CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the US national phase, under 35 USC § 371, of PCT/EP2019/072464, filed Aug. 22, 2019; published as WO 2020/143931 A1 on Jul. 16, 2020, and claiming priority to DE 10 2019 100 309.1, filed Jan. 8, 2019, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an application unit with a positioning device and a magazine. The application unit includes at least one application mechanism which has at least one impression cylinder, at least one forme cylinder, and at least one supply roller, along with at least one positioning device. A supply position is a position that, during an application process of the application mechanism, is occupied by the at least one supply roller located in the application mechanism. The positioning device has at least one linear guide. The application unit has at least one magazine, which may be located below the application mechanism, for the storing of supply rollers. The magazine has at least two magazine receptacles, each for receiving one supply ruler. The magazine has at least one movable repositioning device, by the use of which the at least two magazine receptacles can be moved and placed in different magazine positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In flexographic printing units, anilox rollers and forme cylinders with replaceable packings are typically used. The properties of the circumferential surface of the anilox roller have considerable influence on the amount of coating medium or application fluid that is transferred. It is therefore common for the anilox roller that is used to be based on the specific print job. Various devices for installing, removing, or replacing anilox rollers are known.

From DE 20 2005 006 367 U1, an application unit with a magazine for supply rollers is known. Supply rollers are removed laterally from a storage device, lowered by means of a transport lift, and then placed in the magazine, again laterally.

Known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,876 B1 is an application unit in which a forme cylinder and a supply roller are mounted on a common threaded spindle and can be lowered together by the rotation of said spindle.

Known from DE 198 05 898 A1 is an application unit in which different cylinders each have their own spindle drives.

From DE 199 37 796 A1 an application unit is known in which a stationary threaded spindle is provided, on which respective cylinders can be supported via their own drives and respective drive gears.

From DE 10 2008 016 598 A1 an application unit is known, which has a magazine for supply rollers, arranged above a printing mechanism.

From DE 10 2007 003 975 A1, an application unit having a printing mechanism is known, in which a magazine with four magazine receptacles can be located above the printing mechanism, and rollers can be replaced by means of a crane between the printing mechanism and the magazine spaces.

DE 10 2005 024 502 A1 discloses a flexographic printing unit with replaceable anilox rollers. One exemplary embodiment has a positioning device with linear guidance. Another exemplary embodiment has a magazine with a movable repositioning device and multiple magazine receptacles, which can be arranged in different magazine positions.

From EP 1 767 362 A2, a flexographic printing mechanism is known, which has a roller storage area and a positioning device with pivotable and telescopically extendable actuating devices, by means of which anilox rollers can be removed upward from the printing mechanism and fed to the roller storage area.

DE 199 62 425 A1 discloses a flexographic printing unit in which anilox rollers can be raised by means of a linearly movable component of a handling apparatus. To move the roller to a storage position, a further linear movement in a direction oriented orthogonally thereto or an additional pivoting movement must be carried out.

From DE 691 22 688 T2 a flexographic printing unit is known, in which three anilox rollers are arranged in a pivotable frame and can thus be brought alternatingly into contact with a forme cylinder.

DE 198 48 773 A1 discloses a flexographic printing press with multiple printing units, a guideway being arranged in each of the printing units, on which both printing roller bearing blocks and anilox roller bearing blocks can be moved. Levers, which are used to fix removable chamber doctor blades in place, are pivotably connected to the anilox roller bearing blocks. These levers can be moved in relation to the guideway only together with the anilox roller bearing blocks.

EP 0 884 175 A2 and DE 198 19 389 A1 each disclose a flexographic printing unit that has a magazine for anilox rollers, the magazine having a holding means for each magazine receptacle, which is attached to the magazine and is rotatable therewith.

From DE 44 13 807 C1 an application unit is known, which has a device for lifting out anilox rollers and forme cylinders from a magazine located above the application mechanism. In addition to the lifting-out device, carriages are provided, by means of which the anilox rollers and forme cylinders can be moved away from one another and from impression cylinders, to bring them into suitable positions for the devices to lift them out.

DE 694 00 025 T2 and EP 1 005 982 A1 each disclose an application unit in which an anilox roller is moved upward into a storage area and then sideways into one of multiple magazine receptacles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to create an application unit having a positioning device and a magazine.

The object is attained according to the invention in that by the use of the at least one positioning device, at least one supply roller can be moved along a linear roller positioning path, one end of which is identical to the supply position and the other end of which is identical to a magazine position of the magazine positions of the at least one magazine that is configured as a change position. The positioning device has at least one transfer supporting member. The at least one transfer supporting member is arranged to be movable in and counter to a positioning direction relative to the frame of the flexographic application mechanism, guided by the at least one linear guide. At least one component of a bearing seat is arranged on the at least one transfer supporting member, which bearing seat is configured to receive a rolling bearing arranged on the at least one supply roller.

An application unit has at least one application mechanism with at least one impression cylinder, at least one forme cylinder, and at least one supply roller, along with at least one positioning device. The application unit preferably has at least one flexographic application mechanism.

The positioning device has at least one linear guide. Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that the positioning device has at least one main supporting member and further preferably in that the at least one main supporting member is arranged to be movable, in particular linearly, in and/or counter to a positioning direction, preferably guided by the at least one linear guide and/or guided along the at least one linear guide, and/or in that the forme cylinder further preferably is arranged rotatably on the at least one main supporting member by means of at least one rolling bearing. Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that the positioning device has at least one transfer supporting member and further preferably in that the at least one transfer supporting member is arranged to be movable, in particular linearly, preferably guided by the at least one linear guide and/or guided along the at least one linear guide, specifically in and/or counter to the positioning direction and, in particular, relative to the at least one main supporting member and/or relative to a frame of the flexographic application mechanism. Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that at least one component of a bearing seat, which is configured to receive a rolling bearing arranged on the at least one supply roller, is further preferably arranged on the at least one transfer supporting member. Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that the positioning direction deviates no more than 45° and/or no more than 30° and/or no more than 10° and/or no more than 5° from at least one vertical direction and/or in that the positioning direction is oriented parallel to the vertical direction.

Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that at least one bearing seat provided, which is intended for bearing at least one rolling bearing of the supply roller, and in that at least one component of said bearing seat, which has at least one bearing point or bearing surface for the at least one respective rolling bearing, is permanently arranged on the respective transfer supporting member, and in that at least one further component of the bearing seat, which has at least one fixing point or fixing surface for fixing the respective rolling bearing in contact with the respective bearing point or bearing surface, is permanently arranged on a respective main supporting member. This in particular enables supply rollers to preferably be positioned and/or removed particularly easily and safely.

Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that said at least one component of the bearing seat is arranged to be movable starting from a position in which the supply roller is arranged in the supply position, supported by the bearing seat, over in particular a rectilinear path that is longer than the roller positioning path, along the at least one linear guide and/or guided by the at least one linear guide. The bearing seat can then place the corresponding supply roller in a magazine and can permit a movement of the supply roller that is to be carried out by means of the magazine.

Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that the positioning device has at least one reservoir supporting member, and in that the at least one reservoir supporting member is movable, in particular linearly, specifically in and/or counter to the positioning direction and, in particular, both relative to the at least one main supporting member and relative to the at least one transfer supporting member, guided by the at least one linear guide and/or guided along the at least one linear guide. Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that an intermediate reservoir for application fluid is arranged on the at least one reservoir supporting member. Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that the reservoir supporting member is arranged at least partially between the at least one main supporting member and the at least one transfer supporting member, as viewed in the positioning direction. This enables the corresponding application fluid reservoir to be moved, at least without great additional effort, relative to the forme cylinder, in particular together with the supply roller, and if necessary, enables the supply roller to still be moved away along the same guide over a greater distance and thereby also distanced from the application fluid reservoir. This, in particular, enables a particularly simple changing of the supply roller.

Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that the at least one forme cylinder is configured as a flexographic forme cylinder, and/or in that the at least one supply roller is configured as an anilox roller, and/or in that the at least one intermediate reservoir is configured as a chamber doctor blade system, and/or in that the at least one forme cylinder is located below the at least one impression cylinder, and/or in that a magazine receptacle is understood as a defined spatial area that is intended to accommodate one supply roller.

Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that the at least one main supporting member is arranged guided by the same at least one linear guide as the at least one transfer supporting member, and/or in that the at least one main supporting member is arranged guided by the same at least one linear guide as the at least one reservoir supporting member, and/or in that the at least one reservoir supporting member is arranged guided by the same at least one linear guide as the at least one reservoir supporting member, and/or in that the at least one main supporting member and the at least one transfer supporting member and the at least one reservoir supporting member are arranged guided by the same at least one linear guide. All relevant movements are then possible with the simplest possible configuration of the device.

Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that the application unit has at least one main position adjustment device, by means of which the relative position of the at least one main supporting member relative to a frame of the application unit is determined, and in that the main position adjustment device comprises at least one main positioning drive. Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that the application unit has at least one transfer position adjustment device, by means of which a relative position of the at least one transfer supporting member relative to the at least one main supporting member of the application unit is determined, and in that the transfer position adjustment device comprises at least one transfer drive. Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that the at least one reservoir supporting member is arranged to be movable linearly relative to the main supporting member closest to it, and in that the at least one reservoir supporting member is connected to said main supporting member via a suspension mount. This suspension mount preferably permits a limited relative movement, oriented in and/or counter to the positioning direction, between the main supporting member, on the one hand, and the reservoir supporting member, on the other hand.

Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that the positioning device has at least one thrust stop, in particular adjustable, which is provided as a contact element for contact between the at least one transfer supporting member, on the one hand, and the at least one reservoir supporting member, on the other. In that case, no additional drive for movement of the reservoir supporting member needs to be provided.

The application unit has at least one magazine for storing supply rollers. The at least one magazine is preferably located below the application mechanism. The magazine has at least two magazine receptacles, each for receiving one supply roller. The magazine further preferably has at least three and/or at least four magazine receptacles, each for receiving one supply roller, and/or a magazine receptacle is understood as a defined spatial area that is intended to receive one supply roller. The magazine has at least one movable repositioning device, by means of which the at least two magazine receptacles can be moved and can be placed in different magazine positions.

The at least one supply roller can be moved by means of the at least one transfer supporting member along an exclusively linear roller positioning path. By means of the at least one positioning device, the at least one supply roller can be moved along the exclusively linear roller positioning path, one end of which is identical to a supply position and the other end of which is identical to one of the magazine positions. This first magazine position, in particular, is a change position. The roller positioning path preferably extends in and/or counter to the positioning direction. Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that, when a magazine receptacle is located in the change position, a supply roller can be transferred, in or counter to a positioning direction, between said magazine receptacle, on the one hand, and a region of the roller positioning path that is remote from said magazine, on the other hand, said positioning path connecting the magazine to the application mechanism. This feature, in particular, preferably results in a particularly simple and/or rapid roller positioning path and/or a particularly simple device that is less prone to error.

Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that at least one, in particular the second, of the magazine positions is a loading position, and in that when a magazine receptacle is arranged in the loading position, a supply roller can be transferred along a linear loading path, in particular, in and/or counter to a loading direction, between said magazine receptacle, on the one hand, and a loading area, in particular of the application unit, on the other hand. Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that the loading direction deviates no more than 30° and/or no more than 20° and/or no more than 10° and/or no more than 5° from at least one horizontal direction, or is oriented horizontally. This enables a simple feeding and removal of supply rollers to/from the application unit.

Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that magazine receptacles, in particular those magazine receptacles that are operatively connected to the repositioning device, are at least also defined by at least one respective inner boundary surface, which particularly is movable relative to a frame of the application unit and is intended for contact with a roller journal or a roller barrel of a respective supply roller. The at least one inner boundary surface is preferably a surface of the repositioning device.

Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that those magazine receptacles that are arranged in a magazine position of a first subset of all possible magazine positions are additionally defined at least also by at least one respective outer boundary surface, which in particular is arranged stationary relative to a frame of the application unit and is configured for contact with a roller journal or a roller barrel of a respective supply roller. The repositioning device and the inner boundary surface are preferably arranged to be movable relative to the outer boundary surface. In this way, safe handling of the supply rollers in the magazine can be achieved with a minimum expenditure on apparatus.

Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that the magazine has at least one outer boundary member, which is arranged stationary, in particular relative to the frame of the application unit, and in that the at least one outer boundary surface is a surface of the at least one outer boundary member. Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that the at least one repositioning device is arranged to be pivotable and/or rotatable about a stationary magazine axis, in particular, and/or in that the at least one repositioning device has at least two recesses that form magazine receptacles.

Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that the at least two recesses are each open in a radial direction relative to the magazine axis, and/or in that the at least one outer boundary surface is shaped such that its projection in the transverse direction corresponds to a circular arc. A central angle of this circular arc preferably measures at least 180°. This enables the simplest possible configuration of the magazine.

Alternatively or additionally, the application unit is preferably characterized in that the radius of this circular arc is greater than the greatest distance of the repositioning device from the magazine axis, and/or in that the radius of this circular arc is no more than 20% and/or no more than 10% and/or no more than 5% greater than the greatest distance of the repositioning device from the magazine axis.

