WO2006039893A1

WO2006039893A1 - Device and method for adapting plates for exact arrangement on a plate carrying device

Info

Publication number: WO2006039893A1
Application number: PCT/DE2005/001752
Authority: WO
Inventors: Reinhold Meiler; Wilfried Burgert
Original assignee: 2B Präzisionstechnik GmbH für Druck und Industrie
Priority date: 2004-10-07
Filing date: 2005-09-30
Publication date: 2006-04-20
Also published as: DE102004048973A1; EP1807227A1

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to prepare plates in a universal and simple manner for arrangement on different types of carrier devices. The invention therefore provides a device (30) for the preparation of plates (12) such that they can be placed on a carrier device (10,16) by bending an edge area (26,27) of the plate (12) enabling an edge (17) of the carrier device (10,16) to be encompassed thereby and/or engaged from the rear by means of said bent edge area (26,27). The inventive device comprises a retaining device (36) which is used to retain the plate (12), a bending device with a bending element (38) for gradual bending of the edge area (26,27) of the plate (12) and a transport device (34) for gradual relative displacement of the bending device and plate (12). The invention also relates to a corresponding method. The method and device can be used more particularly to adapt printing plates (12) to print rollers.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING PLATES FOR EXTACT PLACEMENT ON A PLATEN DISKING DEVICE

The invention relates to a device and a method for preparing plates for an arrangement on a carrying device. The invention is particularly suitable for preparing printing plates for mounting on printing rolls of printing presses. More generally, the invention is useful for plating flat or cylindrical bodies of various types.

In printing presses, as used for example in newspaper printing, but also for most other printed matters, the texts or graphics to be printed-in technical language the print image is called "image" - are applied to printing plates For multi-color printing, there is a separate printing plate for each color, which is applied to a printing roller, for exact matching printing, it is important to position the printing plate exactly on the printing roller.

In Fig. 1, a first pressure roller 10 is schematically sketched. The pressure roller 10 has for the exact positioning of a pressure plate 12 shown in Fig. 4 at its periphery one or more axially extending grooves 14, 15. In Fig. 2 is a second, differently dimensioned pressure roller 16 with clamped pressure plate 12 in in axi ¬er seen direction seen top view. For each pressure plate 10, 16, the circumferential distance U of the grooves 14, 15, the radial orientation of the grooves 14, 15 (angle α) and the shape of the edge 17 between the groove wall 14a and the peripheral surface 18 are characteristic.

Fig. 3 shows an example of an embodiment of a groove 14 with such edge 17 in an enlarged schematic representation. The edge 17 is generally rounded off with a certain radius η, which is likewise characteristic of a specific pressure roller i. A key 20 is in the groove 14 for positioning the pressure plate 12 in provided in the axial direction. Positioning in the circumferential direction takes place via the two grooves 14, 15.

For accurate pressure, the pressure plate 12 should be precisely matched to the grooves 14, 15, as shown by way of example in FIG. For this purpose, there are machines with which the printing plates 12 provided with Image 22 are prepared for placement on the printing roller. When applying the images 22 same position marks 24 are brought auf¬, at which the machine can orient. It optically scans the position marks 24, positions the pressure plate 12 accordingly, and then bends opposite edges 26 and 27 of the pressure plates 12, most of which are formed of sheet metal, adapted to the groove shape and edge shape of the groove 14, 15 and edge 17, respectively. Also, a recess (not shown) for detecting the feather key 20 is introduced. For this, greatest accuracy is advantageous. An example of such a machine with positioning device is described in DE 198 06 579 A1, to which explicit reference is made for further details.

These machines in particular bend the opposite edge regions 26, 27 from the original planar extension by an angle β, which is adapted to the angle α. In the examples shown of the angle definitions in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, β = 90 ° + α. The shape of the bending edge 28 of the pressure plate 12 is exactly adapted to the edge 17 so that it rests exactly on it. Therefore, this bending edge 28 with the ent speaking radius T ₁ as the edge 17 is rounded. The distance A ₁ and A _{2 of} the bending edges is determined by the position mark 24, so that the sum A ₁ + A ₂ = U.

Each printing press manufacturer uses pressure rollers with corresponding characteristic features U, 17, 14, 15, η. The manufacturers usually also offer suitable machines for preparing the printing plates 12 for use in their printing press as accessories. Now there are more and more printing companies with several printing presses from different manufacturers. For each one is currently a separate printing plate straightening machine necessary. There is therefore the need to be able to prepare the printing plates 12 for different printing rollers 12, 16 with a single machine.

But even with a pressure roller, different radii ri, r ₂ and even a third radius r ₃ may be necessary. Fig. 5 shows a side view of an already prepared for a particularly complicated on the market pressure roller curved Pressure plate 12, at which the three radii T ₁ , r ₂ and r ₃ are present. In previous printing plate straightening machines, fixed shaping edges are provided for all of these three radii in order to be able to bend the printing plate with the necessary accuracy. The radii of the edge shapes of pressure rollers in question here are usually of the order of magnitude of a few millimeters, for example 0.5 to 4 mm, typically 2 or 3 mm.

The problem has been described above with reference to the example of printing rollers and printing plates. Instead of rollers, the printing press could also have another carrier, for example a flat carrier plate, on which a printing plate can be clamped accordingly at its edges. Again, there is a need to be able to provide with a machine adjustments to different carriers.

In general, this need exists everywhere where a plurality of different carriers with a plate-like covering are to be so precisely documented that the lining encompasses edges of the carrier.

The basic object of the invention is to provide a device and a method for preparing plate-shaped coverings, in particular plate-shaped graphic support media, which can be used more universally than hitherto.

For this long-standing problem has long been sought in vain for solutions. While a firm adaptation to an existing radius in the prior art is now almost perfectly mastered, a change in edge shapes was not dealt with with the required accuracy. Difficulties made th that not only a lower, the pressure roller edge shape replicating edge shape had to be replaced, but also the trajectory of the Bie¬ geelements that presses the edge region of the plate to be bent to this edge shape, must be adjusted.

A useful solution provides the non-prepublished German patent application 10 2004 029 722.3 before, the application documents of the present patent application are attached and to which reference is expressly made for further details and forms part of the present disclosure. In this case, adapting the plate-making device to various carrier devices, a plurality of edge forms is provided, which for Adjusting to a particular carrier device selected and arranged to be arranged. The trajectory of the bending element is adjusted by a change mechanism with which a pivot axis for a bending beam is displaceable.

With the invention, a simple and inexpensive to produce, universal insertable plate-making device is now to be created, which should advantageously also be nachhi¬ no other edge shapes than initially provided customizable. In addition, a simple, universally applicable method for bending plates for exak¬ th positioning to a variety of support device is to be created.

This object is achieved by a device having the features of appended claim 1 and a method comprising the steps of the appended subclaim.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention accordingly provides a device for preparing plates for an arrangement on a carrier device, such as, for example, on a roller, in particular a pressure roller, or on a printing table. The preparation takes place by bending an edge region of the plate in order to encompass and / or reach behind an edge of the support device with the bent edge region. The device according to the invention has a holding device for holding the plate and a bending device with a bending element for bending over the edge region of the plate. With the Festhalteein¬ direction, the plate is held and bent with the bending device. In contrast to the device and the method according to the German patent application 10 2004 029 722.3, however, the bending shape is not determined by adapting to an edge shape. The bending is done rather in small steps by small angle, wherein between the Umbiegängen the plate is always nachgescho¬ ben relative to the molding device a piece.

Although it is in a preferred embodiment of the invention - as in the earlier patent application - also a mold device, which provides a - usually flat - support surface for placing the plate to be held by the retaining device and be¬ adjacent to the support surface edge shape. However, even if, for example, an edge shape with a very small radius r _{0 is} used here, the By bending over a much larger radius or any other forms nach¬ be formed.

Thus, the plate can be adapted to different shaped edges of the carrier device. Different edge shapes on the carrier device are, for example, cylindrically rounded edges with different radii of curvature. Other bends with different curvature dimensions are conceivable. The replication takes place by stepwise bending and advancing, so that when viewed exactly, a polygonal line is created as an edge shape. However, with a sufficiently small choice of bending angles and path steps, even very small radii and very fine complicated bending shapes can be reproduced very accurately.

The control of the molding process is preferably carried out with a programmable Steue¬ tion and appropriately adapted software, which coordinates the relative displacement of plate and mold in steps .DELTA.s and the bending by small angles in steps Δφ mit¬ each other. By software update, which could also be done online, a new Umbiegeform, for example, a circular arc shape can be set with a new radius and hindsight, long after delivery and installation of the device without mechani¬ cal work.

The bending device preferably has a bending beam as a bending element, which can grasp and bend the edge area of the plate held by the retaining device on the flat support. The bending beam is moreover preferably mounted on its end regions in such a way that it can be pivoted about the respectively selected edge shape. The swivel radius can remain the same at different radii and is preferably adapted to a smallest possible radius r ₀ , which is predetermined by a corresponding edge shape, as it is fundamentally already state of the art. Radii η> r ₀ can then easily be reproduced by the stepping technique according to the invention.

The retaining device preferably has a pressing element, in particular a pressing beam. The pressing element is more preferably movable relative to the flat bearing surface. So you can then press the plate to hold against the flat Auflageflä¬ che. By moving the pressing member in the other direction, the plate is then released again. In principle, the retaining device can be used independently of the bending Geeinrichtung be trained and movable. The construction becomes simpler if the retaining device is displaceable together with the bending device.

In order to be able to bend a plurality of edge regions of the plate, in particular the opposing edge regions 26 and 27, in one processing step, it is preferred that a plurality of clinching devices be provided. With the technology according to the invention, it is now possible to design these now completely the same or simply mirror-inverted. Different bending forms are also realized here by the software and the stepwise bending.

Preferably, a positioning device for aligning the plate prior to holding and bending is further provided, in particular the type as shown and described in DE 198 06 579 A1. This positioning device is more preferably also used as a transport device for the stepwise relative displacement of plate and bending element. Alternatively, the shaping device can be moved with the retaining and bending element and the plate can be held stationary.

The movements of the individual units of the device are preferably via stepper motors. These can be controlled very accurately and thus enable the electronically controlled stepwise shaping. With stepper motors on the market today, micrometer-accurate adjustments can be made with the forces necessary for bending and moving.

The invention further provides, in particular by means of a device according to the invention, optionally manually or preferably (eg by computer assistance) automatically practicable method for preparing a plate for the purpose of applying the same to a carrier device. In the method, an edge region of the plate is bent such that the edge region of the plate can comprise and / or reach behind an edge of the carrier device as accurately as possible. In a preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention has the following steps: a) holding the plate, b) bending the plate at a first position with a bending element, c) releasing the plate d) relative displacement of the bending element and the plate e) holding the plate f) bending the plate at a second position with the bending element and g) repeating steps a) to f) until a desired bending shape is achieved.

Preferred uses of the device according to the invention or of the method according to the invention are the graphic industry and printing operations as well as reproduction machines, where the invention can be used in particular for preparing printing plates for different printing rollers. With a single device according to the invention, for example, a printing operation can prepare all printing plates for two or more different printing presses, for example also from different manufacturers.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying Zeich¬ statement. It shows:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first pressure roller as an example of a

Carrier device, to which plates, such as printing plates, an¬ are to fit;

2 is a plan view in the axial direction of a second pressure roller for explaining the different parameters of pressure rollers, which are to be taken into account during the adaptation;

3 shows a perspective detailed view of an end region of a groove in one of the two pressure rollers of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 for further clarification of the different pressure roller parameters;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a part of a printing plate, which is already for

Attachment is prepared on a pressure roller;

5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a further printing plate, which is prepared for attachment to another, not shown, pressure roller vor¬;

Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a

Device for preparing a printing plate, by means of which the printing plate in the form shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 can be brought, wherein only parts of the device of interest are shown here, and further, basically known parts have been omitted for the sake of clarity; and

FIG. 7 shows a further schematic cross-sectional view comparable to FIG. 6 to clarify the implementation and use of the folding method that can be carried out with the device; FIG.

8 to 17 are schematic cross-sectional views of the apparatus of FIG. 6 at successive steps of the Umbiegeverfahrens.

In the aforementioned earlier German Patent Application 10 2004 029722.3 a device for the preparation of printing plates is explained in detail. The present device differs from the device of the earlier patent application essentially by the design of the molding device for shaping the edge shape and by the controller for controlling this molding process.

In Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of the essential parts of such a plate-making device 30 with a molding device 32 and a transport device 34 ge shows.

The molding device 32 has a retaining element 36 for holding a pressure plate to be bent over during the bending process, a bending element 38 for bending over the edge region of the printing plate and an edge shape 40. The retaining element is in the embodiment shown a pressing bar 36. The bending element is formed here in the form of a bending beam 38; and the edge shape is formed by a mold bar 40 in the embodiment shown.

The mold bar 40 has a flat bearing surface 42 against which the pressure plate 12 can be pressed with the help of the press bar 36 for holding. The mold bar 40 further has a with a minimum radius R ₀ in section arcuately profiled edge 44. Subsequently, this arcuately bent edge 44 is followed by a flat surface 46 at. The pressing beam 36 and the bending beam 38 can be moved together by means of one or more stepping motors in the horizontal direction in order to hold or release the pressure plate on the bearing surface 42. In addition, a pivoting device 48, not shown, is provided, by means of which the bending beam 38 is pivotable relative to the press beam 36 and the forming beam 40 about a first center M1 with a radius approximately equal to the radius R ₀ plus the thickness D of the pressure plate 12 equivalent.

The transport device 34 serves, on the one hand, for the exact positioning of the printing plate, in order to introduce the corresponding edge shape and possibly further shapes on the printing plate 12. In the present example, however, the transport device 34 serves in addition to a stepwise displacement of the printing plate 12 relative to the forming device 32. For this purpose, the transport device 34 has a transport table 50, on which the printing plate 12 can be sucked in by a vacuum device and thereby fixed , For positioning and advancing the pressure plate 12, the transport table 50 can be displaced relative to the mold bar 40 by means of at least one servomotor 52.

The molding device 32 with pressing beam 36 and bending beam 38 can be moved in a preferred embodiment in total on a guide 54.

In Figure 6, only one side of the device is shown. Seen on the right in FIG. 6, a further shaping device arranged in mirror image, which otherwise corresponds exactly to the form device 32, can be connected. By relative movement of the mold devices to each other, the desired distance U of the bent edges 38 can be adjusted. In such an embodiment, it is also advantageous if, alternatively or in addition to the servomotor control of the transport table 50, the movement of the form devices 32 in the guides can also be controlled by a further servomotor 56.

All servomotors or stepper motors 52, 56 for relative displacement of the pressure plate 12 and shaping device 32 and for moving the pressing beam 36 and the bending beam 38 can be realized by a programmable logic control device, which can be realized, for example, in a commercially available computer or separately on the device is intended to control. The control is carried out further preferably by means of a loaded into the control device software. This control device, which is not shown here, controls the movement of the Plattenherrichtvorrichtung such that in the event that a selected radius R _n , which is greater than the smallest radius R ₀ , to serve for shaping, a gradual Abbieg the pressure plate he follows. The pressure plate 12 is first brought into the direction of the plate feed 58 between the shaped bars 40 on the one hand and the pressing bars 36 and bending bars 38 on the other hand and then bent by pivoting the bending bar by a small bending angle Δφ. Thereafter, the printing plate 12 is pushed forward by the transport table by a small distance step Δs, whereupon a second bend then takes place. By repeating these steps, a more and more extensive turn occurs until, after the last bend, as indicated in FIG. 6, a circular arc-shaped edge shape with radius R _{n is} reproduced by the resulting polygonal line. Despite the relatively simple mechanism of always the same bending of the bending beam with a constant radius around the constant center Mi, a much larger selected radius R _n with a different center M _{2 can be} achieved.

As indicated in FIG. 7, this center point M ₂ then corresponds to the bending center desired for the entire pressure plate 12.

The bending process is explained in more detail below with reference to the illustration of the individual steps in FIGS. 8-17.

In Fig. 8, the pressure plate 12 is inserted between the mold bar 40 and the pressing bar 36 and the bending beam 38. The pressure plate 12 is still flat.

As the next step, as shown in the illustration of Fig. 9, the unit of Press¬ beam 36, pivoting device 48 and bending beam 38 moves down to the mold bar 40 to hold the pressure plate 12.

As shown in Fig. 10, then the bending beam 38 is pivoted by a small angle Δ φ around the center M ₁ .

As shown in Fig. 11, then the bending beam 38 is pivoted back and, see Fig. 12, the unit of pressing beam 36, bending beam 38 and pivoting device 48 after moved upward to release the pressure plate 12. The transport device 34 then moves the pressure plate 12 further into the former 32 by a step Δs.

Again, as shown in FIG. 13, a pressing operation and a swinging operation ending as shown in FIG. 14 are performed.

These steps are repeated over and over until the Um¬ bending mold shown in Fig. 15 for the pressure plate 15 is.

In Fig. 16 it is shown that the center M _{2 of} the bending mold for the printing plate thus obtained differs from the center Mi of the pivoting movement.

And in FIG. 17, the actual Umbiege¬ radius R _n actually obtained compared to the radius R _{0 is} illustrated.

As explained, this process is controlled by software. By a Software¬ change or by a supplement other bending shapes can be achieved without mechanical parts of the device would have to be changed or changed. A software change can also take place remotely, for example via the Internet, if the controller has a corresponding network interface.

The bend has been explained using a circular arc shape, which represents the most common shape. Naturally, this bending technique also makes it possible to reproduce other shapes such as elliptical or paraboloidal shapes.

Seen microscopically, the edge shape obtained by this technique is not exactly circular, but with small humps, so to speak polygonzugförmig formed. However, the individual sections of this traverse are not formed by straight lines, but rather by curves with the radius R _{0 of} the stationarily used edge 44 of the forming beam 40.

Nevertheless, a very exact adaptation to the current edge shapes of pressure rollers or the like can be achieved by a corresponding multiplicity of steps. The process can be carried out very quickly and automated so that more than 300-350 printing plates per hour can be prepared.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

first pressure roller

Pressure plate first groove second groove second pressure roller

edge

peripheral surface

Adjusting spring

image

position marks

edge region

Bending edge of the printing plate

Plate Herricht device

forming device

transport means

Pressing beam (retaining element)

Bending beam (bending element)

Form beam (edge shape)

bearing surface

Edge flat surface

Pivot means

transport table

servomotor

guide 56 servomotor

58 plate feed

Ai ₁ A ₂ Distance bending edges of position marks

D thickness of the printing plate 12

M ₁₁ M ₂ center line of the edge shape η, r ... radius of curvature of the edge 17 or an ith edge shape

U circumferential distance

Claims

A device (30) for preparing plates (12) for placement on a support (10, 16) by bending an edge portion (26, 27) of the plate (12) to engage with the bent edge portion (26, 27) Edge (17) of the support means (10, 16), and / or behind, comprising: a retaining means (36) for holding the plate (12), a bending device with a bending element (38) for stepwise bending of the edge region (26, 27) of the plate (12) and with a transport device (34) for the stepwise relative displacement of the Biegeein¬ direction and the plate (12).

Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is controlled in such a way that the bending device initially bends the plate (12) at a first position, then it is displaced by the transport device (34) relative to the plate (12), then bends another piece at a second position and repeat these steps until the desired bender shape is achieved.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a programmable logic controller for controlling the Umbiegevorganges is seen vor¬.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the controller is programmable via an interface in order to convert the device for forming new Umbiegeformen and / or to upgrade.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the device is connectable to an electronic network for remote maintenance and Softwareup¬ date.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bending device as a bending element comprises a bending beam (38) for detecting and bending the edge portion (27) which is mounted at its end portions so that it relative to the retaining means (36). is pivotable.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining means comprises a pressing element, in particular a pressing beam (36) which is movable relative to a support surface (42) to the plate (12) for holding against the support surface (42). 42) to press or to solve it.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of Umbiege- or shaping devices (32) which are each provided with the Festhalteeinrich¬ device (36) and the bending device (), for bending and / or forming a plurality of edge regions (26 , 27) of the plate (12) are provided.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the Umbiege- or forming means (32) are movable relative to each other.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that two Umbiegeinheiten (36, 38, 40) for bending opposite Kantenberei¬ che (26, 27) are provided, which in order to set a distance of the bends (28) of the edge regions (26, 27 ) are movable towards and away from each other.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized a plate positioning device (50) is provided for aligning the plate (12) prior to holding and bending.

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the transport device (34) the plate positioning device (50) and a An¬ drive means (56, 52) for the stepwise relative displacement of the bending element (38) and plate (12).

13. A method for preparing a plate (12) for the purpose of applying the same to a carrier device (10, 16) by bending an edge region (26, 27) of the plate (12), so that the edge region (26, 27) of the plate (12 ) can engage and / or engage behind an edge (17) of the carrier device (10, 16) by: i) bending the edge region (26, 27) of the plate (12) at a first position by an angular step by means of a bending element (38 ii) relative displacement of the plate (12) and the flexure (38) iii) bending of the edge region (26, 27) of the plate (12) at a second position iv) repeating steps i) to iii) until reaching a desired bending shape is.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that in steps i) and iii) the bending by pivoting the bending element (38) by an angular step Δφ and the relative displacement in each case by a distance step Δs such that by a then resulting polygon a circular arc shape is modeled, which is adapted to the shape of the edge (17) of the carrier device (10, 16).