates in the case of a printing device 04 working by screen printing.

[0034] From the printing device 04, which applies the optically variable coating agent 06, the printing substrate 02 can be fed to the directing device 07 via a transport means, for example one or more transport devices 12 formed as transport cylinders 12. In the case of a web-like printing substrate 02, the transport means can be formed by one or more cylinders which are positively driven and / or not driven.

[0035] After passing through the orientation device 07, which will be described in detail below, the substrate 02 can be fed either directly or via further conveying means, for example via further transport cylinders, to a further, for example a second, transport device 21, and thus to a product receiver 22 which receives the substrate 02 which has been treated and / or processed in the machine 01, or, in the case of sheet-shaped substrates 02, to a pile delivery 22. In the case of sheet-shaped substrates 02, preferably, a means for conveying the sheet is provided here as the conveying means, for example one or more transfer cylinders or transfer drums, or, as illustrated here, a conveying device 21, in particular a chain gripper system 21, which is formed, for example, as a gripper circular conveyor 21, by means of which the substrate sheet 02 is received from the transport path section of the orientation device 07, possibly via one or more further transport cylinders, and fed, for example, to a pile delivery 22.

[0036] The transport path leaving the orientation device 07 may be provided with one or more dryers 23, for example at least one drying device with a radiant dryer 23, directed towards the first side of the printing substrate 02, and possibly with a cooling device, not shown, for example a cooling drum. In a development not shown, an inspection device, for example an area or line camera, not shown, may be provided on the transport path between the orientation device 07 and the pile delivery 22.

[0037] In an advantageous development, the printing device 04 and the orientation device 07 can be structurally combined, for example in the form of a module, in one device 16 for generating optically variable image elements. Such devices 16 can, for example in one development, be arranged in succession in the machine 01. In an advantageous configuration in the form of a module, the devices 16 are inserted or can be inserted with their input and output interfaces into the transport path of the machine 01 to be fitted, with corresponding interfaces of the transport system continuing upstream and downstream.

[0038] The orientation device 07, which will be described in more detail below, is indeed fundamentally optional in terms of its embodiment, implementation variants or configuration, but is preferably provided or can be provided in the above-mentioned machine 01 or printing machine 01.

[0039] An orientation device 07 for forming an optically variable image element 03, for example an orientation device 07 for forming an optically variable effect in an optically variable coating agent 06 that has previously been applied to a substrate 02, in particular a printing substrate 02, for example in the form of a printed image element 08, has a defined transport path along which the substrate 02 to be transported through the orientation device 07 is, from an inlet area, at whose first side the substrate 02 to be treated is supplied or can be supplied, interacts or can interact in a defined manner with an orientation mechanism 26 which has as an acting element 24 an element 24 for providing a magnetic field, magnet element 24 for short, said interaction preferably taking place in such a way that the magnet element 24 of the orientation mechanism 26 used for the image-applying orientation and the printing substrate 02 printed with the printing ink 06 comprising particles P move synchronously with each other at least on a partial section of the transport path. The orientation mechanism 26 is here formed as a magnetically acting cylinder 26, or magnet cylinder 26 for short, which has an assembly of magnet elements 24 on its periphery, via which the printing substrate 02 is guided or transported from the inlet area of ​​the orientation device 07 towards the outlet area.

[0040] The magnet element 24 may be formed directly by the magnet 27 itself, consisting of one or more parts, or may preferably have one or more magnets 27 arranged, preferably releasably, in or on the holder 28, for example on or in the base 28. By magnet 27 is to be understood here in general a magnetically acting device which generates a magnetic field, permanently or switchably at least towards the above-mentioned side of the transport path (in particular of sufficient strength to orient the particles P contained in the coating agent 06 lying on the substrate 02 guided thereover, as described here). The magnet 27 may in this case be formed by one or more permanent magnets, with or without engraving, by an electromagnet or by a combination of one or more permanent magnets and / or one or more electromagnets. Regardless of whether the magnet 27 is an individual magnet, for example a permanent magnet and / or electromagnet, or a combination of several magnets, for example permanent magnets and / or electromagnets, in the following, under the expression magnet 27, unless otherwise stated, also refers to several magnets 27 that are assigned to one and the same magnet element 24 and form a magnetic unit in their entirety. Under magnet element 24, also an arrangement with several magnets 27, which are comprised of one or several parts and spaced apart from one another, is to be included, such a magnet element 24 can be used, for example, when one and the same allocation surface 09 is to be exposed to respective magnetic fields at two different locations. In this case, one such magnet 27 or an assembly of several magnets 27 of one and the same magnet element 24 can be accommodated in a housing 38 of the magnet element 24, which is arranged, for example, in or on the holder 28 so as to be detachable from the holder 28.

[0041] In the transport path, in principle, two such magnet cylinders 26 may be provided, the two magnet cylinders 26 being arranged on the same side of the substrate 02 to be transported along the transport path, or, however, on different sides respectively.

[0042] In an advantageous embodiment, the directing device 07 is assigned a drying and / or curing device 19, for example a radiant dryer 19, in particular a UV radiant dryer 19, or UV dryer 19 for short, which is preferably configured as a UV-LED-dryer 19 and / or is directed towards the point in the transport path where the substrate 02 interacts with the magnetic cylinder 26.

[0043] The magnet cylinder 26 is arranged in the transport path of the substrate 02 to be transported, preferably on the second side of the substrate 02, so that the substrate 02 faces outward with the first, in particular upstream, in-line coated optically variable coating agent 06 side of the substrate 02 when passing through, in particular transporting through, the magnet cylinder 26.

[0044] The magnetic cylinder 26 comprises a cylindrical body 29, preferably of one or more parts, on which or on which the magnetic element 24 is preferably releasably arranged. The cylindrical body 29, preferably of one or more parts, can be or is rotatably supported in a frame. In this case, the concept of cylindrical body 29 encompasses both closed structures, i.e. structures with a more or less closed cylindrical outer surface, and open structures, i.e. framework-like or frame-like structures, as for example illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0045] The magnetic cylinder 26 has a number of magnetic elements 24 in the area facing the substrate path, for example in the outer peripheral area, in particular in the area of ​​the outer cylindrical envelope of the cylinder body 29, which are used to orient at least a portion of the magnetic or magnetizable particles P of the coating agent 06 applied on the passing printing substrate 02.

[0046] In particular, in the case of a plurality of layout surfaces 09 per substrate section, for example per printing substrate sheet or substrate sheet 02, as is preferred and described herein, the cylinder body 29 has a plurality of layout surfaces 09, in the axial direction, in particular a number m corresponding to the number of rows on the printing substrate section 02.

number

number

number

[0047] By guiding the substrate 02 through the magnetic cylinder 26 configured in this manner, with, for example, the first substrate side facing outward during transport through the first cylinder 26, orientation or alignment of the particles P in the area of ​​the image element 03 arranged on the allocation surface 09 using the magnetic element 24 can be brought about, in this case, i.e., for example through the substrate 02.

[0048] In this case, the number m of rows or groups is, for example, 4 to 8, in particular 5 to 7, for example 6, and / or the number n of magnet elements 24 in a row or group is, for example, 2 to 12, advantageously 5 to 10. The magnet cylinder 26 or the cylinder body 29 of the magnet cylinder 26 is preferably designed in such a way that the number m of rows or groups and / or the number n of rows or the number n of magnet elements 24 arranged one after the other in a row or group is variable, for example within the above-mentioned limits, in order to adapt the magnet cylinder 26 or cylinder body 29 to different requirements.

[0049] Preferably, the magnet element 24 is or can be releasably arranged on the cylinder 26 such that, in an assembled state, the magnet element 24, preferably in or against a corresponding holder 28, together with the holder 28, can be positioned at a defined location on the circumference of the cylinder 26 and, preferably, completely removed from the cylinder 26 and / or can be positioned axially and / or circumferentially on the circumference of the cylinder 26.

[0050] For the above-mentioned matrix arrangement, the magnet elements 24 can be arranged and supported on or in the cylinder body 29 in such a way that the magnet elements 24 are supported on or in the cylinder body 29 in a changeable manner with respect to their axial position relative to the other magnet elements 24 of at least the same row or group of magnet elements 24 and relative to the cylinder body 29 consisting of one or more parts. This can be realized, for example, via axially extending guides arranged on the circumference of the cylinder body 29, in which or on which the corresponding magnet elements 24 are indirectly or directly supported and can be brought to various axial positions. Such guides can basically be provided individually for each magnet element 24 of a row (see, for example, the embodiment shown in FIG. 11), but can also be provided through for several or all magnet elements 24 of one and the same row. In this case, the guides can be provided on the above-mentioned axially extending carrier element which carries all the magnet elements 24 of the same row.

[0051] In an advantageous embodiment, the magnet elements 24 of each row or preferably each column, possibly in addition to the independent axial and / or circumferential positioning possibilities of each or all magnet elements 24 of this row or column, as described in detail below, can be changed as a group in the magnet cylinder 26 or cylinder body 29, as a whole and independently of adjacent rows or columns, in the case of a row, with respect to its circumferential position, and in the case of a column, as described here, with respect to its axial position. In the case of a row grouped as a group, which is not shown here, in particular the magnet elements 24, preferably the magnet elements 24 of all rows, are each grouped as a group that can be positioned together in the circumferential direction, for example in a row on an axially extending carrier element. In the preferred case of columns grouped as a group, in particular the columns, advantageously at least the two columns closest to the end face of the at least three columns, advantageously all columns, are thus supported as a group in an axially movable manner in the magnet element holder 29, in particular the cylinder body 29, or against the magnet element holder 29, in particular the cylinder body 29.

[0052] In the preferred case of grouped rows, the magnet elements 24 are or can be arranged indirectly or directly in or on a plurality, for example m (m is, for example, 4 to 8, in particular 5 to 7, for example 6), axially spaced apart from one another and preferably partly or preferably all of them axially positionable on the cylindrical inner body 32, in particular on the axially extending axis 32, preferably ring-shaped carrier elements 31, for example here ring elements 31, in which on the other hand a plurality, for example 2 to 12, advantageously 5 to 10, magnet elements 24 are or can be arranged one after the other in the circumferential direction and preferably at least partly or all of them circumferentially positionable (see, for example, Figures 4 and 5).

[0053] In the case of a web-like substrate 02, the magnetic cylinder 26 can be configured, for example, with a circumferentially closed ring element 31 without any holding means acting on the substrate 02. In the case of a sheet-like substrate 02, which is preferred here, the cylinder 26 is preferably provided on its circumference with a holding means 33, for example a gripper 33 of a so-called gripper bar, by which the leading end of the substrate sheet 02 to be conveyed through the cylinder 26 is gripped and held during the rotation of the cylinder 26 over an angular range, in particular a rotational angular range. The magnetic cylinder 26 configured in this way is simultaneously used for the transport of the substrate 02. The ring element 31 is in this case interrupted in the circumferential direction in order to accommodate the holding means 33, as can be seen, for example, in FIGS. 4 and 5. The term "ring-like" carrier element or "ring element" is therefore intended here to include elements that are not closed, i.e. in the shape of ring segments, unless otherwise specified. FIG. 5 does not further show the attachment means possibly used for attachment, as described, for example, in connection with the embodiment shown in FIG. 15 to FIG. 18 of the drawings and which are also applicable to the embodiment from FIG. 1 to FIG. 14 of the drawings.

[0054] In a particularly advantageous configuration of the magnet cylinder 26, an individual structural unit 36 ​​is provided for a number or all of the magnet elements 24, which is positioned or can be positioned in a matrix in columns and rows in the above-mentioned sense on the cylinder body 29, and which structural unit 36, also referred to below as working unit 36, in particular magnet unit 36, each has at least one magnet element 24 and each has at least one suction element 34.

[0055] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the device 07 for directing magnetic or magnetizable particles P, in a plurality, preferably all, of the m rows of magnet elements 24, each of which is arranged in succession, is grouped together in a respective component unit 36 ​​as an operating unit 36 ​​together with at least one suction element 34 assigned to it, the operating unit 36 ​​itself being circumferentially positionable and / or detachable from the cylinder 26 as a whole and each independently of all other such operating units 36.

[0056] The working units 36 each have a magnet element holder 37 on which or in which the magnet element 24 is arranged on its outwardly facing side. At least one suction element 34 can be integrated into the magnet element holder 37 as part of the magnet element holder 37 or can be arranged in the magnet element holder 37 as a separate part. Preferably, the working units 36 have at least one suction element 34 on each side of the magnet element 24, as viewed in the axial direction of the cylinder 26. Each suction element 34 has a number of suction openings 42 outwardly, i.e. in a surface facing towards the outside of the cylinder 26 and / or located at a level enveloping the cylinder, the suction openings 42 being arranged, for example, in a cover element 41 which covers the suction air passage 39 (see, for example, FIG. 11 ) arranged in the suction element 34 and which is preferably releasably mounted on the suction passage 39. The passage arrangement, not visible in the drawings, leads from the respective intake air passage 39 through the working unit 36 ​​to a line interface 43 on the bottom side, which is formed, for example, by at least one recess 43 (see, for example, FIG. 11 ) provided in the bottom of the working unit 36 ​​facing the cylinder interior and open towards the cylinder interior. Through this at least one recess 43 or through the line interface 43 formed here by the recess 43 and assigned to the working unit 36, air can be sucked in from the intake opening 42, which is connected via the passage arrangement and the intake air passage 39.

[0057] The working units 36 can basically be arranged or can be arranged indirectly or directly in a matrix manner in an embodiment not shown on the inner cylinder body 32, in particular on the shaft 32, e.g. on a cylindrical outer jacket surface 44. The inner cylinder body 32 or the shaft 32, e.g. on a longitudinal section which indirectly or directly carries the magnet elements 24, has radially outwardly directed intake air openings 46 as duct interfaces 46 for guiding the intake air, which are duct-connected, e.g. via radially extending feedthroughs 47, e.g. holes 47, to passages 48, e.g. extending axially through the shaft 32 and to which the intake air should be supplied from at least one cylinder end, e.g. intake air passages 48.

[0058] If the working units 36 are or should be arranged in a matrix directly, i.e. directly, on the above-mentioned jacket surface 44 of the axially extending cylinder inner body 32 or shaft 32, the working units 36 are or are positioned on the jacket surface 44 in such a way that the line interfaces 43 provided at the bottom of the working units 36, here for example the open cross-section of the above-mentioned recess 43 provided in the bottom of the respective working unit 36, overlap at least one of the line interfaces 43 formed in the shaft 32, for example by the suction air openings 46. The above-mentioned recess 43 here for example forms a chamber 43 bounded by the jacket surface 44 on the bottom side, the inner wall in the base region of the working units 36 surrounding the recess 43 all around forms a sealing surface together with the opposite region of the jacket surface 44 of the shaft 32, sealing the chamber 43 in an annular manner. In this embodiment, air is sucked in from a suction opening 42 provided in the corresponding suction element 34 via the suction air passage 39 and passage arrangement, via a line interface 43, for example formed by a recess 43, of the working unit 36 ​​and at least one suction air opening 46 in the cylinder inner body 32 as well as a suction air passage 48. For such an embodiment, for example suitable mounting means should be provided, for example in the form of a clamping or screwing connection, by means of which the respective working unit 36 ​​can be fixed on the jacket surface 44.

[0059] In a particularly advantageous embodiment shown here, the operating units 36 are however not arranged or can be arranged directly on the section of the inner cylinder body 32 or shaft 32 having the suction air openings 46, but rather a plurality, or preferably all, of the operating units 36 provided for each row are arranged or can be arranged as a group on or on a support element 31, in particular a ring-shaped support element 31 already mentioned above, for example a ring element 31, advantageously with at least both outer, but preferably all, support elements 31 carrying the respective group or row of operating units 36 being variable with respect to their axial position on the inner cylinder body 32 or shaft 32.

[0060] The preferably ring-shaped carrier element 31 or ring element 31 has, on the inside, i.e. on the side facing towards the cylinder inner body 32 or axis 32 in the assembled state, and on the side facing outwards, respectively, a line interface 49; 51 assigned to the corresponding carrier element 31 and a passage arrangement connecting one or more of the inner line interfaces 49 to one or more of the outer line interfaces 51 for the conduction of the intake air. Here, on the inside, as line interface 49, for example a recess 49 is provided in a wall 52 facing towards the cylinder interior, which line interface 49 respectively leads through the carrier element 31 via one or more passages 53 extending in the ring element 31 to the outer line interface 51 and is connected, for example, to a radially extending feedthrough 54, for example a hole 54. The opening of each hole 54 may at the same time form an outwardly acting pipeline interface 51, but preferably one, or in particular several, of the holes 54 also lead outwardly, for example into a recess 51 formed in the outwardly facing wall 56 of the carrier element 31, which recess 51 forms the outer pipeline interface 51.

[0061] The ring element 31 is positioned or is positioned, for example, on the jacket surface 44, in particular such that the respective line interface 49 provided on the inside of the ring element 31, here for example the open cross section of the above-mentioned recess 49, overlaps at least one of the intake air openings 46 provided in the shaft 32 or in the cylindrical inner body 32. The above-mentioned recess 49 forms in this case, for example, a chamber 49 defined by the jacket surface 44 on the bottom side, and the surface of the inwardly facing wall 52 of the ring element 31 lying outside the recess 49 forms, together with the opposite area of ​​the jacket surface 44, a sealing surface which seals off the chamber 49 on the inwardly facing side of the ring element 31. In a similar manner, for example the working unit 36 ​​is positioned or is positioned at the outwardly facing side of the ring element 31 in such a way that the open cross section of the line interface 43 provided in the bottom of the working unit 36, here for example the above-mentioned recess 43 provided in the bottom of the corresponding working unit 36, overlaps at least one of the outer line interfaces 51 provided on the outwardly facing side of the ring element 31. The recess 43 in this case forms for example a chamber 43 defined by an outer wall 56 on the bottom side, and an inner wall in the base region of the working unit 36 ​​surrounding the recess 43 all around forms a sealing surface together with the opposite region of the wall 56 of the carrier element 31 which seals the chamber 43. In this embodiment, air is sucked in from the suction opening 42 provided in the corresponding suction element 34, via the suction air passage 39 and passage arrangement, via the line interface 43;51 formed, for example, by overlapping notches 43 and 51, the passage arrangement of the ring element 31, via the line interface 49 on the inside of the ring, for example formed by a notch 49, and at least one suction air opening 46 and suction air passage 48, and from a suction air source located outside the cylinder 26, for example via a rotary feedthrough.

[0062] In connection with the first above-mentioned variant (without the carrier element 31), the respective pattern of the suction air openings 46 or the line interfaces 46 in the cylinder inner body 32 and the position and shape of the one or more interacting line interfaces 43 or notches 43 in the bottom region of the working unit 36 ​​are preferably coordinated with one another in the circumferential direction in such a way that continuous positioning of the working unit 36 ​​is possible over an adjustment range of at least one of the two suction air openings 46 spaced apart in the circumferential direction on the axis 32, which is made possible in this first variant in that in all positions located within the corresponding adjustment range, at least one of the suction air openings 46 or line interfaces 46 is completely covered by the underside of the working unit 36, while at the same time the opening cross-section of the at least one suction air opening 46 or line interface 46 at least partially overlaps the line interface 43 or notch 43 on the bottom side of the working unit 36.

[0063] In connection with the second variant (with carrying element 31), the respective pattern of the intake air openings 46 or the line interfaces 46 provided in the cylinder inner body 32 and the position and shape of the interacting line interface(s) 49 or notches 49 provided on the inside of the carrying element 31 as well as the position and shape of the interacting line interfaces 51; 43 or notches 51; 43 provided on the outside of the carrying element 31 on the one hand and in the bottom region of the working unit 36 ​​on the other hand preferably in the circumferential direction such that the continuous positioning of the working unit 36 ​​in the second variant is dependent on the carrying requirements. The at least two pipeline interfaces 51 or notches 51 provided on the outside of the carrier element 31 are adjusted to one another as is possible over the adjustment range, and said continuous positioning is made possible by the fact that at least one pipeline interface 51 or notch 51 provided on the outside of the carrier element 31 is completely covered by the underside of the operating unit 36, while at the same time the opening cross-section of the at least one pipeline interface 51 or notch 51 provided on the outside of the carrier element 31 at least partially overlaps the pipeline interface 43 or notch 43 on the bottom side of the operating unit 36.

[0064] In a particularly advantageous development in connection with the variable positioning, the line interfaces 46;51 are provided in the axial direction of the cylinder body 32 and / or in the circumferential direction on the carrier element 31 at more points than is necessary for the particular individual operating setting. However, in order to prevent the incorrect air being sucked in through these line interfaces 46;51 that are not covered by the working unit 36 ​​or the ring element 31, blocking means 57;58 are provided, by means of which the feedthroughs 47;54 on the outer periphery of the cylinder body 32 and / or the carrier element 31 that supply the line interfaces 46;51 that are not covered by the working unit 36 ​​or the carrier element 31 can be selectively blocked. The blocking means 57;58 can in the simplest case be a kind of plug, which is inserted into the corresponding feedthrough 47;54 for blocking and removed again from the feedthrough 47;54 when required.

[0065] Preferably, however, in the feedthroughs 47 or 54 to be selectively closed, blocking means 57; 58, for example formed as valves 57; 58, are provided, which blocking means 57; 58 are or can be brought into a blocked position in those feedthroughs 47 or 54 that are not or only partially covered directly by the working unit 36 ​​or carrier element 31, while at least some of the feedthroughs 47 or 54 of the line interfaces 46; 51 that are completely covered by the working unit 36 ​​or carrier element 31 are or can be brought into an open position.

[0066] A preferred embodiment of such a blocking means 57;58 is configured in the form of a valve 57;58, which can be selectively brought into an open position and into a closed position, without requiring removal or insertion. In an advantageous embodiment, the feedthrough 47;54, in particular formed as a bore 47;54, is connected only on one side of the inside cross section with the passage 48 or 53, which leads to the suction side of the cylindrical body 32 or the carrier element 31. The valve 57;58 is, for example, in a particularly advantageous embodiment, formed by a sleeve 57;58, which on one side has a cavity 61 in its lateral inner wall 62, which in a pivoted position corresponding to the open position opens the way into the passage 48;53, which leads to the suction side in the cylindrical body 32 or the carrier element 31, while in the other pivoted position the sleeve 57;58 blocks the connection to the corresponding passage 47;54 by means of the sleeve inner wall. In an advantageous embodiment, the sleeve-like valve 57;58 has, for example at least in the section which is situated more externally in the assembled state, an operating interface 63 which can be engaged with a tool 59, via which the valve 57;58 can be rotated between an open position and a closed position by means of a corresponding tool 59, without having to be specifically removed. As a corresponding tool-interface pair 59, 63, for example a polygonal wrench 59 and an inner circumferential section 63 formed as a polygonal hole 63 in the sleeve 57;58 are used here.

[0067] In one development of the cylinder 26, between every two rows or groups of structural or functional units 36, a support element 66 is provided, which at the level surrounding the cylinder has a support surface 67, 68 for supporting the substrate 02 conveyed via the cylinder 26. The support surface 67 can then be an outwardly directed cylindrical surface 67 of an annular support disc 64, or alternatively an outwardly directed surface 68 of a support plate 71, for example made of plastic or metal, which is arranged on the support disc 69. The term "annular" is also intended to encompass support discs 69 which are not completely closed at the periphery, i.e. which are annular segment shaped.

[0068] In a particularly advantageous embodiment for mounting the magnet elements 24 on the cylinder 26, in which a group of several or all of the magnet elements 24 are supported on or on a common ring-shaped carrier element 31 and can be positioned circumferentially on the carrier element 31, the magnet elements 24, or the magnet element holder 37 carrying the magnet elements 24, have at least one clamping element 72;73, e.g. clamping levers 72;73, on both sides, viewed in the axial direction, of which the ends acting for clamping respectively have a stop surface 74;77 which, in the assembled state, extend circumferentially on the respective end face of the ring-shaped carrier element 31 and engage from below with a stop surface 74;77 which is directed inwardly, i.e. whose surface normal faces towards the interior of the cylinder and / or which acts against a radial removal of the magnet elements 24 or the magnet element holder 37 by interaction with the clamping elements 72;73 present in the clamping position. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, this stop surface 74;77 can be the inwardly directed surface of a groove 76;78 extending in the circumferential direction in the end face of the carrier element 31, into which the clamping element 72;73 engages with, for example, a claw-like or hook-like active end of the clamping element 72;73. In this case, the term stop surface 74;77 or groove 76;78 extending in the circumferential direction preferably includes stop surfaces 74;77 or grooves 76;78 which continue over an angular range or circumference or, as shown, over the relevant arcuate section, as well as stop surfaces 74;77 or grooves 76;78 which continue over several arcuate sections, possibly with interruptions. The latter, however, can limit the variability of the positioning in the circumferential direction. Surfaces directed "inwardly" should here be understood to include, in addition to surfaces oriented strictly radially inward, also surfaces inclined thereto, the surface vectors of which are oriented towards the cylinder interior, but preferably as surrounding surfaces, so as to converge at one and the same point on the cylinder axis per end face, and which thus provide the clamping elements 72; 73 with stops oriented against radial removal.In order in particular to improve the stability of the mounting, in one advantageous embodiment variant, two clamping elements 72;73 spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction or one clamping element 72;73 having two claws spaced apart from one another and interacting with the carrier element 31 are provided on each side.

[0069] The clamping element 72;73 may in principle be formed as a one-arm lever 72;73, but is preferably configured in the form of a two-arm lever 72;73 rotatable around an axis 81, for example a pivot axis 81, supported on the magnet element 24 or its holder 28 or on the structural unit 36 ​​which comprises the magnet element 24, the lever arm of the two-arm lever 72;73 which is located closer to the cylinder center has, for example, a claw-like or hook-like part which interacts with the stop surface 74;77, and the lever arm which is located further out is used for operation. Preferably, the clamping elements 72;73 are spring-biased in a self-locking manner, for example by means of a spring element 79, in particular a compression spring 79, acting between the lever 72;73, in particular the more outer lever arm, and the magnet element 24 or the holder 28 or the structural unit 36, in the rest state, i.e. without manipulation, to be in the clamping position and to hold the magnet element 24 or the holder 38 or the structural unit 36 ​​on the carrier element 31. The described mounting mechanism offers particular advantages together with the assembly aids 97, which will be explained in more detail below.

[0070] The above-mentioned forms of mounting using the described mounting means 72; 73, 74, 77 are certainly not essentially dependent on the above-mentioned embodiments of the structural unit 36, in particular the working unit 36, and / or the special forms of the suction air guidance or suction air supply, and / or the axial mobility of the individual magnet elements 24, which will be described in more detail below, and / or the circumferential mobility of the individual magnet elements 24, which will be described in more detail below, are advantageously associated with them. By means of the clamping elements 72; 73, the release of the coupling is possible from the outside, without the need to remove the corresponding magnet elements 24 for this purpose. Due to the continuous adjustability, the release can take place precisely to the extent that the corresponding magnet elements 24 can be positioned in the circumferential direction against possibly still present frictional forces, but without the risk of, for example, tipping, sliding or falling off.

[0071] Some of the drawings, such as Figures 11, 12 and 14, show or are shown, optionally, a line 84 which supplies signals and / or electrical energy to the motor when the magnet 27 is configured within the magnet element 24 so as to be rotatable by the motor.

[0072] As already explained above in connection with Figures 2 and 3, each row of printing bodies 18 which apply an image and extend in the circumferential direction of the printing cylinder 14 corresponds to one and the same row of layout surfaces 09 which have been or are to be applied one after the other on the substrate 02. These layout surfaces 09 are ideally aligned with one another along the transport direction T and have a uniform width. If this is not the case, for example if the substrate 02, which may already have been previously printed in the pattern of the layout surface 09, is deformed into a trapezoidal shape in a preceding process or due to mechanical or physical loads of other origins, such a changed geometry can be accommodated by a corresponding change in the arrangement of the printing bodies 18 on the printing cylinder 14. In this case, the printing bodies 18 of the individual rows are not, for example, strictly aligned with one another in the circumferential direction, but for example lie in part on a spiral line which is slightly inclined to the circumference (shown exaggeratedly for better perception in Figure 3, for example). The width of the allocation surface 09 on the substrate 02 in this case increases, for example, from the leading end to the trailing end of the substrate section or substrate sheet 02, or possibly vice versa, for example when there is a correspondingly reversed feeding at the inlet of the printing machine 01. However, possibly there may be other reasons for deviations in the relative position between the axial position of the individual magnet elements 24 and the target position for their operation on the substrate 02, for example a slightly erroneous axial positioning of the magnet elements 24 in the cylinder 26, etc.

[0073] Basically, independently of the arrangement of the magnet elements 24 in the structural unit 36 ​​described above and / or the embodiments of the mounting mechanism described above and / or the circumferential adjustability, but preferably in conjunction with one or more of the advantageous embodiments mentioned, therefore in a particularly advantageous embodiment, in at least a plurality, preferably all, of the circumferentially extending rows or groups of magnet elements 24, at least one of the magnet elements 24 is indirectly or directly supported on the cylinder body 29 of the magnet cylinder 26 in such a way that it is at least axially adjustable or movable, independently of at least one other magnet element 24 of the same row or group. Preferably, a plurality of, advantageously at least, all except one, particularly advantageously but all, magnet elements 24 of one and the same group are supported axially movable independently of the other magnet elements 24 of this group, and / or a plurality of, advantageously all except one, or but all, magnet elements 24 of at least the two, particularly all, rows or groups closest to the end face of at least three rows or groups are supported axially movable in or on the cylinder body 29 independently of the other magnet elements 24 of this respective row or group. This allows the above-mentioned random or systematic relative deviations of the individual magnet elements 24 in the axial position to be subsequently adjusted or corrected. In particular in connection with the above-mentioned indirect support of the magnet elements 24 via the magnet element holder 37, which is provided on the cylinder body 29 directly or indirectly via the above-mentioned carrier element 31, such axially adjustable magnet elements 24 are preferably axially adjustable at the corresponding magnet element holder 37 relative to the magnet element holder 37. Alternatively, or preferably, additionally, several or all of the magnet elements 24 may be individually circumferentially adjustable on the cylinder body 29 or in particular on the magnet element holder 37 .

[0074] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of a cylinder 26 having magnet elements 24 arranged in an n × m matrix, at least two or all of the magnet elements 24 arranged one after the other in one and the same row are supported against or on one of the above-mentioned common carrier elements 31 and are changeable, together with the carrier element 31 and independently of the adjacent groups, in terms of their axial position in or on the cylinder 26, and in addition, at least two or preferably all of the magnet elements 24 of this row, or preferably of each row, are arranged on respective magnet element holders 37 which can be positioned independently of one another in the circumferential direction on the common carrier element 31 and / or detached from the carrier element 31 and are adjustably supported on the respective magnet element holders 37 in the axial direction, for example within an adjustment range of at least 1 mm overall, preferably at least 2 mm.

[0075] In this embodiment, the axially movable magnets 27 or holders 28 are carried, i.e. indirectly, via an assigned magnet element holder 37 which carries the respective at least axially movable magnet element 24 and which is preferably itself variably positionable on the ring element 31 in the circumferential direction.

[0076] In a simple, more simplified embodiment (see for example FIG. 10 ), the respective magnet element 24 or holder 28 is attached in or on the magnet element holder 37 or its holder 28 by means of an attachment means 83, for example a screw 83, in such a way that after at least partial release of the attachment, for example by at least partial release of this screw 83 with a corresponding tool, the magnet element 24 or holder 28 is free to be axially movable, at least within the relevant adjustment range, on the magnet element holder 37. The attachment means 83, for example formed as a screw 83, is accessible after removal of the magnet element 24, for example through a recess formed as an elongated hole 82 in the bottom region of the holder 28 receiving the magnet element 24.

[0077] The axial movement or adjustment of the magnet element 24 or of the holder 28 included in the magnet element 24 is preferably, however, performed via mechanical, in particular transmission-equipped adjustment means 86, 87, 89, as opposed to, for example, a purely manual and / or tool-free movement.

[0078] The adjustment means 86, 87, 89 for producing the axial movement may be realised by any suitable mechanism or transmission, but in the particularly advantageous case shown have a transmission, in particular an eccentric drive, which converts a rotational movement, in particular the rotational movement of the input side, into a linear movement, in particular a linear movement of the magnet element 24 or of the holder 28 carrying the magnet element 24, for example indirectly or directly, which converts the rotational movement of the eccentric 86, for example formed by an eccentrically supported shaft section 86, into a linear movement, here a linear movement extending in the axial direction, of a carriage 87, for example a carrier element 87 which indirectly or directly interacts with an active surface on the eccentric casing side and is supported in or against the magnet element holder 37 for linear movement, indirectly or directly carrying the magnet element 24 or its holder 28. The eccentric 86 here preferably extends with its pivot axis radially relative to the cylinder 26 and / or is indirectly or directly actuable from the cylinder side facing outward. For this purpose, for example, a shaft 89 carrying the eccentric 86 or continuing outwardly has, in the region of its outwardly facing end, an actuating interface 88, for example a polygonal bore 88, which can be actuated, in particular swivelled, by means of a corresponding tool, here for example a polygonal wrench. Instead of the eccentric 86 being located radially with its pivot axis, a tangential or parallel to the tangential position is also conceivable, in which case it can be actuated, for example, from one side facing in the circumferential direction or from the outside via an angle gear.

[0079] The adjustment range in the axial direction is for example at least ±1.0 mm (ie an overall adjustment stroke of at least 2 mm), preferably at least ±1.2 mm, for example ±1.5 mm, viewed from the central position.

[0080] In the above-described embodiment as an operating unit 36 ​​with at least one suction element 34, in one embodiment variant, the at least one suction element 34 can also be axially movable on the magnet element holder 37 together with the magnet element 24. In this case, a corresponding suction air feed-through should be provided, for example via relatively movable sealing surfaces or a flexible line.

[0081] There may also be deviations in the relative position between the position of the individual magnet elements 24 in the circumferential direction of the cylinder 26 and their target position for their action on the substrate 02 in the transport direction T, which may have various reasons, examples of which are limited measures of rough and / or manual pre-positioning on the cylinder body 29 or, in particular, on the carrier element 31, if applicable.

[0082] Basically, but preferably in conjunction with one or more of the mentioned advantageous embodiments, and therefore in a particularly advantageous embodiment, in at least several, preferably all, axially extending rows of magnet elements 24, at least one of the magnet elements 24 is indirectly or directly supported on the cylinder body 29 of the magnet cylinder 26 so as to be adjustable or movable at least in the circumferential direction, independently of at least one other magnet element 24 of the same row. Preferably, in several, in particular all, rows, several, advantageously at least, all but one, particularly advantageously all magnet elements 24 of the same row are supported axially movable, independently of the other magnet elements 24 of this row.

[0083] Alternatively or additionally, in a particularly advantageous embodiment of the cylinder 26 with the magnet elements 24 arranged in a matrix, at least two magnet elements 24 arranged one after the other in one and the same row are arranged on or in different magnet element holders 37 which can be positioned independently of one another in the cylinder 26 in the circumferential direction, and at least two, in particular all, of the magnet elements 24 arranged on each magnet element holder 37 are supported so as to be adjustable in the circumferential direction relative to the magnet element holder 37 which carries them, for example within an adjustment range of at least 1 mm overall, preferably at least 2 mm. This preferably applies to at least two or all of the magnet elements 24 in all rows.

[0084] The circumferential movement or adjustment of the magnet element 24 or of the holder 28 included in the magnet element 24 is here preferably carried out via mechanical, in particular transmission-equipped, adjustment means 91, 92, 94, as opposed to, for example, a purely manual and / or tool-free movement.

[0085] It is expressly understood that under circumferential adjustment or adjustment movement in the present sense, in addition to movements on circular arcs, movements along linear movement paths that run tangentially or parallel to the tangential in the circumference over the corresponding adjustment range are also encompassed, where linear adjustment strokes do not usually lead to unacceptably large mapping errors due to the fact that the associated adjustment ranges are usually very small compared to the cylinder diameter.

[0086] The adjustment means 91, 92, 94 for the circumferential movement may be realized by any suitable mechanism or transmission, but in the particularly advantageous case shown have a transmission, in particular an eccentric drive, which converts a rotary movement, in particular a rotary movement on the input side, into a linear movement, in particular a linear movement of the magnet element 24 or of the holder 28 carrying the magnet element 24, for example indirectly or directly, which converts the pivoting movement of the eccentric 91, for example formed by an eccentrically supported shaft section 91, into a linear movement of a carriage 92, for example a carrier element 92 which indirectly or directly interacts with an active surface on the eccentric casing side and is supported in or against the magnet element carrier 37 for linear movement, indirectly or directly carrying the magnet element 24 or its holder 28. The linear movement may be a linear movement in the above sense, which is preferred from the viewpoint of simplicity, but may also be a movement on a circular arc in some cases. The eccentric 91, with its pivot axis, preferably extends radially relative to the cylinder 26 and / or is operable from the cylinder side facing outwards. For this purpose, for example, a shaft 94 carrying the eccentric 91 or continuing outwards has, in the region of its outwardly facing end, an operating interface 93, for example a polygonal bore 93, which can be operated, in particular swivelled, by means of a corresponding tool, here for example a polygonal wrench. Instead of the eccentric 91 located radially with its pivot axis, a tangential or parallel to tangential position is also conceivable, in which case it can be operated, for example, from one side facing in the circumferential direction or from the outside via an angle gear.

[0087] The adjustment range in the circumferential direction is for example at least ±1.0 mm (ie an overall adjustment stroke of at least 2 mm), preferably at least ±1.2 mm, for example ±1.5 mm, viewed from the central position.

[0088] In the above-described embodiment as an operating unit 36 ​​with at least one suction element 34, in one embodiment variant, the at least one suction element 34 can also be movable in the circumferential direction on the magnet element holder 37 together with the magnet element 24. In this case, a corresponding suction air feed-through should be provided, for example via relatively movable sealing surfaces or a flexible line.

[0089] If both axial and circumferential adjustability of the magnet elements 24 on the respective magnet element holders 37 is envisaged, then both carriages 87;92 may be arranged one above the other and / or one above the other, indirectly or directly in the form of cross guides.

[0090] In one embodiment variant described above, the adjustment of the corresponding magnet element 24 in the axial and / or circumferential direction can in a further development be carried out by a remotely controllable drive means in each case, e.g. an electric motor driving the eccentric body 86; 91, e.g. via a reduction gear mechanism.

[0091] Basically, regardless of the arrangement of the magnet element 24 in the above-mentioned structural unit 36 ​​and / or the above-mentioned adjustability in the axial direction and / or the above-mentioned adjustability in the circumferential direction, preferably, but in connection with one or more of the advantageous embodiments mentioned, an assembly aid 97 is provided which has already been mentioned above, and which can be mounted on the magnet element 24 or on the magnet element holder 37 carrying the magnet element 24 or on the structural unit 36 ​​carrying the magnet element 24, and by means of the assembly aid 97 the clamping or clamping connection between the clamping elements 72; 73 on both sides and the carrier element 31 can be released. Preferably, the clamping is not only releasable and releasable by the assembly aid 97, or by the in particular manually operable drive means 102 contained in the assembly means 97, so that the magnet element 24 or the structural unit 36 ​​with the magnet element 24 can be removed from the carrier element 31, but also releasable in intermediate states of clamping strength or degree of opening, so that the magnet element 24 or the structural unit 36 ​​can be positioned on the carrier element 31 in the circumferential direction as a whole, although not yet completely free. The degree of opening may then be adjustable, so that indeed there is still contact between the clamping elements 72;73, but positioning is possible if the possibly still present slight frictional forces are overcome. For this purpose, the operating arm 98 can be positioned by the drive means 102, preferably continuously via an adjustment stroke, between a clamping position, in which the clamping elements 72;73 exert a maximum clamping force on the carrier element 31, and a position in which the clamping is released, so that the magnet element 24 or the magnet element holder 37 carrying the magnet element 24 can be removed from the carrier element 31.

[0092] In order to enable simple operation from outside the cylinder and / or in particular also to enable a defined opening of this kind, the assembly aid 97 has, in addition to a base 104 which can be mounted on the corresponding magnet element 24 or on the corresponding structural unit 36, operating arms 98 on both end faces which extend radially to both end faces of the magnet element 24 or structural unit 36 ​​and which can be or are brought into an interacting relationship with one or more clamping elements 72;73 on the respective end face for operating the clamping elements 72;73. Furthermore, the assembly aid 97 has the above-mentioned drive means 102, in particular an adjustment drive 102, by means of which the operating arm 98 can be brought into a first position, in which the operating arm 98 opens the clamping element 72; 73, for example against the above-mentioned spring force, to such an extent that the magnet element 24 or the structural unit 36 ​​can be attached to or completely detached from the carrier element 31, and into a second position, in which the clamping element 72; 73 exerts a maximum clamping force on the carrier element 31 and the operating arm 98 does not yet exert a force directed against the clamping force. Preferably, it is adjustable by the drive to all positions located in between.

[0093] In the above-mentioned configuration of the clamping elements 72;73 as two-arm levers 72;73, the operating arms 98 act indirectly or directly on the more outer lever arm and are movable by the actuating means 102 towards each other, i.e. respectively towards the carrier element 31, to open the clamping connection, and away from each other again to close the clamping connection. In the above-mentioned case of two juxtaposed clamping elements 72;73, respectively, the clamping elements 72;73 are connected to each other, for example via a connecting element 96 which connects the two more outer lever arms to each other, for example a connecting shaft 96 supported in both outer lever arms, which connecting element 96 serves, for example simultaneously as a point of application for the respective operating arm 98. In the case of a single clamping element 72;73, each operating arm 98 can act indirectly or directly on the more outer lever arm of the respective clamping element 72;73.

[0094] Basically any drive mechanism is possible as drive means 102, which allows both opposing operating arms 98 to be moved towards and away from one another in the above-mentioned sense. Preference is given here, however, to a drive mechanism with a self-locking gear mechanism, which is provided, for example, by a screw-thread drive. The drive means 102 thereby has, for example, a first part 99, for example a first bush 99, carrying the operating arm 98 on one side, and a second drive part 99, for example a second bush 101, carrying the operating arm 98 on the other side, which is supported non-rotatably relative to the first part 99 but axially movable, and further has a threaded drive formed therein, by means of which the parts carrying the operating arms 98 are movable both away from each other and towards each other, on the one hand, via a threaded spindle which is rotatable via a not shown, for example a manual operating interface 103, for example a twist grip 103, and on the other hand, via an internal thread provided on the two parts 99;101 of the drive means 102.

[0095] In the embodiment of the magnet cylinder 26 with carrier elements 31 which are changeable with respect to their axial position, in particular ring-shaped carrier elements 31, these axially positionable carrier elements or ring elements 31 can basically be mounted in any way which allows a releasable connection and a relative axial movement between the respective carrier element 31 and the cylindrical body 32. Particularly advantageous is a connection in which, in particular in the region of the pair of line interfaces conducting the intake air, consisting of a line interface 46 on the axis 32 and an interacting line interface 49 on the inwardly facing wall 52 of the ring element 31, the surfaces surrounding these line interfaces 46; 49 are pressed against each other in such a way that said connection forms a sufficiently closed sealing surface against leakage of the intake air.

[0096] Basically, but not depending on the above-mentioned arrangement of the magnet elements 24 in the structural unit 36 ​​and / or the above-mentioned adjustability in the axial direction and / or the above-mentioned adjustability in the circumferential direction and / or the above-mentioned clamping mechanism for clamping the magnet elements 24 or the holder 29 or the structural unit 36, preferably in conjunction with one or more of the mentioned advantageous embodiments, in a preferred embodiment for the mounting of the ring element 31, a clamping mechanism is provided for the mounting, by means of which the carrier element or the ring element 31 can be tensioned on the inner cylindrical body 32, which is in particular formed as an axis 32, so that the above-mentioned sealing surface can be formed. Advantageous in this case is an embodiment in which the ring element 31, which is here formed in the shape of an actual ring segment, has an inner diameter of the ring element 31 in the segment angle range slightly, for example 2 to 50 μm, in particular 5 to 20 μm, larger than the outer diameter of the inner cylindrical body 32, which is formed as an axis 32, in the interacting angle range.

[0097] In the case of the above-mentioned cylinder 26 in particular with the magnet elements 24 arranged in rows, the magnet elements 24 of several or all rows are arranged as a respective group on or on the respective carrier element 31. It should be noted that each carrier element 31 is configured here as a ring-segment-shaped carrier element 31, i.e. as a ring-shaped carrier element 31 interrupted over an angular range, and has a leading end 106; 107 with respect to the production pivot direction D. In this case, the production pivot direction D is determined, for example, by the arrangement of the gripper bars already mentioned above, which have grippers 33 at the leading end 106 of the segment-shaped ring element 31, which open and close during operation to grip the substrate sheet 02. Each carrier element 31 is arranged on a cylinder body 32 contained in the cylinder 26 in such a way that it can be disengaged and, in the disengaged state, its axial position can be changed. In order to mount the carrying element 31 in the desired position on the internal cylinder body 32, when the carrying element 31 is assembled on the internal cylinder body 32, a clamping device 108 is provided or is provided in the area between the leading and trailing ends 106; 107 of the ring segment-shaped carrying element 31 on the internal cylinder body 32, by means of which a force directed toward each other in the circumferential direction can be applied to the two circumferentially spaced apart ends 106; 107 via an adjustment means 109 contained in the clamping device 108. As a result, the segment-shaped ring element 31 is pressed tightly against the outer casing surface of the shaft 32, possibly with a slight elastic deformation, so that the above-mentioned sealing surface is provided.

[0098] The clamping device 108 thereby acts in particular on both ends 106; 107 of the carrier element 31 and, via an adjustment means 109 contained in the clamping device 108, its circumferential length effective for acting on both sides can be changed.

[0099] Preferably, the clamping device 108 comprises a clamping bar 111, which is arranged on the circumference of the inner cylinder body 32 in the region between the leading and trailing ends 106; 107 of the carrying element 31 and is circumferentially blocked against relative movement with respect to the inner cylinder body 32, at least towards one side. Preferably, however, the clamping bar 111 and the inner cylinder body 32 are circumferentially blocked against rotation by a stop pair which is effective in both rotation directions. Such a constraint may be realised, for example, by a corresponding deviation of the inner circumference of the ring element 31 and the outer circumference of the inner cylinder body 32, which is effective as a stop pair. In an advantageous and illustrated embodiment, however, such a relative locking is provided by so-called locking elements 112, also often referred to as locking keys 112, which are, for example, seated in the outer surface of the inner cylindrical body 32 and interact in a snap-fitting manner with recesses, in particular grooves, provided in the clamping bar 111, and vice versa. The locking elements 112, together with the correspondingly interacting recesses, are thereby advantageous in that they allow a simple radial mounting of the clamping bar 111 on the inner cylindrical body 32. In addition to the locking, not shown mounting means, for example screws, may also be provided, by means of which the clamping bar 111 can be radially mounted on the inner cylindrical body 32.

[0100] Preferably, in this case, the clamping bar 111 can be removed from the intra-cylinder body 32 either directly in the relaxed, i.e. unloaded, state of the clamping device 108, or after releasing the above-mentioned attachment means, when the carrier element 31 still remains in the intra-cylinder body 32, or can be inserted onto the intra-cylinder body 32 in the region of the interruption when the ring element 31 is already positioned in the intra-cylinder body 32.

[0101] In an advantageous embodiment, the clamping device 108 acts on one of the ends 107;106, preferably the trailing end 107, statically, i.e. with a fixed relative circumferential position between the clamping bar 111 and the respective end 107;106, and on the other end, preferably the leading end 106, variably spaced via the adjustment means 109, i.e. with a changeable relative circumferential position between the clamping bar 111 and the respective other end 106;107. This means that, for example, by adjustment, the point of application and thus the respective end 106;107 can be displaced closer to the clamping bar 111 or can be returned to its initial position again, for example by elastic restoring forces in the ring element 31.

[0102] For the static action, a positive connection effective in the circumferential direction is provided, for example via a stop pair effective between the respective end 107; 106 and the clamping bar 111. The stop pair 106, 107 is formed, for example, by the opposing faces of a hook-shaped projection on the clamping bar 111 and a hook-shaped projection 117, for example a hook-in edge 117, on the end 107 of the ring element 31, which engages invertedly into said projection.

[0103] In a preferred embodiment, the place of action via the adjustment means 109 on the relevant end 106;107 is located, in the circumferential direction, exactly at the point where the tangent to the circumference of the cylindrical body 32 runs parallel to the adjustment direction of the adjustment means 109, or with a deviation of at least not more than 5°. This makes it possible that, within the small adjustment range present here, a force is applied essentially tangentially to the end 106;107 drawn by the adjustment means 109, so that no radial deformations occur, as may possibly result from a force direction deviating from the tangential direction.

[0104] Although basically it can also be realised in other forms, the adjustment means 109 is preferably formed by a threaded drive 113, 114 supported on the clamping bar 111 and which can be operated, for example manually, e.g. a threaded rod 113, in particular a screw 113, supported rotatably in the clamping bar 111, and a corresponding thread 114, for example a threaded bushing 114, which is provided either directly in the end region of the ring element 31 or, preferably, in a clamping means 116 which acts on the ring element 31 and is position-variable in the adjustment direction of the threaded drive 113, 114 via the threaded drive 113, 114, the tightening means 116 being configured and arranged to interact with the corresponding end 106 via a stop pair which is effective in the circumferential direction. The stop pair is formed by the opposing faces of a fastening means 116, for example formed as a tension bar 116, and a hook-shaped projection 118, for example a hook-in edge 118, provided on the ring element 31, which receives the tension bar 116.

[0105] In one advantageous development, the tension bar 116, as viewed in a cross-section extending perpendicular to the cylinder axis, penetrates with at least a part of the tension bar 116 into a recess 122 or a cavity 122 of corresponding shape and cross-section provided in the clamping bar 111 in such a way that a movement of the tension bar 116 along the adjustment direction guided by the cavity 122 is guaranteed.

[0106] Basically, one respective clamping bar 111 and / or one respective assigned clamping means 116 may be provided for each ring element 31 to be attached. In a preferred embodiment, however, clamping bars 111 extending over several or all of the carrier elements 31 arranged on the cylinder body 32, viewed in the axial direction of the cylinder 26, and / or clamping means 116 extending over several or all of the carrier elements 31 arranged on the cylinder body 32, viewed in the axial direction of the cylinder 26, are provided. In this case, a fixed numerical or spatial allocation of the adjusting means 109 or the threaded drives 113, 114 to be assigned to the ring elements 31 is no longer necessary. The attachment arrangement can then be maintained, in particular regardless of the number and position of the ring elements 31 with which the continuous or possibly divided clamping device 108 interacts for its clamping. In particular, the above-described clamping device 108 without the tension bar 116, i.e. having an adjustment means 109 which engages directly in the ring element 31, would also be less suitable for continuous positioning operations, since the possible positions would depend on the hole spacing for the threaded rod 113.

[0107] The clamping bar 111 may at the same time be arranged and shaped so as to form a base carrier for the gripper bar consisting of one or more parts, whereby for example a bearing 121 carrying the gripper shaft 119 is arranged on the clamping bar 111 forming the base carrier.

[0108] In a preferred embodiment, such a cylinder 26 is a component part of the above-mentioned machine 01 and / or is particularly advantageous in connection with one or more aspects regarding the adjustability of the individual magnet elements 24 on the respective magnet element holders 37 in the axial and / or circumferential direction, and / or the formation of the above-mentioned working units 36 with the respective magnet elements 24 and suction elements 34, and / or the clamping of the individual magnet elements 24 or the holders 28 of the magnet elements 24 or the magnet element holders 37 in the ring element 31. [Explanation of symbols]

[0109] 01 Machines for producing optically variable image elements, printing machines, security printing machines 02 Substrate, printed material, printed material section, printed material sheet, substrate sheet 03 Image Elements 04 Coating equipment, printing equipment, flexographic printing equipment, screen printing equipment 05 - 06 Coatings, printing inks, varnishes 07 Apparatus for directing magnetic particles in an image element; directing device 08 Print image elements 09 Allocation faces, securities, banknotes 10 - 11 Printing location 12 Conveying equipment, transport cylinders 13 Substrate supply section, sheet feeder 14 Printing cylinders, plate cylinders, screen printing cylinders 15 - 16 Apparatus for generating optically variable image elements 17 Impression Cylinder 18 Printing elements and subjects 19 Drying and / or curing devices, radiant dryers, UV radiant dryers, UV dryers, UV-LED-dryers 20 - 21 Conveying device, gripper circulation conveyor, chain gripper system 22 Product receiving section, pile delivery 23 Dryer, radiant dryer 24 Working elements, elements, magnetic elements twenty five - 26 Orientation mechanism, cylinder, magnet cylinder 27 Magnet 28 Holder, base 29 Cylinder body 30 - 31 Carrying element, ring element 32 Cylinder inner body, shaft 33 Holding means, gripper 34 Suction element 35 - 36 Configuration units, action units, magnet units 37 Magnet element holder 38 Housing 39 Intake air passage 40 - 41 Covering elements 42 Suction opening 43 Pipe interface, notch, chamber 44 Cloak (32) 45 - 46 Pipeline interface, intake air opening (32) 47 Feedthrough, hole 48 Passage, intake air passage 49 Pipeline interface, notch 50 - 51 Pipe interface, notch 52 Wall 53 Passage 54 Feedthrough, hole 55 - 56 Wall 57 Obstruction means, valves, sleeves 58 Obstruction means, valves, sleeves 59 Tools, polygonal wrenches 60 - 61 Vacant Space 62 Inner wall 63 Operation interface, polygon hole, inner section 64 Support Disc 65 - 66 Supporting Elements 67 Supporting surface, surface 68 Support surface 69 Support Disc 70 - 71 Support Plate 72 Clamping element, clamp lever, lever 73 Clamping element, clamp lever, lever 74 Stopper surface 75 - 76 Groove 77 Stopper surface 78 Groove 79 Spring elements, compression springs 80 - 81 Axis, rotation axis 82 Slot 83 Mounting means, screws 84 Line 85 - 86 Eccentrics, shaft sections 87 Carriage, carrying element 88 operation interface, polygon hole 89 Axis 90 - 91 Eccentrics, shaft sections 92 Carriage, carrying element 93 Operation interface, polygon hole 94 Axis 95 - 96 Connecting members, connecting shafts 97 Assembly aids 98 Operating Arm 99 First part, first bush 100 - 101 Second part, second bush 102 Driving means, adjustment driving unit 103 Operation Interface, Twist Grip 104 Base 105 - 106 End, leading end (31) 107 End, following end (31) 108 Tightening device 109 Adjustment means 110 - 111 Clamping bar 112 Mating elements, mating keys 113 Threaded rod, screw 114 Thread, Threaded bush 115 - 116 Fastening means, tension bar 117 Protrusion, hook edge 118 Protrusion, hook edge 119 Gripper axis 120 - 121 Bearings 122 Notch, Void D Production rotation direction P particles, pigment particles T Transport direction

Claims

1. A cylinder (26) for orienting magnetic or magnetizable particles (P) contained in a coating agent (06) on a substrate (02), The cylinder (26) is provided with a matrix of n×m (in other words, n times m; where [0010] The magnetic field generating element (24), or magnet elements (24) for short, is arranged in n rows extending parallel to the axis and in m columns extending in the circumferential direction, In the peripheral region, it is provided with suction elements (34) having outwardly facing suction openings (42), In the cylinder (26), characterised in that in each of a plurality or all of the rows of the magnet elements (24), a plurality or all of the magnet elements (24) arranged one behind the other are grouped together in a respective component unit (36) as a working unit (36) together with at least one suction element (34) assigned thereto, the working unit (36) itself being positionable in the circumferential direction and / or detachable from the cylinder (26) as a whole and each independently of all other such working units (36), Cylinder (26).

2. 2. The cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that the working unit (36) has at least one pipe interface (43) on its underside facing the inside of the cylinder, and that the cylinder inner body (32) contained in the cylinder (26) and carrying the respective working unit (36) directly or indirectly on its circumference has a plurality of pipe interfaces (46) on the outside of the cylinder inner body (32) for conducting intake air.

3. 3. The cylinder according to claim 2, characterized in that the line interface (46) on the outside of the cylinder inner body (32) is formed by the opening of one or more selectively closable feedthroughs (47) and / or that suction air is provided or can be provided from the inside.

4. 4. The cylinder according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a carrying element (31) having a plurality of working units (36) on its circumference and carried by the cylinder inner body (32) has a plurality of line interfaces (49) on the side of the carrying element (31) facing the cylinder interior, which interact with line interfaces (46) on the cylinder inner body (32) for conducting the intake air, and on the outside, which interact with line interfaces (43) of the working units (36) for conducting the intake air.

5. 5. The cylinder according to claim 4, characterized in that the line interface (51) is formed on the outside of the carrier element (31) by the opening of one or more selectively closable feed-throughs (54), and / or suction air is or can be provided from inside the carrier element, and / or for a plurality of line interfaces (51) which are not completely covered by an operating unit (36) positioned on the carrier element (31), each feed-through (54) opening into the corresponding line interface (51) is or can be blocked by a blocking means (58) which is removable or which can be brought from a blocked position to an open position.

6. 6. A cylinder according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that in a number or all of the rows, a number or all of the magnet elements (24) arranged one behind the other in one and the same row are supported as a group on or on a common ring-shaped carrier element (31) so as to be positionable in the circumferential direction.

7. 7. The cylinder according to claim 6, characterized in that the operating unit (36), supported on a carrying element (37), has at least one clamping element (72; 73) on each side of the magnet element (24) viewed in the axial direction of the cylinder (26), the operating ends of which in the assembled state engage from below into respective ones of the stop surfaces (74; 77) which extend circumferentially on both end faces of the ring-shaped carrying element (31) and are directed towards the interior of the cylinder (26) and / or which counteract radial removal of the structural unit (36) by interacting with the respective clamping element (72; 73) present in the clamping position.

8. 8. A cylinder according to claim 7, characterized in that the stop surface (74; 77) is formed by a surface directed towards the inside of the cylinder (26) of a circumferentially extending groove (76; 78) in the end face of the carrier element (31), into which the clamping element (72; 73), which is formed in the form of a one-arm or two-arm and / or spring-loaded lever (72; 73), engages with its end which acts for clamping.

9. 9. A cylinder according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that a magnet element (24) having one or more magnets (27), one for each working unit (36), is provided and that, viewed in the axial direction of the cylinder (26), on both sides of the magnet element (24), suction elements (34) are provided.

10. 10. The cylinder according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, characterized in that the working unit (36) has a magnet element holder (37) on which the magnet elements (24) are movable axially and / or circumferentially relative to the magnet element holder (37).

11. 11. The cylinder according to claim 10, characterized in that the magnet elements (24) are supported so as to be movable in the axial and / or circumferential direction relative to at least one suction element (34) fixedly provided on the magnet element holder (37) or together with at least one suction element (34) provided on the magnet element holder (37).

12. 11. The cylinder according to claim 10, characterized in that the magnet element (24) is supported axially and / or circumferentially movable between two suction elements (34) fixedly arranged on the magnet element holder (37) or together with two suction elements (34) arranged on the magnet element holder (37).

13. A machine (01) for producing an optically variable image element (03) on a substrate (02), comprising: A substrate supply section (13); at least one printing device (04) which prints and / or is capable of printing, at least on a first side, a matrix-like layout surface (09) of m columns and n rows on a substrate (02) guided on a transport path through the machine (01); a product receiving section (22) capable of bundling the processed substrates (02); an orientation device (07) for orienting magnetic or magnetizable particles (P) located in the substrate path between the printing device (04) and the product receiver (22); Equipped with In the machine (01), 13. The orientation device (07) is constructed according to any one of claims 1 to 12. Machine (01).

14. 14. Machine according to claim 13, characterized in that the printing device (04) and the orientation device (07), or at least one impression cylinder (17) forming the printing location (11) together with the printing device cylinder (14) of the printing device (04) and the cylinder (26) carrying the magnet element (24), are structurally grouped in a device (16) for generating an optically variable image element (03) and / or are formed together in the form of a module and / or are supported on one and the same frame.

Images