Apparatus for directing magnetic or magnetizable particles and machine for producing optically variable image elements - Patents.com

Abstract

The device for directing magnetic or magnetizable particles (P) contained in a coating agent (06) applied to one side of a web-like or sheet-like substrate (02), has a directing device (41; 42) which, in a working position (A), has one or more magnetic elements (43; 44) fixed to a frame during operation and arranged in the transport path so as to magnetically interact or be able to interact with the magnetic or magnetizable particles (P) on the substrate (02) to be guided along the transport path. 4), one or more magnet elements (43; 44) are arranged on a support (46) extending transversely to the transport direction (T) over a working width provided for the treatment of a substrate (02), the support (46) being supported on both sides in or on at least one guide (47; 48), such that the support (46) together with the magnet elements (43; 44) can be moved in or on the guide (47; 48) from a working position (A) to a preparation position (R) along a movement path. The invention further relates to a machine (01) for producing optically variable image elements (03) on a substrate (02), comprising a substrate supply (13).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus for orienting magnetic or magnetisable particles as claimed in claim 1 or 12, as well as to a machine for generating an optically variable image element.

[0002] From WO 2022 / 069107 A1 a security machine for generating optically variable image elements on a substrate is known, which security machine has a magnet cylinder and, in one configuration, a stationary orientation device arranged upstream of the magnet cylinder in the transport path and assigned to the magnet cylinder, which orientation device can be swiveled away from the transport path into a ready position.

[0003] WO 2022 / 189098 discloses a securities machine with a number of printing units and a number of magnet cylinders following downstream, each of which is preceded by a pre-direction machine and assigned a Simultan direction machine.

[0004] The problem underlying the present invention is to provide an improved device for orienting magnetic or magnetizable particles, as well as a machine for producing optically variable image elements.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by the features of claims 1 or 12.

[0006] The advantages offered by the invention are in particular that substrates with optically variable image elements having a three-dimensional impression can be produced with high quality and / or improved contrast and / or higher luminosity and / or with an improved 3D effect, i.e. a three-dimensional impression.

[0007] A very particular advantage of the solution according to the invention is that the positioning of a stationary orientation machine during operation can be achieved by means of magnet elements contained in the orientation machine, without having to take accessibility into account and / or without having to maintain a relatively large free space to the side or above it, as is the case, for example, with rotation around a fixed axis.

[0008] It is also a great advantage that such a device can be individually adapted to different machines or to different arrangements on the same machine without much effort, this applies in particular to configurations in which the guides are provided in removable side plates.

[0009] The configuration of the device for pre-orientation is particularly advantageous. After application of the ink containing magnetic or magnetizable particles, the particles are more or less randomly present in the color matrix. The initial uniform orientation provides a background offering higher contrast for the subsequent orientation of the applied image.

[0010] It is also particularly advantageous to configure the device for carrying out the simultanous orientation so that, during the image-imparting orientation, the particles are simultaneously exposed to magnetic forces which, for example, result in a particularly contrast-rich appearance of the plate-like particles.

[0011] In the configuration according to the invention, the orienting device is designed in such a way that the support body supporting the magnet element is supported on both sides in at least one guide or on a guide, in which or on which it is moved as a whole together with the magnet element, in particular guided, along the movement path, i.e. by a translational movement, in particular from a working position, in particular to a preparation position further away from the transport path.

[0012] In a particularly advantageous development, guides are provided in or on the side plates, which themselves are arranged removably on the frame walls of the frame supporting the orientation machine, so that such guides can be provided separately on the side plates without the need to manufacture the frames separately in each case.

[0013] In machines for producing optically variable image elements on a substrate, such orientation devices can then be inserted or retrofitted at various locations and in various numbers by simple means, without the need to provide a large amount of space for the overhanging pivoting movement, which is particularly advantageous for machines or machine parts in which, for example, a linear transport section with sufficient space is not provided and the transport of the substrate takes place only by transfer from cylinder to cylinder.

[0014] Further details and embodiments can be seen from the following examples.

[0015] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and is explained in more detail below. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a machine for producing optically variable image elements on a substrate, such as a security printing press. [Diagram 2] Schematic diagram showing a substrate printed with an optically variable coating agent as a printing element, in which on the left side in FIG. 2a) orientation by an image-applying orientation machine only and on the right side in FIG. 2b) orientation with the application of at least one further orientation machine providing pre-orientation is shown. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a magnet cylinder. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing one cylinder with its associated director. [Diagram 5]FIG. 2A shows a plan view of the orientation machine arranged in the frame, and FIG. 2B shows a side view of the side plate for accommodating the orientation machine from the inside. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a director held by a side plate. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view from below of a portion for connecting a director to a side plate having a guide. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a machine with multiple pre-orienters and multiple Simultan orienters, such as a security printing machine.

[0017] A machine 01 for treating and / or processing a web-like or in particular sheet-like substrate 02, in particular a security machine 01, for example a printing machine 01 for forming an optically variable image element 03 on a substrate 02, for example in particular a sheet-like printing substrate 02, in particular a security printing machine 01, comprises, for example, a coating device 04, for example a printing device 04, which can apply an optically variable coating agent 06, for example an optically variable ink 06 or varnish 06, in the form of a printed image element 08, over the entire surface or in partial areas, to at least one coating location, for example a printing location 11, on at least a first side of the substrate 02, for example the printing substrate 02, and, in the case of the machine 01 for generating an optically variable image element 03, a device 07 for directing particles P responsible for the optical variability, which are contained in the optically variable coating agent 06 applied on the substrate 02 (see, for example, FIG. 1 ). This device 07 is also referred to below for short as an orientation device 07, or as an image orientation device 07, since it performs the image orientation for optically variable patterns or motifs by a defined orientation of the particles P. The application of the coating agent 06 with the particles P and the subsequent orientation for the image orientation are shown diagrammatically, for example on the basis of the diagram I on the left side of Fig. 2 (Fig. 2a), with respect to the orientation of the particles P which have been previously randomly oriented. In this case, the Roman numeral I indicates the state I in which the coating agent 06 has been applied and is present in a random orientation, and the Roman numeral III indicates the state III in which the orientation for the image has been performed.

[0018] The printed image element 08 consisting of the variable coating agent 06 applied by the applicator 04 onto the substrate 02 before processing by the directing device 07 may correspond in size and position to the optically variable image element 03 to be generated or may possibly be larger and may possibly extend over the surface of a number of assignment objects 09. In the case of a larger printed image element 08, for example, the directing does not result in the generation of an optically variable image element 03 over the entire surface coated with the optically variable coating agent 06.

[0019] The particles P responsible for the optical variability are in this case magnetic or magnetizable non-spherical particles P, for example pigment particles P, also referred to below as magnetic flakes for short, contained in a coating agent 06, for example an ink 06 or a varnish 06.

[0020] The machine 01 is preferably configured for producing assignment objects 09, for example securities 09, in particular banknotes 09. This includes in particular the production of security intermediate products, for example also the production of a substrate 02, in particular in the form of a web-like or in particular sheet-like substrate section 02, in particular a substrate sheet 02, with a printed image of a plurality of securities 09. The substrate 02 may be formed, for example, by paper based on cellulose or preferably based on cotton fibres or which contains at least cellulose or cotton fibres, by a plastic polymer or by a hybrid product of these. Before the coating in the above-mentioned coating device 04, the substrate may be present uncoated or may already be coated, may not be printed or may already have been printed one or more times in one or more previous processes or may have been mechanically treated in another way. On a printing substrate section 02 formed by a longitudinal section of a web-like substrate 02 or a sheet of a sheet-like substrate 02, a plurality of assignment objects 09, e.g. banknotes 09 to be produced or printed images thereof, preferably in a matrix form, are arranged side by side in rows extending transversely to the transport direction T, one after the other in columns extending in the transport direction T, or are arranged in the course of processing the substrate 02 (for example as shown in Figure 2).

[0021] The machine 01 formed as a printing press 01 may in principle comprise one or more printing devices 04, respectively of any printing method. In the configuration shown here, however, the printing press expediently comprises one printing device 04, in particular one printing device 04 operating according to the flexographic printing method or preferably the screen printing method, which applies or can apply the optically variable coating agent 06 to a first side of the substrate 02. With said printing methods, in particular the screen printing method, it is possible, for example, to apply higher layer thicknesses compared to other printing methods. The expression "first side" of the substrate 02 or substrate 02 in this case means a randomly selected side of the substrate 02 on which or which has been or can be applied the optically variable coating agent 06, which is to be processed downstream by the directing device 07 in this case.

[0022] In the preferred configuration shown, the printing press 01 comprises a substrate supply 13, preferably formed as a sheet feeder 13, from which the substrate 02, for example formed as a sheet-like printing substrate 02, is or can be fed, possibly via further printing or processing units, to at least one printing device 04, which applies an optically variable coating agent 06, for example a flexographic printing device 04 or preferably a screen printing device 04, which forms a printing location 11 for printing, for example on 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 one common cylinder 17, for example an impression cylinder 17 (see for example FIG. 1 ).

[0023] Preferably, the printing device 04 has a printing cylinder 14 as an image-applying cylinder, which has on its circumferential surface printing elements, in particular for applying a plurality of images of the same type and / or identical, also referred to below as printing motifs, or groups of printing elements or printing motifs, in particular for applying a plurality of images of the same type and / or identical, which are arranged in a matrix along a circumferential length corresponding to the printing image length in a plurality of, for example 4 to 8, in particular 5 to 7, for example 6, columns spaced apart transversely to the transport direction T, and along the cylinder width corresponding to the printing image width in a plurality of rows spaced apart in the transport direction T. In the case of a printing device 04 working by flexography, these printing motifs are formed in the form of letterpress reliefs and, in the preferred case of a printing device 04 working by screen printing, in the form of screen printing stencils.

[0024] The printing substrate 02 can be fed from a printing device 04, which applies an optically variable coating agent 06, via a transport means, for example one or more transport devices 12 formed as a cylinder 12, for example as a transport cylinder 12, to the directing device 07. In the case of a web-like printing substrate 02, the transport means can be formed by one or more positively driven and / or non-driven rollers.

[0025] After passing through the orientation device 07, which will be described in more detail below, the substrate 02 can be fed directly or via another transport means, for example a further transport cylinder 12, to a further transport device 21, which can feed it to a product storage 22 for the substrate 02 processed and / or treated in the machine 01 or, in the case of sheet-shaped substrates 02, to a pile delivery 22. In the preferred case of sheet-shaped substrates 02, a sheet transport means is provided as the transport means, for example one or more transport cylinders or drums, or, as shown here, a transport device 21, for example formed as a gripper circulation feeder 21, in particular a chain gripper system 21, by means of which the substrate 02 is taken over from the transport path section of the orientation device 07, possibly via one or more further transport cylinders, and fed, for example, to the pile delivery 22.

[0026] The conveying path leading from the orientation device 07 may be provided with one or more dryers 23, for example at least one drying device with a radiation dryer 23, directed towards a first side of the printing substrate 02, and possibly with a cooling device, for example a cooling roller, not shown. In a further development, the conveying path may be provided with an inspection device 15, 25 between the orientation device 07 and the pile delivery 22, for example a sensor device 25, for example a camera 25, in particular a line scan camera 25, which cooperates with the conveying cylinder 15 and with the inspection cylinder 15, in particular formed in the form of a suction cylinder 15.

[0027] 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. Several such modules can be provided, for example, one behind the other in the development of the machine 01. In an advantageous configuration in the form of a module, a device 16 with interfaces that correspond to the inlet and outlet interfaces of the transport systems that follow upstream and downstream is or can be provided in the transport path of the machine 01 to be equipped. In an advantageous development of the machine, two or more such devices 16 are provided, in particular as modules.

[0028] The orientation device 07, which will be shown in detail below, is indeed essentially optional in its configuration, implementation or construction, but is preferably provided or can be provided in the machine 01 or printing press 01 described above.

[0029] The directing device 07 for forming an optically variable image element 03, for example for forming an optically variable effect in an optically variable coating agent 06 previously applied to a substrate 02, in particular to a printing substrate 02, for example in the form of a printed image element 08, has a defined transport path along which, from an inlet area along which the substrate 02 to be treated having the optically variable coating agent 06 on its first side is supplied or can be supplied, the substrate 02 to be transported through the directing device 07 is operatively coupled or can be operatively coupled in a defined manner to a directing machine 26 which comprises an element 24 providing a magnetic field, or magnet element 24 for short, as an active element 24, preferably in such a way that the magnet element 24 of the directing machine 26 which serves for the image-applying orientation and the printing substrate 02 printed with the ink 06 comprising particles P are moved synchronously with one another at least in a section of the transport path. The orientation device 26 is in this case configured as a magnetically active cylinder 26, or magnet cylinder 26 for short, which has an arrangement of magnet elements 24 on its periphery, via which the printing substrate 02 is guided or conveyed from an inlet region of the orientation device 07 in the direction of an outlet region. The magnet cylinder 26 is rotatably supported on both sides in a one-part or multi-part frame.

[0030] The magnet element 24 may be formed directly by the one-piece or multi-piece magnet 27 itself, shown by way of example in dashed lines in FIG. 3, or may have one or more preceding magnets 27, preferably arranged in or on a holder, for example on or in a base, preferably removably. As magnet 27, in this case, in general, a magnetically acting device is to be understood which generates a magnetic field, permanently or switchably, strong enough to orient the particles P contained in the coating agent 06 on the substrate 02 guided thereon, in particular as described herein, at least towards the side of the transport path. The magnet 27 may in this case be formed by one or more permanent magnets, engraved or not, by an electromagnet or by a combination of one or more permanent magnets and / or one or more electromagnets. Whether the magnet element is a single or a combination of several magnets, for example permanent magnets and / or electromagnets, the expression magnet 27 in the following is also to be understood as a plurality of magnets 27 which form a magnetic unit as a whole, assigned to the same magnet element 24, unless expressly stated otherwise. The magnet element 24 also includes an arrangement with several one-part or several-part magnets 27 that are spaced apart from one another and that can be used, for example, if a magnetic field is to be applied at two different points on the same assignment 09. In this case, one such magnet 27 or an arrangement of several magnets 27 of the same magnet element 24 can be accommodated in a casing of the magnet element 24, which is arranged, for example removably, in or on a holder.

[0031] In principle, two magnet cylinders 26 of this type may be provided in the transport path, which are arranged on the same or on different sides of the substrate 02 to be transported along the transport path.

[0032] In an advantageous configuration, a drying and / or curing device 19, for example a radiation dryer 19, in particular a UV radiation dryer 19, or UV dryer 19 for short, is assigned to the image application orientation device 07, which is preferably configured as a UV-LED dryer 19 and / or is directed towards the point on the transport path where the substrate 02 cooperates with the magnetic cylinder 26.

[0033] In a particularly advantageous configuration, the drying and / or hardening device 19 is arranged around the circumference of the magnet cylinder 26 and / or is directed towards a circumferential section that is located in the transport path of the corresponding magnet cylinder 26 .

[0034] The magnet cylinder 26 or one of the magnet cylinders 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 first side of the substrate 02, which is coated with the optically variable coating agent 06 inline, in particular upstream, is faced outward when passing through the magnet cylinder 26, in particular when transporting via the magnet cylinder 26.

[0035] The magnetic cylinder 26 comprises a one-part or preferably multi-part cylinder body on which or on which the magnetic element 24 is arranged, preferably removably. The one-part or preferably multi-part cylinder body can be or is rotatably supported on a frame. The term cylinder body in this case denotes the part of the cylinder 26 that is not equipped and can include both closed structures, i.e. structures with a more or less closed cylindrical circumferential surface, and open structures, i.e. frame-like or frame-like structures, as for example shown in FIG. 3.

[0036] The magnetic cylinder 26 has, in the region of its side facing the substrate path, for example in the region of its outer periphery, in particular in the region of the outer cylindrical envelope of the cylinder body, a number of magnetic elements 24 which serve to orient at least a portion of the magnetic or magnetizable particles P of the coating agent 06 applied to the substrate 02 passing therethrough.

[0037] In particular, for the preferred case shown here in which several assignment objects 09 are provided per substrate section, e.g. printing material or substrate sheet 02, the magnet elements 24 are provided on the cylinder 26 in a matrix arrangement, or in a matrix fashion, such that, viewed in the axial direction, several, in particular a number m (m∈N>1) of columns or groups corresponding to the number of columns in the substrate section 02, respectively, with several, in particular a number n (n∈N>1) of rows extending parallel to the axis corresponding to the number of rows of assignment objects 09 on the substrate section 02 to be processed, or arranged one behind the other in the columns or groups viewed in the transport direction T of the substrate 02 and / or in the circumferential direction of the cylinder 26, i.e. n×m, in other words n times m, of magnet elements 24 are provided in a matrix fashion on the outer circumferential surface, where n, m∈N.

[0038] During transport through the first cylinder 26, for example with the first substrate side facing outward, by guiding the substrate 02 through the magnetic cylinder 26 configured in this manner, the particles P in the area of ​​the image element 03 provided on the allocation object 09 can be oriented orientated by the magnetic element 24, in this case, i.e. for example through the substrate 02.

[0039] 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 its cylinder body 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 of magnet elements 24 arranged one behind the other in a row or group is variable, for example within the above-mentioned limits, and can be adapted to mutually different requirements.

[0040] Preferably, the magnetic element 24 is or can be removably arranged on the cylinder 26, preferably in or on a suitable holder together with said holder, so that in the assembled state it can be positioned at a defined location on the periphery of the cylinder 26 and preferably be completely removable from the cylinder 26 and / or be positionable axially and / or circumferentially on the periphery of the cylinder 26.

[0041] For the above-mentioned matrix arrangement, the magnet elements 24 may be arranged and supported on or in the cylinder 26 such that their axial position, at least relative to other magnet elements 24 of the same row or group, is variable relative to the one-part or multi-part cylinder body. This can be realized, for example, via axially extending guides on the periphery of the cylinder body in which the corresponding magnet elements 24 are indirectly or directly supported and which can bring them into various axial positions. Such guides can basically be provided individually for each magnet element 24 of a row, but can also be provided consistently for several or all magnet elements 24 of the same row. In this case, the guides can be provided on the above-mentioned axially extending support elements which support all magnet elements 24 of the same row.

[0042] In the preferred case of grouped rows, the magnet elements 24 may be or can be arranged directly or indirectly on a plurality, for example 4 to 8, in particular 5 to 7, for example 6, number m, axially spaced apart from one another, preferably in the above-mentioned portion or preferably entirely axially positionable on the cylinder inner body 32, in particular on the axially extending cylinder axis 32, axis 32 for short, preferably ring-shaped support element 31, for example in this case ring element 31 or on ring element 31, in which furthermore 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, preferably at least partially or entirely positionable in the circumferential direction (see for example FIG. 3 ).

[0043] In the case of a web-like substrate 02, the magnetic cylinder 26 can be formed without any holding means acting on the substrate 02, for example with a ring element 31 that is closed in the circumferential direction. In the case of a sheet-like substrate 02, which is preferred here, the circumferential surface of the cylinder 26 is preferably provided with a holding means 33, for example a gripper 33 of a so-called gripper strip, by means of which the substrate sheet 02 to be transported through the cylinder 26 can be held at its leading end and can be held over a defined range of rotation angles during the rotation of the cylinder 26. The magnetic cylinder 26 constructed in this manner in this case also serves at the same time 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 shown, for example, in FIG. 3. The term "ring-like" support element or "ring element" therefore also includes elements that are not closed, i.e. in the shape of a ring segment, unless something clearly different is meant.

[0044] In a particularly advantageous configuration of the magnet cylinder 26, suction openings 28 are provided in the region of the envelope, through which the substrate sheet 02 transported on the cylinder 26 can be sucked to the periphery. These suction openings 28 can in principle be provided in suction passages extending between the groups of magnet elements 24, but can also be provided, as shown, in suction elements 29 assigned to the magnet elements 24. The suction openings 28 can in this case be connected via a rotary feedthrough 34 provided on the end side of the shaft 32, preferably on both sides, to a suction air source or air reducer for applying a negative pressure.

[0045] In a further development of the cylinder 26, between each two rows or groups of magnet elements 24, at the height of the cylinder envelope, a support element 36 may be provided which has a support surface for supporting the substrate 02 transported through the cylinder 26. This support element 36 may be formed by its own peripheral surface formed as a support ring or by a support plate which is provided on such a support ring.

[0046] In an advantageous, for example illustrated, configuration of the magnet cylinder 26, the magnet elements 24 are arranged on a magnet element support 38, which itself is arranged in groups on the above-mentioned ring element 31, which is preferably axially positionable on the axis 32, preferably circumferentially positionable. In particular, the magnet elements 24 together with one or more assigned attraction elements 29 can be provided on such a magnet element support 38 and can form a structural unit which is, for example, circumferentially positionable on the ring element 31.

[0047] As already mentioned above, the particles P deposited on the substrate 02 can be oriented, for example, at least in the surface area related to the image or motif to be displayed, by the above-mentioned orientation device 26 provided for image orientation, in particular the above-mentioned magnetic cylinder 26.

[0048] In addition to the image-applying director 26 or magnet cylinder 26 which cooperates with the particles P contained in the coating agent 06, so that the magnetic element 24 and the substrate 02 containing the particles P are moved or can be moved synchronously with one another in part of the transport path, at least one further director 41;42 is additionally provided, which further director 41;42 comprises one or more magnetic elements 43;44 which, in operation, i.e. during the production run, are fixed to the frame, i.e. are arranged stationary in the transport path, and which magnetic elements 43;44 magnetically interact or can interact with the magnetic or magnetizable particles P on the substrate 02 to be guided along the transport path.

[0049] The further orienting devices 41;42 are arranged at a point of the conveying path opposite a cylinder circumferential section of the cylinder 12;26, which conveys the substrate 02 during operation, located in the conveying path, i.e. arranged around the cylinder 12;26 and opposite the cylinder circumferential surface in the conveying path, in which case, during operation, the cylinder circumferential surface forms a gap between the magnetic elements 43;44 and the circumferential surface, for example with a width d of 3 to 10 mm, in particular 4 to 7 mm, for the passage of the substrate 02.

[0050] The further orientation machine 41;42 which is stationary during operation comprises a one-part or multi-part support 46 which supports the magnet element 43;44 and which is supported on both sides in a positionable manner on a frame, for example on frame walls 38;39 of a frame part which accommodates the orientation machine 41;42, so that the magnet element 43;44 supported thereby can be moved between a position A, for example a working position A in which the magnet element 43;44 is located in an operative position, and a preparation position or non-operative position R in which the magnet element 43;44 is located at a greater distance from the conveying path than in the working position A and / or in which the magnet element 43;44 and / or the conveying path section which is prevented from access by the magnet element 43;44 in the working position A is easily accessible.

[0051] For this purpose, the support 46 supporting the magnet elements 43;44 of this other orienting machine 41;42 is supported on both sides at least in or on at least one guide 47;48 each, and in or on this guide, the support 46 together with the magnet elements 43;44 can move along the movement path from the working position A to the preparation position R or vice versa. The movement or mobility along the movement path is, for example, a translational movement, different from, for example, the pivoting of a lever about a fixed pivot axis, and in particular, it is a translational movement of the entire, i.e., all components of the movable support 46, respectively, between the working position A and the preparation position. The movement path for the movement of the support 46 defined by the guides 47;48 preferably extends in this case in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cylinders 12;26 and / or may include one or more linear and / or curved guide sections 47.1;47.2;48.1;48.2.

[0052] In an advantageous configuration of the guides 47;48 such that the support 46 can pass, for example, through another mechanical component, such as a drying and / or curing device 19, arranged on the same cylinders 12;26, the guides 47;48 are separated from the cylinders 12;26 from the working position A first, for example, with a radial direction component larger than the tangential direction component, by the guide sections 47.1;47.2;48.1;48.2, and then are moved away from the cylinders 12;26 to improve accessibility with a smaller radial component and / or a tangential direction component larger than the radial component.

[0053] Each guide 47;48 can in the simplest case be formed by a one-sided abutment surface on which the support element 49;51 on the carrier side, for example in this configuration as a pin 49;51 or as a roller 49;51, is supported and which can be moved along a path of movement on the abutment surface. Preferably, however, the guide 47;48 is formed in the form of a guide groove 47;48 in which the support element 49;51 on the carrier side, for example in this configuration as a pin 49;51 or as a roller 49;51, is supported, for example on one side by abutment surface and is held, on the other side, at least in the section between the position in which it assumes the working position A and, if applicable, the position prescribed for complete removal, by another surface against tilting or unintentional slipping out. At a distance in the direction of the preparation position R from the position of each guide 47;48 occupied by the support element 49;51 in the working position A, in particular in the region of its other end, the guide 47;48 formed as a guide groove 47;48 can be provided with an opening 52;53, for example in the form of an outlet 52;53 from the guide groove 47;48, through which each support element 49;51 can exit or pass through the corresponding guide groove 47;48 in the removal position. By means of such an opening 52;53, removal of the support 46 is possible.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment, two such guides 47;48 are provided for each end face of the support 46 to be guided, which guides 47;48 cooperate, for example, respectively with support-side support elements 49;51. The support-side support elements 49;51 are arranged on the support 46 at a distance from one another, so that, in particular in the case of the guide grooves 47;48, a tilting movement of the support 46 about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the cylinder 12;26 is prevented.

[0055] The guides 47; 48 may be provided directly on the frame walls 38; 39 of the frame supporting the orienting machines 41; 42, for example, on the side facing inwards. However, in an advantageous configuration, the guides 47; 48 are provided in the side portions 54; 56, in particular within or on the side plates 54; 56, and the side plates 54; 56 themselves are arranged on the frame walls 38; 39, for example, removably. Such side plates 54; 56 may have the guides 47; 48 formed individually according to the arrangement and space characteristics of the orienting machines 41; 42, and in some cases, there is no need to specially modify the existing standard frame configuration.

[0056] In order to hold the support 46 in the working position A securely and accurately, in an advantageous development, a fixing or locking device 57, for example a spring-preloaded pin 57, can be provided on the support 46, and such a pin 57 engages with an opening in the frame or the side plate 54; 56 when the support 46 is in the correct working position A.

[0057] The movement of the support 46 within or along the guides 47; 48 between different positions A; R may basically be carried out in any way, but in this case, in an advantageous configuration, it is realized by a gear-based linear drive 58, 59. In this case, the gear 58 engages with a corresponding tooth row pattern 59 extending along the section to be advanced. This tooth row pattern 59 may be formed by a rack 59 whose shape conforms to the guide extension in some cases, or, as shown here, by a tooth row 59 provided on at least one side within the side plate 56 in the form of individual pins 61 arranged along the guide extension within the side plate 56.

[0058] The gear 58 can preferably be driven by a self-locking transmission 62, for example a worm transmission 62, in this case. The worm transmission 62 is operable, for example, on the drive side, manually in the example shown here, for example via a handwheel 63, or in a more comfortable configuration, via a drive motor.

[0059] The magnet elements 43;44 of the further orientation devices 41;42 may be formed by individual magnets or by groups of a plurality of individual magnets and may be accommodated individually or as groups on the magnet supports 66;67. In this case, the individual magnets may be formed by permanent magnets or electromagnets. If a plurality of magnet elements 43;44 are provided, these are arranged adjacent to one another at a distance transversely to the conveying direction T, in particular in a distribution that corresponds to the arrangement pattern of the rows of assignment objects 09 arranged on the substrate 02.

[0060] The orientation device 41;42, which is stationary during operation, preferably has a plurality of, for example 4 to 8, in particular 5 to 7, for example 6, magnetic elements 43;44 spaced apart transversely to the conveying direction T.

[0061] For example, in a configuration which is particularly advantageous in terms of high product variability, the magnet elements 43;44 of the further orientators 41;42 or their magnet supports 66;67 are arranged on the support 46 so as to be movable or adjustable transversely to the conveying direction T.

[0062] For this purpose, the magnet elements 43;44 of the further orientation machines 41;42, or magnet supports 66;67 housing the magnets, are supported for laterally movement on one or more beams 64, for example included in the support 46. By means of a holding device 68, for example formed as a clamping mechanism 68, the magnet supports 66;67 can be fixed in a desired position, for example via a knob 69.

[0063] In order to be able to carry out an interchangeable adaptation and / or for operation to be easily carried out without additional orientation, the magnet elements 43;44 of the orientation machines 41;42 are removably arranged on the support 46 or on corresponding magnet supports 66;67 and / or the magnet supports 66;67 are removably arranged on the support 46. As shown, alternatively or preferably in addition, the support 46 together with the magnet elements 43;44 can also be arranged removably from the frame as a whole.

[0064] The magnet elements 43;44 of the further orientation devices 41;42 may in principle be arranged on a linear conveying path section and may have, at least on the side facing the conveying path, a flat shape extending elongated in the conveying direction T, but the magnet elements 43;44 thus movable in the guides 47;48 are preferably arranged on a curved conveying path section, for example the above-mentioned cylinder 12;26, and have, at least on the side facing the conveying path, a curved shape extending along the conveying path, in particular curved like a circular segment.

[0065] In a particularly advantageous configuration, such a further orientation machine 41 is configured as a further orientation machine 41, or preorientation machine 41 for short, in the transport path of the substrate 02 to be transported, which is used for preorientation and is arranged, for example, upstream of one of the image-applying orientation machines 26, in particular upstream of the magnet cylinder 26 in the transport path. Such an orientation machine 41 is arranged upstream of the magnet cylinder 26 in such a way that a preorientation of the particles P can occur by means of the magnet elements 43 of this orientation machine 41 at least in a surface area adjacent to the image-applying partial area. In particular, the magnet elements 43 of this second orientation machine 41 are configured and oriented in such a way that the particles P in the surface area passing through the area of ​​action are oriented parallel to one another in two axial directions, so that a homogeneous optical impression occurs over this surface area. In a preferred configuration, the magnet elements 43 are configured and oriented such that the resulting magnetic field causes particles P, e.g. formed in a planar shape and with a length greater than their width, to be oriented or oriented in the relevant surface area of ​​the image element 03, on their flat sides parallel to the substrate surface and with their longitudinal extensions generally oriented in the same direction.

[0066] The pre-direction machine 41 has one or preferably several magnet elements 43 transverse to the conveying direction T, preferably as described above, and is arranged in the conveying path such that, at the working position A, the one or more magnet elements 43 comprised in the pre-direction machine 41 magnetically interact or can interact with particles P provided on the substrate 02 being guided along the conveying path.

[0067] Preferably, the magnet element 43 of the pre-director 41 is provided on the side of the transport path opposite to the side of the upstream transport path which was last printed or on which the coating agent 06 was applied, i.e. the magnet element 43 is preferably provided on the side of the transported substrate 02 which is not the last or newly printed side.

[0068] In Figure 2, on the right hand side (Figure 2b), the effect of such pre-orientation is shown diagrammatically, where the Roman numeral II indicates a state II in which the particles P in the coating agent have already been pre-oriented, for example by a pre-orienter 41, but the orientation for the image application has not yet taken place or is not taken into account in the drawing. After pre-orientation, for example the previously randomly oriented particles P are aligned and oriented, for example in a parallel or otherwise uniform manner, thus forming a background that provides a good contrast to a pattern or image motif with particles P of different orientations.

[0069] That is, in addition to orientation for image imparting by the magnet cylinder 26, for example, the same and / or adjacent particles P located in a surface area particularly related to the image or motif to be represented can be oriented or additional magnetic force can be applied by at least one further orientation device 41 that performs preliminary orientation prior to cooperation with the image imparting magnet cylinder 26 or upstream of the image imparting magnet cylinder 26 and / or at least at one time or period during cooperation with the image imparting magnet cylinder 26.

[0070] In another particularly advantageous configuration, such a further orientation machine 42 is provided as an orientation machine 42 used for simultaneous orientation, or Simultane orientation machine 42 for short, which has one or more magnet elements 44, and which is arranged on the conveying path on the opposite side of the conveying path to the first orientation machine 26 so that the same and / or adjacent surface areas of the same image element 03 to be produced by supplying the coating agent 06 to the substrate 02 cooperate at least at one point in the conveying path with the image application orientation machine 26, in particular the magnet cylinder 26, which is moved simultaneously with the substrate 02, and with the further orientation machine 42 which serves for the simultaneous orientation of the particles P. In other words, in this configuration, particles P of one image element 03 are subjected to an orienting force by the magnetic field of a magnet 27 of an image-applying orientation device 26, in particular a magnetic element 24 of a magnetic cylinder 26, at at least one point in the transport path, and at the same time, the same particles P and / or other particles P of the same image element 03 are subjected to a similar orienting magnetic force by the magnetic field of a magnetic element 44 of another orientation device 42 which functions for simultaneous orientation.

[0071] The Simultan orientor 42 with its magnetic element 44 is disposed in the transport path on the opposite side of the transport path from the image applying orientor 26 .

[0072] That is, in addition to the orientation for image application by the magnet cylinder 26, the Simultan orienting device 42 can additionally, for example, align the same and / or adjacent particles P located in a surface area specifically related to the image or motif to be shown, or can be loaded with additional magnetic force by at least one Simultan orienting device 42 at at least one time or period during cooperation with the image application magnet cylinder 26.

[0073] The above-mentioned machine 01 with at least one coating device 04 and at least one image-applying orientation device 07, in particular a magnet cylinder 07, may for example have only one pre-orienter 41 arranged upstream of the image-applying orientation device 07, in particular arranged around the upstream-arranged conveying cylinder 12, or only one Simultan orientation device 42 on the opposite side of the conveying path to the image-applying orientation device 07, in particular a magnet cylinder 26. In a particularly advantageous configuration, at least one magnet cylinder 26 contained in the machine 01 is preceded by a pre-orienter 41 and is assigned opposite a Simultan orientation device 42, as described above.

[0074] In a variant, the transport path may be provided with several, for example two, applicators 04 for applying the coating agent 06 to the same side of the substrate 02, between which the substrate 02 is transported or may be transported via a series of cylinders 12;26, for example simply by handing over from cylinder 12;26 to cylinder 12;26, at least one cylinder 26 provided between them being formed by a magnet cylinder 26. In this case, the magnet cylinder 26 may be preceded by a pre-orienter 41 and / or assigned opposite a simultan orientation machine 42, as described above.

[0075] In another variant, instead of or in addition to the above, the transport path can be provided with two applicators 04 for applying the coating agent 06 to different sides of the substrate 02, between which the substrate 02 can be transported or conveyed via a series of cylinders 12;26, for example simply by handing over from cylinder 12;26 to cylinder 12;26, at least one cylinder 26 provided between them being formed by a magnetic cylinder 26. In this case, the magnetic cylinder 26 can be preceded by a pre-orienter 41 and / or assigned opposite a simultanic orienter 42, as described above.

[0076] In the embodiment shown, for example, in FIG. 8, for a particularly highly flexible machine 01, a first applicator 04 is provided for applying a coating agent 06 to a first substrate side and a second applicator 04 is also provided, which is also oriented towards the first substrate side. Between these applicators 04, downstream of the first applicator 04 in the conveying path, a conveying cylinder 12 with a pre-orienter 41, for example oriented towards the second substrate side, and further downstream, a magnet cylinder 26 with a simultan orienter 42, for example oriented towards the first substrate side, is provided. In this case, basically, another conveying cylinder 12 can also be provided between the cylinders 12; 26. Downstream of the second applicator 04, also oriented towards the first substrate side, a third applicator 04 is provided, which is also oriented towards the second substrate side. Between the second coater 04 and the third coater 04, a conveying cylinder 12 with a second pre-orienter 41, for example oriented towards the second substrate, and a second magnet cylinder 26 with a second Simultan orienter 42, for example oriented towards the first substrate, are provided on the conveying path downstream of the second coater 04. Downstream of the second magnet cylinder 26 and upstream of the third coater 16, another conveying cylinder 12 with a third pre-orienter 41, for example oriented towards the first substrate, and a third magnet cylinder 26 with a third Simultan orienter 42, for example oriented towards the second substrate, are provided on the conveying path. Downstream of the third applicator 16 there is likewise a conveying cylinder 12 with another, for example a fourth pre-director 41, for example oriented towards the first substrate, and further downstream there is another magnet cylinder 26 with another, for example a fourth Simultan director 42, for example oriented towards the second substrate. Basically, another conveying cylinder 12 can also be provided between the cylinders 12;26. Preferably, in the conveying path, between the third Simultan director 42 and the fourth Simultan director 42 there is provided a drying and / or hardening device 19, which is oriented towards the substrate 02 and which dries or hardens the previously applied coating agent 06 with the particles P only partially, i.e. not entirely, respectively.

[0077] In another embodiment of the above machine 01, the part including the third coater 04 and the subsequent fourth pre-director 41 and fourth simultan director 42 can be omitted together with its assigned cylinders 12;26.

[0078] In another embodiment, alternatively or additionally to the above embodiment, the section including the third pre-director 41 and the third simultan director 42 may be omitted together with its assigned cylinder 12;26. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 01 Machinery, securities machines, printing machines, securities printing machines 02 Base material, printing material, printing material classification, printing material sheet, base material sheet 03 Image Elements 04 Coating equipment, printing equipment, flexographic printing equipment, screen printing equipment 05 - 06 Coatings, inks, varnishes 07 Apparatus for orienting magnetic particles in an image element, orientation device 08 Print image elements 09 Allocation objects, securities, banknotes 10 - 11 Printing location 12 Cylinders, conveying devices, conveying cylinders 13 Substrate supply section, sheet feeder 14 Printing cylinders, plate cylinders, screen printing cylinders 15 Conveying cylinder, suction cylinder, inspection cylinder 16 Apparatus for generating optically variable image elements 17 Cylinder, impression cylinder 18 - 19 Drying and / or curing equipment, radiation dryer, UV radiation dryer, UV dryer, UV-LED dryer 20 - 21 Conveyor device, gripper circulation feeder, chain gripper system 22 Product storage section, pile delivery 23 Dryer, radiation dryer 24 Working elements, elements, magnetic elements 25 Sensor equipment, cameras, line scan cameras 26 Orientation machines, cylinders, magnetic cylinders 27 Magnet 28 Suction opening 29 Suction element 30 - 31 Support elements, ring elements 32 Cylinder inner body, cylinder shaft, shaft 33 Holding means, gripper 34 Rotational Feedthrough 35 - 36 Support element 37 Magnet element support 38 Frame Wall 39 Frame Wall 40 - 41 Orientation machine, backup orientation machine 42 Orientation Machine, Simultan Orientation Machine 43 Magnet Element 44 Magnet Element 45 - 46 Support 47 Guide, guide groove 47.1 Guide Division 47.2 Guide Division 48 Guide, guide groove 48.1 Guide Division 48.1 Guide Division 49 Support elements, pins, rollers 50 - 51 Support elements, pins, rollers 52 opening, exit 53 opening, exit 54 Side part, side plate 55 - 56 Side part, side plate 57 Fixing devices, locking devices 58 Gears 59 Gear Patterns, Racks, and Tooth Rows 60 - 61 pin 62 Transmissions, worm transmissions 63 Hand Wheel 64 Beam 65 - 66 Magnet Support 67 Magnet Support 68 Clamping mechanism, holding device 69 Knob A position, working position R position, inactive position, ready position P particles, pigment particles T Transport direction d width

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for orienting magnetic or magnetizable particles (P) contained in a coating agent (06) applied to one side of a web-like or sheet-like substrate (02), comprising an orienting device (41; 42) which, in a working position (A), has one or more magnetic elements (43; 44) fixed to a frame during operation and arranged in a transport path such that they interact or can interact magnetically with the magnetic or magnetizable particles (P) on the substrate (02) to be guided along the transport path, the one or more magnetic elements (43; 44) being arranged on a support (46) extending transversely to a transport direction (T) over a working width provided for the treatment of the substrate (02), 48。 Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the support (46) is supported on both sides in or on at least one guide (47; 48) and that the support (46) can be moved together with the magnetic elements (43; 44) in or on the guide (47; 48) along a movement path from the working position (A) to a preparation position (R).

2. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that two guides (47; 48) are provided for each end face of the support body (46) to be guided, the two guides (47; 48) each cooperating with two support elements (49; 51) on the support body side, spaced apart from one another.

3. 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the guide (47; 48) is configured in the form of a guide groove (47; 48) into which a corresponding support element (49; 51) on the support side engages.

4. 4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the guide grooves (47; 48) are provided at locations spaced apart in the direction of the preparation position (R) from the locations occupied in the working position (A) with outlets (52; 53) from the guide grooves (47; 48), through which each of the support elements (49; 51) can exit and pass through the corresponding guide groove (47; 48) in the removal position.

5. 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the guides (47; 48) are provided in or on lateral parts (54; 56) removably arranged on frame walls (38; 39) of a frame supporting the orientation machine (41; 42) and / or that the support (46) is or can be translated in or on the guides (47; 48) along the movement path as a whole, i.e. together with each component part of the support (46), between each working position (A) and each preparation position (R).

6. 6. The device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that the support (46) is movable via a gear-based linear drive (58, 59) having a gear (58) engaging a tooth pattern (59).

7. 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the gear (58) is drivable via a transmission (62).

8. 8. The device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that in the working position (A) the orienting machine (41; 42) is arranged at a point of the conveying path opposite a cylinder circumferential section of a cylinder (12; 26) which conveys the substrate (02) in the conveying path and which is located within the conveying path.

9. 9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the cylinder (26) is formed by a magnetic cylinder (26) having in its outer surface region a plurality of magnetic elements (24) arranged in a matrix for orienting at least a portion of the particles (P) in a defined manner in a surface region on which an image is to be applied, respectively.

10. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the cylinder (12) is formed by a conveying cylinder (12) for conveying the sheet-like substrate (02) downstream.

11. 11. Apparatus according to claim 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that the shape of the guide (47; 48) is configured such that the guide (47; 48) moves the support (46) from the working position (A) first away from the cylinder (12; 26) with a radial component greater than the tangential component and then away from the cylinder (12; 26) with a tangential component greater than the radial component.

12. A machine (01) for producing an optically variable image element (03) on a substrate (02), comprising: a substrate supply (13) capable of supplying the substrate (02) to be processed to the machine (01); at least one coating device (04) capable of applying a coating agent (06) comprising magnetic or magnetizable particles (P) to at least a first side of the substrate (02) guided through the machine (01) along a transport path; and a coating device (04) adapted to accommodate the substrate (02) to be processed in the machine (01). A machine (01) comprising a product receiving section (22) and a magnet cylinder (06) arranged in the conveying path of the substrate (02) between the coating device (04) and the product receiving section (27), the magnet cylinder (06) having a plurality of magnet elements (24) on its periphery, the conveying path of the substrate (02) being provided with an orientation device (41; 42) arranged upstream of the magnet cylinder (26) and / or assigned to the magnet cylinder (26) in the conveying path, Machine (01), characterized in that the orientation machine (41; 42) is constructed on the basis of an orientation machine (41; 42) according to a device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. 13. The machine according to claim 12, characterized in that downstream of a first coating device (04), at least one first orienting machine (41) is arranged as a pre-orienting machine (41) upstream of at least one said magnet cylinder (26) in the conveying path and / or at least one orienting machine (42) is arranged as a Simultan orienting machine (42) opposite to at least one said magnet cylinder (26) in the conveying path.

14. 14. The machine according to claim 13, characterized in that a number of coating devices (07) are provided, and downstream of the or each coating device (07) there is respectively at least one magnet cylinder (26) and at least one pre-orienter (41) arranged upstream of the magnet cylinder (26) in the conveying path and / or at least one Simultane orienter (42) assigned to the magnet cylinder (26).

15. 15. The machine according to claim 12, 13 or 14, characterized in that for the transport of the substrate (02), between the applicator (04) and the magnet cylinder (26) only one or several cylinders (12; 26) are provided, via which the substrate (02) can be transferred from cylinder (12; 26) to cylinder (12; 26), and / or the orientation machine (42) arranged upstream of the magnet cylinder (26) is arranged around a cylinder (12) formed as a transport cylinder (12) in the transport path, facing the circumferential surface of said cylinder.

Images