EP3915789A1 - Assembly for sequentially processing curved substrates - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a machine arrangement for the sequential processing of sheet-shaped substrates according to claim 1.

Through the WO 2004/013704 A1 a digital printing machine for direct contactless sheet printing with a digital printing unit format-free in the circumferential direction is known, with a transport device connected downstream of the digital printing unit, the transport device having sheet-holding grippers on its circumference, the transport device preferably having several transport cylinders and / or conveyor belts and / or impression cylinders .

Through the EP 2 540 513 A1 a machine arrangement for the sequential processing of several arc-shaped substrates, each having a front side and a rear side, is known, having a first printing cylinder and a second printing cylinder, with at least one first non-impact printing device printing on the front side of the substrate in question and in each case on the circumference of the first printing cylinder Direction of rotation of the first printing cylinder after the first non-impact printing device, a dryer drying the front side of the substrate in question printed by the first non-impact printing device is arranged, with at least one second non- Impact printing device and, in the direction of rotation of the second printing cylinder after the second non-impact printing device, a drier drying the back of the substrate in question printed by the second non-impact printing device are arranged, where in the case of the first printing cylinder, the substrate in question, which has been printed and dried on the front side, is transferred directly to the second printing cylinder.

Through the EP 1 440 351 B1 is a digital printing machine for direct, contactless sheet printing, known, with an elastic-related transport device on which a printing material is transported, the transport device having at least one gripper for holding the sheet on the circumference of the transport device and / or with a stop for positioning the leading edge of the sheet is provided, and with a format-variable digital printing unit in the circumferential direction of the transport device, the distance between the highest point of the gripper and / or stop and the surface of the printing material to be printed is less than the distance between the surface of the printing material to be printed and during the printing process the digital printing unit, with the highest point of the gripper and / or stop protruding beyond the surface of the unrelated transport device.

Through the DE 10 2015 211 637 A1 a device for transporting sheets through a printing unit with an inkjet printing cylinder and at least one transfer drum is known, each sheet being held on an inkjet printing cylinder and being transferred by leading edge transfer from an upstream transfer drum, with a tensioning roller for crease-free position of the sheet the inkjet printing cylinder is provided.

Through the DE 103 12 870 A1 a digital printing machine for sheet-fed printing is known, with a digital printing unit with no format in the circumferential direction, an intermediate cylinder connected downstream of the digital printing unit, which is at least partially covered with an elastic material, and an impression cylinder connected downstream of the intermediate cylinder, the impression cylinder having sheet-holding grippers and the intermediate cylinder on its The scope has the gripper receiving recesses.

Through the DE 10 2014 010 904 B3 a device for double-sided printing of sheet-like printing materials is known, the printing material being guided on an impression cylinder by more than 360 °, the printing material with the reverse side again reaching the active area of an inking unit, from which the printing material is already on the upstream impression cylinder Face printing was printed, wherein the ink application unit between two downstream impression cylinders can preferably be pivoted, wherein the pivotable ink application unit z. B. is an inkjet print head.

Through the DE 10 2009 000 518 A1 a sheet-fed printing machine is known, with a feeder for feeding printed sheets into the sheet-fed printing machine, with at least one printing unit and / or coating unit for printing the printed sheets with a static print image that is identical for all printing sheets, with a boom for discharging printed sheets from the sheet-fed printing machine, and with at least one printing device without printing form, integrated into the sheet-fed printing machine, for printing the printing sheet with an especially dynamic, variable print image, wherein the or each printing device without printing forme is controllably integrated in the sheet-fed printing machine as a function of process parameters or operating parameters or order parameters or quality parameters.

Through the DE 10 2009 002 580 A1 a printing machine, in particular sheet-fed offset printing machine, is known, a sheet delivery base module being arranged downstream of several basic modules arranged in series, each configured as a printing or coating unit, the sheet delivery base module having a printing cylinder that guides the sheet material, with the sheet delivery base module on the circumference of the printing cylinder an inkjet device for marking the printing material is arranged.

the DE 200 06 513 U1 relates to a sheet-fed rotary printing press with a

Sheet feeder, a sheet delivery and a plurality of basic modules arranged between the sheet feeder and the sheet delivery, identical in their basic structure, which have a sheet guide cylinder and a sheet conveying device and which can be equipped with a printing unit, a coating unit or a dryer unit, with between the in the sheet conveying direction last base module and the sheet delivery a multifunction module with a sheet conveyor and a sheet guide cylinder is arranged, the multifunction module is prepared for the cultivation of several different additional devices, the multifunction module z. B. is equipped for the cultivation of an inkjet marking.

The post-published DE 10 2016 207 398 B3 , the US 2009/0284561 A1 , the US 2009/0244237 A1 and the US 2011/0205321 A1 a machine arrangement for sequential processing of sheet-shaped substrates are known, the respective machine arrangement each having several different processing stations, at least one of the processing stations each having a non-impact printing device that prints on the substrates, the processing station in question having the non-impact printing device has a printing cylinder, the respective non-impact printing device being arranged in each case on the circumference of the printing cylinder.

Through the US 7,909,454 B2 a printing machine for sequential printing of sheet-shaped substrates is known, an inkjet printing device being arranged on the circumference of a printing cylinder, a feed cylinder being arranged directly in front of the printing cylinder, both the printing cylinder and the feed cylinder each having grippers for holding substrates to be printed.

Through the EP 2 610 064 A1 an ink jet recording apparatus is known comprising a) a conveying device having a moving suction surface for Conveying a cut paper medium by sucking the medium on the suction surface, and has suction holes evenly arranged in the regions of the suction surface; and b) a recording head which forms an image by ejecting ink by an ink jet method on a surface of the medium conveyed by the conveying device.

Through the JP 2015 63 398 A there is known an ink jet recording apparatus having a transport cylinder formed as a suction drum.

Through the EP 2 752 380 A1 a conveying device and image forming device are known, the conveying device comprising a drum with a plurality of suction fields.

The invention is based on the object of creating a machine arrangement for the sequential processing of a plurality of sheet-shaped substrates.

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

The advantages that can be achieved with the invention are evident from the explanations below.

In addition, 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 varnishing unit, variable in combination with at least one flexibly variable print images, e.g. B. designed as an inkjet printer non-impact printing device uses, whereby both the conventional printing device or the coating device and the non-impact printing device are used inline in an ongoing production, each at the working speed that is optimal for them. Such a hybrid machine arrangement is particularly useful for the production of packaging materials, e.g. B. of sheets for the production of folding boxes is very advantageous because the strengths of each of the printing devices are used, which leads to a flexible and economical production of the packaging material. A transport of arcuate substrates by means of rotation bodies, in particular cylinders and gripper bars or gripper carriages, each with a transfer of the arcuate substrates in the gripper connection to a subsequent 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

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

Fig. 10

eine Maschinenanordnung mit unterschiedlich langen Substratführungseinheiten;

Fig. 11 bis 13

Maschinenanordnungen mit einem Druckzylinder und einer Transfertrommel verschiedenen Formats;

Fig. 14

eine Detaildarstellung eines Druckzylinders und einer Transfertrommel;

Fig. 15

einen Druckzylinder;

Fig. 16

eine erste perspektivische Darstellung eines Ausschnitts aus dem Druckzylinder;

Fig. 17

eine zweite perspektivische Darstellung eines Ausschnitts aus dem Druckzylinder;

Fig. 18

den Druckzylinder im Zusammenwirken mit einer Transfertrommel;

Fig. 19

in einer perspektivischen Darstellung einen Kammsauger mit einem Leitblech.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a block diagram showing various production lines;

Fig. 2

a first machine arrangement with several different processing stations;

Figures 3 to 8

further machine arrangements each with several different processing stations;

Fig. 9

Yet another machine arrangement with a turning device for sequential processing of a plurality of sheet-shaped substrates on both sides;

Fig. 10

a machine arrangement with substrate guide units of different lengths;

Figures 11 to 13

Machine arrangements with a printing cylinder and a transfer drum of different formats;

Fig. 14

a detailed representation of a printing cylinder and a transfer drum;

Fig. 15

a printing cylinder;

Fig. 16

a first perspective illustration of a section from the printing cylinder;

Fig. 17

a second perspective view of a section from the printing cylinder;

Fig. 18

the printing cylinder in cooperation with a transfer drum;

Fig. 19

in a perspective view a comb sucker with a guide plate.

Fig. 1 illustrates in a block diagram various production lines, each with a machine arrangement with several, in particular, different processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 for processing at least one arch-shaped substrate, in particular a printing material, preferably an in particular rectangular printing sheet, or at least a sheet, can be realized or at least realizable, this at least one substrate being rigid or pliable depending on the material, material thickness and / or grammage. Usually they are on a production line during a given production successively several sheets, that is to say a sequence of sheets, each using the same processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 edited. Each of these processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 each as a z. B. independently functioning module is formed, whereby a module is to be understood to mean a machine unit or functional assembly that is usually manufactured independently or at least one machine unit or functional assembly that is installed in its own frame. The modules lined up in the machine arrangement subdivide this machine arrangement into individual units, with adjacent modules essentially having a vertical joining surface at their joining point. Each of the processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 is therefore preferably manufactured independently and is in a preferred embodiment, for. B. individually testable in its respective function. The machine arrangement in question, which, depending on a specific production, is made by a selection and compilation of at least three different processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 is formed, each embodies a specific production line. Each of the production lines shown, each with a specific machine arrangement with several processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 is embodied, is in each case designed in particular for the production of a packaging means formed from the printing material, preferably from the printed sheet. The packaging materials to be produced are, for. B. each a folding box, each made of 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; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12, when the printing material runs through the processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 having machine arrangement in an ordered sequence brought into use in succession 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.

Everyone 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. four, five, six, seven or more in particular individually controlled non-impact printing devices 06, these non-impact printing devices 06 are preferably arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T of the printing substrate and are designed such that they each can print or at least print at least almost in its full width 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, print the printing material from print to print, e.g. B. print the sheet just fed to this printing device 06 with a print image different from the previous print image. The respective non-impact printing device 06 is in each case implemented in particular by at least one inkjet printer or by at least one laser printer. Inkjet printers are matrix printers in which a print image is generated by the targeted firing or deflection of small ink droplets, the inkjet printer either as a device with a continuous ink jet (CIJ) or as a device that shoots individual ink droplets (Drop On Demand = DOD) is trained. Laser printers generate the respective print image in an electrophotography process. A machine arrangement processing a printing material with at least one 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 each have a sequence of particularly rigid sheets z. B. is processed from a paper, from a single-ply or multi-ply cardboard or from cardboard, in particular into a packaging means. The printing materials paper, cardboard and cardboard differ in their respective grammage, ie the weight in grams for one square meter of this printing material. In general, the aforementioned printing material with a basis weight between 7 g / m ² and 150 g / m ² applies as 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 in particular cardboard or cardboard are used, each of which has a good printability and for a subsequent refinement or processing such. B. are suitable for painting and punching. This cardboard or cardboard are of their fiber use z. B. wood-free, slightly wood-containing, wood-containing or containing waste paper. In their structure, multilayer cardboard or cardboard, e.g. B. corrugated cardboard, each with a top layer, an insert and a backing on a backing. In terms of their surface properties, cardboard or cardboard z. B. uncoated, pigmented, coated or cast-coated. A format of the sheet is z. B. in the range between 340 mm x 480 mm and 740 mm x 1060 mm, with the format specifications usually the first number indicates a length in the transport direction T of the sheets and the second number a width of the sheets perpendicular 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 representable production line with reference to the transport direction T of the printing material essentially from right to left, with each of the two processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 interconnecting direction 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 determined for the respective production; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 to arrive. Every production begins with sheets provided in the processing station 01, the processing station 01 being a Investor 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. on a pallet stacked stacks of sheets, whereas a magazine feeder 01 has several compartments, in each of which sheets, in particular stacks of z. B. different types of sheets or sheets of different formats are inserted or at least insertable. The investor 01 isolated z. B. by means of a suction head 41, the stacked sheets and guides them in a sequence of separated sheets or in an imbricated flow 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 used directly, for. 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 a plurality of printing units 86 in a series construction. The offset printing device 04 provides the sheets with at least one static print image, ie one that is unchangeable during the printing process due to the fact that it is tied to the printing form used, whereas the non-impact printing device 06 provides the sheets with at least one print image that changes in terms of content or at least changes.

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 detached from a carrier foil is transferred to the printing material. By overprinting this layer of varnish z. B. with an offset printing device 04 a wide variety of metal effects can be achieved. The cold foil applicator 03 is advantageously z. B. formed integrated in the offset printing device 04 by two additional printing units 87; 88 are provided in the offset printing device 04. In the transport direction T des Printing material's first printing unit 87 is applied a special adhesive to the printing material, ie the respective sheet, by means of a standard printing forme. 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 fed from an unwinding station into a printing nip between a transfer cylinder and a printing cylinder interacting with this transfer cylinder and brought into contact with the printing material. The color of the lacquer layer is provided by an aluminum layer and a protective lacquer layer, the coloring of which influences the color impression. The transfer layers adhere to the substrate through the adhesion of an adhesive layer to the printed adhesive layer. The carrier film is then wound up again. After the cold foil transfer, overprinting with conventional, e.g. B. water-based printing inks as well as UV and hybrid inks possible to produce different metallic colors.

A z. B. particularly absorbent and / or for printing with a non-impact printing device 06 to be processed printing material is fed from the feeder 01 of a z. B. designed as a primer application device 02 next processing station 02 supplied to at least one surface of this printing material before printing or painting with a z. B. to coat water-based primer, in particular to seal. The priming represents a primer or first coating of the printing material, in particular to improve or even enable adhesion of a printing ink or ink to be subsequently applied to the printing material. For this purpose z. B. applied a white varnish to the substrate. The primer application device 02 is z. B. formed in connection with a printing unit 86 of a rotary printing press and has, for. B. a printing unit cylinder 82 cooperating with a contact printing cylinder 119 with an application roller 83, preferably in the form of an anilox roller 83, which is engaged or at least adjustable against this printing unit cylinder 82, and at least one doctor blade 84 extending in the axial direction of the application roller 83, in particular a chamber doctor blade system 84 ( Figures 3 to 5 , 8th , 9 ). The primer is applied by means of the primer application device 02 either over the entire surface or only at certain, ie previously defined, points, ie partially on the printing material. The printing material processed in the primer application device 02, e.g. B. arch, is the next processing station z. B. an offset printing device 04 and / or z. B. a non-impact printing device 06 is supplied.

The one z. B. as a flexographic printing device 04 designed processing station 04 executed 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 materials made of paper, cardboard or cardboard, made of metallized film or a plastic such . B. PE, PET, PVC, PS, PP, PC is used. In flexographic printing, low-viscosity printing inks and flexible printing plates made of photopolymer or rubber are used. In general, a flexographic printing device 04 includes a) an anilox roller, which is used to color the printing form, b) a printing cylinder, also called a forme cylinder, on which the printing form is attached, and c) an impression cylinder that guides the printing material.

The processing station 04 designed as a flexographic printing device 04 or as an offset printing device 04 and printing the sheets with at least one static print image each 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 when passing through the flexographic printing device 04 or the offset printing device 04 are each multicolored, z. B. is printed in a four-color print. The colors yellow, magenta, cyan and black in particular are used as printing inks. In an embodiment of the printing device 04 that is alternative to the flexographic printing method or offset printing method, the processing station 04 that prints the sheets with at least one static print image is designed as a printing device 04 that prints using a screen printing method.

After the printing material has been processed in the at least one non-impact printing device 06, this printing material is z. B. is supplied to a processing station 07 designed as a dryer 07, in particular as an intermediate dryer 07, this intermediate dryer 07 being used as a printing material such as the one in question. B. is designed to dry by hot air and / or by irradiation with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, wherein an ultraviolet radiation drying dryer z. B. is designed as an LED dryer, the type of radiation depending in particular on whether the printing ink or ink applied to the substrate is water-based or UV-curing. After intermediate drying, the substrate is z. B. is supplied to a processing station 08 designed as a painting device 08. The painting device 08 preferably carries a z. B. transparent or white or colored dispersion varnish, dispersion varnishes consisting essentially of water and binders (resins), surfactants stabilizing these dispersions. A coating device 08 which applies a dispersion varnish to the printing material consists either of an anilox roller, a chambered doctor blade and an application roller (comparable to a flexographic printing unit) or of an immersion and application roller. By means of a printing form, preferably based on photopolymerization, z. B. applied planar and / or partial paintwork. Special rubber lacquer plates can also be used for full-surface lacquering. In the transport path of the printing material is after the painting device 08 z. B. a trained as a dryer 09 processing station 09 is arranged, this dryer 09 is designed as a drying of the printing material in question by hot air and / or by irradiation with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, wherein an ultraviolet radiation drying dryer z. B. is designed as an LED dryer. If the machine arrangement in question has several dryers 07; 09, the dryer with the reference number 09 is preferably the last of these multiple dryers 07; 09, with the intermediate dryer (s) 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 cures by UV radiation or a varnish that cures by UV radiation, e.g. B. a gloss varnish is applied, this dryer 09 is equipped with an ultraviolet radiation generating radiation source. With dispersion varnishes, more intensive gloss and matt effects can be achieved compared to classic oil-based printing varnishes. Special optical effects can be achieved with 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 the last drying along its transport route, the substrate is z. B. fed to a processing station 11, which carries out further mechanical processing on the printing material, for. B. by punching, creasing and / or separating parts, in particular breaking out benefits from their respective composite in the preferably printed sheet. Each of the aforementioned further processing is carried out in or by a processing unit 46. The further mechanical processing is preferably carried out in cooperation with a cylinder which transports the respective sheet. Thereafter, or directly from the dryer 09 that is last in the transport path of the printing material, the printing material arrives at a delivery 12, which is located in each of the in the Fig. 1 shown, each by 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 z. B. preferably stacked on a pallet.

As in the Figures 2 to 8 shown is the previously mentioned sequence of the processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 only by way of example and depending on the particular product to be produced Print product can be modified.

1. 1. Bogenanleger 01; Primerauftrageinrichtung 02; Non-Impact-Druckeinrichtung 06; Zwischentrockner 07 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle für Dispersionslack; Lackiereinrichtung 08; Trockner 09 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle und/oder Heißluft; Auslage 12
2. 2. Bogenanleger 01; Primerauftrageinrichtung 02; Non-Impact-Druckeinrichtung 06; Trockner 09 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle und/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 Heißluft und/oder IR-Strahlungsquelle oder UV-Strahlungsquelle; Auslage 12
4. 4. Bogenanleger 01; Kaltfolienauftrageinrichtung 03; Offset-Druckeinrichtung 04; Non-Impact-Druckeinrichtung 06; Trockner 09 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle und/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 Heißluft und/oder IR-Strahlungsquelle; 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 Heißluft und/oder IR-Strahlungsquelle; 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 Heißluft und/oder IR-Strahlungsquelle; Auslage 12
11. 11. Magazinanleger 01; Primerauftrageinrichtung 02; Non-Impact-Druckeinrichtung 06; Zwischentrockner 07 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle; Lackiereinrichtung 08; Trockner 09 mit Heißluft und/oder IR-Strahlungsquelle; Auslage 12
12. 12. Magazinanleger 01; Primerauftrageinrichtung 02; Non-Impact-Druckeinrichtung 06; Zwischentrockner 07 mit IR-Strahlungsquelle; Trockner 09 mit Heißluft und/oder IR-Strahlungsquelle; 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 by way of example, in particular used 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 created or at least can be created:

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 and / 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 and / 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 paint and UV-curing paint; Dryer 09 with hot air and / or IR radiation source or 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 and / 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 hot air and / or IR radiation source; 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 hot air and / or IR radiation source; 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 hot air and / or IR radiation source; 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 hot air and / or IR radiation source; 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 hot air and / or IR radiation source; 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; 02; 03; 04; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 to participate 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 cures by ultraviolet radiation is. The respective machine arrangement is thus designed to print the sheets in each case with a water-based printing ink or with a printing ink that cures by ultraviolet radiation.

An advantageous machine arrangement mentioned here by way of example has several processing stations for processing sheets, with the in transport direction T being the Sheet 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 sheets of the non-impact printing device 06 in the transport direction T of the non-impact printing device 06 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, wherein between the first coating device 08 and the non -Impact printing device 06 a first dryer 07 is arranged, wherein a first transport cylinder arrangement having at least one transport cylinder 39 is arranged to transport the sheets from the first dryer 07 to the non-impact printing device 06, wherein in the transport direction T the sheet after the non-impact Printing unit ichtung 06 a second dryer 07 is arranged, a device for transferring the sheets coming from the non-impact printing device 06 to a second coating device 08 being provided, the second coating device 08 being followed by a third dryer 09, with the Sheet after the third dryer 09 a delivery 12 is arranged for the sheets. A mechanical further processing device 11 can also be arranged between the third dryer 09 and the display 12. Furthermore, in the transport direction T, the sheet is in front of the non-impact printing device 06 z. B. a cold foil applying coating device 03 is arranged. The non-impact printing device 06 preferably has several individually controlled inkjet printers along the transport path of the sheets. In the area of action of the non-impact printing device 06, the sheets are preferably each guided flat on a transport device, the transport device having a curved transport path for the sheets at least in the area of action of the non-impact printing device 06, the transport device in the area of action of the non -Impact printing device 06 is designed as a multiple-size printing cylinder 22. In the transport direction T the sheet is in front the non-impact printing device 06 z. B. arranged a transfer device, wherein the transfer device the sheet z. B. in each case at least in their axial register and / or circumferential register aligned relative to the printing position of the non-impact printing device 06, the transfer device z. B. has a suction drum holding the respective sheet by means of suction air. This machine arrangement is designed to print the sheets, in particular, in each case with a water-based printing ink or with a printing ink that cures by ultraviolet radiation. This machine arrangement is designed in particular to produce different packaging means. The device for transferring the sheets coming from the non-impact printing device 06 to the second coating device 08 is z. B. formed as a at least one transport cylinder 39 having second transport cylinder arrangement.

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 aforementioned production line no. 6. B. picked up individually from a stack with a suction head 41 and successively in a cycle of z. B. 10,000 pieces per hour z. B. to an offset printing device 04 with z. B. passed four printing units 86 arranged in a row. For a transfer of the sheets from one to the next of the printing units 86 arranged in a row, a rotary body, in particular a cylinder, preferably a transfer drum 43 is provided, each of which is arranged between two immediately adjacent printing units 86. The offset printing device 04 takes over the sheets fed to it by the sheet feeder 01, for example. B. with an oscillating gripper 13 and forwards the sheet to a z. B. single-sized, so on its periphery each transporting only a single substrate transfer drum 14 of the offset printing device 04, the sheets are then guided in the offset printing device 04 in a gripper from one to the next printing unit 86. In the offset printing device 04, the sheets are printed on at least one side. In the presence of one arranged between the printing devices 04 Turning device 23, the sheets can also be printed on both sides in the offset printing device 04, that is to say in front and back printing. After going through the z. B. a processing station 04 designed as an offset printing device 04, the relevant sheet, which is preferably printed in four colors, is transferred to at least one non-impact printing device 06 by means of the first transport cylinder arrangement. The non-impact printing device 06 preferably has several, z. B. five linearly arranged in a row in particular each individually controlled inkjet printer, the z. B. in the printing colors cyan, magenta, yellow and / or black and preferably additionally at least one customer-specific printing color such. B. Print orange and / or green and / or purple. The sheets provided in the offset printing device 04 with at least one static print image and in the non-impact printing device 06 with at least one changing or at least changeable print image are then dried in a dryer 07 or intermediate dryer 07, preferably with hot air and / or with an IR radiation source. Then again, the sheets are in a mechanical processing device 11 z. B. processed further by punching and / or creasing and / or breaking out of panels from the respective sheet. Ultimately, the sheets and / or copies released from the sheets are collected in a display 12, in particular stacked. In the area of action of the first gripper system 16 or the first chain conveyor 16, a delivery 12, in particular a multiple-stack delivery, can be provided in each case along the transport path provided for the sheets. Likewise, in the transport direction T of the sheet z. B. after the mechanical processing device 11, a multiple-pile delivery is arranged. As from the Fig. 2 As can be seen, each of the processing stations 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11 each at least one transport cylinder 39 or other sheet-guiding cylinder 22; 38; 43; 44, the relevant transport cylinder 39 or other sheet-guiding cylinders 22; 38; 43; 44 is designed in each case several times larger, preferably at least twice the size. As in the Figures 2 to 13 at least one printing cylinder 22; 38 at least three times the size, preferably four times the size. The coating device 02; 08, ie in particular the primer application device 02 and / or the painting device 08 each preferably have a double-sized transport cylinder 39 or other sheet-guiding cylinders 43; 44 on. With the exception of the relevant printing cylinder 22; 38 all other transport cylinders 39 or other sheet-guiding cylinders 43; 44, for example, of the same size, in particular of twice the size.

The sheets picked up from a stack in the feeder 01, in particular in the sheet feeder 01, are separated from one another individually, for. B. by the z. B. offset printing device 04 trained the non-impact printing device 06 upstream processing station 02; 03; 04 transported at a first transport speed. The upstream of the non-impact printing device 06 z. B. designed as an offset printing device 04 processing station 02; 03; 04 sheets transferred to the non-impact printing device 06 are transported in this non-impact printing device 06 at a second transport speed. B. in the offset printing device 04 applicable first transport speed. To adapt the z. B. in the offset printing device 04 applicable first transport speed to the generally lower in the non-impact printing device 06 applicable second transport speed is z. B. the arc gap existing between directly consecutive sheets, ie the distance that z. B. due to a gripper channel width for the z. B. by the offset printing device 04 results in the sheet transported during the transfer of this sheet z. B. preferably reduced from the offset printing device 04 to the non-impact printing device 06, such a distance reduction based on its original Distance z. B. in the range between 1% and 98%. In this way, sheets in direct succession 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 z. B. 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 transferred to an intermediate dryer 07 or dryer 09 and from there z. B. be transported by means of a feed table to a mechanical processing device 11 on to the display 12. However, the sheets can also be brought from their second transport speed to a third transport speed if this is the z. B. designed as a mechanical further processing device 11 processing station 08; 09; 11 requires, 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. Before the mechanical processing device 11 is z. B. the second transport cylinder arrangement is provided, which picks up the sheets coming from the intermediate dryer 07 or dryer 09 and transports them to the mechanical further processing device 11. Also in the field of mechanical, in series z. B. several processing units 46 having further processing device 11 is provided for a transfer of the sheets from one to the next of the processing units 46 arranged in a row a rotary body, in particular a cylinder, preferably a transfer drum 44, which is arranged between two adjacent processing units 46. One of the processing units 46 is z. B. as a punching plant, in particular as a rotary punching plant, another processing plant 46 z. B. designed as a scoring unit. The relevant processing unit 46 is the mechanical further processing of the sheets, preferably in cooperation with a cylinder which transports the respective sheet trained to perform. After their mechanical further processing, the sheets and / or benefits separated from them z. B. transported by means of a chain conveyor 21 to the display 12 and collected there, preferably stacked.

The sheets are from the exit of z. B. formed as an offset printing device 04 the non-impact printing device 06 upstream processing station 02; 03; 04 at least up to the exit of the intermediate dryer 07 or dryer 09, preferably up to the beginning of the z. B. designed as a mechanical further processing device 11 processing station 08; 09; 11 each by means of a multi-part, d. H. is transported from several assemblies, in particular transport units, arranged one after the other in the transport direction T of the sheets, the transport device preferably having several multi-sized transport cylinders 39. 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.

Of the Fig. 2 it can also be seen that the respective axes of rotation of processing cylinders, such as. B. the printing cylinder 22 or the respective cylinders of the primer application device 02, the painting device 08 or a dryer 07, and one of these processing cylinders in the transport direction T of the substrates immediately downstream or immediately upstream transport cylinder are arranged vertically offset. Thus, a straight line running through the axis of rotation of a processing cylinder and the axis of rotation of a directly downstream transport cylinder or a transfer drum forms an acute angle α1 to a horizontal and / or a straight line running through the axis of rotation of a processing cylinder and the axis of rotation of an immediately upstream transport cylinder or a transfer drum a horizontal an acute angle α2 in the range between 15 ° and 30 °, preferably between 20 ° and 25 °, in particular 22.5 °, the horizontal z. B. each through the axis of rotation of the relevant Transport cylinder or runs through the axis of rotation of the relevant transfer drum. The angle α1 directed to the downstream transport cylinder or to the downstream transfer drum is z. B. in the range between once and twice the angle a2 directed towards the upstream transport cylinder, preferably between 1.3 times and 1.7 times, in particular it is 1.5 times the angle a2 directed towards the upstream transport cylinder .

In the Figures 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 numerals denoting the processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 and more of their respective units.

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 12th

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 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 a row 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.

As already mentioned, it is provided with the previously described machine arrangements, each of which has a plurality of processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 have at least one transport device for processing sheets and for transporting these sheets, to process sheets of different formats, ie of different lengths and / or widths. Therefore, they differ usually rectangular arch z. B. in their respective length, this length extending in each case in the transport direction T of this sheet. In order to use a processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12, to which several sheets are fed sequentially, in order not to reduce the productivity of the respective machine arrangement with comparatively shorter sheets, ie with sheets of smaller format compared to sheets otherwise large-format processed in this machine arrangement, a method with the following process steps is proposed:

Method for operating a plurality of sheets of 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 each 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 spacing between immediately successive sheets for sheets of different lengths each extending in the transport direction T of these sheets by a change the transport speed to be impressed by the transport device on the sheet in question is kept constant, the transport speed of the sheet following in the transport direction T being changed in relation to the transport speed of the sheet immediately preceding. The relevant processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 sheets to be fed in succession for reaching and / or maintaining one of the processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 to be achieved high productivity of the transport device preferably transported in each case at a minimal, but generally non-zero distance. The distance between consecutive sheets in the transport direction T, ie between the sheets transverse to the Transport direction T extending rear edge of the previous sheet and the transverse to transport direction T extending front edge of the immediately following sheet, z. B. in the range between 0.5 mm and 50 mm, preferably less than 10 mm. If a sheet of shorter length 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 machined after an arc of shorter length. As a processing station 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12, a non-impact printing device 06 is preferably used, the productivity of which 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 as an offset printing device 04 processing station 04, in the offset printing device 04 printed sheets 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, these sheets from the offset -Printing device 04 predetermined transport speed during its transport with the transport device is to 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 are 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 generally lower than the production speed of the offset printing device 04.

The respective sheet is transported from one processing station 01 to the next; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 and / or within these processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 in each case from the respective transport device having a plurality of transport cylinders one behind the other in the transport direction T of the sheets, preferably in each case frictionally and / or positively by holding means, e.g. B. held by suction and / or by grippers.

In a preferred embodiment, the relevant sheet to be impressed transport speed of a z. B. at a control station of the machine arrangement preferably set electronic control unit, the control unit setting the transport speed in particular to maintain the constant distance between successive sheets z. B. makes in a control loop. It is Z. B. provided that one of the mechanical processing device 11 to be fed sheet by the vibrating gripper 19 and the z. B. single-sized transfer drum 31 is brought from the second transport speed to the third transport speed, which means that the sheet in question is accelerated in particular by the rotation of the transfer drum 31 controlled by the control unit.

Fig. 9 shows an example of a machine arrangement with several processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12, the processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 are arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T of the substrates. The processing stations 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 are each designed as an independently functional module, each of the modules forming a machine unit mounted in its own frame. In the preferred embodiment, those modules which are used as a coating device 02; 03; 08 (i.e. primer application device 02, Cold foil application device 03 or painting device 08) or as a dryer 07; 09 or as a printing device 04; 06 or are designed as a mechanical further processing device 11, each have a substrate guide unit 24 and a substrate processing unit 26. The substrate guide unit 24 has for transporting the substrates, for. B. a transport cylinder arrangement with one or more transport cylinders 39 or one or more transfer drums 43; 44, the transport cylinder 39 or transfer drums 43; 44 are designed to be multiple sizes, preferably double or triple sizes. The substrate processing unit 26 has, depending on the type of processing station 01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12 z. B. the actual coating device 02; 03; 08 or the dryer 07; 09 or at least one printing unit 86; 87; 88 of the printing device 04; 06 or at least one processing unit 46 of the mechanical further processing device 11. The substrate guiding unit 24 and the substrate processing unit 26 each have an essentially horizontal joining surface at their joining point and so to speak form a substructure module 24 and a superstructure module 26.

The one in the Fig. 9 The machine arrangement shown is a machine arrangement for perfecting and reprinting and, starting from a sheet feeder 01 or a magazine feeder 01, has stacked substrates one after the other z. B. with a suction head 41 gripping feeder 01 and a downstream oscillating gripper 13 with a transfer drum 14 in the transport direction T of the substrates (sheets) one behind the other a coating device 02; 03; 08 in particular in the form of a first primer application device 02 and then a first dryer 07. The substrates pretreated on the front side in this way are then fed to a first non-impact printing device 06 with a first printing cylinder 22, which prints the respective front side of the substrates Has at least as many holding elements that on its circumference three or four substrates are arranged one behind the other by a force fit and / or by a form fit, or at least can be arranged. As a rule, each substrate to be held on the circumference of the printing cylinder 22 is assigned at least one holding means or holding element, with those holding elements that are assigned to different substrates each being operable independently of one another, ie separately from one another. Holding elements designed as grippers are arranged in particular in a channel opened on the lateral surface of the relevant printing cylinder 22, the respective channel extending axially on the lateral surface of the relevant printing cylinder 22. That means with z. B. four substrates that can be arranged along the circumference of the printing cylinder 22 in question, so that the printing cylinder 22 in question has four channels, at least one holding element being arranged in each channel. In a channel z. B. at least two holding elements can also be arranged, one of these holding elements holding a rear edge in the transport direction T of the substrates of a first of these substrates and another of these holding elements holding a front edge in the transport direction T of the substrates of one of the first substrate on the circumference of the printing cylinder in question 22 immediately following second substrate holds. A plurality of inkjet printing devices are preferably arranged one after the other along part of the circumference of the first printing cylinder 22, with a radial distance between an ink outlet opening of the relevant inkjet printing device and an upper side of the substrate held on the lateral surface of the relevant rotating printing cylinder 22 when it passes the relevant inkjet printing device, preferably only a few millimeters , in particular is only about 1 mm. In the preferred embodiment, the first non-impact printing device 06 is followed by a substrate guide unit 24 designed as a pure transport module without any further substrate processing unit 26. This transport module is also arranged in its own frame. This substrate guide unit 24 enables the formation of a sufficiently wide transverse gallery in this machine arrangement, which in turn z. B. for maintenance and / or repair work, the accessibility to the first non-impact printing device 06 is improved. In another As an alternative or in addition, a substrate guide unit 24 embodied as a pure transport module without a further substrate processing unit 26 is arranged upstream of the first non-impact printing device 06. By the arrangement of the z. B. two double-sized transport cylinders or transfer drums having transport modules in the machine arrangement is achieved that a horizontal distance a between the outer surface of the printing cylinder 22 and the, in particular, double-sized processing cylinder of the next processing station in the transport direction T of the substrates corresponds to at least twice the diameter d of this processing cylinder ( Fig. 3 ). After the substrate guide unit 24, a second dryer 09 drying the printed front side of the substrates is arranged. The second dryer 09 follows z. B. a turning device 23, which makes it possible that the back of the substrates can be printed in the process. As described above for face printing, ie for printing the front side, the substrates coming from the turning device 23 are first fed to a second primer application device 02 treating the back of the substrates and then to a third dryer 07. This is followed by a second non-impact printing device 37 with a second printing cylinder 38, which in each case prints the back of the substrates, this second printing cylinder 38 in turn being preferably three times the size or four times the size, which means that this second printing cylinder 38 has as many holding means or Has holding elements that on its circumference three or four substrates one behind the other are arranged or at least can be arranged in a holding manner by means of a force fit and / or by means of a form fit. Along part of the circumference of the second printing cylinder 38, ie on the periphery thereof, preferably several, z. B. arranged at least four or in particular seven inkjet printing devices, these inkjet printing devices z. B. the printing inks cyan, magenta, yellow and / or black and z. B. print at least one of the special colors orange and / or green and / or purple. The turning device 23 is thus arranged in the transport direction T of the substrates between the first non-impact printing device 06 and the second non-impact printing device 37. Also after and / or before the second non-impact printing device 37, for the same reason as explained above, a substrate guide unit 24 is preferably arranged in each case without a further substrate processing unit 26. This is followed by a fourth dryer 09 for drying the printed rear side of the substrates. In the preferred embodiment, a painting device 08 is then provided. The coated substrates are then dried in a further dryer 09, this dryer 09 z. B. is arranged in the transport path of a transport device designed as a chain conveyor 21, this transport device transporting the substrates to a delivery 12, in particular to a multi-stack delivery, and laying them out there. In the in the Fig. 9 The machine arrangement shown by way of example, the respective substrate guide units 24, each having a transport cylinder arrangement, apart from the two printing cylinders 22, are preferably each double-sized, so that on the circumference of the respective transport cylinder 39 or transfer drums 43; 44 each two substrates are arranged one behind the other or at least can be arranged. The dryer 07; 09 are z. B. designed as a UV dryer or as an IR dryer or as a microwave dryer, optionally in combination with a hot air dryer. The UV dryers and / or IR dryers are z. B. each designed as an LED dryer. A microwave dryer works with microwaves with a frequency in the range of, for. B. 2 to 300 GHz, preferably 2.45 to 22.35 GHz. It can also be provided that at least two of the drying processes mentioned are used in combination in a dryer.

In the turning device 23, the turning takes place as a rule according to the principle of the trailing edge turning. The turning device 23 can be designed, for example, as a three-drum turn or as a single-drum turn. Three substrate guide cylinders are arranged in the three-drum turner. In the transport direction T of the substrates, for example, a single-size or double-size transfer drum, a preferably double-size storage drum and a preferably single-size turning drum are arranged. A single-sized cylinder can take up a substrate of maximum format on the circumference. A single-sized cylinder has e.g. B. in an offset printing unit so based on the diameter of a z. B. designed as a plate cylinder forme cylinder has the same diameter, whereas a double-sized cylinder has a double-sized diameter.

The turning drum is in particular equipped with a turning gripper system and the storage drum is then equipped with at least one substrate holding system for each substrate-carrying jacket surface. The substrate holding systems are preferably designed as a gripper system for the front edge of the substrate in the transport direction T. Fixing elements are preferably also provided for the rear region of a substrate, which are preferably each designed as a suction system. The suction systems are preferably connected to adjustable rear shell segments and can be adjusted in the circumferential direction relative to the gripper systems on the front shell segments, so that substrates of the maximum to minimum format in the face printing mode and / or in the face printing mode in the front and rear areas on the Storage drum can be held. Substrate guide elements for guiding the substrates can be arranged below the storage drum and / or turning drum. In a further development, the turning device 23 is assigned a guide blade for guiding the substrate between the storage drum and turning drum.

Fig. 10 shows an example of a machine arrangement for one-sided processing of substrates, in particular for their one-sided printing. The substrates are coming from an investor 01 by means of an oscillating gripper 13 of a z. B. single-sized transfer drum 14 and passed from there via a z. B. only a single transport cylinder 39 or only a single transfer drum 43; 44 having substrate guide unit 24 is fed to a non-impact printing device 06 which prints on the respective front side of the substrates and has a printing cylinder 22 which is three times the size or four times the size. In order to support the substrates on the lateral surface of the To improve the printing cylinder 22, ie to support holding down the substrate lying on the lateral surface of the printing cylinder 22, in the direction of rotation of the printing cylinder 22 in front of the at least one non-impact printing device 06 arranged on its circumference, e.g. B. a blown air device 27 and / or a pressure element 28 z. B. provided in the form of a smoothing roller or ironing roller, the blown air device 27 and / or the pressure element 28 each extending orthogonally to the transport direction T of the substrates, preferably over their entire width. It follows e.g. B. a substrate guide unit 24 with at least two transport cylinders 39 or transfer drums 43; 44 having transport cylinder arrangement. This is followed by a dryer 07 and a painting device 08. The coated substrates are then dried in a further dryer 09, this dryer 09 z. B. is arranged again in the transport path of a transport device designed as a chain conveyor 21, this transport device transporting the substrates to a delivery 12 and laying them out there. The substrate guide units 24 have, with the exception of the printing cylinder 22, for. B. each double-sized transport cylinder 39 or transfer drums 43; 44 on. The substrate guide unit 24, which is preferably arranged downstream or upstream of the non-impact printing device 06 and has at least two transport cylinders 39 or transfer drums 43; 44 having the transport cylinder arrangement extends in the transport direction T of the substrates over a length which is at least one and a half times the diameter of the relevant transport cylinder 39 or the relevant transfer drum 43; 44 corresponds.

the Figures 11 to 13 each show an example of a machine arrangement for the one-sided processing of substrates, in particular for their one-sided printing. B. a primer application device 02 and a dryer 07 are provided. This is followed in the machine arrangement in the transport direction T of the substrates by a non-impact printing device 06, a substrate guide unit 24, a further dryer 07, a painting device 08 and a z. B. in the transport route as a a chain conveyor 21 formed transport device dryer 09, wherein this transport device transports the substrates to a delivery 12 and lays them out there.

In the machine arrangement of the Fig. 11 is the pressure cylinder 22 z. B. four times the size. The printing cylinder 22, which is four times the size, takes over the substrates to be printed from a directly upstream transfer drum 43 which, in the example shown, is three times the size. In the machine arrangement of the Fig. 12 If the printing cylinder 22 is also four times the size, however, the four times printing cylinder 22 transfers the printed substrates to a triple size transfer drum 44 immediately downstream of this printing cylinder 22. Fig. 12 4 shows the four-fold printing cylinder 22 with a double-sized transfer drum 43 directly in front of this printing cylinder 22. Thus, a multi-sized transfer drum 43 can be arranged directly in front of the printing cylinder 22 and a multi-sized transfer drum 44 can be arranged immediately after it. The jacket surface of the printing cylinder 22 and the jacket surface in particular of the transfer drum 43 directly upstream of this printing cylinder 22 are z. B. set against each other or at least adjustable in such a way that a gap 32 guiding the respective substrate is formed between them, the respective width of this gap 32 preferably being set as a function of the respective substrate, in particular its material thickness, ie its thickness or grammage, whereby the grammage of the substrate z. B. in a range between 7 g / m ² and 600 g / m ² . The preferably continuously variable adjustable width of the gap 32 is z. B. in the range from 0 to 3 mm, in particular 0.1 mm to 1 mm.

In the machine arrangement of the Fig. 13 the printing cylinder 22 and the transfer drum 43 arranged directly upstream of this printing cylinder 22 are each three times as large. The machine arrangements of the Figures 11 to 13 each differ directly in the format of the printing cylinder 22 and one of these printing cylinders 22 upstream or downstream transfer drum 43; 44. A quadruple-sized printing cylinder 22, as in FIG Fig. 12 shown by way of example, has a diameter z. B. of about 1,200 mm. A z. B. with this pressure cylinder 22 cooperating double-sized transfer drum 43 has a diameter z. B. of about 600 mm. The respective format of printing cylinder 22 and a transfer drum 43 which is directly upstream or downstream of this printing cylinder 22; 44 is indicated by the number of fields 51; 52; 53; 54 for arranging in each case at least one substrate and / or the number of in particular in connection with these fields 51; 52; 53; 54 arranged holding elements, the holding elements each holding the respective substrates by a force fit and / or by a form fit on the circumference of the relevant printing cylinder 22 or the relevant transfer drum 43; 44 hold. On the circumference of the relevant printing cylinder 22, at a radial distance of preferably only a few millimeters, in particular only about 1 mm, between an ink outlet opening of the relevant inkjet printing device and the top of the substrate held on the lateral surface of the relevant rotating printing cylinder 22 as it passes through the relevant inkjet printing device, there are several Inkjet printing devices and additionally z. B. in each case a blown air device 27 and / or a pressure element 28 z. B. arranged in the form of a smoothing roller, the blown air device 27 and / or the pressure element 28 each extending orthogonally to the transport direction T of the substrates, preferably over their entire width. The smoothing roller has z. B. its own rotary drive, z. B. a preferably electric, controllable or regulatable by a control unit, with which a slight slip, ie a speed difference to the rotation of the printing cylinder 22 in question is set or at least adjustable. The slip serves to tighten the respective substrate transferred to the printing cylinder 22.

The ones in the Figures 2 to 13 Machine arrangements shown are particularly advantageous i. V. m. UV-curing printing inks e.g. B. used or at least useful in packaging printing for food or cosmetics.

Fig. 14 is a detailed representation of a z. B. four times the size of the printing cylinder 22; 38 and one of this pressure cylinder 22; 38 immediately upstream of the double-sized transfer drum 43, also known as the feed drum or feed cylinder, this transfer drum 43 having several, in particular two, e.g. B. has eccentrically adjustable cylinder surfaces 29. The transfer drum 43 is in turn in the transport direction T of the substrates z. B. at least one z. B. two-fold or three-fold designed transfer cylinder 39 is arranged upstream, wherein a preferably substrate-dependent, in particular depending on the material thickness of the substrates set or at least adjustable gap is formed or at least can be formed between the transfer drum 43 and the transfer cylinder 39 immediately upstream of this transfer drum 43. Likewise, the printing cylinder 22; 38 another one in the Fig. 14 not shown z. B. twice or three times the size of the transfer cylinder 39 or a transfer drum 44 of twice or three times the size may each be arranged immediately downstream. A four times the size of a printing cylinder 22; 38 has four fields 51; 52; 53; 54, in each of which a substrate is attached to the outer surface of the relevant printing cylinder 22; 38 can be held. Adjacent successive fields 51; 52; 53; 54 are each z. B. separated from one another by a channel 62 or by a cylinder pit 62. The preferably compressible and / or elastic cylinder surfaces 29 of the transfer drum 43 or the complete transfer drum 43 as a whole are z. B. each in a z. B. formed as an eccentric bushing eccentric bearing 31 and thus eccentrically adjustable, in particular remotely adjustable by a control unit. The lateral surface of the printing cylinder 22; 38 and the transfer drum 43 are, for. B. set against each other or at least adjustable in such a way that the gap 32 guiding the respective substrate is formed between them, the respective width of this gap 32 preferably depending on the material thickness, ie the Thickness or grammage of the respective substrate is set. With the eccentric adjustment of the cylinder surfaces 29 of the transfer drum 43 or of the complete transfer drum 43 as a whole, the gap 32 between the outer surface of the printing cylinder 22; 38 and the outer surface of the transfer drum 43 as well as the gap between this transfer drum 43 and the transfer cylinder 39 directly upstream of it are set or at least adjustable, in particular as a function of the printing material.

A four times the size of a printing cylinder 22; 38 has a diameter z. B. of about 1,200 mm. A double-sized transfer drum 43 has a diameter z. B. of about 600 mm. Below one of the printing cylinder 22; 38 upstream or downstream transfer drum 43; 44 there is preferably at least one comb suction cup 33 with a guide plate 42 ( Fig. 19 ), from the relevant transfer drum 43; 44 transported substrates are transported grazing along this guide plate 42 of the comb suction cup 33. The comb sucker 33 is an auxiliary device supporting transported substrates, in which instead of an essentially closed support for supporting the substrates to be transported, a guide plate 42 is provided, the guide plate 42 - as shown in FIG Fig. 19 can be seen - several in particular in an area below the relevant transfer drum 43; 44 suction openings 47 arranged like a field and in its preferably two opposite one another in the circumferential direction of the relevant transfer drum 43; 44 extending edge regions has a plurality of prongs 36 arranged parallel to one another in relation to the transport direction T of the substrates to be transported, these prongs 36 being designed as long and pointed extensions of the guide plate 42 having teeth. In addition, the comb sucker 33 has at least one suction device 34 with which substrates to be supported on the guide plate 42 are sucked in in the direction of this guide plate 42 by suction air flowing through the suction openings 47 by the suction device 34. If the pressure cylinder 22; 38 holding elements designed as grippers in each of its cylinder pits 62 for holding with the relevant printing cylinder 22; 38 has substrates to be transported, the z. B. formed in the form of a smoothing roller pressure element 28 either spaced, ie with the formation of a z. B. adjustable to the thickness of the substrate gap to the lateral surface of this printing cylinder 22; 38 arranged or the pressure element 28 is under pressure on the outer surface of this pressure cylinder 22; 38 employed, but has undercuts for a gripper passage. Also the z. B. compressible and / or elastic cylinder surfaces 29 of the pressure cylinder 22; 38 immediately upstream transfer drum 43 preferably have such undercuts for the passage of the on the lateral surface of the printing cylinder 22; 38 arranged gripper. As an alternative to the respective undercut, the relevant grippers can be placed in their respective cylinder pit 62 under the lateral surface of the relevant pressure cylinder 22; 38 are lowered. Fig. 14 shows the printing cylinder 22; 38 with grippers each for the leading and trailing end of each on the lateral surface of this printing cylinder 22; 38 to be held substrate, with some grippers in their open, radially over the lateral surface of this printing cylinder 22; 38 outstanding operating position, others in their closed, in particular flush with the lateral surface of this pressure cylinder 22; 38 final operating position are shown. The pressure element 28 requires the undercuts in order to avoid a collision with grippers that are in their respective open operating position.

the Figures 15 to 18 show an example of a design of the processing cylinder, in particular of the pressure cylinder 22; 38 each as a suction cylinder, in particular as a flat suction cylinder. Fig. 15 shows the suction cylinder in a sectional view. The pressure cylinder 22, which is designed as a suction cylinder in this example; 38 is preferably designed to be four times the size, which means that it has four fields 51; 52; 53; 54 has, in each of which a substrate to be printed z. B. is held or at least can be held by suction air. For this purpose, ends in a suction cylinder in each of its fields 51; 52; 53; 54 several each extending from its interior to its outer surface Channels 56, in which, compared to the ambient air pressure, a vacuum is generated or at least can be generated by a suction device. These channels 56 - also called suction bores - form on the lateral surface of the suction cylinder in the respective field 51; 52; 53; 54 from a suction well field. In each suction hole field, a substrate lying on the outer surface of the suction cylinder is sucked in over a large area and is thereby held. The size of the respective suction hole field is z. B. set or at least adjustable as a function of the format of the substrate to be held.

Fig. 16 shows an enlarged perspective detail of the suction cylinder of FIG Fig. 15 , the z. B. matrix-shaped arrangement of the channels 56 ending on the lateral surface, ie the respective suction hole field is indicated. At least or only at the leading end of each field 51 in the direction of rotation of the suction cylinder; 52; 53; 54 a toothing 57 is provided, in particular in connection with the respective teeth of the toothing 57 in each case a z. B. is provided as a suction device 58 designed holding means, each designed as a suction device 58 are preferably arranged in the area of the teeth of the set of teeth 57 and not in the area of the tooth gaps of this set of teeth 57. The suction cups 58 provided in the area of the teeth of the toothing 57 are z. B. arranged in a single row extending in the axial direction of the suction cylinder. The suckers 58 of the suction cylinder are z. B. acted upon with suction air shortly before a tangent point formed with a feed drum of this suction cylinder. In another embodiment of the suction cylinder are at the leading end of each field 51; 52; 53; 54 instead of the suction cups 58 there or in addition to these suction cups 58, grippers are provided in each case. A gripper closure formed by one of these grippers of the suction cylinder takes place, for. B. at the tangent point of this suction cylinder with the smoothing roller, ie the gripper closure is carried out at this point in time or in this rotational angle position of the suction cylinder. The direction of rotation of the suction cylinder is indicated by a directional arrow.

Fig. 17 shows, in a perspective enlarged detail of the suction cylinder, a variant in the design of the lateral surface of the suction cylinder. Instead of the one in the Fig. 16 The lateral surface shown with openings for channels 56 directed into the interior of the suction cylinder are here in particular in the fields 51; 52; 53; 54 are formed in the circumferential direction extending webs 59 on which a sucked substrate can rest, such a substrate being held by suction air acting between adjacent webs 59 on the outer surface of the suction cylinder. The suction cylinder can in each case be designed in such a way that an end of each field 51; 52; 53; 54 can be adapted to a length of the substrate to be held on the outer surface of the suction cylinder in a variable format. This length-related adaptability of the respective length of each field 51; 52; 53; 54 each in the circumferential direction of the suction cylinder is in the Fig. 16 and 17th each indicated by a double arrow. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the suction cylinder, at the end of each field 51; 52; 53; 54 each gripper and / or suction device 58 is arranged, whereas at the end of each field 51; 52; 53; 54 each suction cup 58 are arranged, with a rotational angle position of the trailing end of a first field 51; 52; 53; 54 relative to the leading end of a respective first field 51; 52; 53; 54 in the direction of rotation of this suction cylinder immediately following second field 51; 52; 53; 54 depending on the format of the in the first field 51; 52; 53; 54 to be held substrate, preferably also during an ongoing rotation of this suction cylinder z. B. is variably set or at least adjustable by a mechanical adjustment of parts of the lateral surface of the suction cylinder. It can also be provided that the suction cylinder is flat in the area of its minimum format ( Fig. 16 ) and has ridges 59 in its format variable area ( Fig. 17 ).

Fig. 18 shows a pressure cylinder 22 designed as a suction cylinder; 38 in cooperation with a transfer drum 43 designed as a feed cylinder, this feed cylinder 43 is arranged directly upstream of the suction cylinder. The feed cylinder 43 is preferably designed to be twice the size so that it can accommodate two substrates one behind the other on its circumference. In another variant, the feed cylinder 43 is designed to be three times the size, so that it can accommodate three substrates one behind the other on its circumference. In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of the diameter of the pressure cylinder 22; 38 to the diameter of this pressure cylinder 22; 38 immediately upstream feed cylinder 43 is not exactly an integer, but the diameter of the feed cylinder 43 is in the range between 0.1% and 3% smaller than an integer divisor of the diameter of the printing cylinder 22; 38. For example, the printing cylinder 22; 38 has a diameter of 1,200 mm and the feed cylinder 43 has a diameter of only 598 mm instead of 600 mm, ie the diameter of the double-sized feed cylinder 43 is smaller than the whole number divisor two in relation to the four-fold sized printing cylinder 22; 38 with a diameter of 1,200 mm. The feed cylinder 43 has on its circumference, ie on its lateral surface z. B. on an elastic elevator with which it is on the lateral surface of the pressure cylinder 22, which is in particular designed as a suction cylinder; 38 unrolls, that is, hired or at least hired unrolling. In an advantageous embodiment, the transfer drum 43 has the opposite of its z. B. double-sized training slightly smaller diameter, so that the transfer drum 43 occupied by a lift on the outer surface of the printing cylinder 22; 38 no compression generated. The feed cylinder 43 holds the substrates e.g. B. in each case by means of gripper 61. If the suction cylinder is not formed channel-free, it also has z. B. in each of axially extending channels 62 or cylinder pits 62 open on the lateral surface at least one gripper, so-called safety gripper, which are able to hold a substrate if the suction air is disturbed or fails. Both grippers for holding the leading end of the respective substrate and grippers for holding the trailing end of the respective substrate can be provided on the suction cylinder. This gripper of the suction cylinder grab z. B. in the tooth gaps of the teeth 57 formed on the suction cylinder. Fig. 18 shows the angular position of the suction cylinder and Feed cylinder 43, in which a substrate can be transferred from the feed cylinder 43 to the suction cylinder. The respective cylinder pits 62 and grippers of the feed cylinder 43 and suction cylinder are synchronized with one another in their respective angular position and operating position for a transfer of a substrate from the feed cylinder 43 to the suction cylinder. The application of the suction cylinder, ie of its suction cups 58 and / or suction hole fields each with suction air is z. B. switched or at least switchable depending on an angular position of the suction cylinder. The transfer of a substrate from the feed cylinder 43 to the suction cylinder is thus possible solely by activating the suction cups 58, but also in connection with the grippers, both those of the feed cylinder 43 and those of the suction cylinder. In a further embodiment variant, provision is made for the feed cylinder 43 or the transfer drum also to be designed as a storage drum or as a suction drum, which have features comparable to those previously in connection with the pressure cylinder 22; 38, so that each substrate from this storage drum or suction drum is already tightened to the processing cylinder, in particular pressure cylinder 22; 38 is passed. Each substrate is then already in its stretched position before it reaches the printing cylinder 22; 38 is transferred, the stretched position denoting that state of the substrate in which its rear edge is precisely fixed in relation to its front edge. Alternatively, the stretched position of the substrate is only produced when the substrate in question is on the outer surface of the printing cylinder 22; 38 is arranged. The latter embodiment requires a reliable, repeatable guidance of the substrate from the feed cylinder 43 to the printing cylinder 22; 38, whereas the first embodiment means a gain in time and a higher level of operational reliability, since the substrate is already brought into its extended position on the feed cylinder 43.

It can be provided that inside a with a pressure cylinder 22; 38 cooperating feed cylinder 43 a dryer 07; 09 is arranged, with which transported by the feed cylinder 43, z. B. previously primed substrates are dried. Such a dryer 07; 09 dries a substrate e.g. B. by irradiation with infrared or UV radiation and / or by hot air.

The non-impact printing devices 06; 37 are each designed as inkjet printing devices in the preferred embodiment of the respective machine arrangement. Inkjet printing devices of this type each have at least one nozzle bar. At least one nozzle bar extends preferably orthogonally to the intended transport path of the printing material or substrate over a working width of the printing machine. The at least one nozzle bar preferably has at least one row of nozzles. The at least one row of nozzles, viewed in a transverse direction, preferably has the entire working width of the printing machine and / or the width of the barrel of the at least one first central cylinder, i.e. H. Printing cylinder 22; 38 nozzle openings at, for example, regular intervals, d. H. Ink outlet openings on. The nozzles are preferably distributed over several print heads. A surface of the respective print head surrounding the nozzle openings is preferably called a nozzle surface.

Each nozzle bar preferably has at least one support body. The print heads of this nozzle bar are fastened directly or preferably indirectly to the support body, for example via positioning devices and / or in particular connecting elements designed as alignment devices. The nozzle bar itself is preferably arranged so as to be movable relative to a frame of the printing unit, ie the relevant processing station 06, and / or relative to a rotation axis of a central cylinder of the printing unit, via at least one adjusting device. In a first embodiment, an actuating path of the actuating device points exclusively in an actuating direction which has at least one component in a direction radial to the axis of rotation of the central cylinder and which is more preferably oriented exclusively radially to the axis of rotation of the central cylinder. In a second embodiment of the actuating device, the actuating path of the actuating device has at least 75%, more preferably at least 90% of its entire length in an actuating direction that includes at least one component in has a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the central cylinder and which is more preferably oriented exclusively parallel to the axis of rotation of the central cylinder. A small part of the travel range then preferably points in a radial direction in order to avoid damage to the print heads.

The actuating movement by means of the actuating device serves, for example, to make print heads accessible for maintenance work and / or cleaning work and / or an individual or group exchange of one or more print heads. In particular, the adjusting movement by means of the adjusting device can create temporary access for a cleaning device to the respective print heads.

A plurality of print heads are preferably arranged next to one another in the transverse direction on the at least one nozzle bar, the nozzle surfaces of which have, for example, the shape of a rectangle, but more preferably the shape of a trapezoid and / or a parallelogram. Since such individual print heads are usually not provided with nozzles up to the edge of their housing, print heads must be arranged so as to overlap with respect to the transverse direction. The at least one row of nozzles is preferably not designed as a single linear row of nozzles, but results from the sum of several individual, more preferably two, rows of nozzles arranged offset from one another in the circumferential direction. Different embodiments are possible for this.

In a first embodiment, for example, at least two and more preferably exactly two rows of print heads extending in the transverse direction are arranged offset from one another in the circumferential direction of the first central cylinder, preferably such that print heads following one another in the transverse direction preferably alternately belong to one of the at least two rows of print heads, preferably always alternating a first and a second of two rows of print heads. Two such rows of printheads form a double row of printheads.

In a second embodiment, the print heads have housing shapes that are adapted to one another. For example, a respective nozzle surface of each print head and / or at least one respective surface of the print head delimiting the print head in its ejection direction has a shape deviating from a rectangular shape, in particular the shape of a preferably symmetrical trapezoid and / or a parallelogram. As a result, the nozzle surfaces of adjacent print heads can overlap in relation to the transverse direction and the print heads can nevertheless be arranged directly next to one another in relation to the transverse direction, in particular without being arranged offset from one another in a transport direction T. Such a row of print heads is called, for example, an obliquely overlapping row of print heads.

In particular, at least in printing operation in the circumferential direction with respect to the at least one first central cylinder there are several rows of print heads, for example at least four double rows and more preferably at least seven double rows of print heads or preferably at least four rows of diagonally overlapping print heads and more preferably at least seven rows of diagonally overlapping print heads one after the other arranged aligned with the at least one first central cylinder.

Each double row of print heads or obliquely overlapping row of print heads is preferably assigned and / or assignable a coating agent, in particular a printing ink of a certain color, for example one of the colors black, cyan, yellow and magenta or orange, green, violet or a lacquer, for example a clear coat. For example, two double rows of print heads or two obliquely overlapping rows of print heads are assigned to each coating agent. The at least one print head works to generate drops of coating agent preferably according to the drop-on-demand method, in which drops of coating agent are specifically generated as required.

In a regular printing operation, all print heads are arranged in a stationary manner. This ensures that all nozzles are permanently aligned and / or correctly aligned. There are different situations in which, apart from the movement by means of the actuating device, a defined alignment movement of the print heads is necessary. The respective alignment movement of the print heads is preferably carried out by means of at least one positioning device.

At least one positioning device is preferably arranged, by means of which at least one print head can be adjusted in its position, in particular in its position relative to other print heads of the printing unit and / or to other print heads belonging to the same nozzle bar and / or in its position in relation to the transverse direction and / or in its position with respect to a pivot axis which is oriented parallel to its nozzle ejection direction. Several positioning devices are preferably arranged. For example, each print head is assigned its own positioning device. Preferably, however, at least one such positioning device is assigned jointly to a plurality of print heads, in particular in such a way that the position of a plurality of print heads can be adjusted jointly by means of the common positioning device assigned to them, in particular in their position relative to the common nozzle bar and / or relative to other print heads this common nozzle bar are arranged and / or in their position with respect to the transverse direction and / or in their position with respect to a pivot axis which is oriented parallel to its nozzle ejection direction.

For example, the at least one positioning device has at least one base body. The at least one print head is preferably arranged on the at least one base body. More preferably, several, in particular at least three and preferably at least four, print heads are arranged on the at least one base body. The base body is preferably designed in one piece.

The respective print head on the one hand is connected to the base body on the other hand, for example via at least one connecting element. The at least one connecting element is designed, for example, as an alignment device. By means of the alignment device, the respective print head can preferably be aligned individually to the base body, in particular manually and / or in its position with respect to the transverse direction and / or in its position with respect to a pivot axis which is oriented parallel to its nozzle ejection direction. In this way, preferably several, in particular at least three and more preferably at least four, print heads can be aligned relative to the base body and thus also to one another.

These multiple, in particular at least three and more preferably at least four print heads and the base body are each part of a first assembly. The print heads of the first assembly are, for example, aligned outside of the printing assembly relative to the base body and thus also to one another. As a result, they can be aligned with the appropriate tool and / or with the aid of a camera that detects the relative position and / or with particularly good accessibility to the base body and thus also to one another. As a result, a respective first assembly that is specifically aligned in itself is generated.

The respective nozzle bar is preferably arranged to support a plurality of such first assemblies. These several first assemblies are preferably adjustable in their respective position relative to the support body of this nozzle bar by means of their own positioning devices. Accordingly, a plurality of positioning devices are preferably arranged on a support body. A plurality of first assemblies are preferably arranged on a support body at least indirectly via the positioning devices, in particular their position relative to the support body can be adjusted by means of the plurality of positioning devices. For example, the print heads of two obliquely overlapping rows are on a support body at least indirectly via the positioning devices arranged by printheads.

By moving the support body, all print heads attached directly or indirectly to it can then be moved, in particular without changing their relative alignment to one another.

In order to determine which print head or which group of print heads has to be moved to what extent and in which direction in order to generate an optimal print result, at least one test print image is preferably printed and examined. Settings for positioning devices are determined from the result, which are then set manually and / or by means of respective positioning drives. The settings of the individual alignment devices are preferably determined and / or adjusted manually, but can alternatively also be determined using at least one test print image.

At least one sensor designed as a first print image sensor is preferably arranged, in particular at a point along the transport path of the printing material after the first printing unit. The at least one first print image sensor is designed, for example, as a first line camera or as a first area camera. The at least one first print image sensor is designed, for example, as at least one CCD sensor and / or as at least one CMOS sensor. By means of this at least one first print image sensor and a corresponding evaluation unit, for example the higher-level machine control, all print heads and / or double rows of print heads and / or diagonally overlapping rows of print heads of the first printing unit monitored and / or regulated. In a first embodiment of the at least one print image sensor, only a first print image sensor is arranged, the sensor field of which covers the entire width of the transport path of the printing material. In a second embodiment of the at least one Only a first print image sensor is arranged, which is designed to be movable in the transverse direction. In a third embodiment of the at least one print image sensor, a plurality of print image sensors are arranged, the respective sensor fields of which each comprise different regions of the transport path of the printing material with respect to the transverse direction.

A position of image points that are formed by coating agent droplets that originate from a respective first print head is preferably compared with a position of image points that are formed by coating agent drops that consist of a second, in the circumferential direction of the at least one first central cylinder and / or originate in the intended transport direction T of the printing material after the respective first print head and / or located in the transverse direction to the print head. This is preferably done regardless of whether these respective first and second print heads lying one behind the other and / or acting in the circumferential direction of the at least one first central cylinder process the same or a different coating agent. A coordination of the positions of the print images originating from different print heads is preferably monitored. If the same coating agents are used, the joining of partial images in register is monitored. A register or color register is monitored for different coating agents. A quality control of the print image is preferably also carried out with the measured values of the at least one print image sensor.

At least one setting sensor is preferably arranged. At least two setting sensors are furthermore preferably arranged. The at least one setting sensor and in particular the at least two setting sensors are used to acquire data on relative settings of several, for example at least four, print heads or groups of print heads to one another. The at least one setting sensor or the at least two setting sensors are preferably optical sensors. Such relative settings are, for example, relative geometric ones Positioning of the print heads or groups of print heads and / or relative control times, in particular drop ejection times of the print heads and / or groups of print heads. The relative settings are additionally or alternatively, for example, relative settings that relate to at least one color density and / or at least one area coverage and / or at least one point size of generated image points. In the following, the relative setting is related to geometric positioning and / or control times, in particular drop ejection times. However, the devices and / or processes described also relate to the other relative settings mentioned, provided that they do not result in contradictions.

The at least one setting sensor and in particular the at least two setting sensors are preferably designed at least as position sensors. The at least two setting sensors, in particular position sensors, are designed, for example, as cameras and / or as CCD sensors and / or as CMOS sensors. The at least two setting sensors, in particular position sensors, preferably serve to directly or indirectly detect a relative position and / or control of at least two print heads and / or groups of print heads to one another. For a preferred indirect detection, the at least one setting sensor and in particular the at least two setting sensors are preferably alignable and / or aligned with the printing material and / or aligned and / or alignable with the transport path provided for the transport of printing material and / or with at least one Transmission body aligned and / or arranged so that it can be aligned.

At least temporarily, a respective position of the target area of at least one newly and / or re-arranged print head relative to a position of the target area of at least one previously arranged print head and / or at least one newly and / or re-arranged group of print heads relative to a position of the Target area of at least one previously arranged group of print heads can be detected. This is preferably done on the basis of a comparison of relative positions of image points generated by the respective print heads on the printing material by means of a common setting sensor, in particular a position sensor. These relative positions of the image points are preferably evaluated by means of an evaluation unit, for example the higher-level machine control.

For example, the at least one first print image sensor already described is used as at least one setting sensor for this purpose. However, setting sensors other than the at least one first print image sensor already described are preferably used, for example setting sensors specialized for this task.

After installation and / or maintenance and / or replacement and / or cleaning of at least one printhead and / or at least one group of printheads, a test print is preferably carried out to create at least one test print image in which the new and / or reassigned printhead and / or the group of print heads to be newly and / or reassigned on the one hand and at least one print head serving as a reference or guide print head on the other hand transfer ink drops or ink drops to the printing material or the substrate. The at least one test print image is preferably recorded automatically by means of at least one setting sensor, for example the first print image sensor. In the event of a deviation of an actual position of the at least one newly and / or re-arranged print head or the corresponding group of print heads from a target position documented and recorded by the at least one test print image, an adjustment of the position of this print head or this group of print heads is preferably automated in the transverse direction and / or with respect to a pivot position by means of the corresponding positioning device and / or an adaptation of the control of the nozzles of this print head with respect to a control time, in particular drop ejection time.

List of reference symbols

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 device; Flexo printing device

05

-

06

Processing station; Non-impact printing facility

07

Processing station; Intermediate dryer; dryer

08

Processing station; Painting facility

09

Processing station; dryer

10

-

11

Processing station; mechanical processing device

12th

Processing station; Display

13th

Oscillating gripper

14th

Transfer drum

15th

-

16

Gripper system; Chain conveyor

17th

-

18th

-

19th

-

20th

-

21

Chain conveyor

22nd

Printing cylinder

23

Turning device

24

Substrate guide unit; Substructure module

25th

-

26th

Substrate processing unit; Superstructure module

27

Blown air device

28

Pressure element

29

Cylinder surface

30th

-

31

Eccentric bearing

32

gap

33

Comb sucker

34

Suction device

35

-

36

Prongs

37

Processing station; Non-impact printing facility

38

Printing cylinder

39

Transport cylinder

40

-

41

Suction head

42

Baffle

43

Transfer drum; Feed cylinder

44

Transfer drum

45

-

46

Processing plant

47

Suction opening

48

-

49

-

50

-

51

field

52

field

53

field

54

field

55

-

56

channel

57

Perforation

58

Mammal

59

web

60

-

61

Grapple

62

Channel; Cylinder pit

63 to 81

-

82

Printing cylinder

83

Applicator roller; Anilox roller

84

Squeegee; Chamber doctor blade system

85

-

86

Printing unit

87

Printing unit

88

Printing unit

a

distance

d

diameter

T

Transport direction

α1

angle

α2

angle

Claims (15)

Machine arrangement for the sequential processing of sheet-shaped substrates, with several different processing stations, two of the processing stations arranged along the transport path of the substrates each having a non-impact printing device (06; 37) designed as at least one inkjet printing device, each of which prints on the substrates -Impact printing devices (06; 37) having processing stations each have a printing cylinder (22; 38), wherein the first printing cylinder (22; 38) in the transport direction (T) of the substrates is three times the size or four times the size, along part of the circumference of the first printing cylinder (22; 38) a plurality of inkjet printing devices are arranged one after the other, the second printing cylinder (38) in the transport direction (T) of the substrates being three times or four times the size, with several inkjet printing units one after the other along part of the circumference of the second printing cylinder (38) are arranged, wherein on the lateral surface of the respective pressure cylinder (22; 38) in each case a plurality of substrates are each arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction or at least can be arranged, the respective printing cylinder (22; 38) having at least as many holding elements on its circumference that three or four substrates one behind the other are each supported on its circumference by a frictional connection and / or are arranged or at least can be arranged by a form fit, wherein in the transport direction (T) of the respective substrates after the respective processing station with the non-impact printing device (06; 37) printing the respective substrates, one processing station with a dryer (09) for drying the respective substrates printed with the respective non-impact printing device (06; 37) is arranged, the dryer (09) for drying the substrates and / or the dryer ( 09) for drying the relevant non-impact printing device (37) each printed on the back Substrate is or are formed as a dryer drying the respective printed substrate by irradiation with ultraviolet radiation, a turning device (23) being arranged between the first printing cylinder (22) and the second printing cylinder (38). Machine arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that the dryer (09) which dries the substrates in question by exposure to ultraviolet radiation is designed as an LED drier. Machine arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a double-sized or triple-sized transfer drum (43) is arranged directly in front of the respective printing cylinder (22; 38) or a double-sized or triple-sized transfer drum (44) is arranged immediately after it. Machine arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that at least one of the holding elements for holding one of the substrates to be transported on the outer surface of the respective printing cylinder (22; 38) is designed as a gripper, with holding elements designed as grippers each in a channel open on the lateral surface of the respective pressure cylinder (22; 38) are arranged. Machine arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4, characterized in that at least one of the holding elements for holding one of the substrates to be transported on the outer surface of the respective printing cylinder (22; 38) is designed as a suction device (58), with The substrates to be transported on the outer surface of the respective printing cylinder (22; 38) are each held by suction air on the outer surface of the respective printing cylinder (22; 38). Machine arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5, characterized in that the respective pressure cylinder (22; 38) is each designed as a suction cylinder, with suction air being applied to the relevant pressure cylinder (22; 38) in each case as a function of one Angular position of this pressure cylinder (22; 38) is switched or at least switchable. Machine arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6, characterized in that the respective pressure cylinder (22; 38) has three or four fields (51; 52; 53; 54) each for holding one behind the other on its outer surface in the circumferential direction each having a substrate, wherein, with respect to the relevant printing cylinder (22; 38), a rotational angular position of the trailing end of a first field (51; 52; 53; 54) relative to the leading end of a respective first field (51; 52; 53; 54) in the direction of rotation of this printing cylinder (22; 38) immediately following the second field (51; 52; 53; 54) depending on the format of the substrate to be held in the first field (51; 52; 53; 54) is variably adjustable . Machine arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7, characterized in that a processing station having a substrate processing unit (26) through the axis of rotation of a processing cylinder and a directly downstream transfer drum (44) or an immediately downstream through the axis of rotation The straight line running through the transport cylinder (44) forms an acute angle (α1) with a horizontal line, and / or that a processing station having a substrate processing unit (26) through the axis of rotation of a processing cylinder and the axis of rotation of a directly upstream transfer drum (43) or a directly upstream feed cylinder (43) running straight line forms an acute angle (α2) to a horizontal, where the horizontal in each case runs through the axis of rotation of the relevant transfer drum (43; 44) or through the axis of rotation of the relevant transport cylinder (44) or the relevant feed cylinder (43), the angle directed towards the downstream transfer drum (44) or the downstream transport cylinder (44) (α1) in the range between single and double the angle (a2) directed towards the upstream transfer drum (43) or the upstream feed cylinder (43) or between 1.3 times and 1.7 times that of the upstream transfer drum ( 43) or to the upstream feed cylinder (43) directed angle (a2) or 1.5 times the angle (a2) directed to the upstream transfer drum (43) or to the upstream feed cylinder (43). Machine arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8, characterized in that the transfer drum (43) immediately upstream of the respective printing cylinder (22; 38) or the immediately upstream feed cylinder (43) in each case on the circumference has at least one gripper (61) holding the substrate in question. 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 in the transport direction (T) of the substrates in front of the at least one non-impact printing device (06; 37) or in front of the several Non-impact printing devices (06; 37) a coating device (02; 03) coating the respective substrates is arranged, the coating device (02; 03) being designed as a primer application device (02) or as a cold foil application device (03), wherein A dryer (07) is arranged in the transport direction (T) of the substrates in front of the at least one non-impact printing device (06; 37) or in front of the multiple non-impact printing devices (06; 37) and after the coating device (02; 03) is. 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 the transport direction (T) of the substrates after the at least one non-impact printing device (06; 37) or after the multiple non-impact printing devices (06; 37) a painting device (08) which applies a lacquer to the respective substrates is arranged, wherein in the transport direction (T) of the substrates after the painting device (08) which applies a lacquer to the respective substrates. a dryer (09) is arranged, the dryer (09) arranged in the transport direction (T) of the substrates after the varnishing device (08) applying a varnish to the respective substrates being designed as a drying agent for the respective substrates by exposure to ultraviolet radiation . 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 in the transport direction (T) the substrate is the first of the processing stations (01; 02; 03; 04; 06 ; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12) a sheet feeder (01) or magazine feeder (01) and / or as the last of the processing stations (01; 02; 03; 04; 06; 07; 08; 09; 11; 12) a Delivery (12) or a multi-stack delivery (12) is or are arranged. 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 or 12, characterized in that the turning device (23) is designed as a single-drum turn or as a three-drum turn is, wherein a single-size or double-size transfer drum, a storage drum and a turning drum are arranged in the three-drum turn in the transport direction (T) of the substrates. Machine arrangement according to Claim 13, characterized in that the turning drum with a turning gripper system and the storage drum each with at least one substrate holding system per substrate-carrying outer surface are equipped, wherein the substrate holding systems are designed as a gripper system for the front edge of the substrate in the transport direction (T). Machine arrangement according to Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that fixing elements are also provided for the rear region of a substrate, the fixing elements each being designed as a suction system, the suction systems being connected to adjustable rear casing segments and in the circumferential direction relative to the gripper systems on the front casing segments are adjustable, so that substrates of a maximum to minimum format in the front and back printing mode can be held on the storage drum in the front and back printing mode.

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