Can printing machine

Abstract

Provided is a can printing machine capable, with a simple structure, of preventing condensation on a plate cylinder and other constituent elements of the can printing machine and stabilizing printing quality.　A can printing machine (100) has a plurality of ink devices (113) each having a chute (111), a mandrel wheel (112), and a plate cylinder (114), a blanket wheel (123), and a temperature adjustment management unit (130) including a plate cylinder temperature adjustment unit (131) for adjusting temperature and humidity in the surroundings of the plate cylinder (114). The temperature adjustment management unit (130) further has a control unit (135). The plate cylinder temperature adjustment unit (131) has a temperature / humidity adjustment mechanism (132) for adjusting temperature and humidity of the air to be blown to the plate cylinder (114), and a plate cylinder blower mechanism (133) for blowing the air of which the temperature and the humidity have been adjusted by the temperature / humidity adjustment mechanism (132). The control unit (135) is configured to be able to set the air to be blown at a prescribed temperature and with a prescribed humidity by controlling the temperature / humidity adjustment mechanism (132).

Description

Can printing machine

[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.

[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 has 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 unit (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 unit (40) for adjusting the temperature of the ink leveling roller (10b), and a plate cylinder cooling unit (55) for cooling the plate cylinder (2). By cooling the temperatures of the ink supply function roller (10a), the ink leveling 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 from the plate cylinder (2) to the blanket or from the plate cylinder (2) to the cans, and the printing quality can be stabilized.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-74997

[0006] However, the printing presses known from the above-mentioned patent documents still had room for improvement. Specifically, in the printing press known from Patent Document 1, when cold air was 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. As a result, the temperature of the cold air had to be set higher to prevent condensation, which could lead to insufficient temperature control of the plate cylinder.

[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.

[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.

[0010] The can printing press according to claim 1 has a plate cylinder temperature control unit comprising 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 being 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 on cans by using cool air. As a result, a stable predetermined transfer pressure can be maintained when transferring ink to the plate cylinder and when transferring ink from the plate cylinder to the blanket, thereby stabilizing the print quality. Furthermore, since the temperature and humidity control mechanism is configured to set the humidity of the cool air blown onto the plate cylinder to a predetermined humidity, even when the plate cylinder and each component of the printing press are cooled, the humidity of the atmosphere around the printing press can also be reduced by the cool air with low humidity, so that condensation does not occur, no water from condensation adheres to the ink, and the transfer of ink to the plate cylinder and blanket and the printing on cans can be stabilized. 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 when the plate cylinder is cooled with cold air, it is possible to reliably prevent condensation from occurring on the plate cylinder and the components of the printing press, and to stabilize the ink transferability.

[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 on 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. In addition, it is possible to prevent blowing out more cold air than necessary, thereby reducing the cost of operating the can printing press. According to the configuration described in claim 5, the temperature control management unit further comprises a space temperature control unit, which comprises a sealed wall section composed of a side wall section extending upward from the floor surface on which the can printing press is installed and a top wall section connected to the upper end of the side wall section, and a sealed space air blowing mechanism that blows temperature-controlled air into the space enclosed by the sealed wall section. As a result, the ambient temperature around the entire printing press 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 sealed 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 an operator 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. In addition, foreign matter such as dust can be prevented from flowing into the inside of the sealed wall. 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 cans that are received by the can printing machine are transported by 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 when the cans cool down 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 a portion of the can printing press in each of multiple equipment housing units, the can printing press can be easily moved by transporting the entire equipment housing unit when relocating it. According to the configuration described in claim 9, since the equipment housing unit is configured to be divisible vertically, for example, if the equipment housing unit is configured to be divisible into sizes suitable for container storage, the divided equipment housing units can be easily stored in the container and transported when transporting the can printing press in a container, thereby reducing transportation costs. In addition, the arrangement of the can printing press 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 area required for installing the can printing press can be reduced, improving stacking efficiency.

[0015] A schematic front view of a can printing press 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. A perspective view showing the installation state of the printing device 110 and the equipment housing unit 160 of the can printing press 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. A schematic front view showing the configuration of the plate cylinder temperature control unit 131 of the can printing press 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. A schematic front view showing the configuration around the ink device 113 of the can printing press 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. A schematic top view showing the configuration around the ink device 113 of the can printing press 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. A perspective view showing the configuration of the can printing press 100 housed in the equipment housing unit 160 according to one embodiment of the present invention. A perspective view showing an example of the divided transport of the equipment housing unit 160 of the can printing press 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Table 1 shows the difference in humidity around the plate cylinder 114 with and without dehumidification during a period of high humidity (summer) of the can printing press 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Table 2 shows the difference in humidity around the plate cylinder 114 of the can printing press 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, depending on whether or not dehumidification is performed during a period of low humidity (winter). Table 3 shows the ink transfer properties of the can printing press 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention depending on humidity.

[0016] A can printing machine 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 7. For the sake of explanation, the temperature control unit 130 and the equipment housing unit 160 are not shown in Figure 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 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 each having a cylindrical plate cylinder 114, a blanket wheel 123 that mounts a blanket (not shown) onto which ink is transferred from the plate cylinder 114 and 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 for adjusting the temperature and humidity around the plate cylinders 114 (114a, 114b, 114c, 114d, 114e, 114f, 114g, 114h), an in-space temperature control unit 140 for adjusting the temperature of the space surrounding the printing apparatus 110 and the equipment housing unit, and a transport path temperature control unit 150 for heating the inside of the chute 111, and a temperature control management unit 130.

[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 group of rollers, an ink supply function roller 119 is positioned on the upstream side approaching the ink fountain 116, which has the function of supplying ink M from the ink fountain 116 via a fountain roller 117, a duct roller 118, etc., and an ink leveling roller 120 is positioned on the downstream side 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 a form roller 121 to the plate cylinder 114.

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

[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 cool air A3, which has been adjusted 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. 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 be automatically switched ON / OFF based on the ambient temperature and humidity of the printing apparatus 110. The plate cylinder temperature control unit 131 may also be configured to allow individual ON / OFF switching of temperature control and humidity control. Alternatively, it may be configured to allow manual ON / OFF switching. The temperature and humidity control mechanism 132 uses an air conditioning system that has a cooling / heating function and a desiccant-type dehumidification function. 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 has 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 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 a 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 taken-in air, and may also be equipped with a dehumidifier that adjusts the humidity of the taken-in air. Alternatively, the sealed 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 divisible 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 machine control panel 165, a temperature control unit 166, a cooling water chiller 167, and a mist separator 168. Other components may be installed as appropriate. 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 increased.

[0025] Furthermore, the equipment housing unit 160 does not necessarily have to be fixed by placing the upper housing unit 161 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 an upper floor, or the upper housing unit 161 may be placed next to the lower housing unit 164. Connection points for piping and electrical wires connecting each component mounted on the equipment housing unit 160 to the printing device 110 may be provided on the equipment housing unit 160 side. In the case of 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's explain the space temperature control unit 140. As mentioned 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 pressure inside the space surrounded by the sealed wall section 141 to be more positive than the outside pressure using an air supply mechanism 146 and an exhaust mechanism 147 (suction duct 122). This makes it possible to minimize the inflow of outside air from the worker entrance 143 even when workers enter and exit the space surrounded by the sealed wall section 141, and prevents changes in the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere around the printing device 110 and the equipment housing unit 160. It also prevents foreign matter such as dust from entering the inside of the sealed wall section 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 inside 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 provided 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, transferring ink M 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, thereby suppressing changes in transfer pressure due to the expansion of the blanket (not shown) due to temperature changes, and preventing changes in the viscosity of the ink M being transferred, thus stabilizing 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 using an air conditioning system that has a cooling / heating function and a desiccant-type dehumidification function. By cooling / heating and dehumidifying the air taken in from outside the space surrounded by the sealed wall portion 141 with the temperature and humidity control mechanism 132, low-humidity cold air A3 is blown from the outlet 134 toward the plate cylinder 114. This reliably prevents condensation from occurring on the surface or inside of the plate cylinder 114 and other components of the can printing press 100, stabilizing the transfer of ink M and stabilizing the printing quality on the can P. Furthermore, since the cold air A3 is not blown directly onto the outer surface of the plate cylinder 114, it is reliably prevented from drying out or shifting the position of the ink M transferred to the plate cylinder 114 due to the cold air A3.

[0032] Furthermore, the cool air A3 blown from the outlet 134 is recovered from the suction duct 122 along with the ink M mist, so that the cool air A3 directed from the plate cylinder 114 side towards the suction duct 122 can be directed to each component of the ink device 113, thereby cooling each component of the ink device 113. In addition, 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 ON / OFF switch of the plate cylinder temperature control unit 131 can be automatically switched based on the ambient temperature and humidity of the printing device 110. As a result, the temperature and humidity around the plate cylinder 114 can be adjusted at any time without operator intervention, reducing the burden on the operator. In addition, it is possible to prevent blowing more cool air A3 than necessary, which reduces the cost of operating 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 of the supplied air, condensation on each component of the printing apparatus 110 and the equipment housing unit 160 can be prevented even more effectively, and the temperature of each part can be stabilized. It is desirable to set the humidity of the cold air A3 supplied from the plate cylinder temperature control unit 131 to the plate cylinder 114 to 40% RH or less in order to stabilize ink transfer and avoid condensation while controlling the temperature.

[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 outside temperature and humidity are high, the temperature of the plate cylinder 114 and the components of the printing device 110 can be stabilized without condensation, the transfer pressure of the ink M from the blanket (not shown) to the can P can be stabilized, and the ink transfer can be stabilized, thereby maintaining a consistent print quality. Furthermore, by adjusting the temperature around the printing device 110 and the equipment housing unit 160 to predetermined temperatures using the space temperature control unit 140, the entire can printing machine 100 can be kept at an optimal ambient temperature for ink transfer to the plate cylinder 114 and blanket (not shown) and printing on the can P, without being affected by the outside space enclosed by the sealed wall section 141, thereby further stabilizing printing on the can P. In addition, by heating the can P passing through the chute 111 with 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, 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) will be explained based on Figures 8 and 9. The temperature and humidity of the air drawn in by the temperature and humidity control mechanism 132 during the measurements were 27.3°C and 68.0% RH in summer, and 10.8°C and 35.0% RH in winter. In addition, the temperature and humidity inside the space enclosed by the sealed wall section 141 were 26.5°C and 44.0% RH in summer due to cooling, and 27.6°C and 20.0% RH in winter due to heating.

[0038] First, in 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. In contrast, when dehumidification was performed during 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 indicates that in summer, when the outside temperature and humidity are high, the humidity of the cold air A3 itself becomes high when there is no dehumidification, while the humidity of the cold air A3 can be sufficiently reduced when there is dehumidification.

[0039] Next, in winter, as shown in Figure 9, when the temperature and humidity control mechanism 132 heated the cold air A3 blown to the plate cylinder 114 without dehumidification, the average temperature was 15.0°C and the average humidity was 18.3%RH. In contrast, 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 shows that in winter, when the outside temperature and humidity are low, the humidity of the cold air A3 itself becomes sufficiently low even without dehumidification. In other words, by operating 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 humidity and ink transfer properties in cold air A3 based on Figure 10. Ink transfer properties tend to worsen with increasing humidity, so we evaluated the ink transfer properties by observing the printed cans at various humidity levels. As a result, we found that ink transfer properties were good under conditions of humidity below 40% RH.

[0041] If the control unit 135 is configured to monitor the humidity of the cold air A3, when the humidity of the cold air A3 reaches 40% RH or more, the control unit 135 turns on the dehumidification function of the temperature and humidity adjustment mechanism 132, and when the humidity of the cold air A3 reaches 38% RH or less, the control unit 135 turns off the dehumidification function of the temperature and humidity adjustment mechanism 132. By doing so, condensation can be prevented, the printing quality can be stabilized, and the reduction of energy costs can be efficiently and automatically implemented. The control unit 135 may monitor the humidity of the air taken in by the temperature and humidity adjustment mechanism 132 or the atmosphere around the plate cylinder 114, and control the ON / OFF of the dehumidification function of the temperature and humidity adjustment mechanism 132.

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

[0043] In the above-described embodiment, the temperature and humidity adjustment mechanism has been described as using an air conditioner having a cooling / warming function and a desiccant-type dehumidification function. However, the temperature and humidity adjustment mechanism is not limited to this, and for example, a compressor-type dehumidification function may be used. Also, the temperature and humidity adjustment mechanism has been described as taking in air outside the space surrounded by the sealed wall portion. However, the specific configuration of the temperature and humidity adjustment mechanism is not limited to this, and for example, the air inside the sealed wall portion may be taken in.

[0044] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the printing apparatus and the equipment housing unit have been described as being surrounded by a sealed wall portion and configured to supply and exhaust air so as to maintain a positive pressure by the air supply mechanism inside the sealed space of the indoor temperature adjustment unit. However, the configuration of the can printing machine is not limited to this. For example, the sealed wall portion may further have a bottom wall portion, and the printing apparatus and the equipment housing unit may be disposed on the bottom wall portion. Also, without surrounding the printing apparatus and the equipment housing unit with a sealed wall portion, the positive pressure of the room and the temperature adjustment may be performed for the entire room where the printing apparatus and the equipment housing unit are installed by the air supply mechanism inside the sealed space.

[0045] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment was explained as having cans moving within the chute being heated by a transport path temperature control unit, the configuration of the chute is not limited to this. For example, the transport path temperature control unit may be omitted, and a device for heating the cans may be attached to the end of the chute. Also, although the above-described embodiment was explained as having an equipment housing unit that can be divided 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 configured to be divided into three or more parts, and some or all of the components of the printing apparatus 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 having 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 control 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 control unit further has a control unit, the plate cylinder temperature control unit has a temperature and humidity control mechanism for adjusting the temperature and humidity of air blown to the plate cylinder, and a plate cylinder 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 blown air to a predetermined temperature and humidity. (Note 2) The can printing press according to Note 1, characterized in that the plate cylinder air blowing mechanism blows air from the side of the plate cylinder to the inner circumference. (Note 3) The can printing press according to Note 1 or Note 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 can printing press according to any one of Notes 1 to 3, characterized in that the plate cylinder temperature control unit is configured to switch the temperature and humidity control mechanism ON / OFF, and the control unit is configured to automatically switch the temperature and humidity control mechanism ON / OFF based on information about the temperature and humidity around the can printing press. (Note 5) The can printing machine according to any one of Notes 1 to 4, wherein the temperature control unit further comprises an in-space temperature control unit for adjusting the temperature around the can printing machine, and the in-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 an in-sealed space ventilation mechanism for blowing temperature-controlled air into the space enclosed by the sealed wall portion. (Note 6) The can printing machine according to Note 5, wherein the in-sealed space ventilation mechanism has an air supply mechanism that takes in air from outside the space enclosed by the sealed wall portion and maintains positive pressure inside the space enclosed by the sealed wall portion.(Note 7) The can printing machine according to any one of Notes 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 to be received by the can printing machine are transported by the chute. (Note 8) The can printing machine according to any one of Notes 1 to 7, characterized in that the can printing machine further has an equipment housing unit, and the equipment housing unit houses some or all of the elements constituting the can printing machine, either individually or in combination. (Note 9) The can printing machine according to Note 8, characterized in that the equipment housing unit is configured to be divisible in the vertical direction.

[0048] 100 ... Printing press for cans 110 ... Printing device 111 ... Chute 112 ... Mandrel wheel 113 ... Ink device 114 (114a, 114b, 114c, 114d, 114e, 114f, 114g, 114h) ... Plate cylinder 115 ... Cavity 116 ... Ink fountain 117 ... Fountain roller 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 unit 131 ... Plate cylinder temperature control unit 132 ... Temperature and humidity control mechanism 133 ... Plate cylinder air blowing mechanism 134 ...Air outlet 135 ...Control unit 140 ...Space temperature control unit 141 ...Sealed wall section 142 ...Side wall section 143 ...Worker entrance / exit 144 ...Top wall section 145 ...Air blowing mechanism in sealed space 146 ...Air supply mechanism 147 ...Exhaust mechanism 148 ...Loading / unloading exit 150 ...Conveyor path temperature control unit 151 ...Upstream conveying mechanism 152 ...Downstream conveying mechanism 160 ...Equipment housing unit 161 ...Upper housing unit 162 ...Mist suction blower 163 ...Mist suction duct 164 ...Lower housing unit 165 ...Printing press control panel 166 ...Temperature control unit 167 ...Cooling water chiller 168 ...Mist separator C ...Container P ...Can M ...Ink A1 ...Air supply from 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 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 air blown to the plate cylinder, and a plate cylinder 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 blown air to a predetermined temperature and humidity.

2. The printing press for cans 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 can printing press according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate cylinder temperature control unit is configured to switch the temperature and humidity control mechanism ON / OFF, and the control unit is configured to automatically switch the temperature and humidity control mechanism ON / OFF based on information about the temperature and humidity around the can printing press.

5. The can printing machine according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control unit further comprises an in-space temperature control unit for adjusting the temperature around the can printing machine, the in-space temperature control unit comprising 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 ventilation mechanism for blowing 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 according to claim 1, further comprising an equipment housing unit, wherein 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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