Offset printing machine - Patent Review 6644184

What is claimed is:

1. A web-fed offset printing machine comprising printing units having at least one form cylinder and one transfer cylinder (1.1 to 1.5; 2.1 to 2.5); and

at least one folder unit (25); and wherein, for each printing unit, at least one of said form and transfer cylinders (1.1 to 1.5; 2.1 to 2.5) has a drive connection to a separate electric motor, said at least one cylinder (1.1 to 1.5; 2.1 to 2.5) having one selected from the group consisting of no mechanical drive connection to a further one of said cylinders (1.1 to 1.5; 2.1 to 2.5) when said further cylinder is driven directly or indirectly by a further separate electric motor and a mechanical drive connection to one of said further cylinders (1.1 to 1.5; 2.1 to 2.5) when said further cylinder is not driven by a separate electric motor;

said printing machine further comprising a motor control system (41, 52, 56, 66, 73) for said at least one electric motor for adjusting a printing group (3, 4, 12, 13, 14, 24, 25, 46, 47, 58 to 61, 67, 68) and for presetting said printing units for adaptation to a different web path, said motor control system having an input side; and

a computing and memory unit (45, 52, 57, 65, 74) for storing a plurality of cylinder positions connected to said input side of said motor-control system.

2. The web-fed offset printing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said printing groups (21 to 24) are set for adaption to different web paths between said printing units (21 to 24); and said motor control system (56) of said electric motor of a printing group (58 to 61) that is to be adjusted is connected on said input side to said computing and memory unit (57) for moving said printing group (58 to 61) into a predetermined position.

3. The web-fed offset printing machine as claimed in claim 1, additionally comprising two sensors (49, 50) for controlling a color register between two printing groups (46, 47) that print the web (48) one after another, said two sensors (49, 50) sending register marks on the web (49) leaving the printing groups (46, 47) and being connected to an input of said computing and memory unit (51) for comparison, an output of said computing and memory unit being routed to said input of said motor control system (52) of said electric motor (54) for adjusting a printing group (47).

4. The web-fed offset printing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the printing group (58 to 61) that is to be adjusted, the form cylinder (1.1 to 1.5) is driven directly by said motor or indirectly by an associated transfer cylinder (2.1 to 2.5) that is driven by said motor.

5. The web-fed offset printing machine of claim 1, wherein said mechanical drive connection comprises spur gears (8, 10, 19, 20).

6. A web-fed offset printing machine comprising printing units having at least one form cylinder and one transfer cylinder (1.1 to 1.5; 2.1 to 2.5); and at least one folder unit (25); and wherein, for each printing unit, at least one of said form and transfer cylinders (1.1 to 1.5; 2.1 to 2.5) has a drive connection to a separate electric motor, said at least one cylinder (1.1 to 1.5; 2.1 to 2.5) having one selected from the group consisting of no mechanical drive connection to a further one of said cylinders (1.1 to 1.5; 2.1 to 2.5) when said further cylinder is driven directly or indirectly by a further separate electric motor and a mechanical drive connection to one of said further cylinders(1.1 to 1.5; 2.1 to 2.5) when said further cylinder is not driven by a separate electric motor;

said printing machine further comprising a motor control system (41, 52, 56, 66, 73) for said at least one electric motor for adjusting a printing group (3, 4, 12, 13, 14, 24, 25, 46, 47, 58 to 61, 67, 68) and for presetting said printing units for adaptation to a different web path, said motor control system having an input side; and

a computing and memory unit (45, 52, 57, 65, 74) for storing a plurality of cylinder positions connected to said input side of said motor control system; and wherein said motor control system (56, 66) for said electric motor (7) of a printing group (58 to 61) is connected on said input side to said computing and memory unit (57, 65) for setting a cutting register by said electric motor, said computing and memory unit having stored therein cylinder positions for said cutting register for possible web paths for setting said cylinders (2.1 to 2.5) of all printing groups (58 to 61) that print a web (155, 62) into predefined positions for the respective web path.

7. The web-fed offset printing machine as claimed in claim 6, additionally comprising a sensor (63) for controlling the cutting register of the web (62) printed by at least one printing group (58 to 61), said sensor sensing a register mark printed onto the web (62); a position indicator (64) of an electric motor of one of the printing groups (58 to 61) that print the web (62), said sensor (63) and said position indicator (64) being connected to said computing and memory unit, said computing and memory unit (65) having an output which is routed to said input of said motor control system (66) of said electric motor (M) of said printing group (58 to 61) that print the web (62) for driving said motors in a leading or lagging manner until said motor reaches a required position for correcting a register error determined in said computing and memory unit.

8. The web-fed offset printing machine as claimed in claim 6, additionally comprising a circumferential register and wherein the cutting register and the circumferential register are controlled during a printing operation.

9. A web-fed offset printing machine comprising printing units having at least one form cylinder and one transfer cylinder (1.1 to 1.5; 2.1 to 2.5); and at least one folder unit (25); and wherein, for each printing unit, at least one of said form and transfer cylinders (1.1 to 1.5; 2.1 to 2.5) has a drive connection to a separate electric motor, said at least one cylinder (1.1 to 1.5; 2.1 to 2.5) having one selected from the group consisting of no mechanical drive connection to a further one of said cylinders (1.1 to 1.5; 2.1 to 2.5) when said further cylinder is driven directly or indirectly by a further separate electric motor and a mechanical drive connection to one of said further cylinders(1.1 to 1.5; 2.1 to 2.5) when said further cylinder is not driven by a separate electric motor;

said printing machine further comprising a motor control system (41, 52, 56, 66, 73) for said at least one electric motor for adjusting a printing group (3, 4, 12, 13, 14, 24, 25, 46, 47, 58 to 61, 67, 68) and for presetting said printing units for adaptation to a different web path, said motor control system having an input side; and

a computing and memory unit (45, 52, 57, 65, 74) for storing a plurality of cylinder positions connected to said input side of said motor control system; wherein cylinder positions for different paper paths between various printing units (21 to 24) and for the cutregister setting in accordance with a selected production configuration, are stored in said computing and memory unit (57), and wherein, said drive motors (7) of all the printing units (21 to 24) that print the web (155) are preset by said motor control system (56).

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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

German Patent No. DE 42 19 969 A1 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 form 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 coupled 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) 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. 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 7, 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