Can printing press

Abstract

To provide a can-type printing press with a simple configuration that does not cause condensation on the plate cylinder or other components of the printing press, and can stabilize print quality. [Solution] A can printing press 100 having a chute 111, a mandrel wheel 112, a plate cylinder 114, a plurality of ink devices 113, a blanket wheel 123, and a temperature control management unit 130 including a plate cylinder temperature control unit 131 that adjusts the temperature and humidity around the plate cylinder 114, wherein the temperature control management unit 130 further has a control unit 135, the plate cylinder temperature control unit 131 has a temperature and humidity control mechanism 132 that adjusts the temperature and humidity of the air blown to the plate cylinder 114, and a plate cylinder air blowing mechanism 133 that blows air whose temperature and humidity have been adjusted by the temperature and humidity control mechanism 132, and the control unit 135 is configured to control the temperature and humidity control mechanism 132 to set the air blown to a predetermined temperature and humidity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a can printing machine having a chute for supplying cans, a mandrel wheel provided with a mandrel for holding the cans supplied through the chute, a plurality of ink devices having a cylindrical plate cylinder, and a blanket wheel for mounting a blanket onto which ink is transferred from the plate cylinder and transferring the ink from the blanket to the cans held by the mandrel.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a can printing machine, for example, a can printing machine having a temperature control device described in Patent Document 1 is known.

[0003] The can printing machine (printing machine) known from this Patent Document 1 includes a chute (infeed chute 5) for supplying cans, a mandrel wheel (6) provided with a mandrel for holding the cans supplied through the chute (infeed chute 5), a plurality of ink devices (3) having a cylindrical plate cylinder (2), a blanket wheel (1) for mounting a blanket onto which ink is transferred from the plate cylinder (2) and transferring the ink from the blanket to the cans held by the mandrel, and a temperature control device.

[0004] The temperature control device has a supply function roller temperature control section (30) for adjusting the temperature of the ink supply function roller (10a) in the plurality of ink devices (3), a leveling function roller temperature control section (40) for adjusting the temperature of the ink leveling function roller (10b), and a plate cylinder cooling section (55) for cooling the plate cylinder (2). By cooling the temperatures of the ink supply function roller (10a), the ink leveling function roller (10b), and the plate cylinder (2) with cold water pipes or cold air to maintain a predetermined temperature, a stable predetermined transfer pressure can be maintained during the transfer of ink to the plate cylinder (2) or during the transfer of ink from the plate cylinder (2) to the blanket, and the printing quality can be stabilized.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-74997 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] However, the printing presses known from the above-mentioned patent documents still had room for improvement. In other words, in the printing press known from Patent Document 1, when cold air is blown onto the plate cylinder, there was a risk that moisture from the surrounding atmosphere and the cold air would condense and adhere to the plate cylinder. Therefore, the temperature of the cold air had to be set higher than necessary to prevent condensation, which meant that the temperature control of the printing cylinder was insufficient.

[0007] Furthermore, if the humidity around the printing cylinder became high, there was a risk that the ink transfer from the printing cylinder to the blanket would become unstable.

[0008] The present invention aims to solve these problems and provide a can-type printing press with a simple configuration that does not cause condensation on the plate cylinder or other components of the printing press, and can stabilize print quality. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The can printing press of the present invention comprises at least a chute for supplying cans, a mandrel wheel provided with a mandrel for holding cans supplied through the chute, a plurality of ink devices having cylindrical plate cylinders, a blanket wheel for which a blanket onto which ink is transferred from the plate cylinder is attached and for transferring ink from the blanket to cans held on the mandrel, and a temperature control management unit including a plate cylinder temperature control unit for adjusting the temperature and humidity around the plate cylinder by blowing air, wherein the temperature control management unit further comprises a control unit, the plate cylinder temperature control unit comprises a temperature and humidity control mechanism for adjusting the temperature and humidity of the air blown to the plate cylinder, and a plate cylinder air blowing mechanism for blowing air whose temperature and humidity have been adjusted by the temperature and humidity control mechanism, and the control unit is configured to control the temperature and humidity control mechanism to set the temperature and humidity of the air blown to a predetermined temperature and humidity, thereby solving the above problem. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The can printing press according to claim 1 has a plate cylinder temperature control unit which includes a temperature and humidity control mechanism that adjusts the temperature and humidity of the air blown onto the plate cylinder, and a plate cylinder air blowing mechanism that blows air whose temperature and humidity have been adjusted by the temperature and humidity control mechanism, and the control unit is configured to control the temperature and humidity control mechanism to set the temperature and humidity of the air blown onto the plate cylinder to a predetermined temperature and humidity, so that the plate cylinder can be adjusted to a predetermined temperature suitable for printing cans by using cool air. This allows for the maintenance of a stable, predetermined transfer pressure during ink transfer to the printing cylinder and from the printing cylinder to the blanket, thereby stabilizing print quality. Furthermore, the temperature and humidity control mechanism is configured to allow the humidity of the cool air blown onto the plate cylinder to be set to a predetermined humidity. Therefore, even when the plate cylinder and other components of the printing press are cooled, the humidity of the surrounding atmosphere of the printing press can also be reduced by the cool air with low humidity. This prevents condensation from occurring, preventing water from adhering to the ink, and stabilizing the transfer of ink to the plate cylinder and blanket, as well as printing on the cans. Furthermore, condensation on each component of the printing press can be suppressed, preventing malfunctions of the printing press itself due to condensation, and eliminating the burden on workers to deal with condensed water.

[0011] According to the configuration described in claim 2, since the plate cylinder air blowing mechanism blows air from the side of the plate cylinder to the inner circumference, the air is not blown directly onto the outer surface of the plate cylinder. This prevents the ink transferred to the plate cylinder from being directly exposed to cold air, which could cause the ink to shift position or dry out, and ensures that the atmosphere around the plate cylinder is reliably cooled. According to the configuration described in claim 3, since the humidity of the air blown by the plate cylinder air blowing mechanism is 40% RH or less, even if the plate cylinder is cooled with cold air, condensation can be reliably prevented from occurring on the plate cylinder and other components of the printing press, and the ink transfer performance can be stabilized.

[0012] According to the configuration described in claim 4, the plate cylinder temperature control unit is configured to be able to switch the temperature and humidity control mechanism ON / OFF, and the control unit is configured to be able to automatically switch the temperature and humidity control mechanism ON / OFF based on information about the temperature and humidity around the can printing press. As a result, the temperature and humidity around the can printing press can be adjusted at any time without the operator having to operate it, thereby reducing the burden on the operator. Furthermore, it prevents the blowing of excessive amounts of cold air, thereby reducing the operating costs of the can printing press. According to the configuration described in claim 5, the temperature control unit further comprises a space temperature control unit, the space temperature control unit having a sealed wall portion composed of a side wall portion extending upward from the floor surface on which the can printing machine is installed and a top wall portion connected to the upper end of the side wall portion, and a sealed space air blowing mechanism that blows temperature-controlled air into the space enclosed by the sealed wall portion, so that the ambient temperature around the entire printing machine can be maintained at a predetermined temperature. This minimizes the space required for temperature control, allowing the entire printing press to maintain an optimal ambient temperature for ink transfer to the plate cylinder and blanket, and for printing on cans, without being affected by external influences within the enclosed space. This further stabilizes can printing.

[0013] According to the configuration described in claim 6, the enclosed space ventilation mechanism has an air supply mechanism that takes in air from outside the space enclosed by the sealed wall and maintains positive pressure inside the space enclosed by the sealed wall. For example, when a worker enters or exits the space enclosed by the sealed wall, outside air flowing into the space enclosed by the sealed wall can be removed, and temperature changes inside the space enclosed by the sealed wall can be suppressed. Furthermore, it prevents foreign matter such as dust from flowing into the sealed wall section. According to the configuration described in claim 7, the temperature control unit has a transport path temperature control unit that heats the atmosphere on the transport path through which the cans to be received by the can printing machine are transported by the chute. As a result, the cans, which have been preheated to a temperature suitable for printing upstream of the can printing machine, can be transported to the chute while maintaining that temperature, and a decrease in print quality due to a drop in temperature during transport can be prevented.

[0014] According to the configuration described in claim 8, the can printing press further comprises equipment housing units, each housing one or more of the elements constituting the can printing press. For example, by housing a pre-assembled portion of the can printing press in the equipment housing unit, the configuration of the can printing press can be installed for each equipment housing unit, thereby shortening the installation period. Furthermore, for example, by housing parts of the can printing machine in separate equipment housing units, the entire equipment housing unit can be easily moved when relocating the can printing machine. According to the configuration described in claim 9, since the equipment housing unit is configured to be divisible in the vertical direction, for example, if the equipment housing unit is configured to be divisible into sizes suitable for container storage, then when transporting a can printing press in a container, each divided equipment housing unit can be easily stored in the container and transported, thereby reducing transportation costs. Furthermore, the placement of the can printing presses can be freely determined for each of the multiple equipment housing units. Furthermore, by arranging multiple equipment housing units to be stacked vertically, the floor space required for installing the can printing press can be reduced, thereby improving stacking efficiency.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] [Figure 1] Front schematic view of the can printing machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Perspective view showing the installation states of the printing device 110 and the equipment housing unit 160 of the can printing machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Front schematic view showing the configuration of the plate cylinder temperature control unit 131 of the can printing machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Front schematic view showing the configuration around the ink device 113 of the can printing machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Top schematic view showing the configuration around the ink device 113 of the can printing machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] Perspective view showing the configuration housed in the equipment housing unit 160 of the can printing machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] Perspective view showing an example of the divided transfer of the equipment housing unit 160 of the can printing machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] Table 1 showing the difference in humidity near the plate cylinder 114 depending on the presence or absence of dehumidification during a high-humidity period (summer) of the can printing machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] Table 2 showing the difference in humidity near the plate cylinder 114 depending on the presence or absence of dehumidification during a low-humidity period (winter) of the can printing machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] Table 3 showing the ink transferability depending on humidity of the can printing machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, the can printing machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. For the sake of explanation, the temperature control management unit 130 and the equipment housing unit 160 are not shown in FIG. 1.

[0017] As shown in Figures 1 to 7, a can printing machine 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention consists of a printing device 110 that prints on cans P transported from an upstream transport mechanism 151 and transports them to a downstream transport mechanism 152, and an equipment housing unit 160 that houses equipment such as a printing machine control panel 165 that controls the printing machine 100.

[0018] The printing apparatus 110 includes a temperature control unit 130 which includes a chute 111 for supplying cans P transported from an upstream transport mechanism 151, a mandrel wheel 112 equipped with a mandrel (not shown) for holding the cans P supplied via the chute 111, a plurality of ink devices 113 having cylindrical plate cylinders 114, a blanket wheel 123 which is fitted with a blanket (not shown) onto which ink is transferred from the plate cylinders 114 and which transfers ink M from the blanket (not shown) to the cans P held on the mandrel (not shown), a plate cylinder temperature control unit 131 which adjusts the temperature and humidity around the plate cylinders 114 (114a, 114b, 114c, 114d, 114e, 114f, 114g, 114h), an in-space temperature control unit 140 which adjusts the temperature of the space surrounding the printing apparatus 110 and the equipment housing unit, and a transport path temperature control unit 150 which heats the inside of the chute 111.

[0019] The ink device 113 has an ink fountain 116 which is a source of ink M, and a group of rollers is provided between the ink fountain 116 and the plate cylinder 114. In this roller group, an ink supply function roller 119 is positioned upstream, approaching the ink fountain 116, which has the function of supplying ink M from the ink fountain 116 via the fountain roller 117, duct roller 118, etc., while an ink leveling roller 120 is positioned downstream, approaching the plate cylinder 114, which has the function of leveling the ink M supplied from the ink supply function roller 119 and transferring the ink M from the form roller 121 to the plate cylinder 114.

[0020] Furthermore, a suction duct 122 is positioned around the ink dispenser 113 to collect the mist generated when the ink M is supplied. The printing cylinder 114 is formed in a cylindrical shape, with ink M transferred to the outer circumferential surface and a cavity 115 formed on the inner circumferential surface that penetrates in the axial direction.

[0021] The plate cylinder temperature control unit 131 includes a temperature and humidity control mechanism 132 and a plate cylinder air blowing mechanism 133. The temperature and humidity of the cold air A3, which has been controlled by the temperature and humidity control mechanism 132, is blown through the plate cylinder air blowing mechanism 133 from an outlet 134 directed towards the cavity 115 of the plate cylinder 114. Furthermore, the temperature and humidity of the cold air A3 blown by the plate cylinder temperature control unit 131 are appropriately adjusted by the control unit 135, and the plate cylinder temperature control unit 131 is configured to automatically switch ON / OFF based on the ambient temperature and humidity of the printing apparatus 110. The plate cylinder temperature control unit 131 may be configured to allow individual ON / OFF switching of temperature control and humidity control. Furthermore, it may be configured to allow manual switching between ON and OFF. The temperature and humidity control mechanism 132 uses an air conditioning system that has cooling / heating and desiccant-type dehumidification functions. It takes in air from outside the space enclosed by the sealed wall section 141 (described later), cools / heats and dehumidifies it, and blows it out from the outlet 134.

[0022] The space temperature control unit 140 includes a sealed wall section 141, which is composed of a side wall section 142 extending upward from the floor of a room in the building where the can printing machine 100 is installed, and a top wall section 144 connected to the upper end of the side wall section 142, and a sealed space ventilation mechanism 145 that blows temperature-controlled air into the space enclosed by the sealed wall section 141. The sealed wall section 141 is provided with an inlet / outlet 148 for loading and unloading cans P, and the side wall section 142 is provided with an openable / closable worker entrance / exit 143 for workers to enter and exit.

[0023] The sealed space ventilation mechanism 145 includes an air supply mechanism 146 that takes in air as supply air A1 from outside the space enclosed by the sealed wall 141 and maintains positive pressure inside the space enclosed by the sealed wall 141, and an exhaust mechanism 147 that discharges air as exhaust A2 in order to maintain an appropriate supply of air from the air supply mechanism 146 into the sealed wall 141. The air supply mechanism 146 and the exhaust mechanism 147 function in an air supply and exhaust balance that maintains a predetermined positive pressure inside the sealed wall 141. The air supply mechanism 146 is equipped with a temperature control device that adjusts the temperature of the intake air, and may also be equipped with a dehumidifier that adjusts the humidity of the intake air. In addition, the enclosed space ventilation mechanism 145 may not have an exhaust mechanism 147, and exhaust may be performed by the suction duct 122 of the ink device 133.

[0024] The equipment housing unit 160 is equipped with the necessary components for operating the printing machine 110 and is configured to be separable into an upper housing unit 161 and a lower housing unit 162, which are formed in a frame shape. When installed as part of the can printing machine 100, the upper housing unit 161 is fixed on top of the lower housing unit 162. The upper housing unit 161 is equipped with a mist suction blower 162, and the lower housing unit 164 is equipped with a mist suction duct 163, a printing press control panel 165, a temperature control unit 166, a cooling water chiller 167, and a mist separator 168. Other configurations may be implemented as appropriate. In this way, by installing the equipment housing units 160 in a vertically connected manner, the floor area required for equipment installation can be reduced, and the density of equipment can be improved.

[0025] Furthermore, the equipment housing unit 160 does not necessarily have to be fixed by having the upper housing unit 161 placed on top of the lower housing unit 164. The lower housing unit 164 may be installed on the floor and the upper housing unit 161 may be placed at a distance from it on the upper floor, or the upper housing unit 161 may be placed side by side next to the lower housing unit 164. Connection points for piping and electrical wires connecting each component mounted in the equipment housing unit 160 to the printing device 110 may be provided on the equipment housing unit 160 side, and for the mist suction duct 163, the connection port for the duct that sucks mist from the eight ink devices 113 and the piping that connects to the mist suction blower 162 may be integrated, thereby simplifying the installation work of the equipment.

[0026] Next, a method for adjusting the temperature and humidity of each part of a can printing machine 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7.

[0027] First, let me explain the in-space temperature control unit 140. As described above, the space temperature control unit 140 surrounds the printing device 110 and the equipment housing unit 160 with a sealed wall section 141, and adjusts the air supply mechanism 146 and exhaust mechanism 147 (suction duct 122) so that the space enclosed by the sealed wall section 141 has a positive pressure compared to the outside. This allows workers to enter and exit the space enclosed by the sealed wall section 141 through the worker entrance 143, while minimizing the inflow of outside air from the worker entrance 143, thereby preventing changes in the temperature and humidity of the surrounding atmosphere of the printing device 110 and the equipment housing unit 160. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent foreign matter such as dust from flowing into the sealed wall portion 141.

[0028] Next, the cans P, transported by the upstream transport mechanism 151, pass through the inlet / outlet 148 of the sealed wall section 141 and are supplied to the chute 111 of the printing device 110. At this time, the cans P transported from the upstream transport mechanism 151 are preheated to a temperature suitable for printing by a heating device installed in the upstream transport mechanism 151. However, the surface temperature of the cans P may decrease before they are printed in the printing device 110, which could lead to a decrease in print quality. However, by heating the cans P with the transport path temperature control unit 150 installed in the chute 111, and further surrounding the chute 111 with partitions to maintain the temperature, the surface temperature of the cans P can be kept at a temperature suitable for printing until the time they are printed in the printing device 110.

[0029] The can P supplied from the chute is rotatably held by the mandrel (not shown) of the mandrel wheel 112, and moves toward the ink device 113 as the mandrel wheel 112 rotates, and ink M is transferred from the blanket on the blanket wheel 123. The plate cylinder 114 is cooled to a predetermined temperature by blowing cold air A3 from the outlet 134 toward the cavity 115. This suppresses changes in transfer pressure due to the expansion of the blanket (not shown) caused by temperature changes, and also prevents changes in the viscosity of the ink M being transferred. This stabilizes the transfer of ink M from the foam roller 121 and the transfer of ink M to the blanket (not shown) on the blanket wheel 123.

[0030] However, if the humidity of the air taken in by the temperature and humidity control mechanism 132 is high, cooling without dehumidification will increase the humidity of the cold air A3 itself. If high-humidity cold air A3 is blown from the outlet 134 to the plate cylinder 114, condensation will occur on the plate cylinder and the surrounding components. Therefore, it is necessary to cool the cold air A3 to a temperature that does not cause condensation, which may result in insufficient temperature control of the plate cylinder 114.

[0031] A can printing press 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention has a temperature and humidity control mechanism 132 that uses an air conditioning system having a cooling / heating function and a desiccant type dehumidification function. Therefore, the temperature and humidity control mechanism 132 cools / heats and dehumidifies the air taken in from outside the space enclosed by the sealed wall section 141, and blows low-humidity cold air A3 from the outlet 134 toward the plate cylinder 114. This ensures that condensation does not occur on the surface or inside of the plate cylinder 114 or other components of the printing press 100, thereby stabilizing the transfer of ink M and stabilizing the print quality on the can P. Furthermore, since the cold air A3 is not directly blown onto the outer surface of the plate cylinder 114, it is possible to reliably prevent the ink M transferred to the plate cylinder 114 from drying out or shifting position due to the cold air A3.

[0032] Furthermore, the cold air A3 blown from the outlet 134 is recovered from the suction duct 122 along with the ink M mist, so that the cold air A3 directed from the plate cylinder 114 towards the suction duct 122 can be directed at each component of the ink device 113, thereby cooling each component of the ink device 113. Furthermore, the temperature and humidity of the cool air A3 blown by the plate cylinder temperature control unit 131 are appropriately adjusted by the control unit 135, and the plate cylinder temperature control unit 131 is configured to automatically switch ON / OFF based on the ambient temperature and humidity of the printing apparatus 110. As a result, the temperature and humidity around the plate cylinder 114 can be adjusted at any time without the operator having to operate it, thereby reducing the burden on the operator. Furthermore, it prevents the blowing of excessive amounts of cold air (A3), thereby reducing the operating costs of the can printing press 100.

[0033] Furthermore, when the air supply mechanism 146 of the space temperature control unit 140 appropriately adjusts the temperature and humidity before supplying air, condensation on each component of the printing device 110 and the equipment housing unit 160 can be prevented even more effectively, and the temperature of each part can be stabilized. Furthermore, it is desirable to set the humidity of the cold air A3 blown from the plate cylinder temperature control unit 131 to the plate cylinder 114 to 40% RH or less in order to stabilize the ink transfer and control the temperature while avoiding condensation.

[0034] After the ink M is transferred from the blanket (not shown), the can P is coated with a finishing varnish by the applicator roller 124, then transferred to the transfer disc 125, and finally transported out of the printing press 100 from the inlet / outlet 148 by the downstream transport mechanism 152.

[0035] As described above, by adjusting the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere surrounding the plate cylinder 114 to predetermined temperatures and humidity, even during the rainy season or summer when the temperature and humidity of the outside air are high, the temperature can be stabilized without condensation forming on the plate cylinder 114 or the components of the printing apparatus 110, the transfer pressure of the ink M from the blanket (not shown) to the can P and the ink transfer can be stabilized, and the print quality can be kept constant. Furthermore, the internal temperature control unit 140 adjusts the temperature around the printing device 110 and the equipment housing unit 160 to a predetermined temperature, thereby more efficiently maintaining the entire can printing press 100 at an optimal ambient temperature for ink transfer to the plate cylinder 114 and blanket (not shown) and printing on can P, without being affected by external influences within the enclosed space 141, and further stabilizing printing on can P. Furthermore, by heating the can P as it passes through the chute 111 using the transport path temperature control unit, the surface temperature of the can P can be reliably maintained at a temperature suitable for printing until just before printing.

[0036] Furthermore, since the equipment housing unit 160 is configured to be separable into an upper housing unit 161 and a lower housing unit 164, for example, if the upper housing unit 161 and the lower housing unit 164 are configured to be sized to fit into a general-purpose container C, then, as shown in Figure 7, the equipment can be transported by housing the components inside the upper housing unit 161 and the components inside the lower housing unit 164 in the container C, respectively, thereby improving the efficiency of equipment transport.

[0037] Here, we will explain the measured humidity values ​​of the cool air A3 with and without dehumidification by the temperature control unit 130 during periods of high humidity (summer) and low humidity (winter), based on Figures 8 and 9. The measured temperature and humidity of the air drawn in by the temperature and humidity control mechanism 132 were 27.3°C and 68.0%RH in summer, and 10.8°C and 35.0%RH in winter. Furthermore, the temperature and humidity inside the space enclosed by the sealed wall section 141 were 26.5°C and 44.0%RH in the summer due to air conditioning, and 27.6°C and 20.0%RH in the winter due to heating.

[0038] First, in the summer, as shown in Figure 8, when the temperature and humidity control mechanism 132 cooled without dehumidification, the average temperature of the cold air A3 blown to the plate cylinder 114 was 15.6°C and the average humidity was 68.5%RH, whereas when dehumidification was performed before cooling, the average temperature of the cold air A3 blown to the plate cylinder 114 was 16.1°C and the average humidity was 26.3%RH. This revealed that in the summer, when the outside temperature and humidity are high, the humidity of the airflow unit A3 increases when dehumidification is not performed, while the humidity of the airflow unit A3 can be sufficiently reduced when dehumidification is performed.

[0039] Next, in winter, as shown in Figure 9, when heating was performed without dehumidification in the temperature and humidity control mechanism 132, the average temperature of the cold air A3 blown to the plate cylinder 114 was 15.0°C and the average humidity was 18.3%RH, whereas when dehumidification was performed, the average temperature of the cold air A3 blown to the plate cylinder 114 was 16.0°C and the average humidity was 17.6%RH. This revealed that in winter, when the outside temperature and humidity are low, the humidity of the airflow unit A3 becomes sufficiently low even without dehumidification. In other words, by operating the machine with the dehumidification function turned OFF, the energy used to operate the can printing press 100 can be reduced.

[0040] Next, we will explain the relationship between the humidity of the cold air A3 and the ink transfer properties based on Figure 10. High humidity tends to worsen ink transferability, so the ink transferability was evaluated by observing the printed cans at various humidity levels. As a result, it was found that the ink transfer properties were good under conditions of humidity below 40% RH.

[0041] Furthermore, by configuring the control unit 135 to monitor the humidity of the cool air A3, the control unit 135 can turn on the dehumidification function of the temperature and humidity control mechanism 132 when the humidity of the cool air A3 reaches 40%RH or higher, and turn off the dehumidification function of the temperature and humidity control mechanism 132 when the humidity of the cool air A3 reaches 38%RH or lower. This prevents condensation, stabilizes print quality, and efficiently and automatically reduces energy costs. The control unit 135 may monitor the humidity of the air taken in by the temperature and humidity control mechanism 132 or the atmosphere around the plate cylinder 114 and control the ON / OFF status of the dehumidification function of the temperature and humidity control mechanism 132.

[0042] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various design modifications can be made without departing from the present invention as described in the claims.

[0043] In the embodiments described above, the temperature and humidity control mechanism was explained as using an air conditioning system having cooling / heating functions and a desiccant-type dehumidification function. However, the temperature and humidity control mechanism is not limited to this, and for example, a compressor-type dehumidification function may be used. Furthermore, although the temperature and humidity control mechanism was described as taking in air from outside the space enclosed by the sealed wall, the specific configuration of the temperature and humidity control mechanism is not limited to this, and for example, it may also take in air from inside the sealed wall.

[0044] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, the printing device and equipment housing unit were described as being surrounded by a sealed wall and configured to maintain positive pressure by supplying and exhausting air using a sealed space ventilation mechanism of the space temperature control unit. However, the configuration of the can printing press is not limited to this. For example, the sealed wall may further have a bottom wall on which the printing device and equipment housing unit are arranged. Alternatively, the printing device and equipment housing unit may not be surrounded by a sealed wall, and the positive pressure and temperature control of the entire room in which the printing device and equipment housing unit are installed may be maintained by a sealed space ventilation mechanism.

[0045] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, the cans moving within the chute were described as being heated by a transport path temperature control unit. However, the configuration of the chute is not limited to this. For example, there may be no transport path temperature control unit, and a device for heating the cans may be attached to the end of the chute. Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment assumed that the equipment housing unit is divisible into an upper housing unit and a lower housing unit, the configuration of the equipment housing unit is not limited to this. For example, it may be divisible into three or more parts, and some or all of the components of the printing device may be mounted in the equipment housing unit.

[0046] Furthermore, although the equipment housing unit was described as being configured in a frame-like manner in the embodiments described above, the configuration of the equipment housing unit is not limited to this. For example, it may consist of a pallet-shaped mounting base and a wall section extending upward from the mounting base, or the container itself may be configured as the equipment housing unit.

[0047] Some or all of the embodiments described above may also be described as follows, but are not limited to the following: (Note 1) A can printing press comprising at least a chute for supplying cans, a mandrel wheel provided with a mandrel for holding the cans supplied through the chute, a plurality of ink devices having cylindrical plate cylinders, a blanket wheel for which a blanket onto which ink is transferred from the plate cylinder is attached and for transferring ink from the blanket to the cans held on the mandrel, and a temperature control unit including a plate cylinder temperature control unit for adjusting the temperature and humidity around the plate cylinder by blowing air, The temperature control unit further comprises a control unit, The plate cylinder temperature control unit includes a temperature and humidity control mechanism that adjusts the temperature and humidity of the air blown to the plate cylinder, and a plate cylinder air blowing mechanism that blows air whose temperature and humidity have been adjusted by the temperature and humidity control mechanism. The can printing press is characterized in that the control unit is configured to control the temperature and humidity control mechanism to set the temperature and humidity of the air being blown to a predetermined temperature and humidity. (Note 2) The printing press for cans according to Appendix 1, characterized in that the plate cylinder air supply mechanism supplies air from the side of the plate cylinder to the inner circumference. (Note 3) A can printing press according to Appendix 1 or Appendix 2, characterized in that the humidity of the air blown by the plate cylinder air blowing mechanism is 40% RH or less. (Note 4) The plate cylinder temperature control unit is configured to allow switching the temperature and humidity control mechanism ON / OFF. The can printing machine according to any one of Appendix 1 to Appendix 3, characterized in that the control unit is configured to automatically switch the ON / OFF state of the temperature and humidity control mechanism based on information about the temperature and humidity around the can printing machine. (Note 5) The temperature control unit further includes an in-space temperature control unit that adjusts the temperature around the printing press for the can. The can printing press according to any one of the appendices 1 to 4, wherein the spatial temperature control unit comprises a sealed wall portion composed of a side wall portion extending upward from the floor surface on which the can printing press is installed and a top wall portion connected to the upper end of the side wall portion, and a sealed space ventilation mechanism for blowing temperature-controlled air into the space enclosed by the sealed wall portion. (Note 6) The can printing press according to Appendix 5, characterized in that the sealed space ventilation mechanism has an air supply mechanism that takes in air from outside the space surrounded by the sealed wall and maintains positive pressure inside the space surrounded by the sealed wall. (Note 7) The can printing machine according to any one of the appendices 1 to 6, characterized in that the temperature control unit has a transport path temperature control unit that heats the atmosphere on the transport path through which the cans received by the can printing machine are transported by the chute. (Note 8) The can printing press further includes an equipment housing unit, The equipment housing unit is characterized by housing one or more of the elements constituting the can printing press, as described in any of Appendix 1 to Appendix 7. (Note 9) The can printing machine according to Appendix 8, characterized in that the equipment housing unit is configured to be separable in the vertical direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 100... Printing machine for cans 110...Printing device 111... Shoot 112 ··· Mandrel Wheel 113 ··· Ink device 114 (114a, 114b, 114c, 114d, 114e, 114f, 114g, 114h) Plate cylinder 115... Cavity 116 ··· Ink Fountain 117 ··· Fountain Laura 118 ··· Duct Roller 119... Ink supply function roller 120... Ink leveling function roller 121 ··· Foam roller 122... Suction duct 123 ··· Blanket Wheel 124 ··· Applicator Roller 125 ··· Transfer Disc 130 ... Temperature control management department 131 ··· Printing cylinder temperature control unit 132 ... Temperature and humidity adjustment mechanism 133... Printing cylinder air blowing mechanism 134... Outlet 135 ··· Control Unit 140 ··· Space temperature control unit 141... Closed wall section 142... Side wall section 143 ··· Worker entrance / exit 144 ··· Top and Wall Section 145 ··· Air supply mechanism in a sealed space 146... Air supply mechanism 147... Exhaust mechanism 148 ··· Loading / Unloading Exit 150 ··· Conveyor path temperature control unit 151 ··· Upstream transport mechanism 152 ··· Downstream conveying mechanism 160 ··· Equipment housing unit 161 ··· Upper side housing unit 162 ··· Mist suction blower 163 ··· Mist suction duct 164 ··· Lower side storage unit 165 ··· Printing machine control panel 166 ··· Temperature control unit 167 ··· Cooling water chiller 168 ··· Mist Separator C ··· Container P ··· Can M ··· Ink A1... Air supply from the air supply mechanism A2... Exhaust to the exhaust mechanism A3... Cool air from the temperature and humidity control mechanism

Claims

1. A can printing press comprising at least a chute for supplying cans, a mandrel wheel provided with a mandrel for holding the cans supplied through the chute, a plurality of ink devices having cylindrical plate cylinders, a blanket wheel for which a blanket onto which ink is transferred from the plate cylinder is attached and for transferring ink from the blanket to the cans held on the mandrel, and a temperature control unit including a plate cylinder temperature control unit for adjusting the temperature and humidity around the plate cylinder by blowing air, The temperature control unit further comprises a control unit, The plate cylinder temperature control unit includes a temperature and humidity control mechanism that adjusts the temperature and humidity of the air blown to the plate cylinder, and a plate cylinder air blowing mechanism that blows air whose temperature and humidity have been adjusted by the temperature and humidity control mechanism. The can printing press is characterized in that the control unit is configured to control the temperature and humidity control mechanism to set the temperature and humidity of the air being blown to a predetermined temperature and humidity.

2. The can printing press according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate cylinder air supply mechanism supplies air from the side of the plate cylinder to the inner circumference.

3. The can printing press according to claim 1, characterized in that the humidity of the air blown by the plate cylinder air blowing mechanism is 40% RH or less.

4. The plate cylinder temperature control unit is configured to allow switching the temperature and humidity control mechanism ON / OFF. The can printing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit is configured to automatically switch the ON / OFF state of the temperature and humidity control mechanism based on information about the temperature and humidity around the can printing machine.

5. The temperature control unit further includes an in-space temperature control unit that adjusts the temperature around the printing press for the can. The can printing machine according to claim 1, wherein the space temperature control unit comprises a sealed wall portion composed of a side wall portion extending upward from the floor surface on which the can printing machine is installed and a top wall portion connected to the upper end of the side wall portion, and a sealed space air supply mechanism for supplying temperature-controlled air into the space enclosed by the sealed wall portion.

6. The can printing press according to claim 5, characterized in that the sealed space ventilation mechanism has an air supply mechanism that takes in air from outside the space surrounded by the sealed wall and maintains positive pressure inside the space surrounded by the sealed wall.

7. The can printing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the temperature control unit has a transport path temperature control unit that heats the atmosphere on the transport path through which the cans received by the can printing machine are transported by the chute.

8. The can printing press further includes an equipment housing unit, The can printing press according to claim 1, characterized in that the equipment housing unit houses some or all of the elements constituting the can printing press, either individually or in combination.

9. The can printing machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the equipment housing unit is configured to be separable in the vertical direction.

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