Printing – Special article machines – Rotary
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-30
2002-12-10
Colilla, Daniel J. (Department: 2854)
Printing
Special article machines
Rotary
C101S039000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06490969
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a machine for printing or otherwise decorating hollow bodies such as sleeves, collapsible tubes, cans or the like comprising
a rotationally driven decoration application drum, which is peripherally provided with one or more decoration applying faces, which on rotation of the decoration application drum proceed along a first circular orbit,
a rotationally driven capstan plate whose axis of rotation is arranged athwart that of the decoration application drum, said capstan plate bearing capstan units arranged in sequence at a distance apart in its direction of rotation, said units being respectively provided with a receiving capstan, onto which capstan a hollow body to be decorated may be respectively slipped, the radially outwardly directed sections of the slipped on hollow body proceeding along a second orbit on rotation of the capstan plate,
and orbit correction means, which ensure that during a passage, occurring with a simultaneous decoration operation, of a decoration zone associated with the peripheral region of the decoration application drum, the capstan units are so shifted by performing a follow-up movement directed athwart the axis of rotation of the capstan plate that the second orbit coincides with the first orbit, the capstan units being moved respectively on guide means provided on the capstan plate in the direction of the follow-up movement and being connected with cam following means which on rotation of the capstan plate run along a cam responsible for the follow-up movement.
Machines of this type, as for instance disclosed in the patent publication WO 97/07979, serve for printing or otherwise decorating hollow bodies having a round shape such as sleeves collapsible tubes, cans or the like. The term “decoration” is in the present context to mean for instance measures for lacquering, labeling, foil embossing or screen printing as well. The respective machines possess a capstan plate driven for rotation, which is provided with capstan units arranged in sequence in the direction of rotation and which possess receiving capstans, on which the hollow bodies are held. Adjacent to the capstan plate there is also a rotationally driven decoration application drum, also driven to rotate, which is provided peripherally with one or more normally segmented decoration faces—in the case of printing machines it will be a question of printing faces—which on the rotation of the decoration application drum are moved along a first circular orbit, which extends between the decoration application drum and the capstan plate.
The hollow bodies held on the receiving capstans are also moved through the decoration zone on rotation of the capstan plate. Then the radially outwardly facing sections of the so mounted hollow bodies proceed along a second orbit and in the decoration zone are brought into contact with the decoration face there at the same time. It is in this manner that it is possible for example for colored ink to be applied to the hollow bodies.
Since the two above mentioned orbits are oppositely curved, in continuous decoration methods, which are more particularly employed at high rates of production, correction of the second orbit is required in order to match its form, on its rapid passage through the decoration application zone, to the first orbit there of the first orbit. For this purpose the system of the said patent publication WO 97/07979 causes the capstan units to be guided by several guide rails so that they are able to be radially moved on the capstan plate. Simultaneously roller-like cam following means, which are pivotally mounted on a capstan support of the capstan units, engage a cam of such a shape that the capstan units perform a follow-up movement, which is athwart the axis of rotation of the spindle plate, on passage through the decoration zone, such movement matching the shape of the second orbit to that of the first orbit.
One problem occurring with the known machines of the type initially mentioned resides in the relatively high wear rate of the means provided for orbit correction of the capstan units. The forces coming into play during a decoration operation and acting on the receiving capstan give rise to a tilting moment which thrusts the cam follower rollers, arranged directly on the capstan supports, more strongly against the cam. Furthermore, heavy bending moments act on the guide rails of the capstan support. All in all this means that the accuracy of mechanical control and guidance is reduced with time and accordingly the quality of the decoration operation suffers therewith.
SHORT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the invention is to create a machine of the type initially mentioned in the case of which the components partaking in orbit correction are less prone to wear.
In order to achieve these and/or other objects appearing from the present specification, claims and drawings, in the present invention its inner side facing the axis of rotation of the capstan plate, of each capstan unit at a distance from the same a pivot shaft is provided which is parallel to the associated receiving capstan and is mounted for rotation as regards its longitudinal axis, said pivot shaft bearing the cam follower means at a radial distance from its longitudinal axis and on which, also at a radial distance from its longitudinal axis, has a pitman means pivoted on it, said pitman means at its other end engaging the capstan unit, so that a rotary movement caused by the cam follower means of the pivot shaft is responsible for the follow-up motion of the respective capstan unit with the aid of the pitman means.
The correction of the second orbit on motion through the decoration zone is now caused because the pivot shaft is turned through a certain angle, the torque or moment exerted being dependent on the distance between the longitudinal axis of the pivot shaft and the cam following means engaging same. The rotary movement of the pivot shaft leads to a pivotal movement of the pivot point of the pitman means so that the latter, dependent on the direction of rotation, is drawn inward or thrust outward in order to shift the associated capstan unit and to maintain the follow-up movement. In addition to the high precision thus achieved of the orbit correction there is simultaneously an effect such that the forces applied during the decoration operation do not act directly on the cam following means and the cam associated with same, but at least for a major extent are taken up by the pivot shaft and its bearing means. To the extent that a moment is exerted by the decoration forces by way of the pitman means on the pivot shaft, it is possible, by suitable matching of the working lever arms, to ensure that the resulting forces, thrusting the cam following means against the cam, are at a low level. All in all it is accordingly possible for the wear occurring on moving parts to be substantially reduced, something rendering possible high quality performance decoration even after a long working life.
Further advantageous developments of the invention are defined in the claims.
It is convenient for each capstan unit to possess an associated capstan plate bearing the associated receiving capstan by way of which the unit is rotatably supported on the capstan plate. In this case the receiving capstans may be mounted for rotation on the associated capstan plate, something which during the application of decoration allows rotation about the respective axis and accordingly free rotary movement of the hollow bodies on the capstan even if there is substantial friction between such bodies and the receiving capstans. Preferably, in this case each receiving capstan is provided with rotary drive means, with which during the decoration operation enables rotary movement to be caused, something which for example renders possible an extremely accurate development of the printed image during a printing operation.
The pitman means cooperating in the production of the follow-up movement best comprises at least two, and more particularly just
Browdy and Neimark
Colilla Daniel J.
Hinterkopf GmbH
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