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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to offset printing machines and, more
particularly, to drives and driving processes for cylinders and functional
groups of offset printing machines.
2. Description of the Prior Art
DE 42 19 969, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,245, describes an
offset printing machine having a longitudinal shaft which is driven by one
or more electric motors. Drive shafts, which are used to drive the
printing units, unwinders, folder units and functional groups, e.g.,
feeding and transfer rollers, forming rollers, cutting rollers, and
cooling mechanisms, in such printing machines branch off from the
longitudinal shaft via gears and couplings. The gears usually contain
further couplings and gearwheels. These drives are therefore technically
complex and expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is based on creating simplified and less expensive
processes and devices for driving cylinders and functional groups for
offset printing machines.
The individual motor drive of the present invention makes it possible to
dispense with shafts, gears, couplings and gearwheels. In addition,
electrical monitoring devices for the aforementioned components are
dispensed with as well.
Further advantages and features of the present invention will become
apparent when taken in conjunction with the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to
several examples. The accompanying drawings in which like reference
numerals denote similar elements throughout the several views show:
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a printing unit in
accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of a printing unit
in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a third embodiment of a printing unit in
accordance of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a fourth embodiment of a printing unit
in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a top view partly in section of the printing unit of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a printing group
bridge with a drive in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of a printing group
bridge with a drive in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a third embodiment of a printing group
bridge with a drive in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of a fourth embodiment of a printing group
bridge with a drive in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a top view partly in section of the printing group bridge of
FIG. 6;
FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a printing group
bridge having a drive for each printing group in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of a printing group
bridge having a drive for each printing group in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of a third embodiment of a printing group
bridge having a drive for each printing group in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of a fourth embodiment of a printing group
bridge having a drive for each printing group in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 15 is a top view partly in section of the printing group bridge of
FIG. 11;
FIG. 16 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a printing group
bridge having a drive for each cylinder in accordance with the present
invention;
FIG. 17 is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of a printing group
bridge having a drive for each cylinder in accordance with the present
invention;
FIG. 18 is a schematic side view of a third embodiment of a printing group
bridge having a drive for each cylinder in accordance with the present
invention;
FIG. 19 is a schematic side view of a fourth embodiment of a printing group
bridge having a drive for each cylinder in accordance with the present
invention;
FIG. 20 is a top view partly in section of the printing group bridge of
FIG. 16;
FIG. 21a is a side view partly in cross section and partly in elevation of
a first printing machine having functional groups;
FIG. 21b is a side view partly in cross section and partly in elevation of
a second printing machine having functional groups;
FIG. 22a is a side view partly in cross section and partly in elevation of
a first folder unit having functional groups;
FIG. 22b is a side view partly in cross section and partly in elevation of
a second folder unit having functional groups;
FIG. 23 is a side view of a device for ink register adjustment of printing
forms of a form cylinder;
FIG. 24 is a side view of a device for ink register adjustment from
printing site to printing site;
FIG. 25 is a side view of a device for cutting register adjustment;
FIG. 26 is a schematic side view of a device for setting the plate changing
position;
FIG. 27 is a schematic side view partly in section of a first embodiment of
a drive for an inking and damping unit in accordance with the present
invention;
FIG. 28 is a schematic side view partly in section of a second embodiment
of a drive of an inking and damping unit in accordance with the present
invention;
FIG. 29 is a schematic side view partly in section of a third embodiment of
an inking and damping unit in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 30 is a side view partly in section and partly in elevation of the
distribution cylinder shown in FIG. 29;
FIG. 31 is a cross sectional side view of first embodiment of an electric
motor on a form cylinder in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 32 is a cross sectional side view of a second embodiment of an
electric motor on a form cylinder in accordance with the present
invention;
FIG. 33 is a cross sectional side view of a third embodiment of an electric
motor on a form cylinder in accordance with the present invention; and
FIG. 34 is a front view of FIG. 33 in the direction of the arrow Y.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1 to 4 show individual printing units, each printing unit is driven
by a separate, angle-controlled electric motor. In FIG. 1, the printing
unit contains two printing groups 3, 4. Each printing group 3, 4 includes
a form cylinder 1.1, 1.2 and a transfer cylinder 2.1, 2.2. Each form
cylinder 1.1, 1.2 and each transfer cylinder 2.1, 2.2 includes journals
154, 156; 158, 160; 162, 164; and 166, 168, respectively, on both sides
thereof and is mounted by its journals in side walls 5, 6. The mounting of
the form cylinders 1.1, 1.2 and the transfer cylinders 2.1, 2.2 of FIG. 1,
is shown in FIG. 5. An angle-controlled electric motor 7, which drives the
form cylinder 1.1, is arranged on the operator-side wall 5. The design of
this drive connection will be discussed below. The journals 156, 160, 164,
168 mounted in the side wall 6, each carry a respective spur gear 8 to 11.
The cylinders 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2 are coupled together through the spur
gears 8, 9, 10, 11 and are in drive connection with each other. In this
way, all four cylinders 1.1, 1.2, 2.1 and 2.2 are driven by the electric
motor 7 through their connection to the transfer cylinder 1.1 of the first
printing group 3. The electric motor 7 is represented in FIGS. 1-4 by
hatching.
In FIG. 2, the printing unit shown in FIG. 1 is supplemented by the
printing group 12 which includes a form cylinder 1.3 and a transfer
cylinder 2.3. The printing group 12 is set on the printing group 4,
whereby the drive-side journals of the printing group 12 also carry spur
gears (not shown) and the spur gear of the transfer cylinder 2.3 engages
with the spur gear 11 of the transfer cylinder 2.2 so the printing groups
4 and 12 are in drive connection with each other.
Via these spur gears, 8 to 11, all the form and transfer cylinders are in
drive connection with the form cylinder 1.1, and thus are driven by the
electric motor 7.
In FIG. 3, the printing groups 3, 4 as in FIG. 1, are supplemented by two
cooperating printing groups 13, 14. Each printing group 13, 14 includes a
form cylinder 1.4, 1.5 and a transfer cylinder 2.4, 2.5. Each of these
cylinders 1.4, 1.5, 2.4, 2.5 include journals on either side. The
drive-side journal of each of the cylinders 1.4, 1.5, 2.4, 2.5 carries a
spur gear (not shown), through which the cylinders are interactively
engaged. Furthermore, the spur gear 11 of the transfer cylinder 2.2 is in
drive connection, via a gear chain 15 with the spur gear (not shown) of
the transfer cylinder 2.5, and thus is also in drive connection with the
form cylinder 1.1, so that all of the cylinders are driven by the electric
motor 7.
In contrast to FIG. 3, the printing unit in FIG. 4 includes a satellite
cylinder 16. The satellite cylinder 16 also includes journals on either
side thereof and carries a spur gear (not shown) on the drive-side
journal. This spur gear, as well as the spur gear of the form cylinder 1.4
of the printing group 13, is driven by a gear chain 17. The gear chain 17
is also coupled to and in drive connection with the spur gear 8 of the
form cylinder 1.1. Thus, all cylinders of the printing unit are coupled
together and driven by the electric motor 7.
FIGS. 6, 7 and 10 show bridges, i.e., parts of printing units, which
correspond to the printing units shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 respectively
and are therefore not described again in detail.
In FIG. 8, the gear chain 15 shown in FIG. 3 is omitted. The lower printing
group bridge 170 (double printing group) which is created, includes the
form cylinders 1.1 and 1.2 and the transfer cylinders 2.1 and 2.2. The
lower printing group bridge 170 is driven in the same manner as in FIGS. 6
and 7, by the angle controlled electric motor 7 which acts on form
cylinder 1.1. The upper printing group bridge 172 includes form cylinders
1.4, 1.5 and transfer cylinders 2.4, 2.5,. The upper printing group bridge
172 is also driven by an angle-controlled electric motor, which acts upon
the form cylinder 1.4. The angle-controlled electric motor 7 is shown by
hatching in FIGS. 6-9. The angle-controlled electric motor 7 acts, through
the form cylinder 1.4, to drive the spur gears (not shown) on the journals
of the cylinders 1.4, 2.4, 2.5, 1.5.
In FIG. 9, the situation is similar to that of FIG. 8. The only difference
is that a satellite cylinder 16 is indirectly connected to the form
cylinder 1.1 of printing group 3. The satellite cylinder 16 is thus also
driven by the electric motor 7 attached to the form cylinder 1.1 through
the gear chain 18. Printing group bridges of the types shown in FIGS. 6 to
9, or of different types, may be combined into various printing units. The
embodiments described below with respect to FIGS. 11-14 and 16-19 can also
be used.
In the above examples, it is also possible for each or all of the form
cylinders, transfer cylinders, or satellite cylinders, to be directly
driven by an electric motor. The electric motor does not necessarily need
to be connected to the form cylinder as described above.
The double printing group shown in FIG. 11 contains the printing groups 3,
4. These printing groups are identical to those in FIG. 1. Each printing
group 3, 4 includes respective form cylinders 1.1, 1.2 and transfer
cylinders 2.1, 2.2. These cylinders are also mounted through their
respective journals 154, 156; 158, 160; 162, 164; and 166, 168 in side
walls 5, 6 (FIG. 15), as in FIGS. 1 and 6. However, each printing group 3,
4 is driven by its own angle-controlled electric motor 7. More
specifically, the form cylinders 1.1 and 1.2 of each printing group are
connected to and driven by a respective angle-controlled electric motor 7.
The angle-controlled electric motors 7 are shown by hatching in FIGS.
11-14 and can be more clearly seen in FIG. 15. The drive-side journals of
the form cylinders 1.1, 1.2 carry the respective spur gears 8, 19, which
mesh with the respective spur gears 10, 20 on the journals of the transfer
cylinders 2.1, 2.2 as can be seen in FIG. 15. The spur gears 8, 10 and 19,
20 lie in two different planes, since the transfer cylinders 2.1, 2.2 are
not permitted to be in drive connection with one another. The
angle-controlled electric motors 7 act upon the respective operator-side
journals, 154, 166 of each of the form cylinders 1.1, 1.2 and thus the
printing groups 3, 4 are individually driven.
In the previous examples and in those that follow, the electric motors
drive the form cylinders. However, it is also possible for the transfer
cylinders to be driven by the electric motors. For example, in the
printing unit shown in FIG. 12, the electric motors 7 drive the respective
transfer cylinders 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 of the printing groups 3, 4, 12. These
transfer cylinders then drive, their respective associated form cylinders
1.1, 1.2, 1.3 through associated and interengaging spur gears. As in FIG.
15, the spur gears 19, 20 of the printing group 4 and the spur gears 8, 9
of printing group 3 are not permitted to lie on the same plane. Likewise,
the spur gears of the printing group 4 and the spur gears of the printing
group 12 are not permitted to lie on the same plane. The spur gears of
printing group 12 are not shown in FIG. 15.
In the printing unit in FIG. 13, each of the form cylinders 1.1, 1.2, 1.4,
1.5 of the printing groups 3, 4, 13, 14 is driven by an angle-controlled
electric motor 7. These form cylinders then drive the respective
associated transfer cylinders 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5 through associated and
interengaging spur gears. The respective spur gears of coupled printing
groups, i.e. the spur gears of printing groups 3 and 4 and the spur gears
of printing groups 13 and 14, lie on two different planes.
In FIG. 14, the printing groups 3, 4, 13, 14 are driven analogously to FIG.
13. In addition, the satellite cylinder 16 is also driven by a separate,
angle-controlled electric motor 7.
In the printing units in FIGS. 16 to 19, each form cylinder 1.1 to 1.5,
each transfer cylinder 2.1 to 2.5 and the satellite cylinder 16, if
present, is driven by a separate, angle-controlled electric motor 7. As in
the previous examples, each of the cylinders have respective journals and
are mounted in the side walls 5, 6 by these journals. In contrast to the
previous examples, however, the respective electric motors 7 are coupled
to the journals on the "drive side" S2 or side wall 6 as is shown in FIG.
20 representing a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 16. The electric
motors 7 could also be coupled to the journals on the operator-side S1 or
side wall 5. Furthermore, in the prior examples shown in FIGS. 1-15, the
electric motors 7 could have been coupled to the journals on the
drive-side. When each printing group is equipped with its own drive motor,
as shown in FIGS. 11-14, the individual printing groups can each be
individually adjusted in cooperation with the other printing groups. When
each cylinder is driven individually, it is even possible to individually
align and adjust the form cylinder and transfer cylinder of a single
printing group. Such embodiments are shown in FIGS. 16-19. In addition,
all toothed-wheel gears are dispensed with, as are the lubrication, gear
housings, etc., usually required for such drives as the drive motors are
capable of performing their functions. This results in a tremendous
reduction in price. In addition, mechanical (and electrical) devices for
the desired printing group control are no longer needed as the functions
of these devices are performed by reversing the rotational direction of
the drive motors.
In the examples described, a printing group always includes a form cylinder
and a transfer cylinder. Each printing group works together with at least
one other printing group and/or a satellite cylinder according to the
principle of blanket-to-blanket printing. The printing groups described
above with reference to FIGS. 1-20 can also be complemented by a
counter-impression cylinder into a three-cylinder printing group, whereby
at least one cylinder is driven by a separate electric motor and the three
cylinders are connected so as to drive each other through toothed gears.
The angle control of the electric motors is performed by computer motor
controls within the framework of the machine control system. Accordingly,
the electric motors are connected to the machine control system. However,
the controls are not part of the subject matter of the invention and are
therefore not depicted or explained herein.
Further functional groups of printing machines such as webbing-in
mechanisms, cooling rollers, cutting rollers and forming rollers can also
be advantageously driven with separate electric motors. FIG. 21a shows a
side view of a printing machine 174 and FIG. 22a shows a folder unit 25
including functional groups of the type mentioned above. The printing
machine 174 in FIG. 21a contains four printing units 21 to 24 and a folder
unit 25. With respect to drive, the printing units 23 and 24 resemble the
printing unit shown in FIG. 17, while the printing units 21 and 22
resemble those shown in FIG. 18. The drive motors of the cylinders, like
those of the functional groups described below, are each identified by an
"M" or with hatching. The folder unit 25 shown in FIG. 22a contains the
folding mechanisms 26 and 27. In FIG. 21a, the webbing-in mechanisms 28,
the cooling rollers 29, the cutting rollers 30 and the forming rollers 31
are each driven by respective separate, angle-controlled electric motors
33.1 to 33.5. These electric motors 33.1, 33.2, 33.3, 33.4, 33.5 thereby
drive the cylinders of the webbing-in mechanisms 28, the cooling rollers
29, the cutting rollers 30 and the forming rollers 31, respectively,
indirectly via belts. FIG. 21b shows the same printing machine, with each
cylinder being driven directly by a motor.
In FIG. 22a, the forming rollers 31 and the feeding and transfer rollers
32, respectively, are each driven directly by separate, angle-controlled
electric motors 176, 178, 180, 182. The two folding mechanisms 26 and 27,
respectively, also have separate, angle-controlled motors 143, 144, which
directly drive the respective folding cylinders, in this case, the knife
cylinders 146, 148. The knife cylinders 146, 148 each have journals and
spur gears connected thereto. The other folding cylinders which also
include journals and spur gears are each engaged with a respective knife
cylinder via the spur gears (not shown) arranged on their journals.
In the folder unit in FIG. 22b, the forming rollers 31 and the feeding and
transfer rollers 32, respectively, are driven indirectly by a shared motor
150 via a toothed belt 152. The single folding mechanism 27.1 is also
driven by a separate, angle-controlled electric motor 184. The driving of
the mechanism 27.1 is carried out indirectly through a belt drive 186 on,
for example, the point-folding blade cylinder 145. This cylinder 145 is in
drive connection with the other folding cylinders through cylindrical
gears. These electric motors 150, 184 make it possible to accurately or
precisely set the speed of the driven cylinders. In groups with advance
control, it is also possible to accurately or precisely set the web
tension. Furthermore, the omission of PIV gears, normally used for drives
of this type, provides a large reduction in the price of the unit.
A separate electric motor, which directly drives a form cylinder, can also
be used for adjusting the ink register adjustment device. FIG. 23 shows an
ink register adjustment device 188 for use in a double printing group. The
double printing group includes printing groups 34, 35. Each of these
printing groups 34, 35 include a form cylinder 36, 38 and transfer
cylinder 37, 39, respectively. The device is described with reference to
the form cylinder 38, which carries two printing forms on its
circumference. The electric motor 40 which drives the form cylinder 38 is
angle-controlled by a computer motor control 41. Furthermore, a position
indicator 42 of the printing group 35 and a sensor 44 which scans the
register marks on the web 43 leaving the printing group 35 are connected
to a comparator 45. The output of the comparator 45 is fed to the input of
the computer motor control 41. The sensor 44 scans the register marks
printed by the printing group 35 on the web 43 and thus detects the
position of the two images printed per rotation of the form cylinder 38.
Based upon the signal from the position indicator 42, the relation between
the position of the form cylinder 38 and the rotation of the form cylinder
38 is determined by the comparator 45. When a printing image is staggered
in the rotational direction by half the circumference of the form cylinder
38, i.e., when the printing image deviates from the register marks by half
the circumference of the form cylinder 38, a compensating advance or lag
of the cylinder is used to adjust the form cylinder 38 prior to printing.
This is performed by the computer motor control 41 based on the output
signal of the comparator 45. In this way, for example, errors relating to
copying or mounting of the printing form can be compensated for. It is
also possible to extend the acceleration or delay phase into this area,
allowing the electric motor to be designed with lower power at the expense
of sacrificing register quality at the start of the printing job.
The device shown in FIG. 24 serves to control circumferential registration
between two printing sites, in the situation depicted, between the
printing groups 46 and 47. The register marks printed by these printing
groups 46, 47 on the web 48 are scanned by the sensors 49,50. Signals from
the sensors 49,50 are supplied to the comparator 51. The comparator 51
sends the results of the comparison to the computer motor control 52. The
computer motor control 52 regulates the speed of the electric motor 54,
which drives the form cylinder 53 of the printing group 47 based upon the
results of the comparison. Depending on the required register modification
to the printing image of the printing group 46, the electric motor 54 is
operated to impart either an advance or a lag on the cylinder 53. If the
transfer cylinder 55 is also driven by a separate electric motor (not
shown), this motor is also corrected with respect to its speed when
register correction is needed. Based upon the number of register marks to
be checked, the device is to be used as many times as appropriate to
adjust the cylinders. This device is able to reduce the price of the unit
by eliminating the need for expensive mechanical gears, e.g., sliding
gears, to perform circumferential register adjustment of the form cylinder
as was needed in traditional machines.
The use of a drive for all the printing groups makes it possible for
different paper paths to travel between different printing units without
the need for additional devices for regulating the length of the paper
path. For example, in the printing machine in FIG. 21a, the web 155 can be
conducted from the printing unit 23 to either the printing unit 21 or, on
the path shown by the broken line, to the printing unit 22. In keeping
with the different paths, the printing groups of the printing units 21 and
22 are moved into the required positions by their respective drive motors.
The computer motor control 56 of the electric motors is connected to
receive a signal indicating the required cylinder positions from a
computing and memory unit 57, in which the required cylinder positions are
stored. Depending on the web course, the computer motor control 56 moves
the form cylinders and transfer cylinders of the unit 21 or 22 to be run
through into the required positions by controlling their electric motors
in accordance with the signal received from the computing and memory unit
57.
In addition, the computing and memory unit 57 (FIGS. 21a and 21b) stores
the cylinder positions of the printing groups for the cutting register for
each of the possible web runs. In order to set the cutting register, the
required cylinder positions are sent to the computer motor control 56. The
computer motor control 56 adjusts the drive motors of all printing groups
printing the web 155. The cutting register for the cut in the folding
mechanism 25 is thus set via the cylinder positions of all printing groups
printing the web. Expensive linear register devices are no longer needed
with the present devices as adjustment is automatically carried out by the
computing and memory unit 57 and computer motor control 56. Length
regulation of this type is now only required for the turning bar. The
computing and memory unit 57 which stores the cylinder positions for the
cutting register can also send a signal representative of the cylinder
positions for the cutting register to the computer motor control 66 as is
shown in FIG. 25 and described below. This device then serves both to
control the cutting register and to adjust it. The computing and memory
unit 57 is shown in FIG. 21a and is connected in the same manner as in
FIG. 25.
The separate drives of the printing groups make it possible for groups of
printing machines to be assembled in various ways without connecting
elements, such as synchronous shafts, couplings, gears and positioning
devices which were standard in prior machines. Using a suitable control
program, it is also possible for all or some of the printing units 21, 22,
23 connected to the folder unit 25 shown in FIG. 21a and FIG. 21b to be
associated with a different folder unit, not shown.
FIG. 25 shows a device for a cutting register control 190. The printing
groups 58 to 61 are printing on a web 62, for example. A sensor 63 scans
the register mark that is being printed. The sensor 63 and the position
indicator 64 of an electric motor 192 of a printing unit 59, through which
the web 62 has run, preferably the first printing unit 59 the web has run
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