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(11) | EP 2 223 805 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Printing method and apparatus |
| (57) The invention relates to a method and system of operating a multi-station printing
press in which the material to which the printing is applied is fed through the press
in a first direction. The method and system comprises providing a feeding unit (1)
on which means (4,2) are provided for feeding a web to a station of the printing press
in a direction at right angles to said first direction, turning the web through 90°
and feeding it directly to the printing head at that station, turning the printed
web through 90°, and rewinding the printed web.
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Field of the Invention.
[0001] This invention relates to printing and, although the invention relates generally to a printing method and apparatus, it is particularly concerned with the provision of an improved laminating and cold foiling process.
[0002] In the cold foiling and laminating process, an adhesive or lacquer is applied at one of the stations of a multi-station printing press. A "cold" foil or holographic film is then introduced at the next station of the printing press where the foil or hologram transfers to the adhesive print/lacquer coating giving an appearance similar to that obtained using a "Hot Foil" printing process. The polyester carrier film is then rewound and discarded as waste.
[0003] The apparatus currently employed by most press manufacturers for the introduction of the polyester carrier film includes an unwind and rewind unit mounted on top of the one of press stations. With this arrangement, however, it is difficult to load and unload the reels of carrier film.
[0004] It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of feeding a printing press.
[0005] A further object of the present invention is to provide improved apparatus for carrying out this method.
Summary of the Invention
[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operating a multi-station printing press in which the material to which the printing is applied is fed through the press in a first direction, which method comprises providing a feeding unit on which means are provided for feeding a web to a station of the printing press in a direction at right angles to said first direction, turning the web through 90° and feeding it directly to the printing head at that station, turning the waste web through 90°, and rewinding the waste web.
[0007] The web is preferably a polyester carrier film and the feeding unit is preferably located alongside the printing press.
[0008] Turning of the web is preferably effected using turner bars carried by a frame that, in use, is mounted on the appropriate station of the press.
[0009] The rewinding of the waste web is preferably effected using a reel that is mounted on the feeding unit.
[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a feeding system for use with a multi-station printing press in which the material to which the printing is applied is fed through the press in a first direction, the feeding system including means for feeding a web to a station of the press in a direction at right angles to said first direction, means for turning the web through 90° and feeding it directly to the printing head at that station, means for turning the waste web through 90° and means for rewinding the waste web.
[0011] The feeding system preferably includes a portable wheeled frame on which a supply reel and a rewind reel are mounted, the frame having wheels to enable it to be wheeled into position adjacent the appropriate station of the press.
[0012] The means for effecting turning of the web preferably comprises turner bars carried by a frame that, in use, is mounted on the appropriate station of the press.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0013]
Figures 1 shows a printing arrangement comprising a feeding unit located alongside a printing press,
Figure 2 shows a printing arrangement comprising a turner bar assembly mounted above a printing press station.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
[0014] The arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a wheeled frame or trolley 1 on which a supply reel 4 for a web comprising polyester film is mounted. The web is fed via a guide roller system 2 and passes upwardly over a first guide roller 8 (Figure 1) to a first turner bar 9 (Figure 2) mounted on a frame fitted above the appropriate section of the offset printing press. The web passes downwardly from the first turner bar 9 and over a further idler roller 10 (Figure 2) before passing between the nip and pull rolls 11 (Figure 2) of the printing press. As it passes through the nip, the metal foil or image on the web is transferred to those portions of the sheet being printed to which adhesive was applied at the previous station (not shown) of the printing press.
[0015] After passing through the nip, the waste web passes over a further idler roller before travelling upwardly and over a second turner bar 12 (Figure 2). The web is caused to turn through 90° by each of the turner bars 9, 12 and the arrangement is such that, after passing over the second turner bar 12, the waste web is caused to travel via a second guide roller 8 and a series of guide rollers to a rewind reel 5 mounted on the wheeled frame or trolley 1. A lay-on roller 3 acts on the waste web as it is being rewound on the rewind reel 5.
[0016] The first and second guide rollers 8 are mounted on a vertical support column 6 and there is a walk-over platform 7 located between the column 6 and the frame on which the first and second turner bars 9 and 12 are mounted.
[0017] The system has the following machine parameters:
- 18000 Sheets an Hour (300 metres / minute)
- 1050 mm Web Width (1600mm optional)
- 600 mm Diameter Unwind and Rewind
- 400 kg Maximum Reel Weight
[0018] Features:
- 1. A low cost compact design
- 2. A portable unit easily moved between printing stations or printing machines. The portable unit locates in a docking station adjacent the column 6 for precise alignment.
- 3. Only three rollers touch the coated side of the foil before application, all of which are located in the foiling unit to the side of the machine.
- 4. Reduced dust from foil delamination during unwinding as all moving components are contained to the side of the press.
- 5. Quiet operation.
- 6. Web presentation assembly is mounted above the print head.
- 7. Loading of new foil is effected in a lower unwind position to reduce the chance of damage at the ultimate height for the operator.
- 8. The scrap rewind will produce a decent quality roll with the possibility of re-using on another pass if the pattern distribution / hologram quality permits.
- 9. Limited integration with press for rapid installation (2 days max).
- 10. Units are fully tested before despatch minimising site time.
- 11. Mass produced machine to reduce costs and eliminate potential issues from design changes. Only design changes are required for Web Presentation units (simple low cost integration).
- 12. High quality drive and control systems which are fully supportable Worldwide.
- 13. It is possible to provide covers on the machine and presentation assembly to blend the looks of the added items with existing press design. (Using the same colour scheme)
- 14. It is possible to fit a modem for remote diagnosis as standard.
- 15. Audible and visible alarms can be provided to give a warning signal when the supply reel is running low.
- 16. Standard unit to have 75 mm. and 150 mm. shafts
- 17. The lay-on roll 5 is used on rewind to produce a high quality scrap roll.
- 18. A sensitive dancer tension system 2 (Figure 1) can be provided to reduce snatch and pulsing during start/stop and run sequence.
- 19. It is possible to fit a high resolution encoder for closed loop speed feed back.
- 20. Touch screen controls can be provided that are accessible from the print station sidewalk / platform 7.
1. A method of operating a multi-station printing press in which the material to which
the printing is applied is fed through the press in a first direction, which method
comprises providing a feeding unit on which means are provided for feeding a web to
a station of the printing press in a direction at right angles to said first direction,
turning the web through 90° and feeding it directly to the printing head at that station,
turning the waste web through 90°, and rewinding the waste web.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, in which the web is a polyester carrier film.
3. A method as claimed in Claim 1, in which the feeding unit is located alongside the
printing press.
4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which turning of the web
is effected using turner bars carried by a frame that, in use, is mounted on the appropriate
station of the press.
5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which rewinding of the
waste web is effected using a reel that is mounted on the feeding unit.
6. A feeding system for use with a multi-station printing press in which the material
to which the printing is applied is fed through the press in a first direction, the
feeding system including means for feeding a web to a station of the press in a direction
at right angles to said first direction, means for turning the web through 90° and
feeding it directly to the printing head at that station, means for turning the waste
web through 90° and means for rewinding the waste web.
7. A feeding system as claimed in Claim 6, which includes a portable wheeled frame on
which a supply reel and a rewind reel are mounted, the frame having wheels to enable
it to be wheeled into position adjacent the appropriate station of the press.
8. A feeding system as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, in which the means for effecting
turning of the web comprises turner bars carried by a frame that, in use, is mounted
on the appropriate station of the press.