Printing equipment, printing presses and box-making machines

Abstract

A printing device, a printing machine, and a box-making machine are provided with printing cylinders on which printing plates can be mounted, ink supply rolls that are placed on the upstream or downstream sides of the printing cylinders in a sheet-conveying direction and that can be in contact with the printing cylinders, ink supply units that can supply ink to the ink supply rolls, first covers that cover the upper parts of the printing cylinders in the vertical direction and that can be opened and closed, and footholds that cover the vertically upper parts of the ink supply rolls and that can be operated by an operator.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a printing device that prints on sheets such as cardboard sheets, a printing press including the printing device, and a box-making machine including the printing press. [Background technology]

[0002] A box-making machine processes cardboard sheets to manufacture boxes (cardboard boxes). The box-making machine is composed of a paper feed section, a printing section, a paper discharge section, a die-cut section, a folding section, a counter ejector section, and the like. The paper feed section sends out the cardboard sheets stacked on a table one by one and sends them to the printing section at a constant speed. The printing section has multiple printing units and prints on the cardboard sheets. The paper discharge section forms lines that become fold lines on the cardboard sheets, cuts the ends of the cardboard sheets, and processes grooves that form flaps and glue pieces for joining. The die-cut section punches out hand holes and the like on the cardboard sheets. The folding section applies glue to the glue pieces of the cardboard sheets, folds them along the lines, and joins the glue pieces to manufacture flat cardboard boxes. The counter ejector section stacks the cardboard boxes, sorts them into a predetermined number of batches, and discharges them.

[0003] The printing section of the box-making machine can perform multi-color printing on the surface of the transported corrugated cardboard sheet. Therefore, in the printing section, multiple printing units are arranged in series in the transport direction of the corrugated cardboard sheet. The multiple printing units have almost the same configuration. The printing unit has a printing cylinder, an ink supply roll, an ink supply unit, and a receiving roll. A printing plate is attached to the outer periphery of the printing cylinder and is supported rotatably. The ink supply roll is supported rotatably and supplies ink from the ink supply unit to the printing plate of the printing cylinder. The receiving roll is arranged below the printing cylinder and holds the corrugated cardboard sheet between the printing cylinder. Therefore, when the corrugated cardboard sheet is transported between the printing cylinder and the receiving roll, the ink from the printing plate is transferred to the surface of the corrugated cardboard sheet to perform printing. An example of a box-making machine equipped with such a printing unit is described in Patent Document 1 below. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-217535 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the printing section arranged in a conventional box-making machine, multiple printing units are arranged along the conveying direction of the cardboard sheet. In the printing section unit, a printing cylinder and a receiving roll are arranged above and below, and an ink supply roll and an ink supply unit are arranged to the side of the printing cylinder. The printing unit is configured by accommodating the printing cylinder, the ink supply roll, the ink supply unit, and the receiving roll inside a housing. In the printing section, a scaffold is provided to ensure a working space between the multiple printing units. The scaffold is, for example, a space for an operator to replace a printing plate on the printing cylinder. Since one scaffold is provided for each printing unit, the printing section has a long overall length. As a result, the arrangement space of the box-making machine becomes large, and it is desired to shorten the overall length of the printing section.

[0006] The present disclosure is devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a printing device, a printing press, and a box-making machine that enable the devices to be made more compact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, the printing apparatus disclosed herein comprises a printing cylinder on which a printing plate can be attached, an ink supply roll that is arranged upstream or downstream in the sheet transport direction of the printing cylinder and can come into contact with the printing cylinder, an ink supply section that can supply ink to the ink supply roll, a first cover that covers the vertically above the printing cylinder and can be opened and closed, and a scaffolding that covers the vertically above the ink supply roll and allows an operator to work on it.

[0008] In addition, in the printing press disclosed herein, a plurality of the printing devices are arranged at predetermined intervals in the sheet transport direction, and the scaffolding is arranged above the plurality of the printing devices.

[0009] In addition, the box making machine of the present disclosure includes a paper feed unit that supplies sheets, a printing unit that prints on the sheets, a paper discharge unit that performs edge cutting, line cutting, and grooving on the sheets, a folding unit that forms a box by folding the sheets and joining the edges, and a counter ejector unit that counts and stacks the boxes and then discharges them in predetermined numbers, and the printing unit has the printing machine. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the printing device, printing press, and box making machine of the present disclosure, the size of the device can be reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a box former of the present embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the printing unit of the present embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the printing unit of the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a printing unit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a printing plate changing operation in a printing unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a first modified example of a printing unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a second modified example of the printing unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a variation of the scaffold. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the first cover. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the details of the printing unit. [Figure 11]FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the ink supply section in the printing unit. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a side view showing the ink supply section in the printing unit. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the maintenance work of the ink supply unit. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the maintenance work of the ink supply unit. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the maintenance work of the ink supply unit. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a side view showing a first modified example of the ink supply unit. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing the operating state of the ink supply unit. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a side view showing a second modified example of the ink supply unit. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing the operating state of the ink supply unit. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a side view showing a third modified example of the ink supply unit. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing the operating state of the ink supply unit. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the operating state of the ink supply unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments, and when there are multiple embodiments, the present disclosure also includes a configuration in which each embodiment is combined. In addition, the components in the embodiments include those that a person skilled in the art can easily imagine, those that are substantially the same, and those that are within the so-called equivalent range.

[0013] <Box making machine> 1 is a schematic diagram showing a box former of the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the horizontal direction in which the cardboard sheet S and the cardboard box B are conveyed is referred to as the conveying direction D, and the horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction D is referred to as the width direction W.

[0014] 1, in this embodiment, a box former 10 manufactures a cardboard box (box body) B by processing a cardboard sheet S. The box former 10 includes a paper feed unit 11, a printing unit 21, a paper discharge unit 31, a die-cut unit 41, a folding unit 51, and a counter ejector unit 61. In the box former 10, the paper feed unit 11, the printing unit 21, the paper discharge unit 31, the die-cut unit 41, the folding unit 51, and the counter ejector unit 61 are arranged in a straight line along the conveying direction D.

[0015] The paper feed section 11 feeds the cardboard sheets S one by one to the printing section 21 at a constant speed. The paper feed section 11 has a table 12, a front stopper 13, a supply roller 14, a suction device 15, and a feed roll 16. The table 12 can stack and place a large number of cardboard sheets S, and is supported so that it can be raised and lowered. The front stopper 13 can position the front end position of the cardboard sheets S stacked on the table 12, and a gap is secured between the lower end and the table 12 through which one cardboard sheet S can pass. A plurality of supply rollers 14 are arranged in the conveying direction D of the cardboard sheets S corresponding to the table 12, and when the table 12 descends, the cardboard sheet S at the bottom position among the large number of stacked cardboard sheets S is sent forward. The suction device 15 sucks the stacked cardboard sheets S downward, that is, toward the table 12 and the supply roller 14. The feed roll 16 supplies the cardboard sheet S fed by the supply roller 14 to the printing section 21.

[0016] The printing section 21 performs multi-color printing (four-color printing in this embodiment) on the surface of the cardboard sheet S. The printing section 21 has four printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D arranged in series, and performs printing using four ink colors on the surface of the cardboard sheet S. Each of the printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D is configured almost the same, and has a printing cylinder 22, an ink supply roll (anilox roll) 23, an ink supply section 24, and a receiving roll 25. A printing plate 26 can be attached to the outer periphery of the printing cylinder 22.

[0017] The discharge unit 31 has a function of performing creasing, cutting, and grooving on the cardboard sheet S. The discharge unit 31 has a first creasing roll 32, a second creasing roll 33, a slitter head 34, and a slotter head 35. The first creasing rolls 32 are arranged at predetermined intervals in a horizontal direction (width direction of the cardboard sheet S) perpendicular to the conveying direction D of the cardboard sheet S, and can be rotated by a driving device (not shown). The second creasing rolls 33 are arranged at predetermined intervals in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction D of the cardboard sheet S, and can be rotated by a driving device (not shown). The first creasing roll 32 and the second creasing roll 33 perform creasing on the back surface (lower surface) of the cardboard sheet S.

[0018] A plurality of slitter heads 34 and slotter heads 35 (a total of five in this embodiment) are arranged at predetermined intervals in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction D of the cardboard sheet S, and can be rotated by a drive device (not shown). The slitter head 34 is made up of one unit, is provided corresponding to the widthwise end of the cardboard sheet S being conveyed, and cuts the widthwise end of the cardboard sheet S. The slotter heads 35 are made up of four units, are provided corresponding to predetermined positions in the width direction of the cardboard sheet S being conveyed, and perform groove cutting processing at predetermined positions on the cardboard sheet S, as well as performing glue strip processing.

[0019] The die-cutting unit 41 performs punching processing such as hand holes on the cardboard sheet S. The die-cutting unit 41 has a pair of upper and lower feed pieces 42, an anvil cylinder 43, and a knife cylinder 44. The feed pieces 42 convey the cardboard sheet S by clamping it from above and below, and are provided rotatably. The anvil cylinder 43 and the knife cylinder 44 are each formed in a circular shape and can be rotated synchronously by a driving device (not shown). In this case, the anvil cylinder 43 has an anvil formed on its outer periphery, while the knife cylinder 44 has a die formed at a predetermined position on the outer periphery.

[0020] The folding unit 51 folds the cardboard sheet S while moving it in the conveying direction D, and joins both ends in the width direction to form a flattened cardboard box B. The folding unit 51 has an upper conveying belt 52, a lower conveying belt 53, and a forming belt 54. The upper conveying belt 52, the lower conveying belt 53, and the forming belt 54 sandwich and convey the cardboard sheet S and the cardboard box B from above and below. The forming belt 54 folds each end of the cardboard sheet S in the width direction while bending it downward. The folding unit 51 is also provided with a gluing device 55. The gluing device 55 has a glue gun and applies glue to the cardboard sheet S at a predetermined position by discharging glue at a predetermined timing.

[0021] The counter ejector unit 61 counts and stacks the cardboard boxes B, then sorts them into a predetermined number of batches and ejects them. The counter ejector unit 61 has a ledge device 62 that sorts the stacked cardboard boxes into a predetermined number of batches. The elevator 63 is provided below the ledge device 62 so as to be able to rise and fall freely. The elevator 63 lowers the cardboard boxes B sorted into batches to the position of the downstream transport conveyor 64. The counter ejector unit 61 has a front contact plate and a corner plate (not shown) that serve as shaping means.

[0022] <Print section> The printing machine of the present invention is applied to the printing section 21 of the box former 10, and the printing device of the present invention is applied to the printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D. Fig. 2 is a side view showing the printing section of this embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the printing section of this embodiment.

[0023] 2 and 3, in the printing section 21, for example, four printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D are arranged along the conveying direction D. The four printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D are configured almost the same. The printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D each have a printing cylinder 22, an ink supply roll 23, an ink supply section 24, and a receiving roll 25.

[0024] In the printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D, the printing cylinder 22 is accommodated inside a housing 101. The housing 101 has a ceiling portion 101a arranged above the printing cylinder 22 in the vertical direction, and vertical wall portions 101b and 101c arranged upstream and downstream of the printing cylinder 22 in the conveying direction D. The housing 101 is provided with a printing cylinder work opening 102 in the ceiling portion 101a. The printing cylinder work opening 102 is rectangular in shape, with a length in the conveying direction D being approximately the same as the diameter of the printing cylinder 22, and a length in the width direction W being longer than the width of the printing plate 26 attached to the printing cylinder 22. The housing 101 is provided with a first cover 103 that is capable of opening and closing the printing cylinder work opening 102.

[0025] The first cover 103 covers the vertical upper side of the printing cylinder 22 and is capable of opening and closing the printing cylinder work opening 102. That is, the scaffolding 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D is provided with the printing cylinder work opening 102 above the printing cylinder 22 that constitutes the printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D, and the first cover 103 is capable of opening and closing this printing cylinder work opening 102. In this case, the first cover 103 can be opened upward and upstream from the downstream side of the housing 101 in the conveying direction D, with the upstream side of the housing 101 as a fulcrum.

[0026] The printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D have footholds 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D disposed downstream in the conveying direction D. The ceiling 101a and the first cover 103 of the housing 101 are disposed vertically above the footholds 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D. In other words, there is a step between the first cover 103 and the footholds 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D. An operator can open and close the first cover 103 on the upstream side in the conveying direction D from the footholds 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D.

[0027] The housing 101 is provided with a handrail 105 on the ceiling 101a. The handrail 105 is located on the upstream side of the ceiling 101a in the transport direction D, at a midpoint in the width direction W. A printing plate holding brush 106 is attached to the handrail 105. The printing plate holding brush 106 is capable of holding a printing plate 26. The scaffolding 104B has, for example, a staircase 107 on one side in the width direction W that allows a worker to ascend and descend, and a printing plate storage area 108 on the other side in the width direction W. The staircase 107 is for the worker to move between the floor surface and the scaffolding 104B. The printing plate storage area 108 is for temporarily storing used printing plates 26 and printing plates 26 that will be used in the future.

[0028] Although the stairs 107 are arranged on one side of the width direction W of the scaffold 104B, they may be arranged on the other side of the width direction W, or multiple stairs may be provided on other scaffolds 104A, 104C, 104D, etc. Also, although the printing plate storage area 108 is arranged on the other side of the width direction W of the scaffold 104B, they may be arranged on one side of the width direction W, and the printing plate storage area 108 may be, for example, a middle position in the width direction W of the scaffolds 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D, or may be the paper feed unit 11 or the paper discharge unit 31, as long as it is within the range that the worker can reach from the scaffolds 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D.

[0029] <Printing unit> Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the printing unit, and Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the printing plate replacement work in the printing unit. Since the printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D have almost the same configuration, the following describes the printing unit 21A.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 4, the printing unit 21A has a printing cylinder 22, an ink supply roll 23, an ink supply section 24, and a receiving roll 25. The printing cylinder 22 is accommodated inside the housing 101. The printing cylinder 22 is arranged along the width direction W, and one and the other axial ends are rotatably supported by a frame via bearings (not shown). The printing cylinder 22 can be driven to rotate by a drive device (not shown). A printing plate 26 can be detachably attached to the outer periphery of the printing cylinder 22.

[0031] The ink supply roll 23 is disposed downstream of the printing cylinder 22 in the conveying direction D. The ink supply roll 23 is capable of coming into contact with the printing plate 26 of the printing cylinder 22. The ink supply unit 24 is disposed downstream of the ink supply roll 23 in the conveying direction D. The ink supply unit 24 has an ink chamber and is capable of storing ink supplied from the outside inside. The ink supply unit 24 has an ink chamber whose opening is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the ink supply roll 23 with no gaps, and supplies a portion of the stored ink to the outer circumferential surface of the ink supply roll 23. The ink supply roll 23 and the ink supply unit 24 are disposed below the scaffold 104A. The receiving roll 25 is disposed below the printing cylinder 22 and is capable of coming into contact with the printing cylinder 22.

[0032] Therefore, when the printing cylinder 22, the ink supply roll 23, and the receiving roll 25 rotate, ink from the ink supply unit 24 is supplied to the printing plate 26 of the printing cylinder 22 via the ink supply roll 23. Then, when the cardboard sheet S is sandwiched between the printing cylinder 22 and the receiving roll 25 and transported, the ink on the printing plate 26 of the printing cylinder 22 is transferred to the surface of the cardboard sheet S, thereby printing.

[0033] The printing cylinder 22 can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction. One end and the other end of the printing cylinder 22 in the axial direction are rotatably supported by a frame via bearings. A lifting device (not shown) raises and lowers the printing cylinder 22, for example, by raising and lowering each bearing. The printing cylinder 22 can be moved between a printing position and a working position by the lifting device. The printing position of the printing cylinder 22 is a position where the printing cylinder 22 is lowered and comes into contact with the ink supply roll 23 and the receiving roll 25. The working position of the printing cylinder 22 is a position where the printing cylinder 22 is raised from the printing position and various types of work can be performed through the printing cylinder work opening 102. The position where work can be performed is, for example, a position where a part of the outer circumferential surface of the printing cylinder 22 is exposed vertically above the scaffold 104A. The various types of work include, for example, mounting and removing the printing plate 26 on the printing cylinder 22, adjusting the mounting position, cleaning, and the like.

[0034] The scaffold 104A is provided with a second cover 122 that can open and close the ink supply unit work opening 121. The housing 101, the first cover 103, the second cover 122, and the scaffold 104A are walkable by a worker, and can be climbed on to perform various tasks. For this reason, the housing 101, the first cover 103, the second cover 122, and the scaffold 104A are provided with reinforcing parts to ensure sufficient strength. The reinforcing parts are, for example, reinforcing members such as a plurality of flange parts 111 fixed to the inner surfaces of the housing 101 and the scaffold 104A, a plurality of flange parts 112 fixed to the inner surface of the first cover 103, and a plurality of flange parts 123 fixed to the inner surface of the second cover 122. In addition, it is preferable that the housing 101, the first cover 103, the second cover 122, and the scaffold 104A use iron plates or increase the plate thickness as reinforcing parts to ensure sufficient strength.

[0035] The first cover 103 can be opened and closed by an operator's hand. The first cover 103 is rotatably supported on the housing 101 by a support shaft 113 along the width direction W. The support shaft 113 that rotatably supports the first cover 103 is located upstream of the center of the printing cylinder 22 in the conveying direction D. A gas spring 114, for example, is attached between the first cover 103 and the housing 101. The gas spring 114 applies a biasing force in the opening direction of the first cover 103. Therefore, even if the first cover 103 is heavy, the operator can open the first cover 103 by hand with a light operating force, assisted by the biasing force of the gas spring 114 from the foothold 104A.

[0036] The printing cylinder 22 is located at the printing position during printing, and rises to the working position when printing is completed. When the printing cylinder 22 is at the working position, the operator opens the first cover 103 and replaces the printing plate 26. For safety reasons, a locking mechanism is provided that prevents the first cover 103 from being opened while the printing cylinder 22 is in operation. For example, when the printing cylinder 22 is at the printing position, the locking mechanism mechanically locks the first cover 103 to the housing 101. The locking mechanism also electrically detects that the printing cylinder 22 is at the working position, and locks the first cover 103 to the housing 101. The second cover 122 will be described later.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 5, when a worker replaces a printing plate in the printing unit 21A, the worker moves to the scaffold 104A. The worker stands on the scaffold 104A and opens the first cover 103. The printing cylinder 22 is raised from the printing position to the working position, and the worker can access the printing cylinder 22 through the printing cylinder work opening 102. The worker first holds the printing plate 26 to be newly installed on the printing plate holding brush 106. Next, the worker removes the printing plate 26 installed on the printing cylinder 22 and temporarily places the removed printing plate 26 in the printing plate storage area 108 (see FIG. 3). Then, the printing plate 26 held by the printing plate holding brush 106 is wrapped around the printing cylinder 22 and installed. After the printing plate 26 is installed on the printing cylinder 22, the worker closes the printing cylinder work opening 102 with the first cover 103.

[0038] Here, the worker attaches the printing plate 26 held by the printing plate holding brush 106 by wrapping it around the printing cylinder 22, but the attachment method is not limited to this. For example, the worker may place the printing plate 26 in a rolled up state at his / her feet without using the printing plate holding brush 106, and then attach the printing plate 26 by wrapping the rolled up printing plate 26 at his / her feet around the printing cylinder 22.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the worker finishes the printing plate replacement work for printing unit 21A, he performs the printing plate replacement work for another printing unit 21B. At this time, the worker uses the housing 101 and the first cover 103 as a foothold, and moves from scaffold 104A to scaffold 104B. Then, the worker stands on scaffold 104B and performs the printing plate replacement work for printing unit 21B. When the worker finishes the printing plate replacement work for printing unit 21B, the worker performs the printing plate replacement work for printing units 21C and 21D in order. At this time, the worker uses the housing 101 and the first cover 103 as a foothold, and moves from scaffold 104B to scaffolds 104C and 104D in order to perform the work.

[0040] <Modifications of the printing unit> The configurations of the printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D and the printing plate replacement work are not limited to those described above. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing a first modified printing unit, and Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing a second modified printing unit.

[0041] In the first modified printing unit, as shown in FIG. 6, the printing unit 21A has a printing cylinder 22, an ink supply roll 23, an ink supply section 27, and a receiving roll 25. The printing cylinder 22, the ink supply roll 23, and the receiving roll 25 are the same as those described above. The ink supply section 27 has an ink recovery pan 27a and an ink scraping roll 27b. Ink is supplied from an ink supply pipe 27c and stored above the contact portion between the ink supply roll 23 and the ink scraping roll 27b. The ink stored in the contact portion adheres to the outer circumferential surface of the ink supply roll 23. The ink flowing out from the ends of the ink supply roll 23 and the ink scraping roll 27b is collected in the ink recovery pan 27a and supplied again. The ink supply roll 23 and the ink supply section 27 are disposed below the scaffold 104A.

[0042] Therefore, when the printing cylinder 22, the ink supply roll 23, and the receiving roll 25 rotate, ink from the ink supply unit 27 is supplied to the printing plate 26 of the printing cylinder 22 via the ink supply roll 23. Then, when the cardboard sheet S is sandwiched between the printing cylinder 22 and the receiving roll 25 and transported, the ink on the printing plate 26 of the printing cylinder 22 is transferred to the surface of the cardboard sheet S, thereby printing.

[0043] In a second modified printing unit, as shown in FIG. 2, the printing section 21 may have an inspection device disposed above a scaffold 104D downstream of the printing unit 21D in the conveying direction D. The inspection device inspects the quality of the pattern printed on the cardboard sheet S. If the inspection device is disposed above the scaffold 104D, when a worker performs printing plate replacement work in the printing unit 21D on the scaffold 104D, for example, the view of the camera of the inspection device may be blocked. In the second modified example, a worker can perform printing plate replacement work in the printing unit 21D on a scaffold 104C upstream of the printing unit 21D in the conveying direction D.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 7, in the printing unit 21D, the printing cylinder 22 is accommodated inside a housing 101. The housing 101 is provided with an access opening 102 for the printing cylinder, and can be opened and closed by a first cover 103. The first cover 103 can be opened and closed by an operator from a scaffold 104C. The first cover 103 is rotatably attached to the housing 101 by a support shaft 113 along the width direction W. The support shaft 113 that rotatably supports the first cover 103 is located downstream in the conveying direction D from the center of the printing cylinder 22. Therefore, an operator can open the first cover 103 in the printing unit 21D from a scaffold 104d.

[0045] <Modified scaffolding> Moreover, the configurations of the scaffolds 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D are not limited to those described above. Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the scaffold.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 8, the printing unit 21A has a printing cylinder 22, an ink supply roll 23, an ink supply section 24, and a receiving roll 25. A scaffold 104E is disposed above the printing unit 21A. The scaffold 104E is provided horizontally without any step along the conveying direction D and width direction W of the printing unit 21A. The scaffold 104E functions as a housing for the printing unit 21A. The scaffold 104E is configured by combining a plurality of scaffold bodies provided separately for each of the printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D so as to be connected in a straight line. However, the scaffold 104E is not limited to this configuration. For example, an integrated scaffold 104A may be provided for each of the printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D. It is preferable that the platform 104E has a continuous flat shape without any steps on the upper surface of each of the printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D.

[0047] The scaffold 104E is provided with a first cover 103 that can open and close the printing cylinder work opening 102. The first cover 103 covers the vertically above the printing cylinder 22 and can open and close the printing cylinder work opening 102. The first cover 103 uses the upstream side of the scaffold 104E in the conveying direction D as a fulcrum and can be opened upward and upstream from the downstream side of the scaffold 104E in the conveying direction D. The printing cylinder 22 can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction. The printing cylinder 22 can be moved between a printing position and a work position by a lifting device.

[0048] The first cover 103 and the scaffolding 104E allow a worker to walk on them and to stand on them to perform various tasks. Therefore, the first cover 103 and the scaffolding 104E are provided with reinforcing parts to ensure sufficient strength. The reinforcing parts are, for example, reinforcing members such as a plurality of flange parts 111 fixed to the inner surface of the scaffolding 104E and a plurality of flange parts 112 fixed to the inner surface of the first cover 103. The opening and closing mechanism of the first cover 103 is similar to the configuration described above. The printing plate replacement work of the printing unit 21A is also similar to that described above.

[0049] <Modification of the first cover> Furthermore, the configuration of the first cover 103 is not limited to the one described above. Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the first cover.

[0050] 9, in the scaffold 104E having a flat upper surface as described above, the first cover 103 can open and close the printing cylinder work opening 102. The first cover 103 is rotatably supported on the scaffold 104E by support shafts 113a and 113b whose upstream and downstream sides in the conveying direction D are aligned with the width direction W. In this case, the support shafts 113a and 113b of the first cover 103 can be engaged and disengaged by, for example, a hook (not shown) provided on the scaffold 104E. When an operator attempts to open the first cover 103 upward from the support shaft 113b side, the hook on the support shaft 113b side is disengaged, and the first cover 103 rotates upward with the support shaft 113a as a fulcrum. On the other hand, when an operator attempts to open first cover 103 upward from the support shaft 113a side, the hook on the support shaft 113a side is released, and first cover 103 rotates upward with support shaft 113b as a fulcrum.

[0051] When performing printing plate replacement work for printing unit 21A, the worker moves along scaffold 104E to move between printing unit 21A and printing unit 21B. The worker stands on scaffold 104E and opens first cover 103 of printing unit 21A, which is located upstream in conveyance direction D. The worker then opens first cover 103 upward using support shaft 113a as a fulcrum, and performs printing plate replacement work through printing cylinder work opening 102. When the worker has completed printing plate replacement work for printing unit 21A, he closes printing cylinder work opening 102 with first cover 103.

[0052] When the worker performs the printing plate replacement work on printing unit 21B following the printing plate replacement work on printing unit 21A, he turns around to face printing unit 21B. While remaining on the scaffold 104E, the worker opens the first cover 103 of printing unit 21B, which is located downstream in the conveyance direction D. The worker then opens the first cover 103 upward using the support shaft 113b as a fulcrum, and performs the printing plate replacement work through the printing cylinder work opening 102. When the worker has finished the printing plate replacement work on printing unit 21B, he closes the printing cylinder work opening 102 with the first cover 103.

[0053] <Ink supply section> Here, the ink supply unit 24 will be described in detail. Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the details of the printing unit, Fig. 11 is a plan view showing the ink supply unit in the printing unit, Fig. 12 is a side view showing the ink supply unit in the printing unit, and Figs. 13 to 15 are schematic diagrams showing the maintenance work of the ink supply unit.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 10, the printing unit 21A has a printing cylinder 22, an ink supply roll 23, an ink supply section 24, and a receiving roll 25. The printing cylinder 22 is accommodated inside a housing 101. The housing 101 is provided with a first cover 103 capable of opening and closing a printing cylinder work opening 102. The ink supply roll 23 and the ink supply section 24 are disposed below a scaffold 104A. The scaffold 104A is provided with an ink supply section work opening 121 provided above the ink supply section 24, and a second cover 122 capable of opening and closing the ink supply section work opening 121. The second cover 122 can be opened and closed by an operator. Note that the flanges 111, 112, and 123 are not shown in FIG. 10.

[0055] The ink supply unit 24 can be moved between a printing position in contact with the ink supply roll 23 and a working position where work can be performed through the ink supply unit work opening 121. In this case, the ink supply unit 24 can be moved between a stored position and an exposed position, which is one of the working positions. Here, the stored position is a position where the ink supply unit 24 is disposed below the scaffolding 104A. The exposed position is a position where the ink supply unit 24 moves vertically above the scaffolding 104A and at least a part of the ink supply unit 24 is exposed upward through the ink supply unit work opening 121.

[0056] The ink supply unit 24 has an ink chamber 131 and an air cylinder 132. The ink chamber 131 supplies the stored ink to the ink supply roll 23. The air cylinder 132 can move the ink chamber 131 between an ink supply position where the ink chamber 131 is in close contact with the ink supply roll 23 and a retracted position where the ink chamber 131 is separated from the ink supply roll 23. As described later, the ink supply unit 24 has an end portion rotatably supported by the housing 101. Therefore, the stored position is a position where the ink chamber 131 of the ink supply unit 24 does not face the horizontal direction, that is, the ink supply unit work opening 121 side. The exposed position is a position where the ink supply unit 24 is rotated upward from the stored position and the ink chamber 131 faces vertically upward, that is, the ink supply unit work opening 121 side.

[0057] The air cylinder 132 is not only capable of moving the ink chamber 131 between an ink supply position where the ink chamber 131 is in close contact with the ink supply roll 23 and a retracted position where the ink chamber 131 is separated from the ink supply roll 23. As will be described later, the air cylinder 132 is also capable of moving the ink chamber 131 from the retracted position to a maintenance position located vertically upward. In addition, the air cylinder 132 applies an appropriate pressure when bringing the ink chamber 131 into close contact with the ink supply roll 23.

[0058] The ink supply unit 24 can move the ink chamber 131 between an exposed position and a maintenance position. Here, the exposed position of the ink chamber 131 is a state in which the ink chamber 131 is maintained in the retracted position when the ink supply unit 24 is in the exposed position. The maintenance position of the ink chamber 131 is a position in which at least a part of the ink chamber 131 is disposed vertically above the scaffolding 104A. That is, the maintenance position is a position in which the ink chamber 131 faces the ink supply unit work opening 121 and at least a part of the ink chamber 131 is disposed vertically above the scaffolding 104A. Specifically, when the ink supply unit 24 is in the exposed position rotated upward, the ink chamber 131 can be moved from the retracted position to the maintenance position above the scaffolding 104A by operating the air cylinder 132. The air cylinder 132 may have a different stroke when moving the ink chamber 131 from the retracted position to the ink supply position and a different stroke when moving the ink chamber 131 from the exposed position to the maintenance position. In this case, the stroke when moving the ink chamber 131 from the exposed position to the maintenance position is made longer than the stroke when moving the ink chamber 131 from the retracted position to the ink supply position. This makes the maintenance position of the ink chamber 131 closer to the operator, making it easier to perform work such as maintenance of the ink chamber 131.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, a pair of support shafts 141 are fixed to the frame on both sides of the width direction W along the width direction W. A pair of base plates 142 are arranged vertically on both sides of the width direction W. The base plate 142 has support holes 143 formed along the width direction W, and support tubes 144 with bottoms are fixed to the positions of the support holes 143 along the width direction W. The support shafts 141 of the base plate 142 are fitted into the support tubes 144 through the support holes 143 from the outside of the width direction W. Therefore, the base plate 142 is supported so as to be rotatable up and down around the support shafts 141 along the width direction W. A jig insertion tube 146 into which a jig 145 can be inserted is fixed to the support tube 144.

[0060] The base plate 142 has a guide hole 147 formed along the conveying direction D, which penetrates the base plate 142 along the width direction W. The slide plate 148 is disposed close to the base plate 142, and a guide shaft 149 along the width direction W is fixed to the slide plate 148. The guide shaft 149 of the slide plate 148 is inserted into the guide hole 147 of the base plate 142. The air cylinder 132 is disposed along the conveying direction D, and a base end is connected to the upper part of the base plate 142 by a connecting shaft 150. The air cylinder 132 is connected to the slide plate 148 via a connecting member 151 whose tip end of the driving rod 132a is aligned in the vertical direction. The slide plate 148 is connected to the end of the ink chamber 131 in the longitudinal direction (width direction W) via a connecting member 152. Therefore, when the air cylinder 132 is driven, the slide plate 148 moves along the guide hole 147 relative to the base plate 142, and the ink chamber 131 can be moved in the same direction.

[0061] 10, when the ink supply unit 24 is in the storage position below the scaffolding 104A, the ink chamber 131 is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the ink supply roll 23 and can supply ink to the ink supply roll 23. An operator must periodically maintain the ink supply unit 24. Maintenance includes cleaning ink adhering to the ink chamber 131, checking for wear and replacing the seal blade, doctor blade, and end seal attached around the opening.

[0062] When an operator performs maintenance on the ink supply unit 24, the operator rotates the ink supply unit 24 from the stored position to the exposed position, and then moves the ink chamber 131 from the retracted position to the maintenance position. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, the operator stands on the scaffold 104A or the housing 101 (see FIG. 7), first washes and collects the ink, and then operates the air cylinder 132 to contract the drive rod 132a, thereby moving the ink chamber 131 via the slide plate 148. Then, the ink chamber 131 moves from the ink supply position in close contact with the ink supply roll 23 to the retracted position separated from the ink supply roll 23. Next, the second cover 122 is opened by hand. Then, the operator inserts the tip of the jig 145 into the jig insertion tube 146.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 14, the worker rotates the ink supply unit 24 together with the base plate 142 from the stored position to the exposed position by using the jig 145. That is, the ink supply unit 24 rotates by the angle θ, so that the ink supply unit 24 moves vertically upward from the scaffold 104A, and at least a part of the ink supply unit 24 is exposed to the outside through the ink supply unit work opening 121. At this time, the air cylinder 132 and the ink chamber 131 of the ink supply unit 24 are rotated while maintaining the above-mentioned retracted position. As shown in FIG. 15, the worker then operates the air cylinder 132 and extends the drive rod 132a to move the ink chamber 131 via the slide plate 148. Then, the ink chamber 131 moves to the maintenance position diagonally upward. Here, the worker performs maintenance on the ink chamber 131. At this time, the worker may detach the ink chamber 131 from the connecting member 152 of the slide plate 148 as necessary to perform various operations.

[0064] In the above description, the maintenance is performed with the ink supply unit 24 rotated from the stored position to the exposed position and the ink chamber 131 moved from the retracted position to the maintenance position, but the maintenance method is not limited to this. The worker may rotate the ink supply unit 24 from the stored position to the exposed position and perform maintenance with the ink chamber 131 maintained in the retracted position. In other words, maintenance may be performed when the ink chamber 131 is in the exposed position.

[0065] Therefore, if the operator can perform the maintenance, it is not essential to move the ink chamber 131 from the retracted position to the maintenance position. In other words, the maintenance may be performed without operating the air cylinder 132.

[0066] When the maintenance of the ink chamber 131 is completed, the ink chamber 131 is moved from the maintenance position via the slide plate 148 by operating the air cylinder 132 to contract the drive rod 132a. In other words, the air cylinder 132 and the ink chamber 131 are returned to a state in which they are maintained in the retracted position described above. Next, the worker rotates the ink supply unit 24 from the exposed position to the stored position. Then, the tip of the jig 145 is removed from the jig insertion tube 146, and the ink supply unit work opening 121 is closed by the second cover 122.

[0067] <Modification of the ink supply unit> It should be noted that the ink supply unit 24 is not limited to the configuration described above. Fig. 16 is a side view showing a first modified example of the ink supply unit, Fig. 17 is a schematic diagram showing the operating state of the ink supply unit, Fig. 18 is a side view showing a second modified example of the ink supply unit, Fig. 19 is a schematic diagram showing the operating state of the ink supply unit, Fig. 20 is a side view showing a third modified example of the ink supply unit, and Fig. 21 is a schematic diagram showing the operating state of the ink supply unit.

[0068] 16 and 17, in the first modified example, the ink supply unit 24A can be moved between a stored position disposed below the scaffold 104A and an exposed position where it is moved vertically above the scaffold 104A and at least a portion of it is exposed upward through the ink supply unit work opening 121. In addition, the ink chamber 131 can be moved from the exposed position (retracted position) to a maintenance position where at least a portion of it is disposed vertically above the scaffold 104A by operating the air cylinder 132. Note that the specific configuration of the ink supply unit 24A is almost the same as that of the ink supply unit 24 described above, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0069] The ink supply unit 24A is supported by a support shaft 141, one end of which is fixed to a frame (not shown) of a base plate 142, so as to be rotatable up and down. A handle 161 protruding upward is fixed to the other end of the base plate 142. The handle 161 can be held by a worker standing on the scaffolding 104A through the ink supply unit work opening 121. One end of a connecting lever 162 is supported by the support shaft 141 so as to be rotatable, and is fixed to the base plate 142. A gas spring 163 is supported by the frame, and a tip end of an extensible rod 163a is connected to the other end of the connecting lever 162. The gas spring 163 applies a biasing force in the upward direction of the ink supply unit 24A via the base plate 142.

[0070] Therefore, when a worker performs maintenance on the ink supply unit 24A, he or she first operates the air cylinder 132 to move the ink chamber 131 from the ink supply position to the retracted position. Next, he or she manually opens the second cover 122 (see FIG. 10). Then, the worker holds the handle 161 and pulls it upward. Then, the ink supply unit 24A rotates from the stored position to the exposed position and is positioned above the foothold 104A, and at least a part of the ink supply unit 24A is exposed to the outside through the ink supply unit work opening 121. At this time, even if the ink supply unit 24A is heavy, the worker can manually lift the ink supply unit 24A with a light operating force, assisted by the biasing force of the gas spring 163 from the foothold 104A.

[0071] Then, the worker actuates the air cylinder 132 to move the ink chamber 131 from the retracted position to the maintenance position. Here, the worker performs maintenance on the ink chamber 131. When the maintenance on the ink chamber 131 is completed, the worker moves the ink chamber 131 from the maintenance position to the retracted position. Then, the worker holds the handle 161 and rotates the ink supply unit 24B from the exposed position to the stored position, and closes the ink supply unit work opening 121 with the second cover 122.

[0072] 18 and 19, in the second modified example, the ink supply unit 24B is supported by a support shaft 141 having one end portion of a base plate 142 fixed to a frame (not shown) so as to be rotatable up and down. One end portion of a connecting lever 171 is supported by the support shaft 141 so as to be rotatable, and is fixed to the base plate 142. An air cylinder 172 is supported by the frame, and a tip portion of a drive rod 172a is connected to the other end portion of the connecting lever 171.

[0073] Therefore, when a worker performs maintenance on the ink supply unit 24B, he or she first operates the air cylinder 132 to move the ink chamber 131 from the ink supply position to the retracted position. Next, the worker manually opens the second cover 122 (see FIG. 10). Then, the worker operates the air cylinder 172 to extend the drive rod 172a. Then, the ink supply unit 24B rotates from the stored position to the exposed position and is positioned above the scaffold 104A, with at least a part of the ink supply unit 24B being exposed to the outside through the ink supply unit work opening 121. At this time, even if the ink supply unit 24B is heavy, the ink supply unit 24B can be easily raised by operating the air cylinder 132.

[0074] 20 and 21, in the third modified example, an ink supply unit 24C has a guide rail 181 that is vertically aligned on one side and fixed to a frame (not shown). A base plate 142 has upper and lower guide members 182 fixed to one end. The upper and lower guide members 182 are supported movably on the guide rail 181. An air cylinder 183 is supported by the frame, and a tip end of a drive rod 183a is connected to the lower part of the base plate 142.

[0075] Therefore, when a worker performs maintenance on the ink supply unit 24C, he or she first operates the air cylinder 132 to move the ink chamber 131 from the ink supply position to the retracted position. Next, the worker manually opens the second cover 122 (see FIG. 10). Then, the worker operates the air cylinder 183 to extend the drive rod 183a. Then, the ink supply unit 24C moves upward from the stored position to the exposed position, and is positioned above the scaffold 104A, and at least a part of the ink supply unit 24C is exposed to the outside through the ink supply unit work opening 121. At this time, even if the ink supply unit 24C is heavy, the ink supply unit 24C can be easily raised by operating the air cylinder 183. Although not shown, the air cylinder 132 may be provided with a known lifting device, such as a rack and pinion gear.

[0076] 8, even when a flat scaffold 104E is applied, the scaffold 104E is provided with an ink supply unit work opening 121 provided above the ink supply unit 24, and a second cover 122 capable of opening and closing the ink supply unit work opening 121. A plurality of flanges 123 are fixed to the second cover 122 as reinforcing parts so as to ensure sufficient strength.

[0077] The ink supply unit 24 can be moved between a printing position in contact with the ink supply roll 23 and a work position where the ink supply unit can be accessed through the ink supply unit work opening 121. In this case, the ink supply unit 24 can be moved between a stored position and an exposed position, which is one of the work positions. When performing maintenance on the ink supply unit 24, the worker opens the second cover 122. Next, the ink supply unit 24 is moved from the stored position to the exposed position and positioned above the scaffold 104E, so that at least a part of the ink supply unit 24 is exposed to the outside through the ink supply unit work opening 121 (see FIGS. 14, 17, 19, and 21). Then, the worker moves the ink chamber 131 (see FIG. 15) from the retracted position to the maintenance position and performs maintenance on the ink chamber 131. In addition, the configuration for moving the ink supply unit 24 to the printing position where it contacts the ink supply roll 23 and to the working position where it can be operated through the ink supply unit work opening 121 is the same as in the above-described embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0078] [Effects of this embodiment] The printing apparatus of the first embodiment comprises a printing cylinder 22 on which a printing plate 26 can be mounted, an ink supply roll 23 arranged on the upstream or downstream side of the printing cylinder 22 in the conveying direction D and capable of contacting the printing cylinder 22, ink supply sections 24, 27 capable of supplying ink to the ink supply roll 23, a first cover 103 that covers the vertically upper side of the printing cylinder 22 and can be opened and closed, and scaffolding 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D, 104E that covers the vertically upper side of the ink supply roll 23 and allows an operator to work on it.

[0079] According to the printing device of the first aspect, by providing the first cover 103 that covers the top of the printing cylinder 22 and making the first cover 103 openable and closable, it is possible to easily perform work such as replacing the printing plate 26 on the printing cylinder 22. In addition, by arranging the ink supply roll 23 below the scaffoldings 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D, and 104E, the overall length of the printing unit 21 can be shortened, and the device can be made more compact.

[0080] In the printing device according to the second aspect, the scaffolds 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D, and 104E are provided with a printing cylinder work opening 102 vertically above the printing cylinder 22, and the first cover 103 is capable of opening and closing the printing cylinder work opening 102. This can improve the ease of operation when replacing the printing plate 26 on the printing cylinder 22, for example.

[0081] In the printing device according to the third aspect, the scaffolding 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D, and 104E and the first cover 103 are provided with reinforcing parts on which an operator can walk. This allows an operator to move by walking on the scaffolding 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D, and 104E and the first cover 103, improving the operability of operations such as plate replacement for the multiple printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D.

[0082] A printing device according to a fourth aspect has a housing 101 disposed therein that covers the vertical upper side of a printing cylinder 22 and the upstream and downstream sides in the conveying direction D, a printing cylinder work opening 102 is provided at the top of the housing 101, and a first cover 103 is capable of opening and closing the printing cylinder work opening 102. As a result, the printing cylinder 22 is disposed inside the housing 101, and the printing cylinder work opening 102 provided at the top of the housing 101 can be opened and closed by the first cover 103, allowing the printing cylinder 22 to be disposed efficiently and improving operability, such as for replacing the printing plate 26 on the printing cylinder 22.

[0083] In the printing device according to the fifth aspect, the upper part of the housing 101 and the first cover 103 are provided with reinforcement parts on which an operator can walk. This allows an operator to walk on the first cover 103 to move between the scaffolds 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D, improving the operability of operations such as plate replacement for the multiple printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D.

[0084] In the printing device according to the sixth aspect, the first cover 103 is disposed vertically above the scaffolds 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D. This allows a worker standing on the scaffolds 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D to open the first cover 103, which is located higher than the scaffolds 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D, to perform work such as replacing a printing plate, improving workability.

[0085] In the printing device according to the seventh aspect, the printing cylinder 22 is supported so as to be movable between a printing position in contact with the ink supply roll 23, and a working position where the printing cylinder 22 can be raised from the printing position and accessed through the printing cylinder working opening 102. This allows an operator to access the printing cylinder 22 at this position by raising the printing cylinder 22 from the printing position, improving the ease of operation for plate replacement and the like.

[0086] In the printing apparatus according to the eighth aspect, stairs that allow workers to ascend and descend are provided for scaffolds 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D, and 104E, and a printing plate storage area 108 is provided where workers can take printing plates 26 in and out from scaffolds 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D, and 104E. This allows workers to easily move between scaffolds 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D, and 104E, printing plate storage area 108, and printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D when performing work such as plate replacement, thereby improving workability.

[0087] In the printing device according to the ninth aspect, the first cover 103 can be opened and closed from at least one of the upstream side and downstream side of the printing cylinder 22 in the conveying direction D. This allows an operator to access the printing cylinder 22 from the upstream side or downstream side of the conveying direction D.

[0088] The printing device according to the tenth aspect is provided with a locking mechanism that prevents the first cover 103 from being opened while the printing cylinder 22 is in operation, thereby improving safety.

[0089] In the printing device according to the eleventh aspect, the ink supply units 24, 27 are disposed below the scaffolds 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D, 104E, and the scaffolds 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D, 104E are provided with an ink supply unit work opening 121 provided vertically above the ink supply units 24, 27, and a second cover 122 capable of opening and closing the ink supply unit work opening 121. This makes it possible to shorten the overall length of the printing unit 21, and when an operator opens the second cover 122, the ink supply units 24, 27 can be accessed from the ink supply unit work opening 121, improving the workability of work such as maintenance of the ink supply units 24, 27.

[0090] In the printing device according to the twelfth aspect, the ink supply unit 24 is supported so as to be movable between a printing position in contact with the ink supply roll 23 and a working position accessible through the ink supply unit working opening 121. This allows an operator to access the ink supply unit 24 at the working position by moving the ink supply unit 24 from the printing position, and allows the operator to easily perform work such as maintenance of the ink supply unit 24.

[0091] In the printing press according to the thirteenth aspect, printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D are arranged at predetermined intervals in the conveying direction D, and scaffoldings 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D, and 104E are arranged above the printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D. This makes it possible to shorten the overall length of the printing section 21, and to reduce the size of the device.

[0092] The box former according to the fourteenth aspect includes a paper feed unit 11, a printing unit 21, a paper discharge unit 31, a die-cut unit 41, a folding unit 51, and a counter ejector unit 61. This allows the overall length of the printing unit 21 to be shortened, and the device to be made more compact.

[0093] In the above embodiment, four scaffolds 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D are provided for the four printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D, but the number of each is not limited to four, and may be three or less or five or more. In addition, the number of printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D and the number of scaffolds 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D are the same, but the number of scaffolds 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D for the printing units 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D may be less or more.

[0094] In the above embodiment, the ink supply roll 23 is disposed on the downstream side of the printing cylinder 22 in the transport direction D, but it may be disposed on the upstream side. In addition, the printing cylinder 22 is capable of ascending and descending, but the printing plate 26 may be replaceable at the printing position.

[0095] In the above-described embodiment, the first cover 103 and the second cover 122 can be opened and closed manually, but they may be opened and closed automatically by a fluid pressure cylinder, a motor, etc. In addition, the ink supply unit 24 can be opened and closed manually, but they may be opened and closed automatically by a fluid pressure cylinder, a motor, etc.

[0096] In the above-described embodiment, the box former 10 includes the paper feed unit 11, the printing unit 21, the paper discharge unit 31, the die-cut unit 41, the folding unit 51, and the counter ejector unit 61, but is not limited to this configuration. For example, there is no limitation as to whether the printing unit 21, the die-cut unit 41, the folding unit 51, and the counter ejector unit 61 are included.

[0097] In the above-described embodiment, the ink supply unit 24 is movable between a printing position in contact with the ink supply roll 23 and a work position where work can be performed from the ink supply unit work opening 121, and the ink supply unit 24 is movable between a stored position and an exposed position, which is one of the work positions, but this is not limiting. As long as a worker can work from the ink supply unit work opening 121, the ink supply unit 24 may be located below the scaffolding 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D, and 104E, rather than at an exposed position where at least a part of the ink supply unit 24 is exposed to the outside through the ink supply unit work opening 121.

[0098] FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the operating state of the ink supply unit.

[0099] For example, as shown in FIG. 22, the ink supply unit 24 (ink chamber 131) first moves from a printing position (ink supply position where the ink chamber 131 is in close contact with the ink supply roll 23 with a predetermined pressure) below the scaffolding and in contact with the ink supply roll 23 to a retreat position where at least the ink chamber 131 is separated from the ink supply roll 23. Next, the ink supply unit 24 is rotated to a position where the ink chamber 131 faces vertically upward, that is, toward the ink supply unit work opening 121 side, by applying the above-mentioned embodiment. In this case, the state where the ink chamber 131 faces the ink supply unit work opening 121 side is the work position. In FIG. 22, the three movement positions of the ink supply unit 24 are indicated by two-dot chain lines. In other words, as long as the ink chamber 131 faces the ink supply unit work opening 121 side, the rotation position of the ink supply unit 24 is not limited. In this way, since the ink chamber 131 faces the ink supply unit work opening 121, the worker can work through the ink supply unit work opening 121 even if the ink supply unit 24 is located below the scaffolding. [Explanation of symbols]

[0100] 10 Box making machine 11 Paper feed section 12 Tables 13 Front guard 14 Supply roller 15 Suction device 16 Feed Roll 21 Printing Department (Printing Machine) 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D Printing unit (printing device) 22 Printing cylinder 23 Ink supply roll 24, 24A, 24B, 24C, 27 Ink supply unit 25 Receiving roll 26 Printing plate 31 Paper output section 32 First Crease Roll 33 2nd Crease Roll 34 Slitter head 35 Slottahead 41 Die-cut section 51 Folding Section 61 Counter ejector section 101 Housing 101a Ceiling 101b,101c Vertical wall part 102 Working opening for printing cylinder 103 First Cover 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D, 104E Scaffolding 105 Handrail 106 Plate Retaining Brush 107 Stairs 108 Printing Plate Storage 111, 112, 123 Flange section (reinforcement section) 113,113a,113b Support shaft 114 Gas Spring 121 Ink supply work opening 122 2nd Cover 131 Ink Chamber 132 Air Cylinder 141 Support shaft 142 Base Plate 143 Support hole 144 Support tube 145 Jig 146 Jig insertion tube 147 Guide hole 148 Slide Plate 149 Guide shaft 150 Connecting shaft 151 Connecting member 161 Toride 162 Connecting lever 163 Gas Spring 171 Connecting lever 172 Air Cylinder 181 Guide rail 182 Guide member 183 Air Cylinder D Conveying direction (sheet conveying direction) W Width direction

Claims

1. A printing device that prints by transporting a sheet in a horizontal direction, a printing cylinder onto which a printing plate can be attached; an ink supply roll disposed on the upstream side or downstream side of the printing cylinder in a sheet conveying direction and capable of coming into contact with the printing cylinder; an ink supply unit capable of supplying ink to the ink supply roll; a first cover that covers an upper portion of the printing cylinder in a vertical direction and is openable and closable; a scaffold covering an upper portion of the ink supply roll in a vertical direction so that an operator can work thereon; Equipped with the first cover is capable of opening and closing a printing cylinder work opening formed on a vertically upper surface of the printing cylinder; Printing device.

2. the scaffold is provided with a work opening for the printing cylinder above the printing cylinder in a vertical direction, and the first cover is capable of opening and closing the work opening for the printing cylinder. The printing device of claim 1 .

3. The scaffolding and the first cover are provided with a reinforcement portion on which a worker can walk. The printing device according to claim 2 .

4. a housing is disposed to cover the upper side of the printing cylinder in the vertical direction and the upstream and downstream sides in the sheet transport direction, and an opening for working the printing cylinder is provided in an upper portion of the housing, and the first cover is capable of opening and closing the opening for working the printing cylinder. The printing device of claim 1 .

5. The upper part of the housing and the first cover are provided with a reinforcement portion on which an operator can walk. The printing device according to claim 4.

6. The first cover is disposed vertically above the scaffolding.

6. The printing device according to claim 4 or 5.

7. The printing cylinder is supported so as to be movable between a printing position in contact with the ink supply roll and a working position in which the printing cylinder can be raised from the printing position and can be operated through an operating opening for the printing cylinder. The printing device according to any one of claims 2 to 6.

8. A staircase is provided on the scaffolding so that workers can ascend and descend, and a printing plate storage area is provided so that workers can take the printing plate in and out from the scaffolding. The printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. the first cover can be opened and closed from at least one of the upstream side and the downstream side in a sheet conveying direction; The printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. a lock mechanism is provided to prevent the first cover from being opened while the printing cylinder is in operation; The printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The ink supply unit is disposed below the scaffold, the scaffold is provided with an ink supply unit work opening provided vertically above the ink supply unit, and a second cover capable of opening and closing the ink supply unit work opening; The printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The ink supply unit is supported so as to be movable between a printing position in contact with the ink supply roll and a working position in which the ink supply unit can be operated through an operating opening for the ink supply unit. The printing device of claim 11.

13. a plurality of printing devices according to any one of claims 1 to 12 are arranged at predetermined intervals in a sheet transport direction, and the scaffold is arranged above the plurality of printing devices; printing machine.

14. a paper feed unit for feeding sheets; A printing unit that prints on the sheet; a paper discharge unit that performs edge cutting, creasing, and groove cutting on the sheet; a folding section for folding the sheet and joining the ends to form a box; a counter ejector unit that counts and stacks the boxes and then ejects them in a predetermined number; Equipped with The printing section includes a printing machine according to claim 13. Box making machine.

Images