Roller Bar Finger Protection Strip for Printing Presses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current roller bars and protective systems in rotary printing presses lack efficient and compact designs for supporting the assembly of printing forms on forme cylinders, often compromising operator safety due to inadequate protection during machine operation.

Innovation Solution

A compact roller bar system with independently actuable pressing elements and a protective strip, featuring a finger protection strip that can be remotely controlled, is integrated into the printing unit to provide enhanced safety and operational flexibility by allowing selective actuation of pressing elements and protective mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a compact roller bar design is used, then the device can be easily arranged in the printing unit, but operator safety protection may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroller bar sizeVSAvoidoperator injury risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protective device is divided into multiple protective elements that can move independently relative to each other, allowing the system to maintain compact dimensions while providing comprehensive safety coverage through coordinated movement of segmented components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protective elements are designed to be movable rather than fixed, enabling them to dynamically adjust their positions to maintain safety gaps during different operational states, thus providing adequate protection within limited space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Volume of moving object

If the protective device is integrated into the roller bar, then space is saved, but access to the pressing element becomes restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice footprintVSAvoidaccess to pressing element
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protective device incorporates movable elements that can shift from a protective position blocking access to the pressing element to a retracted position allowing access, enabling the system to maintain compact integration while providing operational accessibility when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bearing acts as an intermediary mechanism that enables the protective elements to move between protective and accessible positions, mediating between the conflicting requirements of safety coverage and operational access within the integrated compact design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If the protective elements are mounted pivotably about a common axis, then the structure is simplified, but the ability to provide comprehensive protection is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting structureVSAvoidprotection coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple protective elements are mounted pivotably about a common axis, dividing the protection function into segmented components that can independently move to cover different areas, maintaining simplified mounting structure while achieving comprehensive protection coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The common pivot axis serves as a universal mounting mechanism for multiple protective elements, allowing a single simplified structural feature to support multiple protection functions across different positions and angles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2409838B1Roller bar and safety bar
Publication Date: 2014.12.17 KOENIG & BAUER AG
  • EP2409838B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2409838B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2409838B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The roller bar (31) has a pressing element (32) movable in a plane (E1) extending in an axial direction of a plate cylinder of a rotary printing machine. A movably supported protection strip (46) i.e. finger protection strip, extending in the axial direction of the cylinder covers the pressing element. The protection strip is movable in another plane (E2) or the former plane, where the planes are arranged parallel to each other. The protection strip is moved in the latter plane in a radially linear motion directed to the plate cylinder.