EP3392039B1 - Modular printing press arrangement for sequential processing of sheet-like substrates - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a machine arrangement with several processing stations for processing sheets according to claim 1.

The EP 1 092 533 A1 a method for sequential processing of sheet-shaped substrates and a machine arrangement with several processing stations for processing sheets can be removed, with several processing stations being arranged one after the other in the transport direction of the sheets for inline processing of these sheets, at least one of these processing stations being used as a non-impact printing device and at least one processing station downstream of the non-impact printing device in the transport direction of the sheets is designed as a dryer.

Through the DE 10 2012 218 022 A1 A cold foil application device is known in connection with the processing of printed sheets.

Through the WO 02/48012 A2 Devices for aligning sheets are known, in which the sheets are fed to the device in a scale-like manner from a shingling device and, after aligning the front edge and a side edge of the sheet, are transferred to a downstream device, using an aligning cylinder on the circumference of which a sheet is at least partially applied System can be brought, the front edge of the sheet can be aligned smoothly by front marks arranged on the circumference of the alignment cylinder.

Through the WO 2009/120582 A2 It is known that in a machine arrangement with several processing stations for processing sheets, sheets transported individually through a first processing station at a distance from one another are a first Have transport speed and that sheets transferred from the first processing station to a second processing station have a second transport speed in this second processing station, the second transport speed applicable in the second processing station being less than the first transport speed applicable in the first processing station.

Through the EP 2 540 513 A1 a machine arrangement for sequentially processing a plurality of arcuate substrates each having a front side and a back side is known, comprising a first printing cylinder and a second printing cylinder, with at least one first non-impact printing device printing the front side of the substrate in question on the circumference of the first printing cylinder and in Direction of rotation of the first printing cylinder after the first non-impact printing device is arranged a dryer that dries the front side of the relevant substrate printed by the first non-impact printing device, with at least one second non-impact printing device printing the back of the relevant substrate on the circumference of the second printing cylinder. Impact printing device and in the direction of rotation of the second printing cylinder after the second non-impact printing device a dryer that dries the back of the substrate in question printed by the second non-impact printing device are arranged, the first printing cylinder and the second printing cylinder being arranged to form a common nip are, whereby the first printing cylinder in this common nip transfers the relevant front-printed and dried substrate directly to the second printing cylinder.

Through the DE 103 12 870 A1 a digital printing machine for sheet-fed printing is known, with a digital printing unit that is format-free in the circumferential direction, an intermediate cylinder downstream of the digital printing unit, which is at least partially covered with an elastic material, and an impression cylinder downstream of the intermediate cylinder, the impression cylinder having sheet-holding grippers and the intermediate cylinder has recesses on its circumference that accommodate the grippers.

Through the DE 10 2014 010 904 B3 a device for printing on both sides of sheet-shaped printing materials is known, whereby the printing material is guided on an impression cylinder by more than 360 °, the printing material with the reverse side again coming into the effective range of an ink application unit, from which the printing material is already on an upstream impression cylinder The face print side was printed, the ink application unit being able to preferably be pivoted between two counter-pressure cylinders arranged downstream, the pivotable ink application unit z. B. is an inkjet print head.

Through the DE 10 2005 021 185 A1 a device for applying opaque white or an effect color layer is known, the effect color layer being dried or hardened after application and then overprinted, one or more ink-jet print heads being provided within a printing machine, the ink-jet print head(s) being provided. Print heads for applying the opaque white or effect layer directly to the printing material or indirectly via an intermediate carrier to the printing material are arranged on the transport path of the printing material before it is fed to or within the printing press.

Through the DE 10 2009 000 518 A1 a sheet-fed printing machine is known, with a feeder for introducing printed sheets to be printed into the sheet-fed printing machine, with at least one printing unit and/or varnishing unit for printing the printed sheets with a static printed image that is identical for all printed sheets, with a delivery arm for discharging printed sheets from the sheet-fed printing machine, and with at least one formless printing device integrated into the sheet-fed printing machine for printing the printed sheets with a particularly dynamic, variable print image, the or each formless printing device in the sheet-fed printing machine depending on process parameters or operating parameters or Order parameters or quality parameters are controllably integrated.

Through the EP 2 657 025 A1 A sheet conveying device is known, which includes the following components: a first conveying unit that includes a first holder that holds an edge of a sheet and conveys the sheet held by the first holder; a second conveying unit including a second holder that holds one edge of the sheet and conveys the sheet held by the second holder; a third conveying unit, the third conveying unit comprising a third holder that holds the other edge of the sheet conveyed by the first conveying unit and conveys the sheet held by the third holder; an independent drive unit that independently drives the first conveyor unit; a device driving unit that drives the entire device including the second conveying unit and the third conveying unit; and a control unit that controls the independent drive unit to adjust a speed at which the third conveyor unit conveys the sheet in a conveying direction based on a dimension of the sheet, the first conveyor unit including a rotatably supported transport cylinder, and the independent drive unit including an independent drive motor which drives the transport cylinder independently of a device drive system, wherein the third conveyor unit is mounted to move between a receiving position at which the third conveyor unit receives the sheet from the first conveyor unit and a transfer position at which the third conveyor unit delivers the sheet the second conveying unit is provided to be swingable, and further comprising a fourth conveying unit disposed on an upstream side of the transport cylinder in a sheet conveying direction, a fourth holder holding an edge of the sheet, and the sheet is held by the fourth holder, to the first holder of the transport cylinder, wherein the control unit controls the independent drive motor to adjust a rotation speed of the transport cylinder in accordance with the dimension of the sheet in the conveying direction, so that the other edge of the sheet, which of dem Transport cylinder is conveyed, is opposite the third holder when the third conveyor unit is fixed at the sheet receiving position, and the fourth holder of the fourth conveyor unit is opposite the first holder of the first conveyor unit after the sheet has been transferred to the third holder.

Through the DE 10 33 225 A a sheet feeder for printing machines is known in which endless belts slide over a vacuum space, the room being closed and the vacuum only being effective in openings (suction cups) in the belt relative to the stack of paper or individual sheets of paper, and thus the sheet being taken along by the belts the belts are made of wear-resistant steel, with blowing openings (chambers, pipes, slots) preferably located next to and behind the suction points, which cause the sheet to separate and float using blown air.

Through the DE 44 13 089 A1 a method for the imbricated feeding of sheet-shaped printing materials to a printing press using a conveyor table is known, in which compressed air continuously flows under the imbricated stream counter to the conveying direction of the printing material supplied via the conveyor table.

Through the DE 40 12 948 A1 is a conveyor table for guiding printed sheets to a printing press with at least one suction chamber and an axial fan attached to it, as well as perforated suction belts circulating around this via suction openings in the conveyor table, openings being provided in the conveyor table parallel to the suction belts, which are separated from the suction chamber with the environment are connected.

Through the DE 20 2004 006 615 U1 is a device on a conveyor table, preferably on a suction belt table, known for transporting sheet-shaped material in a layered stream of sheets from a sheet feeder to a sheet-processing machine, in particular a sheet-fed rotary printing machine, with one or more conveyor belts, For example, suction belts that can be acted upon by suction air, which can be driven and are guided endlessly around the conveyor table, with a blowing device which blows air under the sheet stream outside the guide area of the conveyor belts in the area of guide areas of the conveyor table arranged laterally and parallel to the conveyor belts, at least in the guide areas On the outside of the conveyor belts, a plurality of individual ventilation openings distributed essentially over the entire surface of the guide areas is provided and a blown air supply is provided in such a way that it is at least partially coupled for ventilation openings, such that the guide areas are supplied with blown air essentially in partial areas or over the entire surface can be acted upon, the ventilation openings preferably being designed in the area of the outlet end of the conveyor table as nozzles aligned from the center of the conveyor table to the side edges.

Through the DE 101 57 118 A1 a device for braking printed sheets in the delivery of a sheet-fed printing press with a sheet brake operating with suction air is known, the sheet brake being connected to a vacuum generator via a line system and at least one valve, so that a vacuum can be applied to the outer radius of the sheet brake in the suction area, whereby at least a sensor for determining the position of the printed sheet and a downstream control device are arranged and the valve can be controlled by the control device as a function of the signals from the at least one sensor.

Through the DE 10 2009 048 928 A1 an inkjet printer for printing sheet-shaped substrates is known, the printer having the following components: a) a printing unit transport device with at least one revolving printing unit transport belt with openings guided over rollers and a suction chamber device arranged under the printing unit conveyor belt, the printing unit transport belt or the printing unit transport belts being an independent drive device has or have the conveyor belt or Impresses or impresses a speed on conveyor belts, b) an inkjet printing device arranged above the approximately horizontally guided upper drum of the printing unit conveyor belt, c) a transport device arranged upstream of the printing unit transport device in the transport direction of the printed sheets/substrates with at least one revolving belt, the conveyor belt or the Conveyor belts have or have an independent drive device which imparts or imparts a speed to the conveyor belt or conveyor belts, the ratio of the speed of the printing unit conveyor belt or printing unit conveyor belts of the printing unit transport device to the speed of the conveyor belt or conveyor belts upstream of the printing unit transport device Transport device is selected so that the printing sheets or substrates for all sheet formats intended for the inkjet printer come to rest side by side or with a small distance of up to 10 mm on the printing unit conveyor belt or printing unit conveyor belts.

Through the DE 101 41 589 B4 a method for operating a sheet processing machine is known, in which the sheets are displaced in the transport direction and treated in several processing stations, the displacement speed of the sheets being adjustable independently of one another, the speed of the respective sheet being adapted to the processing step to be carried out in the respective processing station is, and wherein the speed of the sheet is different in at least two of the processing stations. The processing performance of the individual processing stations can be the same during a certain period of time or the processing performance of a first processing station can be greater or smaller than the processing performance of an upstream or downstream second processing station during a certain period of time.

Through the DE 10 2004 014 521 B3 is a device for transporting sheets in Printing machines from the printing units to the sheet storage stack are known, consisting of at least one gripper carriage guided on both sides on chain tracks with gripper systems for grasping and guiding the sheets, the gripper carriage describing a rectilinear guide path above the sheet storage stack and after depositing the sheet on the sheet stack within a deflection area on a radius of curvature is guided and further consists of leading edge grippers for gripping the front edges of the sheets and placing the sheets on the sheet stack, with a gripper carriage support being provided exclusively on the straight guideway above the sheet stack and in the deflection area.

Through the US 2,198,385 A A gripper carriage is known, which is supported in the transfer area from the last sheet guide cylinder to the gripper carriage in the middle via a cam roller on a cam disc, whereby a register-correct transfer of the sheet is to be achieved.

The invention is based on the object of creating a machine arrangement with several processing stations for processing sheets.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. The dependent claims show advantageous refinements and/or further developments of the solution found.

The advantages that can be achieved with the invention can be seen from the following explanations.

Furthermore, the solution described can be used in a hybrid machine arrangement that processes sheet-shaped substrates, preferably in a hybrid printing machine that has the high productivity of a conventional, e.g. B. in an offset printing process or in a flexographic printing process or in a screen printing process printing device or a coating device, in particular a coating unit, variable in combination with at least one flexibly printing variable print images, e.g. B. uses a non-impact printing device designed as an inkjet printer, with both the conventional printing device or the coating device as well as the non-impact printing device being used inline in ongoing production, each at the optimal working speed for them. Such a hybrid machine arrangement is particularly suitable for the production of packaging materials, e.g. B. sheets for the production of folding boxes is very advantageous because the strengths of each of the printing devices are used, which leads to flexible and economical production of the packaging materials. In particular, arch-shaped substrates designed to be rigid can be advantageously printed in a flat state and in a horizontal position in a non-impact printing device. The length of a linear transport device can be adapted with less effort to a different number of printing units or printing stations (color separations) and (intermediate) dryer configurations, e.g. B. for water-based or UV-curing printing inks or inks, as would be the case with a rotary transport device via cylinders. With a linear transport device when using sheet-shaped substrates of variable format lengths, a constant sheet gap between sheet-shaped substrates transported at a distance in immediate succession can also be achieved more easily. On the other hand, transporting sheet-shaped substrates by means of rotating bodies, in particular cylinders and gripper strips or gripper carriages, each with a transfer of the sheet-shaped substrates in the gripper close to a next processing station, as is known from sheet-fed offset printing machines, ensures the highest possible register accuracy.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are described in more detail below.

Fig. 1

ein Blockschaltbild zur Darstellung von verschiedenen Produktionslinien;

Fig. 2

eine erste Maschinenanordnung mit mehreren verschiedenen Bearbeitungsstationen;

Fig. 3 bis 8

weitere Maschinenanordnungen jeweils mit mehreren verschiedenen Bearbeitungsstationen;

Fig. 9

die Maschinenanordnung der Fig. 8 jeweils in einer Draufsicht und in einer Seitenansicht;

Fig. 10

eine mehrteilige Transporteinrichtung;

Fig. 11

eine vergrößerte Darstellung eines ersten Ausschnitts aus der Fig. 10;

Fig. 12

eine vergrößerte Darstellung eines zweiten Ausschnitts aus der Fig. 10;

Fig. 13

eine schematische Darstellung einer Transportvorrichtung zum sequentiellen Transport einzelner bogenförmiger Substrate;

Fig. 14

eine Draufsicht auf eine einzelne Blas-Sog-Düse;

Fig. 15

eine Draufsicht auf eine Transportvorrichtung gemäß den Fig. 11 oder Fig. 13;

Fig. 16

eine Seitenansicht zu der in der Fig. 15 dargestellten Transportvorrichtung;

Fig. 17

einen Ausschnitt aus der Darstellung eines Kettenförderers;

Fig. 18

eine Draufsicht auf die in der Fig. 15 gezeigte Anordnung;

Fig. 19

eine weitere perspektivische Darstellung des in den Fig. 15 und 16 gezeigten Kettenförderers;

Fig. 20

eine weitere Ausführung der Transportvorrichtung anhand einer Ausschnittsvergrößerung aus der Fig. 11;

Fig. 21

eine Draufsicht auf die Transportvorrichtung der Fig. 20;

Fig. 22

ein im Diagonalregister auszurichtendes bogenförmiges Substrat;

Fig. 23

eine Seitenansicht einer Transportvorrichtung mit einem Schwinghebel aufweisenden mechanischen Koppelelement;

Fig. 24

eine Draufsicht der in der Fig. 23 dargestellten Transportvorrichtung;

Fig. 25

eine Seitenansicht einer Transportvorrichtung mit einem Räderkoppelgetriebe aufweisenden mechanischen Koppelelement;

Fig. 26

eine Draufsicht der in der Fig. 25 dargestellten Transportvorrichtung;

Fig. 27

eine Maschinenanordnung zum beidseitigen sequentiellen Bearbeiten mehrerer bogenförmiger Substrate;

Fig. 28

eine weitere Maschinenanordnung zum beidseitigen sequentiellen Bearbeiten mehrerer bogenförmiger Substrate;

Fig. 29

noch eine weitere Maschinenanordnung zum beidseitigen sequentiellen Bearbeiten mehrerer bogenförmiger Substrate;

Fig. 30

eine Unterschuppungseinrichtung;

Fig. 31

eine Ausschnittsvergrößerung aus der Fig. 30.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a block diagram showing various production lines;

Fig. 2

a first machine arrangement with several different processing stations;

3 to 8

further machine arrangements, each with several different processing stations;

Fig. 9

the machine arrangement of the Fig. 8 each in a top view and a side view;

Fig. 10

a multi-part transport device;

Fig. 11

an enlarged view of a first section from the Fig. 10 ;

Fig. 12

an enlarged view of a second section from the Fig. 10 ;

Fig. 13

a schematic representation of a transport device for the sequential transport of individual sheet-shaped substrates;

Fig. 14

a top view of a single blow-suction nozzle;

Fig. 15

a top view of a transport device according to Fig. 11 or Fig. 13 ;

Fig. 16

a side view of the one in the Fig. 15 transport device shown;

Fig. 17

a detail from the representation of a chain conveyor;

Fig. 18

a top view of the in the Fig. 15 arrangement shown;

Fig. 19

another perspective view of the in the Fig. 15 and 16 chain conveyor shown;

Fig. 20

a further embodiment of the transport device based on an enlarged detail from the Fig. 11 ;

Fig. 21

a top view of the transport device Fig. 20 ;

Fig. 22

an arcuate substrate to be aligned in the diagonal register;

Fig. 23

a side view of a transport device with a mechanical coupling element having a rocker arm;

Fig. 24

a top view of the in the Fig. 23 transport device shown;

Fig. 25

a side view of a transport device with a mechanical coupling element having a gear coupling;

Fig. 26

a top view of the in the Fig. 25 transport device shown;

Fig. 27

a machine arrangement for sequentially processing a plurality of sheet-shaped substrates on both sides;

Fig. 28

a further machine arrangement for sequentially processing several sheet-shaped substrates on both sides;

Fig. 29

yet another machine arrangement for sequentially processing several sheet-shaped substrates on both sides;

Fig. 30

a shelter facility;

Fig. 31

an enlarged section of the Fig. 30 .

Fig. 1 illustrates various production lines in a block diagram, each with a machine arrangement with several, in particular, different processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 can be realized for processing at least one sheet-shaped substrate, in particular a printing material, preferably a particularly rectangular printed sheet, in short a sheet, this at least one substrate being designed to be rigid or pliable depending on the material, material thickness and / or grammage. Each of these processing stations is preferably 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 each as a z. B. independently functional module is formed, whereby a module is generally to be understood as an independently manufactured or at least a machine unit or functional assembly that is assembled for itself. Each of the processing stations 01; arranged in the respective machine arrangement; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 is therefore preferably manufactured independently and, in a preferred embodiment, is z. B. can be checked individually in its respective function. The machine arrangement in question, which consists of a selection and combination of at least three different processing stations 01; each processing sheets and working together in a specific production; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 is formed, each embodies a specific production line. Each of the production lines shown, each through a specific machine arrangement with several processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 is embodied, is in particular for the production of one from the printing material, preferably from the printed sheet formed packaging means. The packaging materials to be produced are, for example: B. each folding box, each made from printed sheets. The various production lines are therefore designed in particular for the production of different packaging materials. The processing of the printing material required during a specific production takes place inline, ie the processing stations 01 involved in the specific production; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12, as the printing material passes through the processing stations 01; selected for the respective production; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 machine arrangement is used in an orderly sequence one after the other and coordinated with one another, without intermediate storage for the printing material, ie the processed sheets, being provided during the production carried out with the respective machine arrangement.

All in the Fig. 1 The production lines shown have in common that they each interact with a processing station 06, which has at least one non-impact printing device 06, preferably several, e.g. B. has four, five, six or seven, in particular individually controlled, non-impact printing devices 06, these non-impact printing devices 06 preferably being arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T of the printing material and being designed in such a way that they each at least almost cover the printing material can be printed in its full width, which is directed transversely to the transport direction T. A non-impact printing device 06 uses a printing process without a fixed printing form and can in principle change the printing material, e.g. B. print the sheet currently fed to this printing device 06 with a different print image from the previous print image. The respective non-impact printing device 06 is in particular implemented by at least one inkjet printer or by at least one laser printer. Inkjet printers are matrix printers in which a printed image is produced by selectively firing or deflecting small ink droplets, with the inkjet printer either as a device with a continuous jet of ink (Continuous Ink Jet = CIJ) or as a device that shoots individual ink drops (Drop On Demand = DOD). Laser printers create the respective printed image using an electrophotography process. The non-impact printing device 06 is z. B. also referred to as a digital printing machine.

In the following it is assumed by way of example that in the respective machine arrangement with several processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 as a printing material, a sequence of particularly rigid sheets, e.g. B. from a paper, from a single-layer or multi-layer cardboard or from a cardboard is processed in particular into a packaging material. The printing materials paper, cardboard and cardboard differ in their respective basis weight, ie the weight in grams for one square meter of this printing material. The aforementioned printing material with a basis weight between 7 g/m ² and 150 g/m ² is generally considered paper, between 150 g/m ² and 600 g/m ² as cardboard and with more than 600 g/m ² as cardboard. For the production of folding boxes, cardboard boxes are used in particular that have good printability and are suitable for subsequent finishing or processing such as. B. are suitable for painting and punching. These boxes are characterized by their use of fiber e.g. B. wood-free, slightly woody, woody or waste paper. In their structure, multi-layer cardboard boxes have a top layer, an insert and a backing on the back. In terms of their surface properties, cardboard boxes are e.g. B. uncoated, pigmented, painted or cast-coated. One format of the sheet is e.g. B. in the range between 340 mm x 480 mm and 740 mm x 1060 mm, whereby in the format specifications the first number usually indicates a length in the transport direction T of the sheets and the second number indicates a width of the sheets directed orthogonally to the transport direction T.

In the block diagram of the Fig. 1 each runs with several of the processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 displayable production line essentially from right to left, each of the two processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 interconnecting directional arrows each indicate a transport path to be traversed by the printing material and the associated transport direction T in order to move from a processing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 to the next processing station 01 selected in the machine arrangement intended for the respective production; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 to get to. Every production begins with sheets provided in the processing station 01, with the processing station 01 acting as a feeder 01, e.g. B. is designed as a sheet feeder 01 or as a magazine feeder 01. A sheet feeder 01 usually takes a z. B. stacks of sheets stacked on a pallet, whereas a magazine feeder 01 has several compartments into which sheets, in particular stacks of z. B. different types of sheets or sheets of different formats are inserted or at least can be inserted. The investor 01 occasionally z. B. by means of a suction head 41 the stacked sheets and guides them in a sequence of sheets separated from one another or in a shingled stream of the next processing station 02 in the specific production; 03; 04; 06 to. The next processing station 02; 03; 04 is e.g. B. designed as a primer application device 02 or as a cold foil application device 03 or as an offset printing device 04 or as a flexographic printing device 04. The next processing station 06 can also be directly z. B. be the at least one non-impact printing device 06. The offset printing device 04 is preferably designed as a sheet-fed offset printing machine, in particular as a sheet-fed printing machine with several printing units 86 in a row design. The offset printing device 04 provides the sheets with at least one static print image, that is to say that is unchangeable during the printing process due to the connection to the printing form used, whereas the non-impact printing device 06 provides the sheets with at least one changing or at least variable print image.

If the processing station 03 closest to the feeder 01 is the cold foil application device 03, the sheet is then generally transported from there to the processing station 04 designed as an offset printing device 04. In the cold foil application device 03 A metallized lacquer layer removed from a carrier film is transferred to the printing material. By overprinting this lacquer layer, for example B. with an offset printing device 04, a wide variety of metal effects can be achieved. The cold foil application device 03 is advantageously z. B. integrated in the offset printing device 04 by two additional printing units 87; 88 are provided in the offset printing device 04. In the first printing unit 87 in the transport direction T of the printing material, a special adhesive is applied to the printing material, ie the respective sheet, using a standard printing form. A second printing unit 88 in the transport direction T of the printing material is equipped with a film transfer device having the lacquer layer to be transferred. The film carrying the lacquer layer is guided from an unwinding station into a printing gap between a transfer cylinder and a printing cylinder that interacts with this transfer cylinder and is brought into contact with the printing material. The color in the paint layer is provided by an aluminum layer and a protective paint layer, the coloring of which influences the color impression. By adhesion of an adhesive layer to the printed adhesive layer, the transfer layers remain adhered to the substrate. The carrier film is then wound up again. After the cold foil transfer, overprinting with conventional printing inks as well as UV and hybrid inks is possible inline, especially in the offset printing device 04, in order to produce different metallic shades.

A z. B. particularly absorbent and / or for printing with a non-impact printing device 06 to be prepared printing material is from the feeder 01 a z. B. next processing station 02 designed as a primer application device 02 in order to at least one surface of this printing material before printing or painting with a z. B. to coat, in particular to seal, water-based primer. Priming represents a primer or initial coating of the printing material, in particular to improve or enable adhesion of a printing ink or ink to be subsequently applied to the printing material. The Primer application device 02 is z. B. formed in conjunction with a printing unit 86 of a rotary printing machine and has z. B. a printing cylinder 82 cooperating with a contact pressure cylinder 119 with an applicator roller 83 which is positioned or at least adjustable to this printing cylinder 82, preferably in the form of an anilox roller 83, and at least one doctor blade 84 extending in the axial direction of the applicator roller 83, in particular a chamber doctor blade system 84 ( Fig. 3 to 5 , 8th , 27 , 28 ). The primer is applied to the printing material using the primer application device 02 either over the entire surface or only at certain, ie previously determined, locations, ie partially. The printing material processed in the primer application device 02, e.g. B. sheets, is the next processing station z. B. an offset printing device 04 and / or z. B. fed to a non-impact printing device 06.

The one from a z. B. designed as a flexographic printing device 04 processing station 04 Flexographic printing is a direct letterpress process in which the raised areas of the printing form are image-bearing, which is often used for printing packaging made of paper, cardboard or cardboard, made of metallized film or made of a plastic such as . B. PE, PET, PVC, PS, PP, PC is used. Flexographic printing uses low-viscosity printing inks and flexible printing plates made of photopolymer or rubber. In general, a flexographic printing device 04 includes a) an anilox roller through which the printing form is inked, b) a printing cylinder, also called a forme cylinder, on which the printing form is attached, and c) an impression cylinder which guides the printing material.

The processing station 04, designed as a flexographic printing device 04 or as an offset printing device 04, each printing the sheets with at least one static print image, preferably has several, e.g. B. at least four printing units 86, each printing unit 86 preferably printing a different printing color, so that the printing material is multi-colored when passing through the flexographic printing device 04 or the offset printing device 04, e.g. B. in a four-color print is printed. The colors yellow, magenta, cyan and black in particular are used as printing colors. In an alternative embodiment of the printing device 04 to the flexographic printing process or offset printing process, the processing station 04, which prints the sheets with at least one static print image, is designed as a printing device 04 that prints in a screen printing process.

After processing the printing material in the at least one non-impact printing device 06, this printing material is z. B. fed to a processing station 07 designed as an intermediate dryer 07, this intermediate dryer 07 being used as a printing material in question, for example. B. is designed to be drying by irradiation with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, the type of radiation being dependent in particular on whether the printing ink or ink applied to the printing material is water-based or UV-curing. After intermediate drying, the printing material is z. B. fed to a processing station 08 designed as a painting device 08. The painting device 08 carries z. B. a dispersion varnish, with dispersion varnishes essentially consisting of water and binders (resins), with surfactants stabilizing these dispersions. A painting device 08 which applies a dispersion varnish to the printing material consists either of an anilox roller, a chamber doctor blade and an application roller (comparable to a flexographic printing unit) or of an immersion and application roller. Using a printing form, preferably based on photopolymerization, e.g. B. applied flat and/or partial paintwork. Special rubber paint plates can also be used for full-surface painting. In the transport path of the printing material after the painting device 08 z. B. a processing station 09 designed as a dryer 09 is arranged, this dryer 09 being designed to dry the relevant printing material by irradiation with infrared radiation or by hot air. If the machine arrangement in question has several dryers 07; 09, the dryer with the reference number 09 is preferably the last of these several in the transport direction T of the printing material Dryer 07; 09, whereby the intermediate dryer or dryers 07 and the (final) dryer 09 are structurally the same or can also be designed differently. If the dryer 09 is supplied with a printing material that dries by ultraviolet radiation, ie a printing material on which a printing ink or ink that hardens by UV radiation or a varnish that hardens by UV radiation, e.g. B. a glossy varnish is applied, this dryer 09 is equipped with a radiation source that generates ultraviolet radiation. With dispersion varnishes, more intense gloss and matt effects can be achieved compared to classic oil-printed varnishes. Special optical effects can be achieved using effect pigments in the paint. The primer application device 02, the cold foil application device 03 and the painting device 08 can be referred to as coating device 02; 03; 08 can be summarized.

After drying, the printing material is z. B. fed to a processing station 11, which carries out mechanical further processing on the printing material, e.g. B. by punching, creasing and/or separating parts, in particular breaking out parts from their respective composite in the preferably printed sheet. Each of the aforementioned further processing operations is carried out in or by a processing unit 46. The mechanical further processing is preferably carried out in cooperation with a cylinder that transports the respective sheet. Afterwards or directly from the dryer 09, the printing material reaches a delivery 12, which is located in each of the Fig. 1 shown, each with a specific arrangement of processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 embodied production lines each form the last processing station 12. In the delivery 12 the previously processed sheets are z. B. preferably stacked on a pallet.

Like in the Fig. 2 to 9 shown is the previously mentioned order of the processing stations 01 arranged in the respective machine arrangement; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 is only an example and can be modified depending on the printed product to be produced.

1. 1. Bogenanleger 01; Primerauftrageinrichtung 02; Non-Impact-Druckeinrichtung 06; Zwischentrockner 07 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle für Dispersionslack; Lackiereinrichtung 08; Trockner 09 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle oder Heißluft; Auslage 12
2. 2. Bogenanleger 01; Primerauftrageinrichtung 02; Non-Impact-Druckeinrichtung 06; Trockner 09 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle oder Heißluft; Auslage 12
3. 3. Bogenanleger 01; Primerauftrageinrichtung 02; Non-Impact-Druckeinrichtung 06; Zwischentrockner 07 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle; Lackiereinrichtung 08 für Dispersionslack und UV-härtendem Lack; Trockner 09 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle oder Heißluft und mit UV-Strahlungsquelle; Auslage 12
4. 4. Bogenanleger 01; Kaltfolienauftrageinrichtung 03; Offset-Druckeinrichtung 04; Non-Impact-Druckeinrichtung 06; Trockner 09 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle oder Heißluft; Auslage 12
5. 5. Bogenanleger 01; Primerauftrageinrichtung 02; Non-Impact-Druckeinrichtung 06; Zwischentrockner 07 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle für Dispersionslack; Lackiereinrichtung 08; Trockner 09 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle oder Heißluft; mechanische Weiterverarbeitungseinrichtung 11; Auslage 12
6. 6. Bogenanleger 01; Offset-Druckeinrichtung 04; Non-Impact-Druckeinrichtung 06; Zwischentrockner 07 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle; mechanische Weiterverarbeitungseinrichtung 11; Auslage 12
7. 7. Bogenanleger 01; Non-Impact-Druckeinrichtung 06; Trockner 09 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle oder Heißluft; Auslage 12
8. 8. Bogenanleger 01; Non-Impact-Druckeinrichtung 06; Zwischentrockner 07 mit UV-Strahlungsquelle; Trockner 09 mit UV-Strahlungsquelle; Auslage 12
9. 9. Bogenanleger 01; Non-Impact-Druckeinrichtung 06; Zwischentrockner 07 mit UV-Strahlungsquelle; Trockner 09 mit UV-Strahlungsquelle; mechanische Weiterverarbeitungseinrichtung 11; Auslage 12
10. 10. Bogenanleger 01; Non-Impact-Druckeinrichtung 06; Zwischentrockner 07 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle; Offset-Druckeinrichtung 04; Lackiereinrichtung 08; Trockner 09 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle oder Heißluft; Auslage 12
11. 11. Magazinanleger 01; Primerauftrageinrichtung 02; Non-Impact-Druckeinrichtung 06; Zwischentrockner 07 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle; Lackiereinrichtung 08; Trockner 09 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle oder Heißluft; Auslage 12
12. 12. Magazinanleger 01; Primerauftrageinrichtung 02; Non-Impact-Druckeinrichtung 06; Zwischentrockner 07 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle; Trockner 09 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle oder Heißluft; mechanische Weiterverarbeitungseinrichtung 11; Auslage 12
13. 13. Magazinanleger 01; Non-Impact-Druckeinrichtung 06; Zwischentrockner 07 mit UV-Strahlungsquelle; Lackiereinrichtung 08; Trockner 09 mit UV-Strahlungsquelle; Auslage 12

In the Fig. 1 Production lines shown as examples, used in particular for the production of packaging materials, each have a machine arrangement with a selection from the set of the aforementioned processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 on. For example, the following production lines are formed or at least can be formed:

1. 1. Sheet feeder 01; Primer application device 02; Non-impact printing device 06; Intermediate dryer 07 with IR radiation source for dispersion paint; Painting device 08; Dryer 09 with IR radiation source or hot air; Display 12
2. 2. Sheet feeder 01; Primer application device 02; Non-impact printing device 06; Dryer 09 with IR radiation source or hot air; Display 12
3. 3. Sheet feeder 01; Primer application device 02; Non-impact printing device 06; Intermediate dryer 07 with IR radiation source; Painting device 08 for dispersion varnish and UV-curing varnish; Dryer 09 with IR radiation source or hot air and with UV radiation source; Display 12
4. 4. Sheet feeder 01; Cold foil application device 03; Offset printing device 04; Non-impact printing device 06; Dryer 09 with IR radiation source or hot air; Display 12
5. 5. Sheet feeder 01; Primer application device 02; Non-impact printing device 06; Intermediate dryer 07 with IR radiation source for dispersion paint; Painting device 08; Dryer 09 with IR radiation source or hot air; mechanical further processing device 11; Display 12
6. 6. Sheet feeder 01; Offset printing device 04; Non-impact printing device 06; Intermediate dryer 07 with IR radiation source; mechanical further processing device 11; Display 12
7. 7. Sheet feeder 01; Non-impact printing device 06; Dryer 09 with IR radiation source or hot air; Display 12
8. 8. Sheet feeder 01; Non-impact printing device 06; Intermediate dryer 07 with UV radiation source; Dryer 09 with UV radiation source; Display 12
9. 9. Sheet feeder 01; Non-impact printing device 06; Intermediate dryer 07 with UV radiation source; Dryer 09 with UV radiation source; mechanical further processing device 11; Display 12
10. 10. Sheet feeder 01; Non-impact printing device 06; Intermediate dryer 07 with IR radiation source; Offset printing device 04; Painting device 08; Dryer 09 with IR radiation source or hot air; Display 12
11. 11. Magazine feeder 01; Primer application device 02; Non-impact printing device 06; Intermediate dryer 07 with IR radiation source; Painting device 08; Dryer 09 with IR radiation source or hot air; Display 12
12. 12. Magazine feeder 01; Primer application device 02; Non-impact printing device 06; Intermediate dryer 07 with IR radiation source; Dryer 09 with IR radiation source or hot air; mechanical further processing device 11; Display 12
13. 13. Magazine feeder 01; Non-impact printing device 06; Intermediate dryer 07 with UV radiation source; Painting device 08; Dryer 09 with UV radiation source; Display 12

At least one of the processing stations 01; which interacts with the at least one non-impact printing device 06; 02; 03; 04; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 for participation in the processing of the sheets is selected depending on whether the printing ink to be applied to the respective sheet, in particular with the non-impact printing device 06, is designed as a water-based printing ink or ink or as a printing ink or ink that hardens through ultraviolet radiation is. The respective machine arrangement is therefore designed to print the sheets with a water-based printing ink or with a printing ink that hardens through ultraviolet radiation.

Further, i. V. m. the Fig. 27 and 28 Machine arrangements explained in more detail with a selection from the set of processing stations 01 mentioned above; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 see e.g. B. Production lines that are essentially as follows Processing stations have: sheet feeder 01; first primer application device 02; first dryer 121; first non-impact printing device 06; second dryer 122; second primer application device 126; third dryer 123; second non-impact printing device 127; fourth dryer 124; Display 12

An advantageous machine arrangement mentioned here as an example has several processing stations for processing sheets, with several processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 are arranged one after the other for inline processing of these sheets, with at least one of these processing stations 06 being designed as a non-impact printing device 06, with a first processing station 01 arranged upstream of the non-impact printing device 06 in the transport direction T of the sheets as a sheet feeder 01 or is designed as a magazine feeder 01, wherein a processing station 08 arranged between the first processing station 01 and the non-impact printing device 06 is designed as a first coating device 08 which applies a lacquer to the sheets, with between the first coating device 08 and the non -Impact printing device 06, a first dryer 07 is arranged, with a first conveyor belt 17 being arranged to transport the sheets from the first dryer 07 to the non-impact printing device 06, with the sheet in the transport direction T after the non-impact printing device 06 being a second Dryer 07 is arranged, with a device for transferring the sheets coming from the non-impact printing device 06 to a second coating device 08 being provided, with the second coating device 08 being followed by a third dryer 09, with the sheet moving in the transport direction T after the third Dryer 09 has a delivery 12 for the sheets. A mechanical further processing device 11 can also be arranged between the third dryer 09 and the delivery 12. Furthermore, in the transport direction T, the sheet is in front of the non-impact printing device 06 z. B. a coating device 03 applying a cold foil is arranged. The non-impact printing device 06 preferably has several individually controlled ones along the transport path of the sheets Inkjet printer. In the effective area of the non-impact printing device 06, the sheets are preferably each guided horizontally and flatly on a transport device 22, the transport device 22 having a linear transport path or a curved transport path for the sheets at least in the effective area of the non-impact printing device 06, wherein the curved transport path is formed by a concave or convex arc line lying in a vertical plane with a radius in a range between 1 m and 10 m. In the transport direction T the sheet is in front of the non-impact printing device 06 z. B. a transfer device is arranged, the transfer device aligning the sheets in register at least in their axial register and / or circumferential register relative to the printing position of the non-impact printing device 06, the transfer device z. B. has a suction drum 32 which holds the respective sheet by means of suction air. This machine arrangement is designed to print the sheets in particular with a water-based printing ink or with a printing ink that hardens through ultraviolet radiation. This machine arrangement is designed in particular to produce different packaging materials. The device for transferring the sheets coming from the non-impact printing device 06 to the second coating device 08 is z. B. designed as a swing gripper 19 and a transfer drum 31 which interacts with the swing gripper 19.

Fig. 2 shows an example of a machine arrangement with several processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 according to the above-mentioned production line No. 6. Sheets are fed in a sheet feeder 01 z. B. picked up individually from a stack with a suction head 41 and one after the other in a cycle of z. B. 10,000 pieces per hour to an offset printing device 04 with z. B. four printing units 86 arranged in a row. For transferring the sheets from one of the printing units 86 arranged in a row to the next, a rotating body, in particular a cylinder, preferably a transfer drum 43 is provided, which is arranged between two immediately adjacent printing units 86. The offset printing facility 04 takes over the sheets fed to it by the sheet feeder 01, for example. B. with a first swing gripper 13 and guides the sheets to a first transfer drum 14 of the offset printing device 04, the sheets then being guided from one printing unit 86 to the next in the offset printing device 04 in a gripper closure. In the offset printing device 04, the sheets are printed at least on one side. If a turning device is present, the sheets can also be printed on both sides in the offset printing device 04, ie in front and back printing. After going through the z. B. designed as an offset printing device 04 processing station 04, the relevant preferably four-color printed sheet is transferred to a non-impact printing device 06 by means of a first gripper system 16, in particular a first chain conveyor 16 and at least one first conveyor belt 17, the first gripper system 16 and the first conveyor belt 17 cooperate when transferring the sheets to the non-impact printing device 06, in such a way that the first gripper system 16 delivers the sheets to the first conveyor belt 17, with the transfer of the sheets to the non-impact printing device 06 takes place from the first conveyor belt 17. The non-impact printing device 06 preferably has several, e.g. B. five linearly arranged inkjet printers, each individually controlled in a row. The sheets provided in the offset printing device 04 with at least one static printed image and in the non-impact printing device 06 with at least one changing or at least variable printed image are then dried in a dryer 07 or intermediate dryer 07, preferably with an IR radiation source . Once again, the sheets are processed in a mechanical processing device 11, for example. B. further processed by punching and/or creasing and/or breaking out pieces from the respective sheet. Ultimately, the sheets and/or blanks removed from the sheets are collected, in particular stacked, in a display 12. In the effective area of the first gripper system 16 or the first chain conveyor 16, a delivery 12, in particular a multi-stack delivery, can be provided along the transport path intended for the sheets. Likewise, in the transport direction T, the sheet is z. b. A multi-stack delivery is arranged after the mechanical further processing device 11.

The sheets picked up from a stack in the feeder 01, in particular in the sheet feeder 01, are transported individually at a distance from one another by the offset printing device 04 at a first transport speed. The sheets transferred from the offset printing device 04 to the non-impact printing device 06 are transported in this non-impact printing device 06 at a second transport speed, the second transport speed applicable in the non-impact printing device 06 generally being lower as the first transport speed applicable in the offset printing device 04. To adapt the first transport speed applicable in the offset printing device 04 to the generally lower second transport speed applicable in the non-impact printing device 06, e.g. B. the arch gap existing between directly consecutive arches, ie the distance that is z. B. due to a gripper channel width for the sheets transported in the gripper closure by the offset printing device 04, when these sheets are transferred from the offset printing device 04 to the non-impact printing device 06 preferably reduced, such a distance reduction based on their original distance e.g. B. is in the range between 1% and 98%. This means that directly successive sheets are also transported at a distance from one another in the non-impact printing device 06, but with a generally smaller sheet gap or with a smaller distance than in the offset printing device 04 and consequently also with a lower second transport speed. This second transport speed is preferably maintained when sheets printed in the non-impact printing device 06 are first sent to an intermediate dryer 07 or dryer 09 and from there z. B. can be transported further to the display 12 by means of a feed table 18 to a mechanical further processing device 11. However, the sheets can also be brought from their second transport speed to a third transport speed if this is the case, for example. B. the mechanical further processing device 11 requires, where the third transport speed is usually higher than the second transport speed and z. B. again corresponds to the first transport speed applicable in particular in the offset printing device 04. In the mechanical further processing device 11, for. B. a second swing gripper 19 is provided, which picks up the sheets coming from the intermediate dryer 07 or dryer 09 from the feed table 18 and z. B. transferred to a second transfer drum 31 arranged in the area of the mechanical processing device 11, after which the sheets z. B. can be transported through the area of the mechanical processing device 11 by means of a gripper closure. Also in the area of mechanical, in series e.g. B. further processing device 11 having several processing units 46, a rotating body, in particular a cylinder, preferably a transfer drum 44, is provided for transferring the sheets from one to the next of the processing units 46 arranged in a row, which is arranged between two adjacent processing units 46. One of the processing units 46 is z. B. as a punching work, another processing work 46 z. B. designed as a creaser. The processing unit 46 in question is designed to carry out the mechanical further processing of the sheets, preferably in cooperation with a cylinder that transports the respective sheet. After their mechanical further processing, the sheets and/or blanks separated from them are z. B. transported to the display 12 by means of a second chain conveyor 21 and collected there, preferably stacked.

The sheets are transported from the exit of the offset printing device 04 at least to the exit of the intermediate dryer 07 or dryer 09, preferably to the beginning of the mechanical further processing device 11, each by means of a multi-part transport device, ie consisting of several assemblies, in particular transport units, arranged one after the other in the transport direction T of the sheets 22 transported, the transport device 22 transporting the sheets with their respective length directed in the transport direction T at least in the effective area between the offset printing device 04 and the intermediate dryer 07 or dryer 09 arranged non-impact printing device 06 along a linear transport path, preferably transported horizontally flat. The linear transport path and the horizontally flat transport are preferably continued when the sheets are transported through the intermediate dryer 07 or dryer 09 downstream of the non-impact printing device 06. If necessary, an intermediate dryer 07 or a dryer 09 can also be arranged between the offset printing device 04 and the non-impact printing device 06.

In the 3 to 8 are further machine arrangements, each with several processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 shown by way of example and schematically, the respective reference numbers denoting the previously explained processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 and others refer to their respective aggregates.

In the Fig. 3 is a machine arrangement with the following processing stations 01 arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T of the printing material; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 shown: sheet feeder 01; Primer application device 02 or painting device 08; intermediate dryer 07; Non-impact printing device 06; intermediate dryer 07; Painting device 08; Dryer 09; Display 12.

In the Fig. 4 is a machine arrangement with the following processing stations 01 arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T of the printing material; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 shown: sheet feeder 01; Primer application device 02; intermediate dryer 07; Non-impact printing device 06; Dryer 09; Display 12.

In the Fig. 5 is a machine arrangement with the following processing stations 01 arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T of the printing material; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 shown: sheet feeder 01; Primer application device 02; intermediate dryer 07; Non-impact printing device 06; intermediate dryer 07; Painting device 08; intermediate dryer 07; Painting device 08; Dryer 09; Display 12.

In the Fig. 6 is a machine arrangement with the following processing stations 01 arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T of the printing material; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 shown: sheet feeder 01; a first offset printing device 04; Cold foil application device 03; four further offset printing devices 04 in series construction; intermediate dryer 07; Non-impact printing device 06; intermediate dryer 07; Non-impact printing device 06; Dryer 09; Display 12.

In the Fig. 7 is a machine arrangement, shown in an offset due to its length, with the following processing stations 01 arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T of the printing material; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 shown: sheet feeder 01; a first offset printing device 04; Cold foil application device 03; four further offset printing devices 04 in series construction; intermediate dryer 07; Non-impact printing device 06; intermediate dryer 07; Painting device 08; Dryer 09; two mechanical further processing devices 11 in series construction; Display 12.

In the Fig. 8 is a machine arrangement with the following processing stations 01 arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T of the printing material; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 shown: magazine feeder 01; Primer application device 02; intermediate dryer 07; Non-impact printing device 06; intermediate dryer 07; Painting device 08; Dryer 09; Display 12. The Fig. 9 shows exactly this machine arrangement in a top view and a side view.

Fig. 10 shows again in more detail the aforementioned multi-part transport device 22, which is preferably for use in a machine arrangement with several Processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 is intended for processing sheets. At the exit of the z. B. processing station 04 designed as an offset printing device 04, a gripper system 16, in particular a first chain conveyor 16 having at least one revolving chain, is provided, which has a plurality of gripper strips or preferably a plurality of gripper carriages 23, preferably equidistantly spaced along its at least one revolving chain, each of which transporting sheet is preferably held on its front edge in the transport direction T, ie on its front edge, by one of the gripper carriages 23 and transported along the transport path predetermined by the chain path. The gripper carriages 23 are each equipped with controlled or at least controllable holding means 79 ( Fig. 15 ), especially with grippers e.g. B. each equipped with a clamping device that can be controlled with regard to the clamping it exerts. The distance between gripper carriages 23 following each other in the transport direction T of the sheets is z. B. in the range between 700 mm and 1,000 mm. The at least one chain of the first chain conveyor 16 runs in particular in a semicircle on a chain wheel 24 arranged at the output of the offset printing device 04. An area in which the first chain conveyor 16 sheets of a z. B. takes over the processing station 04 designed as an offset printing device 04, forms a takeover area of this first chain conveyor 16, whereas an area in which the first chain conveyor 16 sheets z. B. to another transport device, in particular for transport to a processing station 06 designed as a non-impact printing device 06, forms a transfer area of this first chain conveyor 16. A first chain wheel 81 arranged in the transfer area of the first chain conveyor 16 is preferably designed as a drive wheel which sets the at least one chain in motion, whereas the second chain wheel 24 arranged at the output of the offset printing device 04, in particular in the transfer area of the first chain conveyor 16, is preferably designed as a at least a chain deflecting deflection wheel is formed. In an area extending approximately over an extended length of an arch below the at least a chain wheel 24 arranged at the output of the offset printing device 04, in particular below the second chain wheel 24 arranged in the transfer area of the first chain conveyor 16, at least one suction chamber 26 is arranged for holding a sheet transported, ie brought, with one of the gripper carriages 23. Preferably, several individually controlled or at least controllable suction chambers 26 are arranged there in the transport direction T of the sheets. As indicated by the reference to the other transport device mentioned above, in this area below the at least one chain wheel 24 arranged at the output of the offset printing device 04, for example. B. also arranged at least one first rotating conveyor belt 17 in the transport direction T of the sheets for receiving and further transporting a sheet removed from the first chain conveyor 16, the sheet taken over by this first conveyor belt 17 preferably continuing in the direction of the non-impact printing device 06 is transported.

In the effective area of the non-impact printing device 06 arranged between the offset printing device 04 and the intermediate dryer 07 or dryer 09, a second rotating conveyor belt 27 is preferably provided, on which the sheets are transported one after the other, preferably horizontally flat, along a linear transport path. The transfer device is arranged in particular between the first conveyor belt 17 and the second conveyor belt 27. Also in the effective area of the intermediate dryer 07 or dryer 09, a third rotating conveyor belt 28 is preferably provided, on which the sheets taken over by the non-impact printing device 06 are transported one after the other, preferably horizontally lying flat, along a linear transport path. The third conveyor belt 28 transfers the sheet transported through the intermediate dryer 07 or dryer 09 to the feed table 18, from where the sheets are transported one after the other, preferably to the mechanical further processing device 11. The first conveyor belt 17, the second conveyor belt 27 and the third conveyor belt 28 preferably transport the sheets in the same z. B. horizontal, in particular a transport plane 29 designed as a flat surface. The transport device 22 for transporting sheets in a machine arrangement with processing stations each processing sheets thus comprises at least three transport units, namely the first gripper system 16 or the first chain conveyor 16, the first transport belt 17 and the second transport belt 27 The first chain conveyor 16 and the first conveyor belt 17 are arranged to cooperate to transfer a sequence of sheets from a first processing station to a second processing station, preferably immediately following in the transport direction T of the sheets of the first processing station. The sequence of sheets is transferred from the first conveyor belt 17 to the second conveyor belt 27 belonging to the next processing station. Preferably, a third conveyor belt 28 is also provided, with the sequence of sheets being transferred from the second conveyor belt 27 to the third conveyor belt 28, which belongs to a third processing station preferably immediately following in the transport direction T of the sheets of the second processing station. In the event that the respective transport path of the first conveyor belt 17 and/or the second conveyor belt 27 or possibly the third conveyor belt 28 are not aligned linearly and/or not horizontally, the conveyor belts 17; 27; 28 of the transport device 22 the sheets each along a curved transport path, in particular along a concave or convex arc line lying in a vertical plane with a radius of at least 1 m, preferably with a radius in the range between 2 m and 10 m, in particular with a Radius in the range between 3 m and 5 m. The conveyor belts 17; 27; 28 are preferably each designed as a suction belt conveyor, ie each as a conveyor belt with at least one suction chamber 26 which sucks in the respective sheet during its transport. On the conveyor belts 17; 27; 28 with several suction chambers 26 along the transport path provided for the sheets, these suction chambers 26 can preferably be controlled individually and / or preferably independently of one another with regard to the action of their respective suction air. Along the curved transport path are preferably several individually controlled non-impact printing devices 06 arranged, the several non-impact printing devices 06 z. B. are each designed as an inkjet printer. The conveyor belts 17; 27; 28 of the transport device 22 each consist of z. B. from several parallel individual belts, which are arranged next to each other orthogonally to the transport path intended for the sheets and thus each run longitudinally to the transport path intended for the sheets. Under a conveyor belt 17; 27; 28, in contrast to the gripper system 16, is to be understood as a gripper-less transport device, with the relevant conveyor belt 17; 27; 28 is designed to run endlessly between at least two deflection devices.

Fig. 11 shows again in an enlarged detail some details of the already based on the Fig. 10 transport device 22 described. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, a transfer device, preferably with a suction drum 32, is arranged in the area of transfer of the sheets from the first conveyor belt 17 to the second conveyor belt 27 orthogonally to the transport direction T of the sheets. The suction drum 32 preferably consists of several, e.g. B. six suction rings 76 arranged parallel to one another on a common shaft 89. In a preferred embodiment of the suction drum 32, its suction rings 76 are individually acted upon or at least can be acted upon with suction air, which has the advantage that an effective width of this suction drum directed in the axial direction of the suction drum 32 32 the sheet can be set or is set as required, particularly depending on the format used. The suction drum 32 preferably has on its circumference at least one stop 34 which projects into the transport plane 29 of the sheets, with a stop surface of the relevant stop 34 extending axially to the suction drum 32 and preferably vertically to the preferably horizontal transport plane 29. The suction drum 32 has either a stop 34 that is continuous in its axial direction or preferably two stops 34 spaced apart from one another in its axial direction. So that the same suction drum 32 for sheets several different format widths can be used, in the case of a suction drum 32 having several suction rings 76, at least one stop 34 is preferably arranged on each suction ring 76. The suction drum 32 is rotatably and axially movable. The suction drum 32 has a first drive for its circumferential movement and a second drive for its axial movement, the circumferential movement and the axial movement being controlled independently of one another by a control unit. The circumferential movement and/or the axial movement of the suction drum 32 are controlled by the control unit as a function of a position signal, which is generated by a first sensor 33 located upstream of the suction drum 32 in the transport direction T of the sheets by detecting the position of the sheet that next reaches the suction drum 32 and to the control unit. The suction drum 32 has the task of aligning the sheets fed to it in register and of feeding these sheets in their aligned state to a further processing station, in particular the non-impact printing device 06, so that the sheets can be further processed there. In the preferred embodiment, the suction drum 32 thus directs the respective sheet to be fed to the effective area of the non-impact printing device 06, for example. B. by the at least one stop 34 projecting into the transport plane 29 of the relevant sheet and/or by an axial displacement of this suction drum 32 holding the relevant sheet in register relative to the printing position of the non-impact printing device 06. A sheet gripped by the suction drum 32, preferably by means of suction air, ie by means of a negative pressure, is aligned in particular laterally to its transport direction T by the axial movement of this suction drum 32, which is controlled as a function of the position signal generated by the first sensor 33. The suction drum 32 grips an aligned sheet in particular by clocked suction air, ie the suction air is z. B. quickly switched on and off again by the control unit in certain angular positions of the suction drum 32, which are preferably dependent on the transport speed and / or position of the sheets. An alignment of the front edge of the sheet in question at a right angle to the transport direction T in the transport plane 29 is preferably achieved by pushing it Edge reached against the at least one stop 34 of the suction drum 32. Optional is e.g. B. at least one side stop is also provided in the transfer device, against which a sheet to be aligned is pushed with an edge running parallel to its transport direction T. The first sensor 33 is z. B. designed as an optical sensor, in particular as a line sensor, preferably as a CCD line sensor. To generate the position signal, the first sensor 33 preferably detects an edge of the sheet in question extending along the transport direction T of the sheet or marks arranged on the sheet, the marks being arranged in the printed image of this sheet or outside the relevant printed image. A second sensor 36, which is preferably located upstream of the first sensor 33 in the transport direction T of the sheets and is preferably also connected to the control unit, detects z. B. the front edge and possibly also the number of sheets transported from the first conveyor belt 17 to the second conveyor belt 27. The second sensor 36 preferably detects a front edge of the respective sheets in the transport direction T of the sheets and is primarily used for checking the arrival of sheets. The second sensor 36 is z. B. designed as an optical sensor, in particular as a reflex sensor or as a light sensor. In cooperation with the suction drum 32, z. B. at least one guide element 37 is provided which extends in the direction of the effective area of the non-impact printing device 06, ie in the direction of the second conveyor belt 27, preferably linearly, in particular along the transport path of the sheets, the guide element 37 in question being connected to the lateral surface of the suction drum 32 forms a gusset into which the sheets coming from the first conveyor belt 17 are inserted. In the area of the first conveyor belt 17 and possibly also in the area of the second conveyor belt 27, z. B. one or more preferably each z. B. suction chambers 26 which can be controlled by the control unit are provided. The suction chambers 26 are optionally part of the transport device 22. With the inclusion of at least one suction chamber 26 of the first conveyor belt 17, in a preferred embodiment, the lateral alignment of the sheet takes place by axially displacing the suction drum 32, in particular after aligning the relevant sheet on the at least one stop 34 and switching off the suction air in the last suction chamber 26 in the transport direction T of the sheet in question. This lateral orientation of the sheet is superimposed in time on the rotational movement of the suction drum 32. This means that the suction drum 32 rests at the next processing station 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 sheets to be handed over in this transfer facility at no time. The suction drum 32 accordingly aligns the sheets in register at least in their axial register and/or in their circumferential register relative to a processing position of the processing station 01 following the suction drum 32; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 out.

In a machine arrangement with several processing stations for processing sheets, with several processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 are arranged one after the other for inline processing of these sheets, with at least one of these processing stations 06 being designed as a non-impact printing device 06, the first processing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 e.g. B. a first alignment device in the transport direction T of the sheets is arranged upstream, this first alignment device keeping the sheets in register at least in their axial register and / or in their circumferential register relative to a processing position of the first processing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 aligns. The sheet is also in the transport direction T between the non-impact printing device 06 and a processing station 01 downstream of the non-impact printing device 06; 02; 03; 04; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 e.g. B. a further alignment device is arranged, this further alignment device keeping the sheets in register at least in their axial register and/or in their circumferential register relative to a processing position of the processing station 01 downstream of the non-impact printing device 06; 02; 03; 04; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 aligns.

The suction drum 32, which is arranged in particular in the transfer device, is z. B. also used to transfer from the offset printing device 04 to the non-impact printing device 06 to adapt the sheets to be handed over in their respective transport speed. Since the second transport speed in the non-impact printing device 06 is generally lower than the first transport speed in the offset printing device 04, the suction drum 32 brakes the sheets fed to it one after the other at the first transport speed from the offset printing device 04 in each case by a push from the front edge to the at least one stop 34, aligns the sucked-in sheet if necessary, ie in the event of a corresponding position signal from the first sensor 33 indicating a need for correction, at least laterally by an axial movement of the suction drum 32 holding the relevant sheet and then accelerates or decelerates the gripped sheet by rotating this suction drum 32 to the second transport speed required in the non-impact printing device 06, the sheet in question being z. B. released from the suction drum 32 when the second transport speed is reached and the suction drum 32 is then brought into its rotationally and / or axially required operating position for gripping a next sheet. The suction drum 32 therefore rotates z. B. preferably non-uniform in each of its revolutions. Position information from the front edge of the sheet necessary for rotational position control of the suction drum 32 is provided by a z. B. rotary angle encoder 47 arranged on a chain wheel 24 or alternatively a rotary angle encoder of the offset printing device 04, in particular the printing press.

As already mentioned, it is provided with the previously described machine arrangements, each of which has several processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 for processing sheets and for transporting these sheets have at least one transport device to process sheets of different formats, ie of different lengths and / or widths. Therefore, the usually rectangular arches differ from each other. B. in their respective length, this length extending in the transport direction T of this sheet. In order to use one designed in particular as a non-impact printing device 06 processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12, the sheets are fed sequentially, in order not to reduce the productivity of the respective machine arrangement for comparatively shorter sheets, ie for sheets of smaller format compared to otherwise larger-format sheets processed in this machine arrangement, a method with the following process steps is proposed:
Method for operating a plurality of sheets in a processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 sequentially feeding transport device, in which for processing by the same processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 sheets of different lengths extending in the transport direction T of these sheets are used, the processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 sheets to be fed one after the other are transported by the transport device at a distance, the transport device imposing a transport speed on the sheets to be transported, the distance existing between immediately successive sheets for sheets of different lengths extending in the transport direction T of these sheets being changed the transport speed to be impressed on the relevant sheet by the transport device is kept constant, the transport speed of the following sheet in the transport direction T being changed in relation to the transport speed of the immediately preceding sheet. The relevant processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 sheets to be fed one after the other to achieve and / or maintain one from the processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 the high productivity to be achieved is preferably transported by the transport device at a minimum, but usually non-zero distance. The distance between consecutive sheets in the transport direction T, ie between the rear edge of the preceding sheet extending transversely to the transport direction T and the front edge of the immediately following sheet extending transversely to the transport direction T, is z. B. in the range between 0.5 mm and 50 mm, preferably at less than 10 mm. If a sheet of shorter length is in the relevant processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 is to be processed after a sheet of greater length, the sheet of shorter length is accelerated by the transport device by increasing its transport speed. Conversely, a sheet of greater length is slowed down by the transport device by reducing its transport speed when the sheet of greater length is in the relevant processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 is to be processed after a sheet of shorter length. As processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12, a non-impact printing device 06 is preferably used, whose productivity is usually greatest when the sheets to be printed by it are fed to it one after the other at a constant minimum distance, regardless of their respective format. If in the relevant machine arrangement of the non-impact printing device 06 a z. B. is arranged upstream of a processing station 04 designed as an offset printing device 04, sheets printed in the offset printing device 04 are fed to the transport device, regardless of their respective format, at the transport speed corresponding to a production speed of this offset printing device 04, this sheet being transported from the offset -Printing device 04 predetermined transport speed during its transport with the transport device must be adapted to the transport speed corresponding to a processing speed of the non-impact printing device 06. If these sheets, regardless of their respective format, are also to be fed to the non-impact printing device 06 at a constant distance from one another, sheets of greater length will be slowed down less than shorter sheets, but in any case a reduction in their respective transport speed will be necessary because the processing speed of the non-impact printing device 06 is usually lower than the production speed of the offset printing device 04.

During its transport, the respective sheet is preferably non-positively z. B. held by suction air. The respective bow its transport speed is preferably caused by suction rings 76 of a suction drum 32 acting on it or by at least one endlessly rotating suction belt 52; 78 impressed. In the preferred embodiment, the transport speed to be impressed on the sheet in question is set by a preferably electronic control unit, the control unit adjusting the transport speed in particular to maintain the constant distance between successive sheets in a control loop, as has already been done previously, for example. B.i. V. m. the rotational position control of the suction drum 32 has been described or z. B.i. V. m. a control device to be explained in more detail below and z. B. optical sensors 33; 36 will be described.

If with the previously described machine arrangements, each of which has several processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 for processing sheets and for transporting these sheets have at least two transport devices, limp sheets are transported and processed, i.e. H. Sheets with low bending stiffness, in particular thin sheets that cannot transmit any shear forces, so that shear forces acting on such a sheet cause this sheet to form waves, then it is difficult to transfer such sheets to the relevant processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 in one for this processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 intended target position.

There is therefore a method for sequentially feeding several sheets to a processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 proposed, in which one of the processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 the first transport device arranged upstream of the sheets in the transport direction T, the sheets of the processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 each feeds it at a first transport speed in a pushing movement, the first transport device feeding the respective processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 holds the feeding sheet during the pushing movement with at least one holding element, the relevant one being in the processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 sheets fed from one of these processing stations 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 assigned to the second transport device and is transported in the gripped state at a second transport speed, the first transport speed of the first transport device being less than the second transport speed of the second transport device, the relevant holding element of the first transport device corresponding to the processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 only releases the sheet to be fed after the second transport device has transferred it to the processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 sheets fed in and started transporting this sheet. As processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12, a non-impact printing device 06 is preferably used. The sheets are transported in the first transport device and/or in the second transport device, in particular in a same transport plane 29. As a first transport device z. B. a first, in particular endlessly rotating, conveyor belt 17 and/or a second, in particular endlessly rotating, conveyor belt 27 is used as the second transport device, these conveyor belts 17; 27 e.g. B. are each designed as a suction belt. In an alternative embodiment of the holding elements, these are each designed as a suction ring 76 of a suction drum 32. On the respective processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12, a holding force is exerted by the relevant holding element of the first transport device, this holding force being at least briefly greater than a tensile force acting on this sheet at the same time and exerted by the second transport device. The first transport device holds the respective processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 feeding sheets with the at least one holding element, each preferably by a force connection, e.g. B. by suction air. The proposed method makes the processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 sheets to be fed are subjected to a tensile stress and therefore despite of the The pushing movement carried out by the first transport device is streamlined. The sheets are preferably placed in the transport level 29 after checking their actual position and in the event of a deviation of the actual position from that for the sheet in question in the processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 intended target position is transferred to the second transport device in the intended target position after a position correction has been carried out.

Fig. 12 shows an enlarged excerpt from the Fig. 10 the transfer of the sheets on the feed table 18, in particular from the third conveyor belt 28 in the effective area of the intermediate dryer 07 or dryer 09 to the effective area of the mechanical further processing device 11. The feed table 18 has z. B. at least a fourth conveyor belt 38, which is preferably arranged inclined at an acute angle ϕ to the preferably horizontal transport plane 29. Also in connection with the fourth conveyor belt 38 is z. B. a third sensor 39 is provided, which generates a position signal from the sheets transported by the fourth conveyor belt 38 and sends it to the control unit. It can e.g. B. it can be provided that a sheet to be fed to the mechanical further processing device 11 is brought from the second transport speed to the third transport speed by the second swing gripper 19 and the second transfer drum 31, which means that the sheet in question is moved in particular by the rotation of the sheet controlled by the control unit second transfer drum 31 is accelerated. Also in the area of the fourth conveyor belt 38 are z. B. one or more preferably controllable suction chambers 42 are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the sheet is z. B. for the mechanical further processing device 11, these sheets are submerged. A sheet transported by the fourth conveyor belt 38 is lifted in its rear area by means of clocked blown air and is delayed by the fourth conveyor belt 38 in connection with the suction chamber 42. A subsequent sheet is then pulled under the previous sheet by the faster-running front belt conveyor 48.

Preferably at the transfer device of the sheets z. B. for mechanical further processing device 11, a method for arranging sheets in a shingled position in one between a first processing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 and a second processing station 01 following the first processing station in the transport direction T of the sheets; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 arranged transfer device executed, in which the sheets to be scaled from the first processing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 are transported one after the other in a transport plane 29 lying one after the other to the transfer device, in each case a rear edge in the transport direction T of the first processing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 coming sheets are raised relative to the transport level 29 exclusively by blown air and a subsequent sheet is pushed under the rear edge of the previous sheet. The blown air acts with at least 50% of its intensity, preferably in the direction of a normal standing in the transport plane 29, against gravity. It is advantageously provided that further blown air is directed counter to the transport direction T of the sheets essentially tangentially at an acute angle formed with the transport plane 29 in the range of z. B. 0° to 45° from above, ie onto the surface facing away from the transport plane 29, the sheet is blown onto the sheet to be transported to the transfer device. The further blown air directed opposite to the transport direction T of the sheets emerges from an acute angle converging with the transport plane 29 of the sheets in the range of z. B. 0 ° to 45 ° forming guide surface, in particular nozzles for the exit of the blown air being arranged in the guide surface. The blown air acting against gravity in the direction of the transport plane 29 is preferably clocked by the control unit. The one from the first processing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 to the subsequent second processing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 sheets to be transported are held in the transport plane 29 by means of suction air, preferably acting in the front half of the sheets in the transport direction T. This is done by the first processing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 to the subsequent second processing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 sheets to be transported in the transport level 29 are preferably clocked by the control unit. In the preferred embodiment, the control unit determines an effective width of the blown air acting against gravity in the direction of the transport plane 29 and/or an effective width of the additional blown air directed counter to the transport direction T of the sheets and/or an effective width for the sheets that from the first processing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 to the subsequent second processing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 sheets to be transported in the transport plane 29 holding suction air each adjusted depending on a width of the sheet directed orthogonally to the transport direction T of the sheets. The setting of the respective effective width of the blown air acting against gravity in the direction of the transport plane 29 and the further blown air directed counter to the transport direction T of the sheets and for the blown air from the first processing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 to the subsequent second processing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 sheets to be transported in the transport plane 29 holding suction air each mechanically or electrically coupled, e.g. B. coupled in terms of transmission technology using a single adjusting device. This adjustment device is used by the control unit z. B. automatically depending on the format of the first processing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 to the subsequent second processing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 sheets to be transported are controlled.

For the shingling of the sheet-shaped substrates, in particular the sheet 51, which is preferably each designed as a printed sheet, is in the area, ie in the working area, in particular in one of the previously described machine arrangements ( Fig. 1 to 9 ) arranged transfer device, on which the sheets 51 in particular from an offset, flexo or non-impact printing device 04; 06 coming e.g. B. to the mechanical further processing device 11 are passed on, a device for under-shedding sheets 51 is arranged, which is also referred to below as under-shedding device 132. Several sheets 51 are fed to the undercutting device 132 one after the other, ie at a distance from one another, on a feed table 134, the feed table 134 z. B. as the feed table 18 arranged in the transport direction T of the sheets 51 in front of the delivery 12 of the sheets 51 ( Fig. 12 ) is designed, with the feed table 18 holding the sheets 51 z. B. fed one after the other by means of the conveyor belt 38 to the under-shedding device 132 and / or the sheets 51 under-shedded by the under-shod device 132 from the feed table 18 z. B. by means of a swing gripper 19 z. B. be handed over to a transfer drum 31. The feed table 134 has z. B. a suction chamber 42 or in the transport direction T of the sheets 51 one behind the other several suction chambers 42 which can be switched in particular individually and independently of one another in their respective pressure, as is also the case, for example. B. in the Fig. 12 is shown.

The undercutting device 132 is in the 30 and 31 shown as an example. Above the feed table 134, the undercutting device 132 has a box-shaped housing, the so-called blow box 133, which preferably extends over the entire width b51 of the sheets 51, with the blow box 133 on the side facing the feed table 134 in the transport direction T of the undercutting device 132 individually fed Sheet 51 several blowing nozzles 136 one behind the other; 137 are arranged. In the preferred embodiment, in the transport direction T of the sheets 51 there are at least two rows of several blowing nozzles 136, each arranged next to one another, one behind the other and transversely to the transport direction T of the sheets 51; 137, ie rows of blowing nozzles arranged. A respective blowing direction of the blowing nozzles 136; 137 is directed essentially parallel to the feed table 134 against the transport direction T of the sheets 51 and in the 30 and 31 each indicated by directional arrows. The respective blowing direction of the blowing nozzles 136; 137 is e.g. B. by at least one channeling the flow of blown air, each on the relevant blowing nozzle 136; 137 arranged and / or molded guide surface 144 fixed. The respective guide surface 144 is on the feed table 18; 134 facing side of the blow box 133 z. B. designed as a ramp protruding from this blow box 133. One of the respective blowing nozzles 136; 137 blown air flowing out is preferably through adjustable valves 138; 139 e.g. B. controlled in time and / or intensity, with the valves 138; 139 e.g. B. are or are controlled by a preferably digital control unit 61 which processes a program. The valves 138; 139 are e.g. B. switched by the control unit 61 in particular in a cycle, with a cycle duration and / or a cycle frequency preferably being set as a function of the feed of the sheets 51 fed to the shingling device 132.

In the transport direction T the sheet 51 is in an area between the feed table 18; 134 and this feed table 18; 134 facing side of the blow box 133 in front of the first blow nozzle 136 or the first row of blow nozzles, a bulkhead plate 141 is arranged, the bulkhead plate 141 being the front edge of a sheet 51, which is one of the blown air from at least one of the blow nozzles 136; 137 raised sheet 51 directly follows, against which of the blowing nozzles 136; arranged in the blowing box 133; 137 shields the suction effect caused. That of at least one of the blowing nozzles 136; 137 or rows of blowing nozzles from the feed table 18; 134 raised sheet 51 channels the from the at least one blowing nozzle 136; 137 blown air flowing out and directs this blown air over the surface of the bulkhead plate 141 facing the blow box 133. The bulkhead plate 141 preferably has a concave curvature at its end located in the blowing direction, this curvature of the blown air being one of the feed table 18; 134 there is an outflow direction facing away, ie directed away. Through the bulkhead 141, the front edge of the sheet 51, which is exposed to the blown air from at least one of the blowing nozzles 136; 137 raised sheet 51 follows directly, unaffected, until the raised sheet 51, through its own movement progress or feed directed in the transport direction T, with its rear end, the one from this sheet 51 Blow nozzle 136 or row of blow nozzles reached first is exposed. In order to prevent the front edge of the sheet 51, which is exposed to the blowing air from at least one of the blowing nozzles 136; 137 raised sheet 51 immediately follows, prematurely due to the effect of the blowing nozzle 136 exposed from the rear end of the preceding sheet 51; 137 or row of blowing nozzles is raised, the blowing air of the relevant blowing nozzle 136; 137 or row of blowing nozzles by means of the associated valve 138; 139 depending on the movement progress or feed of the feed table 18; 134 raised, one between the bulkhead 141 and the feed table 18; 134 located sheet 51 directly preceding sheet 51 switched off. One of the blowing nozzles 136; 137 or rows of blowing nozzles raised sheet 51 is due to the suction effect (Venturi effect) caused by the respective blowing air above the feed table 18; 134 in a specific, e.g. B. by a distance from the feed table 18; 134 facing side of the blow box 133 measured floating height SH raised, the floating height SH being dependent on the intensity of the respective blowing air and / or on the mass of the relevant sheet 51 and / or on the transport speed of the relevant sheet 51. In order to prevent sheet 51 z. B. large mass and / or high transport speed when transporting them over the feed table 18; 134 begins to vibrate and flutter in the area between the feed table 18; 134 and this feed table 18; 134 facing side of the blow box 133 preferably a support plate 142 supporting the raised sheet 51 is provided, the z. B. at an acute angle to the feed table 18; 134 facing side of the blow box 133 arranged support plate 142 z. B. is designed in the form of an air-permeable grid. The sheet 51, raised by the suction of the blown air and placed against the support plate 142, is guided there in a quiet movement, ie without fluttering, in its transport direction T along this support plate 142. In the feed table 18; 134, at least in an area opposite the blow box 133, several holes 143 or openings are preferably provided, through which air flows under the currently raised sheet 51 to equalize the pressure. These holes 143 are z. B. circular with one Diameter d143 in the range of a few millimeters.

Fig. 13 shows schematically in a simplified representation and by way of example a transport device for the sequential transport of individual sheet-shaped substrates, these substrates each preferably being designed as a sheet 51, in particular a printed sheet. This transport device is preferably between two successive processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 of each sheet 51 processing machine arranged, one of these processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12, e.g. B. the second processing station in the transport direction T of the relevant sheet 51 is designed in particular as a non-impact printing device 06, preferably as at least one inkjet printing device. The based on the Fig. 13 The transport device described is as a sheet 51 transporting assembly z. B. formed within one of the previously described production lines and corresponds z. B. with the previously described conveyor belt with position number 17 or 27.

The based on the Fig. 13 The transport device described for the sequential transport of individual sheet-shaped substrates has at least one endlessly rotating suction belt 52, the at least one suction belt 52 z. B. is arranged between at least two spaced-apart deflection rollers 53. The at least one suction belt 52 points in the Fig. 13 In the transport direction T of the sheet 51 indicated by an arrow, there are two surface areas which are designed differently from one another, one behind the other, the surface 56 being closed by one of these surface areas and the surface 57 being perforated by the other of these surface areas. These two surface areas alternate along the circumference of the suction belt 52, ie they are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction of the relevant suction belt 52 and thus in the transport direction T of the sheet 51. The sheet 51 to be transported is partly on the closed surface 56 of the relevant suction belt 52 during its transport and partly arranged lying flat on the perforated surface 07 of the same suction belt 52. In the transport direction T of the sheet 51 to be transported with the at least one suction belt 52, there are at least two suction chambers 58 one behind the other; 59 arranged, wherein the at least one suction belt 52 is arranged in a stationary manner relative to these at least two suction chambers 58; 59 is moved. The at least one suction belt 52 slides z. B. via a preferably table-shaped surface 69 of at least one of these suction chambers 58; 59. The first suction chamber 58 in the transport direction T of the sheet 51 to be transported is arranged in the area of a load strand 54 of the relevant suction belt 52, whereas the second suction chamber 59 in the transport direction T of the sheet 51 to be transported is either also in the area of the load strand 54 of the relevant suction belt 52 the first suction chamber 58 in the transport direction T of the sheet 51 to be transported or in the transport direction T of the sheet 51 to be transported after the area of the load strand 54 of the relevant suction belt 52, ie the relevant suction belt 52 in the transport direction T of the sheet 51 to be transported is arranged downstream . A strand is a free, non-supporting section of a running, preferably endlessly rotating traction element, the traction element z. B. is designed as a chain, rope, band or belt, in particular a toothed belt. If the pulling element is designed as a chain, the at least one chain is z. B. guided in a chain rail. The load strand is the side of the tension element that is pulled and is taut, whereas a slack strand is the loose, not pulled and sagging strand.

In the Fig. 13 The first variant for the arrangement of the second suction chamber 59 is shown as an example. The first suction chamber 58 in the transport direction T of the sheet 51 generally has a much larger volume, in particular at least twice as large, as the second suction chamber 59 in the transport direction T of the sheet 51. When the sheet 51 is transported, there is a volume in the in The negative pressure prevailing in the first suction chamber 58 in the transport direction T of the sheet 51 to be transported is permanently present and in the second suction chamber 59 in the transport direction T of the sheet 51 in question prevailing negative pressure is clocked, ie this negative pressure is alternately switched on or off for an adjustable duration. The second suction chamber 59 in the transport direction T of the sheet 51 is therefore designed to have a comparatively small volume in order to be able to accommodate it in view of the transport speed of in particular several thousand, e.g. B. 10,000 to 18,000 sheets 51 per hour to build up a negative pressure more quickly and to be able to achieve a higher cycle rate with regard to the pressure build-up and pressure reduction in the second suction chamber 59. During its transport, this sheet 51 is then sucked onto the at least one rotating suction belt 52 when the perforated surface 57 of the relevant suction belt 52 is connected to at least one of the vacuum chambers 58; 59 is in an active connection. In a very advantageous embodiment of this transport device, a timing of the negative pressure of the second suction chamber 59 in the transport direction T of the sheet 51 is synchronized with a sweep over the perforated surface 57 of the relevant suction belt 52 covered by the sheet 51 to be transported.

A rotational speed v of the suction belt 52 in question is set by the preferably digital control unit 61, which processes a program, with a drive 62 that sets this suction belt 52 in motion. This control unit 61 preferably also controls or regulates the aforementioned synchronization of the negative pressure in the second suction chamber 59 in the transport direction T of the sheet 51 with the sweep over the perforated surface 57 of this suction belt 52 covered by the sheet 51, for example. B. by means of a valve 67. The preferably controllable valve 67 is z. B. arranged in a line which connects the second suction chamber 59 with a z. B. connected by the control unit 61 controlled pump (not shown). The drive 62, which is preferably designed as an electric motor, acts z. B. on at least one of the deflection rollers 53. The drive 62 which sets the rotational speed v of the relevant suction belt 52 is preferably regulated by the control unit 61. The control unit 61 preferably has a discontinuous rotational speed v of the relevant one Suction belt 52 is set, that is, due to the control of the drive 62, the rotational speed v of the relevant suction belt 52 is accelerated or delayed in phases, deviating from an otherwise uniform speed.

At least one register mark 63 is arranged at least at one position of the relevant suction belt 52. In connection with the transport device, a sensor 54 that detects the relevant register mark 53 is provided and connected to the control unit 61. The rotational speed v of the relevant suction belt 52 is preferably determined by the control unit 61 as a function of, for example. B. determined by the control unit 61 difference between a first signal s1 generated by the sensor 64 corresponding to an actual rotational speed and a second signal s2 corresponding to a target rotational speed is set. The second signal s2, which indicates the target rotation speed of the relevant rotating suction belt 52, is z. B. picked up by a higher-level machine control (not shown). The sensor 64 detecting the relevant register mark 63 is arranged in particular in the area of an empty strand 66 of the relevant suction belt 52. The sensor 64 detecting the relevant register mark 63 is as a register mark 63 in question, for example. B. optically or inductively or capacitively or electromagnetically or ultrasonically detecting sensor 64 is formed. The register mark 63 corresponds to the respective design of the sensor 64, for example. B. as an optical signal surface applied to the relevant suction belt 52 or as a magnetic strip on the relevant suction belt 52 or as a recess or perforation in the relevant suction belt 52 or as a signal-emitting body arranged in the relevant suction belt 52. A point in time of the control of the rotational speed v of the relevant suction belt 52 carried out by the control unit 61 is preferably synchronized with the sweep of the perforated surface 57 of the relevant suction belt 52 covered by the sheet 51 to be transported.

In a further variant, the transport device for the sequential transport of individual sheet-shaped substrates or sheets 51 has at least one stationary suction chamber 58; 59 with a preferably table-shaped surface 69 in the area of the load strand 54, with a preferably single, in particular at least partially perforated, endlessly rotating suction belt 52 being transported during the transport of the sheet-shaped substrate in question, i.e. H. preferably an arch 51, moving, in particular slidingly, over this surface 69, the suction chamber 58 in question; 59 is covered by the table-shaped surface 69 in the area of the load strand 54 of the suction belt 52. This table-shaped surface 69 is z. B. realized by a table sheet. This suction belt 52, which holds the sheet 51 in question during its transport, is arranged in particular centrally with respect to the width b51 of the sheets 51 directed orthogonally to the transport direction T and/or also centrally with respect to a width b69 of the table-shaped surface 69 directed orthogonally to the transport direction T . A width b52 of the suction belt 52 directed orthogonally to the transport direction T is designed to be smaller than the width b51 of the sheets 51 to be transported, which is orthogonal to the transport direction T, and also smaller than the width b69 of the table-shaped surface 69, which is orthogonal to the transport direction T. The orthogonal Width b52 of the suction belt 52 directed towards the transport direction T is z. B. only 5% to 50% of the width b51 of the sheets 51 directed orthogonally to the transport direction T and / or the width b69 of the table-shaped surface 69 directed orthogonally to the transport direction T, so that the sheet 51 in question does not cover the entire surface during its transport, in particular not rests on the suction belt 52 with its two side areas extending orthogonally to the transport direction T.

In order to transport the sheet 51 in question with as little friction as possible via the at least one suction chamber 58; In order to allow the table-shaped surface 69 covering 59 to slide, at least one blow-suction nozzle 68 is arranged in at least two of the areas of the table-shaped surface 69 that are not covered by the suction belt 52. There is one emerging from the respective blow-suction nozzle 68 Airflow e.g. B. preferably controlled or at least controllable in its intensity (ie in pressure and / or in flow speed) and / or duration, the blow-suction nozzle 68 in question allowing air to flow against the underside of the sheet 51 in question when transporting the sheet in question, whereby a Air cushion is constructed or at least can be constructed between the underside of the relevant sheet 51 to be transported and the table-shaped surface 69. In the preferred embodiment, the blow-suction nozzles 68 are each designed as a Venturi nozzle, with the Venturi nozzle sucking in a side region of the relevant sheet 51 to be transported in the direction of the table-shaped surface 69 by means of a negative pressure. The blow-suction nozzles 68 are preferably each arranged in the table-shaped surface 69. An exemplary design of the blow-suction nozzles 68 is shown Fig. 14 in a top view with two corresponding side views, with the blow-suction nozzle 68 shown z. B. is designed in the form of a slot nozzle, with an opening 49 of this slot nozzle preferably as a cross section z. B. rectangular section of a preferably cylindrical or conical lateral surface is formed, a length l49 of this section running in or parallel to the table-shaped surface 69 being at least three times, preferably ten times larger than its height h49 perpendicular to the table-shaped surface 69, whereby the length l49 of this opening 49 in the preferred embodiment extends along an arc of an inner circumferential line of a circular ring. For example, the height h49 is approximately 1 mm and the length l49 of this opening 49 formed along a curved line is more than 10 mm. An air flow LS emerging from the relevant blow-suction nozzles 68 is preferably in one in particular by shaping a z. B. ramp-shaped guide surface is steered in a certain direction, this guide surface z. B. is formed by an outwardly widening section of the aforementioned circular ring. A blowing direction B of the blowing-suction nozzles 68 is preferably oblique in the transport direction T of the relevant sheet 51 to be transported at an angle a starting from the transport direction T in the range of 30 ° to 60 °, preferably at an angle α of 45 ° directed externally, as exemplified in the Fig. 15 is indicated by directional arrows. In the preferred embodiment, in particular in which the at least one suction chamber 58; 59 covering table-shaped surface 69 several, in particular two z. B. rows of blow-suction nozzles 68 aligned parallel to each other are arranged on each side of the suction belt 52 directed orthogonally to the transport direction T, the blow-suction nozzles 68 being arranged at a uniform or uneven distance from one another in order to create a symmetrical or asymmetrical flow profile to generate the air flowing out of the blow-suction nozzles 68. The blow-suction nozzles 68 are z. B. arranged in a sheet 51 each of a chain conveyor 16 taking over transport device 17, in particular in a transfer area below the at least one chain wheel 24 of the chain conveyor 16 and in front of a further transport device following in the transport direction T of the sheets 51 to be transported, e.g. B. a suction drum 32 ( Fig. 11 ). A preferred arrangement of the blowing-suction nozzles 68 in the table-shaped surface 69 is shown in each case in relation to a position of a gripper carriage 23 moved by the chain conveyor 16 Fig. 15 and 16 , whereby this position is in particular the one at which the gripper carriage 23 in question releases or transfers a sheet 51 transported by it to the suction belt 52 for further transport.

The transport device, which has the central suction belt 52 and blow-suction nozzles 68 in the edge area, for the sequential transport of individual sheet-shaped substrates can advantageously be used when the sheets 51 to be transported are surface-coated and these surface-painted sheets 51 are still in their wet state by the previously described transport device e.g. B. can be removed from a chain conveyor 16. The proposed solution not only saves additional suction belts 78 to be arranged parallel to the centrally arranged suction belt 52, but also avoids those problems that would have to be solved by synchronizing these additional suction belts 78 to the centrally arranged suction belt 52.

In addition, the blow-suction nozzles 68 ensure that a front edge of the sheets 51, after their respective release by the relevant gripper carriage 23, moves from the level of a gripper impact level to a floating level, i.e. H. a few millimeters above the table-shaped surface 69 and that the respective front edge of the relevant sheet 51 released by the gripper remains at the level of the table-shaped surface 69. Without the blow-suction nozzles 68 there is a high speed of e.g. B. more than 10,000 sheets transported per hour 51 there is a risk that the respective released or, in the case of shingled sheets 51, freely pushed front edge of the relevant sheet 51 experiences a buoyancy due to an air wedge and takes off again. In addition, in the case of limp sheets 51 or substrates in which only limited internal transverse forces are transmitted from the center band to the outer edge regions of the substrate in question, these outer edge regions are supported in their respective conveying component by the air friction caused by the air flow LS.

Fig. 17 shows a section of a perspective view of a chain conveyor 16. This chain conveyor 16 is z. B. in a machine arrangement with several processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 each arranged for processing sheet-shaped substrates 51, preferably at the rear end of a processing station 02 designed as a primer application device 02 or as an offset printing device 04 in the transport direction T of the sheet-shaped substrates 51 guided through the machine arrangement; 04, with the chain conveyor 16 in the previous processing station 02; 04 processed sheet-shaped substrates 51 transported individually in a sequential transport to a next processing station 06, this next processing station 06 z. B. is designed as a non-impact printing device 06, the in the previous processing station 02; 04 processed arc-shaped substrates 51 are to be subjected to further processing in the next processing station 06 become. The offset printing device 04 is preferably a sheet-fed offset printing machine and/or the non-impact printing device 06, for example. B. designed as at least one inkjet printing device. In such a machine arrangement there is the problem that in the previous z. B. designed as an offset printing device 04 processing station 02; 04 processed arc-shaped substrates 51 of z. B. designed as a non-impact printing device 06 next processing station 06 for register-based further processing with high positional precision, which cannot be achieved with a conventional chain conveyor 16 due to necessary chain play and possible fluctuations in the elongation of the at least one chain. With this machine arrangement z. B. one of the based on the Fig. 1 production lines described above.

In a chain conveyor 16, the sheet-shaped substrates 51 are each transported individually with a gripper carriage 23 moved along a movement path ( Fig. 10 and 11 ), whereby the respective gripper carriage 23 is generally guided along two spaced apart chain tracks 77 which run parallel to one another along its path of movement. The relevant substrate 51 to be transported is held in particular on an edge extending longitudinally to the relevant gripper carriage 23, ie on the front edge of this substrate 51, by at least one holding means 79 arranged on this gripper carriage 23, ie by the at least one gripper. The relevant gripper carriage 23 is in the transfer area arranged at a specific position on its movement path, in which the relevant gripper carriage 23 receives the respective substrate 51 to be transported, and/or in the transfer area arranged at a specific position on its movement path, in which the relevant gripper carriage 23 delivers the respectively transported substrate 51 in particular to the other transport device, e.g. B. guided by at least one guide element 71 arranged between the spaced chain tracks 77 along the movement path of the relevant gripper carriage 23, the other interacting with the chain conveyor 16 Transport device is designed in particular as a conveyor belt 17 ( Fig. 11 ). In order to stabilize the gripper carriage 23 moving along its movement path transversely to this movement path, it is proposed to arrange the relevant at least one guide element 71 in a stationary manner in the takeover area or in the transfer area between the spaced chain tracks 77 and to use the gripper car 23 guided along the spaced chain tracks 77 by means of of the relevant guide element 71 to be fixed transversely to the movement path. This fixation is preferably carried out in that on the respective gripper carriage 23 there are two rollers 72; 73 having a pair of rollers is arranged, the relevant guide element 71 at least in the transfer area or in the transfer area each passing through a gap between the respective running surfaces of the two rollers 72; 73 of the pair of rollers in question is guided. The at least one guide element 71 is preferably designed as a rigid rail and/or has a wedge-shaped start 74. The relevant guide element 71 is z. B. formed in one piece and extends z. B. from the takeover area to the transfer area of the chain conveyor 16. The respective running surfaces of the rollers 72 set against one another; 73 of the relevant pair of rollers roll z. B. on both sides of the relevant z. B. designed as a rail guide element 71 ( Fig. 17 to 19 ). In particular, endlessly rotating conveyor chains are arranged along the chain tracks 77, these conveyor chains each being driven by at least one chain wheel 81. The chain wheel 24, which is preferably arranged at one end of the chain conveyor 16 either in the transfer area or in the transfer area; 81 the one chain track 77 and the chain wheel 24 arranged at the same end of the chain conveyor 16 in the same area; 81 of the other chain track 77 are preferably connected to one another, in particular rigidly, by a common shaft 89. The guide element 71 in question, preferably in cooperation with the pair of rollers, laterally fixes the respective gripper carriage 23 guided along the spaced chain tracks 77, ie blocks its degree of freedom directed transversely to the movement path. The lateral positioning of the Substrates 51 is improved in that both in the transfer area, in which the substrates 51 are each taken over by one of the gripper carriages 23, and in the transfer area, in which the substrates 51 transported by the chain conveyor 16 are transferred from the respective gripper carriage 23 to the transfer belt 17, the relevant gripper carriage 23 is aligned by a guide element 71 ( Fig. 10 ). These guide elements 71 are designed either as two individual guide elements 71 that are separate from one another or as a one-piece guide element 71.

In conjunction with the previously described machine arrangements, the following method for operating an individual sheet-shaped substrate 51 of a processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 carry out sequentially feeding transport device, in which by means of a control device cooperating with the transport device, each substrate 51 before it reaches the processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 whose actual position in its transport plane 29 is determined mechanically and automatically with a for the relevant substrate 51 in this processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 intended target position is compared. In the event of a deviation of the actual position from the target position, the relevant substrate 51 is aligned by a transport element of the transport device, whose movement is controlled by the control device, in such a way that the relevant substrate 51 before it reaches the processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 its in this processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 assumes the intended target position. In a very advantageous embodiment variant, the substrate 51 in question is aligned solely by the transport element in the transport plane 29, both in the transport direction T and transversely thereto, as well as around a pivot point located in the transport plane 29. This means that in this embodiment variant for the operation of the transport device, mechanical stops in particular are not involved in the alignment of the substrate 51 in question. The processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12, the relevant substrate 51 is supplied and aligned with respect to its target position, is preferably designed as a non-impact printing device. The substrate 51 in question is preferably moved by the transport element in a non-positive manner, e.g. B. held by suction air or by a clamp and in this operating state held by the transport element with regard to the for this substrate 51 in the processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 intended target position aligned. The transport element is in particular a suction drum 32 or a suction belt 52; 78 used. The transport element transports each of the substrates 51 individually. The control device points z. B. the control unit and at least one of the z. B. optical sensors 33; 36, with the sensors 33; 36 with regard to the detection of the actual position of the relevant substrate 51 z. B. are designed as a side edge sensor and / or as a front edge sensor. The target position with respect to which the substrate 51 in question is to be aligned is or is stored in the control unit and/or z. B. stored preferably changeable by a program. The transport element is driven by a first drive which moves the relevant substrate 51 in its transport direction T and by a second drive which moves the relevant substrate 51 transversely to its transport direction T and by a third drive which rotates the relevant substrate 51 about the pivot point located in the transport plane 29 , whereby these z. B. drives each designed as a motor, in particular as a preferably electric servomotor, are each controlled by the control device, ie by its control unit. The transport element is driven by its three drives, in particular simultaneously. The substrate 51 in question is transported by the transport device at a non-zero transport speed of the processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 supplied and preferably aligned while maintaining this transport speed in the event of a deviation of the actual position from the target position. In the event that the transport element is used as a suction belt 52; 78 is formed, corresponds to the transport speed at which the relevant substrate 51 of the relevant processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 is supplied, e.g. B. the rotational speed v of this suction belt 52; 78.

An exemplary embodiment for carrying out the aforementioned method for operating an individual sheet-shaped substrate 51 of a processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 sequentially feeding transport device is in the Fig. 20 and 21 shown, with a suction drum 32 being used as the transport element in this example. Fig. 20 shows an enlarged section of the Fig. 11 , however, in this further exemplary embodiment of the transport device, in contrast to the embodiment of the transport device according to Fig. 11 a stop 34 formed on the suction drum 32 is not provided. Each individually transported substrate 51, in particular sheets, is first guided to the suction drum 32 and from the suction drum 32 to a further conveyor belt 27 by means of a suction belt 78 arranged upstream of the suction drum 32 in the transport direction T, this conveyor belt 27 carrying the substrate 51 in question, in particular a non-impact one -Printing device 06 supplies. The substrate 51, which is held forcefully by the suction drum 32 by means of suction air, is held by this suction drum 32 alone in the transport plane 29 both in the transport direction T and transversely thereto as well as around a pivot point located in the transport plane 29 with respect to the in the non-impact printing device 06 intended position intended for the substrate 51 in question. For this purpose, the suction drum 32 has a first drive 91 for its circumferential movement and a second drive 92 for its axial movement and a third drive 93 for a pivoting movement of the rotation axis 96 of the suction drum 32 that is carried out or at least can be carried out about an axis of rotation 94 that is perpendicular to the transport plane 29, whereby these three drives 91; 92; 93 each z. B. are designed as a preferably electric servomotor. The suction drum 32 is with its first drive 91 z. B. stored in a first frame 97, this first frame 97 in turn z. B. is rotatably arranged on a swivel joint 98 arranged in the center of the machine M, the swivel joint 98 being connected to a second frame 99. The rotational movement or pivoting movement of the rotation axis 96 of the suction drum 32, which is carried out about the axis of rotation 94 perpendicular to the transport plane 29, takes place by means of the third drive 93, which is at When it is actuated, it engages the first frame 97 away from the center of the machine M and in this way causes a diagonal alignment of the substrate 51 held by the suction drum 32. The second frame 99 carrying the first frame 97 is in turn arranged in or on a third frame 101, the second frame 99 being movable in or on the third frame 101 when the second drive 92 is actuated transversely to the transport direction T of the relevant substrate 51, in particular is movable. For this purpose, the second frame 99 is in or on the third frame 101 in a z. B. prism-shaped guide element 102 guided linearly. Fig. 21 shows the one in the Fig. 20 shown transport device again in a plan view, the orientation of the substrate 51, which is carried out or at least can be carried out with the suction drum 32, in its transport direction T as well as transversely thereto and around a rotation angle lying in the transport plane 29 is indicated by a double arrow.

Another method for operating a device for transporting sheet-shaped substrates 51 also uses a transport element that conveys the substrate 51 in question in its transport plane 29, the transport element transporting the substrate 51 in question to a processing station 02 downstream of the transport element in the transport direction T of the substrate 51 in question; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 is fed in register, this processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 e.g. B. is designed as a non-impact printing device 06. The transport element is preferably a suction drum 32 with a plurality of suction rings 76 arranged axially next to one another and each designed as a holding element, or an arrangement of several suction belts 52 which rotate along the transport direction T of the substrate 51 in question and are arranged next to one another transversely to the transport direction T of the substrate 51 in question; 78 used. The transport element for transporting the relevant substrate 51 therefore always uses several holding elements arranged at a distance from one another transversely to its transport direction T, the relevant substrate 51 being supported by at least two of these Holding elements are each held non-positively up to an output position related to the transport level 29. The respective output positions of all the holding elements that non-positively hold the substrate 51 in question are located on the same straight line 103. A diagonal register of the substrate 51 in question is set with the transport element. The diagonal register of the relevant substrate 51 is adjusted by setting a rotation angle β of this straight line 103 about a rotation axis 94 perpendicular to the transport plane 29, the rotation angle β of this straight line 103 corresponding to the diagonal register of the relevant substrate 51 to be set by an actuation triggered by a control unit a single mechanical coupling element acting simultaneously on all holding elements that non-positively hold the relevant substrate 51 is adjusted, whereby the respective output position of at least one of the holding elements non-positively holding the relevant substrate 51 is changed by the mechanical coupling element acting on the relevant holding element. The holding elements that non-positively hold the substrate 51 in question each impose a transport speed on the substrate 51 in question that differs from holding element to holding element, the transport speed imposed by the respective holding element on the substrate 51 in question being dependent on the output position set for the respective holding element. As a mechanical coupling element z. B. a linear gear member with rocker arms and / or with wheel coupling gears is used, with all the holding elements in question holding the substrate 51 in a non-positive manner, either a rocker arm or a wheel coupling gear is assigned.

The proposed method for operating a device for transporting sheet-shaped substrates has the advantage that in order to adjust the diagonal register in the transport device, the transport element in question is not tilted and therefore a z. B. already set side register and / or axial register of the substrate in question cannot be negatively influenced by the setting of the diagonal register. Rather, between the people involved in the setting of the Holding elements of the transport element involved in the diagonal register are set by the actuation of a single actuator, each of which is dependent on the respective position of the holding element in question, whereby the substrate in question is aligned in accordance with the desired diagonal register. The use of only a single actuator to adjust the diagonal register has the advantage that coordination between different drives each acting on one of the holding elements or their adaptation to one another is not necessary, which eliminates a source of error and enables very precise adjustment of the diagonal register .

In a preferred embodiment of this method, by means of a control device connected to the control unit, the processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 substrate 51 to be fed in register before it reaches the transport element, its actual position in its transport plane 29 is determined and with a for the relevant substrate 51 in the processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 compared to the intended target position, whereby in the event of a deviation of the actual position from the target position, the control unit controls a drive 93 which adjusts the mechanical coupling element in such a way that the substrate in question 51 reaches its position in the processing station when the respective output positions of all the holding elements that hold the substrate in question in a non-positive manner are reached 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 assumes the intended target position with regard to the diagonal register.

An exemplary embodiment for carrying out the latter method for operating a device for transporting sheet-shaped substrates 51 will now be based on Figures 22 to 26 explained. Fig. 22 shows a top view of an arcuate substrate 51, in particular a sheet 51, with a width b51 directed transversely to its transport direction T. There are also several transverse to its transport direction T, e.g. B. five holding elements z. B. arranged in the form of juxtaposed suction rings 76 of a suction drum 32, these holding elements holding the substrate 51 in question its transport level 29 is held in a non-positive manner, in particular by a negative pressure. One of these several holding elements is z. B. arranged in the center of the machine M, with two further holding elements being arranged on the right and left of the center of the machine M in the example shown. On the left side in the transport direction T of the relevant substrate 51, one of the holding elements closer to the machine center M is arranged at a distance aS11 and one of the holding elements further from the machine center M is arranged at a distance aS12 and on the right side in the transport direction T of the relevant substrate 51 one of the holding elements closer to the machine center M is arranged at a distance aS21 and one of the holding elements further from the machine center M is arranged at a distance aS22. The respective planes of rotation of all holding elements that hold the relevant substrate 51 in a non-positive manner are each arranged parallel to one another and each along the transport direction T of the relevant substrate 51. During its transport, the substrate 51 in question is held in a force-fitting manner by at least two of these holding elements up to an output position related to the transport plane 29, with the respective output positions of all holding elements holding the substrate 51 in question in a force-fitting manner being on the same straight line 103. In the actual position of the substrate 51 in question, the respective output positions of all holding elements that hold this substrate 51 in a non-positive manner are in the present example with the reference symbols P11; P12; P21; P22 denotes, whereas in the target position of the substrate 51 in question, the respective output positions of all holding elements that hold this substrate 51 in a non-positive manner in the present example are given the reference numbers S11; S12; S21; S22 are designated. In order to adjust the diagonal register of the substrate 51 in question and thereby bring the substrate 51 in question from its actual position to its desired position, at least with regard to its angular position, the substrate 51 in question is rotated by a rotation angle β about a rotation axis 94 perpendicular to the transport plane 29, which is done in this way in that the straight line 103 is rotated by this angle of rotation β, which in turn occurs because the respective output position of at least one of the substrate 51 is non-positively holding holding elements is changed by the mechanical coupling element acting on the holding element in question. The angle of rotation β is usually in the range of just a few degrees, e.g. B. between greater than zero and less than 30°, in particular less than 10°. The axis of rotation 94, which is perpendicular to the transport plane 29, is preferably arranged in the center M of the machine. In this case, the output position of the holding element arranged in the center of the machine M remains unchanged, whereas the output positions of the relevant holding elements, which in the example shown are arranged to the right of the center of the machine M, are determined by the mechanical coupling element acting together on the relevant holding elements with respect to their respective rotational speed v are each set to lead and the output positions of the relevant holding elements arranged to the left of the machine center M are each set to lag with respect to their rotational speed v. The holding elements which non-positively hold the substrate 51 in question and are set to their respective rotational speed v impress on the substrate 51 in question a transport speed that differs from holding element to holding element during the execution of the position correction, the transport speed imposed by the respective holding element on the substrate 51 in question in each case depending on the output position S11 set for the respective holding element, i.e. corresponding to the target position of the relevant substrate 51; S12; S21; S22 is dependent.

The Fig. 23 and 24 show an embodiment of the mechanical coupling element z. B. in the form of a linear gear link with rocker arms. The Fig. 25 and 26 show an embodiment of the mechanical coupling element z. B. in the form of a linear transmission member with gear coupling gears. All holding elements that hold the relevant substrate 51 in a non-positive manner are either in accordance with Fig. 23 and 24 a rocker arm or according to the Fig. 25 and 26 assigned a gear linkage. Similar to the one in the Fig. 20 The arrangement shown is that in the Fig. 23 to 26 shown suction drum 32 z. B. stored in a first frame 97, this first frame 97 in turn z. B. is rotatably arranged on a swivel joint 98 arranged in the center of the machine M, the swivel joint 98 being connected to a second frame 99. The second frame 99 carrying the first frame 97 is in turn arranged in or on a third frame 101. In the in the Fig. 23 to 26 In the exemplary embodiments shown, the first frame 97 forms the mechanical coupling element acting on the relevant holding elements, the drive 93, which is designed in particular as a preferably electric servomotor, being provided for carrying out the rotational movement of the mechanical coupling element about the axis of rotation 94 which is perpendicular to the transport plane 29. When actuated by the control unit, the drive 93 acts preferably via a joint 104 on the first frame 97 forming the mechanical coupling element. The second frame 99 has at least two diametrically opposed frame walls 106, in which frame walls 106 one is parallel to the suction drum 32 extending drive shaft 107 z. B. is rotatably mounted at both ends. A plurality of rocker arms 108 are preferably arranged on the drive shaft 107, each of these rocker levers 108 being one of the z. B. holding elements designed as a suction ring 76 are in an operative connection. The rocking levers 108 in question are each connected to the drive shaft 107 in a rotationally fixed manner, so that the drive shaft 107 forms a hinge point fixed to the frame for the rocking levers 108 in question. Each of the rocker levers 108 in question therefore acts driven by the drive shaft 107, possibly via a drive pinion 113 with one of its ends, e.g. B. its upper end on one of the holding elements. On the other hand, each of these rocker arms 108 has its other ends, e.g. B. its lower end, preferably via a double end at another z. B. joints 111 designed as a ball joint; 112 mounted coupling 109 connected to the first frame 97 in such a way that an angular position of the rocker lever 108 connected to the drive shaft 107 is set or at least adjustable with the drive 93.

The design variant according to Fig. 25 and 26 is the embodiment variant according to Fig. 23 and 24 very similar, so that the same components with the same Reference numbers are provided. The design variant according to Fig. 25 and 26 differs from the version according to Fig. 23 and 24 in that a pair of coupling wheels 114 is provided, which is coupled to one another via a gear coupling 116, with a drive pinion 117 introducing a torque into the coupling wheel pair 114 and an output pinion 118 transmitting the torque introduced into the coupling wheel pair 114 to the relevant holding element in order to adjust its angular position . The pair of coupling wheels 114 together with the drive pinion 117 and the output pinion 118 form a gear coupling gear.

Fig. 27 shows another machine arrangement with several, usually different, processing stations for sequentially processing several sheet-shaped substrates. The flat substrates, each of which has a front and a back, are placed in a feeder 01, for example. B. gripped by a suction head 41 and transferred individually by means of a swing gripper 13 to a transfer drum 14 and from there to a rotating contact pressure cylinder 119, this contact pressure cylinder 119 having at least one of these substrates or several, e.g. B. accommodates two or three substrates arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction. Each of the substrates to be transported is attached to the lateral surface of the contact pressure cylinder 119 by means of at least one z. B. held as a gripper holding element. In particular, flexible and/or thin substrates with a thickness of e.g. B. up to 0.1 mm or a maximum of 0.2 mm can z. B. also be held by suction air on the lateral surface of the contact pressure cylinder 119, such a substrate resting on the lateral surface of the contact pressure cylinder 119, in particular on the edges of this substrate, e.g. B. is supported by blowing air directed in particular radially onto the lateral surface of the contact pressure cylinder 119. The contact pressure cylinder 119 is in its direction of rotation, which is in the Fig. 27 is indicated by a direction of rotation arrow, starting from the transfer drum 14 attached to this contact pressure cylinder 119, first a first primer application device 02 for priming the front side and this first primer application device 02 subsequently a second primer application device 126 for Primers of the back of the same sheet-shaped substrate are employed, with the second primer application device 126 e.g. B. primed indirectly, in particular by transferring back the primer applied by this second primer application device 126 to the lateral surface of the contact pressure cylinder 119 from this lateral surface to the back of the substrate in question. The front and/or back of the substrate in question can be primed over the entire or partial area as required. The contact pressure cylinder 119 transfers a substrate primed on both sides to a first transport device which has at least one traction element, in particular an endlessly rotating transport device, e.g. B. to a first chain conveyor 16, the first chain conveyor 16 transporting this substrate to a first non-impact printing device 06, this first non-impact printing device 06 at least partially printing the front side of the substrate in question. The first non-impact printing device 06 transfers the substrate printed on the front side to a second transport device which has at least one traction element, in particular an endlessly rotating transport device, e.g. B. to a second chain conveyor 21, this second chain conveyor 21 carrying the substrate in question z. B. in the area of its first chain wheel 81 ( Fig. 10 ) records. For example, in the area of the second chain wheel 24 of this second chain conveyor 21, a second non-impact printing device 127 is arranged, this second non-impact printing device 127 at least partially printing the back of the relevant substrate that was previously printed on the front side. The first non-impact printing device 06 and the second non-impact printing device 127 are thus arranged one after the other in the transport direction T of the respective sheet-shaped substrate at different positions on the transport path of the relevant substrate. The substrate in question, which is now printed on both sides, is then z. B. stored in a stack in a display 12.

The ones in the Fig. 27 or 28 The machine arrangement shown, which processes the substrate in question on both sides, has several, preferably four, dryers 121; 122; 123; 124, namely a first dryer 121 for drying the on the front of the Primer applied to the substrate in question and a second dryer 122 for drying the primer applied to the back of the substrate in question. In addition, a third dryer 123 is provided for drying the relevant substrate printed on the front with the first non-impact printing device 06 and a fourth dryer 124 for drying the relevant substrate printed on the back with the second non-impact printing device 127. The z. B. identically designed dryer 121; 122; 123; 124 are the relevant substrate e.g. B. drying by irradiation with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, the type of radiation being dependent in particular on whether the printing ink or ink applied to the substrate in question is water-based or UV-curing. The transport direction T of the relevant substrate transported through the machine arrangement is in the Fig. 27 each indicated by arrows. The first non-impact printing device 06 and the second non-impact printing device 127 are each z. B. designed as at least one inkjet printing device. In the effective area of the first non-impact printing device 06, a third transport device 128 is arranged, which takes over the relevant substrate primed on both sides from the first transport device having at least one pulling element, transports it to the second transport device having at least one pulling element and delivers it to this second transport device. The third transport device 128 transporting the substrate in question in the effective area of the first non-impact printing device 06 is z. B. as a transport cylinder ( Fig. 27 ) or as a particularly endlessly rotating conveyor belt ( Fig. 28 ), wherein in the case of the transport cylinder, the preferably several inkjet printing devices of the first non-impact printing device 06 are each arranged radially to this transport cylinder and in the case of the conveyor belt, the preferably several inkjet printing devices of the first non-impact printing device 06, in particular horizontally next to one another, parallel to each other are arranged on this conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is z. B. as a suction belt 52 with at least one suction chamber 58; 59 trained ( Fig. 13 ).

The third transport device 128, which transports the substrate in question in the effective range of the first non-impact printing device 06, and the second transport device, which transports the relevant substrate in the effective area of the second non-impact printing device 127, and has at least one traction element each preferably have an individual drive 129; 131, these individual drives 129; 131 each z. B. are designed as a preferably electrically driven motor that is regulated or at least controllable in its respective speed and / or angular position, by means of which the individual drives 129; which influence the respective transport devices in their respective movement behavior; 131 the printing of the substrate in question is synchronized or at least synchronizable on its front side by the first non-impact printing device 06 and on its back side by the second non-impact printing device 127.

In a preferred embodiment, the first dryer 121 is for drying the primer applied to the front of the substrate in question, for example. B. in the area of the system pressure cylinder 119 ( Fig. 27 ) or in the area of a strand, in particular the load strand, of the first transport device having at least one traction element ( Fig. 28 ) arranged. The second dryer 122 for drying the primer applied to the back of the substrate in question is preferably arranged in the area of a strand, in particular the load strand, of the first transport device having at least one traction element. The third dryer 123 for drying the relevant substrate printed on the front side with the first non-impact printing device 06 is z. B. arranged in the area of the strand in the transport direction T of the substrate in question of the second non-impact printing device 127 upstream, in particular the load strand of the second transport device having at least one traction element, or is located in the area of the third transport device 128, which in turn is in the effective area of the first non -Impact printing device 06 is located and interacts with it. The fourth dryer 124 for drying the relevant substrate printed on the back with the second non-impact printing device 127 is z. B. in the area the strand of the second transport device having at least one traction element arranged downstream in the transport direction T of the relevant substrate of the second non-impact printing device 127. If one of the dryers 121; 122; 123; 124 is arranged in a strand of one of the transport devices, a length of its drying section determines a minimum length of the relevant strand.

The first transport device, which has at least one traction element, which takes over the substrates from the contact pressure cylinder 119, and the second transport device which has at least one traction element, which transports the substrates in the effective area of the second non-impact printing device 127, transport the substrates each by means of gripper carriages 23, these gripper carriages 23 each being in a preferably fixed, in particular, follow one another at an equidistant distance, these gripper carriages 23 each having controlled or at least controllable holding means 79 ( Fig. 15 ) for holding a substrate, in particular equipped with grippers. Each of these gripper carriages 23 is moved by the relevant at least one pulling member of the relevant transport device in the transport direction T of the relevant substrate. The gripper carriages 23 are z. in the transport direction T of the substrate in question. B. each driven by a precision drive, the precision drive in question z. B. is designed in the form of a linear drive system, the precision drive in question driving the relevant gripper carriage 23 and thus the substrate in question, which is held in particular non-positively by the relevant gripper carriage 23, with an accuracy of less than ±1 mm, preferably less than ±0.5 mm, in particular less than ±0.1 mm along the transport path z. B. with regard to one of the non-impact printing devices 06; 127 positioned in the specified position.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the transport device in question, which has gripper carriages 23, there are between immediately successive gripper carriages 23 at least along the transport direction T of the substrate in question preferably several belts are arranged, with the substrate in question held by the relevant gripper carriage 23 resting at least partially on these belts, which are preferably arranged parallel to one another, to stabilize it during its transport. Bands arranged between successive gripper carriages 23 are arranged along the transport direction T of the relevant substrate, in particular in a spring-loaded manner, or are made of an elastic material.

In a further preferred embodiment, the gripper carriages 23 are each arranged at least in the effective range of the first non-impact printing device 06 and/or in the effective range of the second non-impact printing device 127 to stabilize their respective movement path by at least one longitudinal to the movement path of the relevant gripper carriage 23 Guide element 71 guided ( Fig. 17 to 19 ). Furthermore, in order to form a register-containing and/or register-containing guide, in particular or at least in the effective area of the first non-impact printing device 06 and/or in the effective area of the second non-impact printing device 127, for example. B. a catching mechanism is provided for the relevant gripper carriage 23, this catching mechanism z. B. has at least one fork that is moved or at least movable in the transport direction T of the substrate in question, the gripper carriage 23 in question z. B. held in the respective fork at its two ends located transversely to the transport direction T of the relevant gripper carriage 23 and guided by this in its path of movement, in particular in register and/or in register. Furthermore, for register-containing and/or register-containing alignment of the substrate in question, in particular or at least in or immediately in front of the effective area of the first non-impact printing device 06 and/or in or immediately in front of the effective area of the second non-impact printing device 127, for example. B. an adjusting device, in particular a lateral positioning device, is provided. The substrate in question is z. B. with the help of sensors 33 sensing this substrate; 36 aligned in register and/or in register, such as i. V. m. the Fig. 11 described.

The ones in the Fig. 27 or 28 The machine arrangement shown can also be described as a machine arrangement for sequentially processing several arc-shaped substrates, each having a front side and a back side, with a first non-impact printing device 06 and a second non-impact printing device 127 as well as a first primer application device 02 and a second primer application device 126 are provided, with the first primer application device 02 being arranged to prime the front side and the second primer application device 126 being arranged to prime the back side with respect to the same arcuate substrate, and with regard to this substrate, the first non-impact printing device 06 printing the front side primed by the first primer application device 02 and the second non-impact printing device 127 is arranged to print on the back side primed by the second primer application device 126. There is a first dryer 121 for drying the primer applied to the front of the substrate in question in the transport direction T of the substrate in question in front of the first non-impact printing device 06 and a second dryer 122 for drying the primer applied to the back of the substrate in question in the transport direction T of the substrate in question in front of the second non-impact printing device 127 and a third dryer 123 for drying the relevant substrate printed on the front with the first non-impact printing device 06 in the transport direction T of the substrate in question after the first non-impact printing device 06 and a fourth dryer 124 is provided for drying the relevant substrate printed on the back with the second non-impact printing device 127 in the transport direction T of the relevant substrate after the second non-impact printing device 127. The second primer application device 126 can be arranged either before or after the second non-impact printing device 127 in the transport direction T of the substrate in question. The first dryer 121 for drying the primer applied to the front of the substrate in question and/or the second dryer 122 for drying the primer applied to the back of the substrate in question applied primer and / or the third dryer 123 for drying the relevant substrate printed on the front with the first non-impact printing device 06 and / or the fourth dryer 124 for drying the relevant substrate printed on the back with the second non-impact printing device 127 are each e.g. B. designed as a dryer which dries the relevant primed and/or printed substrate by hot air and/or by irradiation with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, the dryer 121 drying the relevant primed and/or printed substrate by irradiation with infrared or ultraviolet radiation ; 122; 123; 124 is preferably designed as an LED dryer, i.e. as a dryer using semiconductor diodes. In addition, at least one transport device transporting the substrate in question is provided, this transport device being designed as a transport cylinder or as a rotating conveyor belt or as a chain conveyor. The at least one transport device transporting the substrate in question has at least one holding element, wherein the at least one holding element is designed to hold the substrate in question by a force fit or by a positive fit.

The Fig. 29 shows yet another advantageous machine arrangement for sequentially processing several arcuate substrates, each having a front side and a back side. This machine arrangement, which is preferably designed as a printing press, in particular as a sheet-fed printing press, has at least a first printing cylinder and a second printing cylinder. There are at least one first non-impact printing device 06 on the circumference of the first printing cylinder, which prints on the front side of the substrate in question, and in the direction of rotation of the first printing cylinder, after the first non-impact printing device 06, there is one printed by the first non-impact printing device 06 Dryer 123 that dries the front of the substrate in question and at least one second non-impact printing device 127 that prints on the back of the substrate in question on the circumference of the second printing cylinder and in the direction of rotation of the second printing cylinder according to the second non-impact printing device 127 has a dryer 124 which dries the back of the substrate in question printed by the second non-impact printing device 127. The first non-impact printing device 06 and the second non-impact printing device 127 are z. B. each designed as at least one inkjet printing device. For example, the first non-impact printing device 06 and/or the second non-impact printing device 127 each print several, e.g. B. four printing colors, in particular the printing colors yellow, magenta, cyan and black, for each of these printing colors with respect to the relevant non-impact printing device 06; 127 a specific inkjet printing device is preferably provided in each case.

In the machine arrangement according to the Fig. 29 the first printing cylinder and the second printing cylinder are arranged to form a common nip, the first printing cylinder transferring the relevant front-side printed and dried substrate directly to the second printing cylinder in this common nip. In the preferred embodiment of this machine arrangement, a first primer application device 02 and a second primer application device 126 are also provided, with the first primer application device 02 being arranged to prime the front side and the second primer application device 126 to prime the back side with respect to the same arcuate substrate, the first non Impact printing device 06 is arranged to print on the front side primed by the first primer application device 02 and the second non-impact printing device 127 is arranged to print on the back side primed by the second primer application device 126. The first primer application device 02 and the second primer application device 126 each have z. B. a contact pressure cylinder 119, these two contact pressure cylinders 119 being arranged to form a common nip, with the contact pressure cylinder 119 having the first primer application device 02 transferring the relevant substrate in this common nip directly to the contact pressure cylinder 119 having the second primer application device 126. This is the second primer application device 126 having contact pressure cylinder 119 and the first printing cylinder having the first non-impact printing device 06 are arranged to form a common nip, wherein the contact pressure cylinder 119 having the second primer application device 126 transfers the substrate in question directly to the first printing cylinder having the first non-impact printing device 06.

On the circumference of the contact pressure cylinder 119 having the first primer application device 02 is i. d. R. immediately after the first primer application device 02 z. B. a dryer 121 which dries the front side of the relevant substrate primed by this first primer application device 02 is arranged and/or on the circumference of the contact pressure cylinder 119 having the second primer application device 126. i. d. R. immediately after the second primer application device 126 z. B. a dryer 122 which dries the back of the substrate in question primed by this second primer application device 126 is arranged. The dryer 121 is or are for drying the primer applied to the front of the substrate in question and/or the dryer 122 for drying the primer applied to the back of the substrate in question and/or the dryer 123 for drying the primer in question with the first non -Impact printing device 06 of the substrate printed on the front side and/or the dryer 124 for drying the substrate in question printed on the back with the second non-impact printing device 127, each as a primed and/or printed substrate in question by hot air and/or by irradiation Infrared or ultraviolet radiation drying dryer is formed. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the dryer 121, which dries the primed and/or printed substrate in question by irradiation with infrared or ultraviolet radiation; 122; 123; 124 designed as an LED dryer, i.e. H. as a dryer that generates the infrared or ultraviolet radiation using semiconductor diodes.

Furthermore, in the machine arrangement according to Fig. 29 the first printing cylinder and the second pressure cylinder and the contact pressure cylinder 119 having the first primer application device 02 and the contact pressure cylinder 119 having the second primer application device 126 each preferably in a single drive train formed from gears, ie connected to one another in a gear train and driven together in their respective rotation by a single drive, whereby This drive is preferably designed as a particularly speed-controlled and/or position-controlled electric motor. The first printing cylinder and the second printing cylinder and the contact pressure cylinder 119 having the first primer application device 02 and the contact pressure cylinder 119 having the second primer application device 126 are each z. B. designed to be multiple sizes, ie there are several on their lateral surface, e.g. B. two or three or four substrates are each arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction or at least can be arranged. Each of the substrates to be transported is attached to the lateral surface of the first printing cylinder and/or the second printing cylinder and/or the contact printing cylinder 119 having the first primer application device 02 and/or the contact printing cylinder 119 having the second primer application device 126, each by means of at least one z. B. designed as a gripper holding element held non-positively and / or positively. In particular, flexible and/or thin substrates with a thickness of e.g. B. up to 0.1 mm or a maximum of 0.2 mm can be non-positively z. B. be held by suction air on the lateral surface of the cylinder in question, with such a substrate resting on the lateral surface of the cylinder in question, in particular on the edges of this substrate, e.g. B. is supported by blowing air directed in particular radially onto the lateral surface of the cylinder in question.

The substrate in question, which is printed on both sides, is then transported through the second printing cylinder, preferably by means of a transport device, for example. B. transported to a display 12 and stored there in a stack in the display 12. The transport device adjoining the second printing cylinder is z. B. designed as a chain conveyor, with the substrate in question during its transport is dried again by this transport device before being placed in the display 12, preferably on both sides by at least one dryer 09. In some production lines, it may be intended to print the relevant substrate printed on the front side by the first non-impact printing device 06 and/or on the back by the second non-impact printing device 127 on one or both sides with additional printing colors, in particular special colors, and/or e.g. B. to be refined by applying varnish. In this latter case, following the second printing cylinder in front of the transport device transporting the substrate in question to the delivery 12, there is at least another one, e.g. B. a third printing cylinder or preferably at least one further pair of cylinders formed from a third printing cylinder and a fourth printing cylinder is provided, on which at least one further e.g. B. third and / or fourth printing cylinder, similar to the first printing cylinder and / or the second printing cylinder, another printing device, in particular another non-impact printing device, or at least one painting device 08, each optionally arranged with a further dryer. All of these printing cylinders arranged in a row then form a continuous transport path for the substrate in question in the machine arrangement in question, with this substrate then being transferred from one printing cylinder to the next. The substrate in question can be processed on both sides, in particular printable, without the need for a turning device for this substrate in this machine arrangement. The proposed machine arrangement is therefore very compact and cost-effective.

The ones in the Fig. 29 The machine arrangement shown is particularly advantageous i. V. m. UV-curing printing inks e.g. B. can be used in packaging printing for food or cosmetics.

Reference symbol list

01

processing station; investors; sheet feeder; Magazine feeder

02

processing station; Primer application device

03

processing station; Cold foil application device

04

processing station; offset printing equipment; Flexo printing facility

05

-

06

processing station; Non-impact printing facility

07

processing station; intermediate dryer

08

processing station; Painting facility

09

processing station; dryer

10

-

11

processing station; mechanical further processing device

12

processing station; Display

13

first swing gripper

14

first transfer drum

15

-

16

gripper system; first chain conveyor

17

first conveyor belt

18

Berth table

19

second swing gripper

20

-

21

second chain conveyor

22

Transport facility

23

Grab truck

24

Sprocket

25

-

26

suction chamber

27

second conveyor belt

28

third conveyor belt

29

Transport level

30

-

31

second transfer drum

32

Suction drum

33

first sensor

34

attack

35

-

36

second sensor

37

Leadership element

38

fourth conveyor belt

39

third sensor

40

-

41

suction head

42

suction chamber

43

transfer drum

44

transfer drum

45

-

46

processing plant

47

Rotary angle encoder

48

Belt conveyor

49

opening

50

-

51

Arc; Substrate

52

Suction tape

53

deflection roller

54

load strand

55

-

56

closed surface

57

perforated surface

58

suction chamber

59

suction chamber

60

-

61

Control unit

62

drive

63

Register mark

64

sensor

65

-

66

empty strand

67

Valve

68

Blow suction nozzle

69

Area

70

-

71

Leadership element

72

role

73

role

74

Start-up

75

-

76

Suction ring

77

Chain track

78

Suction tape

79

Holding means

80

-

81

Sprocket

82

Printing cylinder

83

applicator roller; anilox roller

84

squeegee; Chamber doctor system

85

-

86

Printing unit

87

Printing unit

88

Printing unit

89

Wave

90

-

91

drive

92

drive

93

drive

94

Axis of rotation

95

-

96

Axis of rotation

97

frame

98

Swivel joint

99

frame

100

-

101

frame

102

Leadership element

103

Straight

104

joint

105

-

106

Rack wall

107

drive shaft

108

Rocker arm

109

paddock

110

-

111

joint

112

joint

113

drive sprocket

114

Pair of coupling wheels

115

-

116

Wheel coupling

117

drive sprocket

118

output pinion

119

System pressure cylinder

120

-

121

dryer

122

dryer

123

dryer

124

dryer

125

-

126

Primer application device

127

Non-impact printing facility

128

Transport device

129

Single drive

130

-

131

Single drive

132

Shedding facility

133

blow box

134

feed table

135

-

136

blowing nozzle

137

blowing nozzle

138

Valve

139

Valve

140

-

141

Bulkhead plate

142

Support plate

143

Hole

144

guide surface

aS11

Distance

aS12

Distance

aS21

Distance

aS22

Distance

b51

Width

b52

Width

b69

Width

b

Blowing direction

d143

diameter

h49

Height

l49

length

L.S

Airflow

M

center of the machine

P11

Output position

P12

Output position

P21

Output position

P22

Output position

s1

first signal

s2

second signal

S11

Output position

S12

Output position

S21

Output position

S22

Output position

SH

Floating height

T

Transport direction

v

orbital speed

α

angle

β

angle

ϕ

angle

Claims (12)

1. A machine arrangement having several processing stations for the processing of sheets, wherein in transport direction (T) of the sheets several processing stations (01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12) are arranged consecutively for the inline-processing of these sheets, wherein at least one of these processing stations (06) is configured as a non-impact printing device (06) and at least one of the processing stations (01; 02; 03; 04; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12; 126) arranged downstream in transport direction (T) of the sheets of the non-impact printing device (06) is configured as a dryer (07; 09; 123; 124), wherein at least one processing station (01; 02; 03; 04; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12; 126) arranged upstream in transport direction (T) of the sheets of the non-impact printing device (06) is configured as a coating device (02; 03; 08; 126), characterized in that the relevant coating device (02; 03; 08; 126) arranged upstream is configured as a device applying a coating in the form of a primer on the respective sheet, wherein the processing station having the non-impact printing device (06) has a printing cylinder and the processing station having the primer application device (02; 126) has a contact pressure cylinder (119), wherein the non-impact printing device (06) is arranged on the periphery of the printing cylinder and the primer application device (02; 126) is arranged on the periphery of the contact pressure cylinder (119), wherein the dryer (123; 124) arranged downstream in transport direction (T) of the sheets of the non-impact printing device (06) is arranged on the periphery of the printing cylinder in the direction of rotation of the printing cylinder downstream of the non-impact printing device (06), wherein three sheets are arranged or at least can be arranged consecutively on the lateral surface of the printing cylinder respectively in the peripheral direction, wherein each of the sheets to be transported is respectively held at the respective lateral surface of the printing cylinder by means of a holding element configured as a gripper, wherein the printing cylinder and the contact pressure cylinder (119) are connected to one another in a toothed wheel traction unit and driven jointly in their respective rotation by a single drive, wherein this drive is configured as a speed-regulated electric motor and/or as a position-regulated electric motor.
2. The machine arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that in each case the processing stations (01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12) are configured as a module, wherein each module is independently produced or at least is a machine unit or functional assembly mounted separately.
3. The machine arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a processing station (01; 02; 03; 04; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12) arranged upstream of the non-impact printing device (06) is configured as a sheet-fed press with several printing units arranged in series.
4. The machine arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that at least one processing station (01; 02; 03; 04; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12) arranged upstream or downstream in transport direction (T) of the sheets of the non-impact printing device (06) is configured as a coating device (02; 03; 08), wherein the relevant coating device (02; 03; 08) is configured as a device applying a coating in the form of a cold foil or of a lacquer on the respective sheet.
5. The machine arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4, characterized in that the dryer (07; 09; 123; 124) is configured as a device drying the relevant sheet by means of an irradiation with infrared or ultraviolet radiation or in that the dryer (07; 09; 123; 124) is configured as a device drying the relevant sheet by means of hot air and by means an irradiation with infrared radiation.
6. The machine arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5, characterized in that a transfer device arranged directly upstream of the active region of the non-impact printing device (06) is provided, wherein the transfer device aligns the sheets in each case in register relative to a printing position of the non-impact printing device (06).
7. The machine arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one side stop is provided in the transfer device, against which a sheet to be transferred is pushed with an edge running parallel to its transport direction (T).
8. The machine arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7, characterized in that along the transport path of the sheets several, in particular four or five or six or seven, in each case individually controlled non-impact printing devices (06) are arranged.
9. The machine arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the several non-impact printing devices (06) are in each case configured as an inkjet printer or as a laser printer.
10. The machine arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9, characterized in that the relevant dryer (07; 09; 123; 124) arranged downstream in transport direction (T) of the sheets of the non-impact printing device (06) is configured as an intermediate dryer.
11. The machine arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10, characterized in that in transport direction (T) of the sheets a lacquering device (08) having a further dryer is arranged downstream of the processing station having the non-impact printing device (06).
12. The machine arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11, characterized in that a positioning of such a sheet on the respective lateral surface of the printing cylinder or of the contact pressure cylinder (119) is respectively supported by blast air directed toward the lateral surface of the printing cylinder or of the contact pressure cylinder (119).

Images