GB2039252A

GB2039252A - Apparatus for applying different media in flowable form to a web of material

Info

Publication number: GB2039252A
Application number: GB8000739A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-01-10
Filing date: 1980-01-09
Publication date: 1980-08-06
Also published as: IT8012408A0; IT1136099B; CH642871A5; NL8000092A; DE2900712A1; GB2039252B

Abstract

Apparatus for applying different media in flowable form to a web of material, including media feed means which is guided transversely over the width of the plane in which the web of material is passed through the apparatus, and different media reservoirs and closable outlets for the media, with the media discharges out of the media feed means being reciprocable or not in their position relative to the plane of movement of the web of material, with each media discharge region (44, 144) of the media feed means being connected to more than one media reservoir (41) by way of individually remotely controllable feed flow control means (60). The feed flow control means may be under programmed control. The media may be applied directly to the web, or passed through a stencil. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for applying different media in flowable form to a web of material This invention relates to apparatus for applying different media in flowable form to a web of material by means of a media feed means which is passed transversely over the width ofthe plane in which the web of material is passed through the apparatus, with different media reservoirs and closable outlets being provided for the media and the media discharges out of the feed means being reciprocable or not in their position relative to the plane of movement of the web of material.

Apparatus of this kind has been proposed in German patent specification No. 357 990. In this apparatus, different dye solutions, water or reagents are applied to paper from media reservoirs by way of rubber tubes, the media reservoirs being provided with discharges which can be closed by means of taps. The rubber tubes can be jointly reciprocated in a lateral direction by a reciprocable eccentric rod, wherein the media such as ink, water or reagents, which issue from the discharge regions are dripped into a roll nip, through which the web of material passes.

The disadvantage of this previously proposed apparatus is that the different media cannot be applied to the web of material in a controlled manner as desired, but the media reservoir and the media discharge region is positively coupled.

DAS No 2543 394 also discloses apparatus for applying different media in flowable form to a web of material by means of a media feed means which is guided transversely over the web of material, wherein there are different media reservoirs for the media and the media discharges out of the media feed means are reciprocable in their position relative to the web of material.This apparatus operates in the form of a screen printing apparatus wherein different inks or dyes can issue, in the interior of a rotating stencil, from a carrier which passes through the interior of the stencil and which is preferably of a hollow structure and which is provided with ink or dye through-flow openings and which carries one or more partitioning means which are adapted in respect of their periphery to the stencil, with the carriver which carries the partitioning means being arranged to be reciprocable axially with respect to the stencil. In this apparatus, the different inks or dyes pass into the intermediate chambers between the partitioning means, with each ink supply means being fixedly associated with a partitioning region.

The present invention is based on the problem, in apparatuses of the above-indicated kind, irrespective pf whether they operate with or without a rotating stencil, of making it possible for the media discharge region to be supplied differently or with different media and for a single selectable medium preferably always to be available at the discharge opening for a preselectable period of ti me.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for applying different media in flowable form to a web of material, including media feed means which is guided transversely over the width of the plane in which the web of material is passed through the apparatus, and different media reservoirs and closable outlets for the media, with the media discharges out of the media feed means being reciprocable or not in their position relative to the plane of movement of the web of material, with each media discharge region of the media feed means being connected to more than one media reservoir by way of individually remotely controllable feed flow control means, and with each feed flow control means respectively being arranged to switch on and off, or not, only one media reservoir for a preselectable period of time.In this way it is possible for each media discharge region of the media feed means to be supplied for example with different inks or dyes, for- it to be entirely shut off from the feed, for it to be re-connected or switched over again, depending on the pulses produced by a control means. The control means may be a program controlled apparatus of previously known kind, for example a computer or a reading device which receives the data produced directly by a design or the like and transmits it to the feed flow control means.

Each media discharge region may comprise a number of media discharges comprising feed flow openings or a collecting chamber into which feed flow openings are passed.

Afurther concept of the invention provides that the media reservoirs comprise main feed pipes which are disposed in the media feed means. Thus, at least two main feed pipes are extended, in the form of media reservoirs, transversely over the plane of movement of the web of material, and are provided with feed lines to the media discharge regions, while a large number of media discharge regions are arranged close together in the media feed means. In this way a wide web of material, for example even several metres in width, can be uniformly provided with ink or dye or any other application medium, while the most widely differing patterns may be applied to the web of material over the surface thereof.

A further concept of the invention provides that the media feed means is in the form of a carrier which is movable reciprocally transversely over the plane of movement of the web of material and which is provided with a controllable drive for the reciprocating movement. This arrangement not only makes it possible for the different supply of the media to be controlled, but also makes it possible for the position at which each media discharge region applies its medis to be altered. The controllable drive may be connected to the general control means for the feed flow control means, but a separate drive may also be provided.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus of the invention, showing a left-hand mounting, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 of an apparatus of the invention, showing a right-hand mounting of media feed means, Figure 3 is a view in section taken along line Ill-Ill in Figure 2 of a media feed means, Figure 4 shows a further example of a media feed means with a rotating stencil according to another embodiment of the invention, Figure 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the construction shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4 of the feed means, Figure 6 shows, according to a further embodiment of the invention a media feed means with rotating belt stencil, Figure 7 shows a similar sectional view to that of Figure 3, of a further embodiment of the invention, Figure 7 shows another embodiment of the invention with the provision of multi-way valves, Figure 8 shows a sectional view of a detail of Figure 7a, Figure 9 shows a partly sectional, highly diagrammatic perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 7, and Figures 10 to 12 show, according to embodiments of the invention media feed means in plan view from below.

The apparatus according to the invention for applying different media in flowable form to a web of material 1 firstly comprises any suitable machine frame 2 through which the web of material is carried over a printing table by suitable means, for example by a printing blanket 3. A media feed means 4 extends transversely over the width of the plane in which the web of material is passed through the apparatus. In the embodiments illustrated, the media feed means 4 may be a working beam, a car rier or the like reciprocal or not. The media feed means may operate with a stencil 5 or a part stencil 50, but it can also be applied directly to the web of material 1. The stencil may be a rotary round stencil, a belt stencil or the like.

Different media reservoirs 41, for example main feed pipes which extend axially in the interior of the media feed means 4 are provided for the media to be applied, for example ink or dye or other chemicals, as already mentioned above. The apparatus has at least two media reservoirs 41, that is to say, in the embodiments illustrated, two main feed pipes extend over the length of the media feed means 40, that is to say, the working beam. The media reservoirs 41 are supplied by way of pipes 141 by mean reservoirs 43 (indicated only symbolically) by way of conduits 241 in which pumps 42 are disposed.From the main reservoirs 43, the media, in flowable form, but also for example in powder form, are pumped or conveyed to the media reservoirs 41 in the interior of the media feed means 4 and pass by way of outlets 341 and feed flow control means 6 to the media discharge region 44, where collecting slots 144 can be provided in transversely disposed or cup-like form, in longitudinal slots or the like (see Figures 10, 11 and 12). Feed flow lines 45 are provided from the feed flow control means 6 to the media discharge region, each of which comprises a number of media discharges from feed flow openings. The feed flow conduits 45 pass through the material of the feed flow means 4 and at their upper end each carry the respective feed flow control means 6.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, it is possible for the media feed means 4 to operate with a part stencil 50, with a reciprocating movement, so that the media discharge regions 44 (not shown in these Figures), such as collecting slots 144 or collecting chambers or feed flow conduits openings, lie directly on the part stencil 50 or are held at a short distance thereabove. The media discharge regions 44 are disposed in the region of the lower rounded portion 40 of the media feed means 4.

The media feed means 4 is moved with a reciprocating movement in the direction indicated by arrow A, for example by a control cylinder 46 which in turn is controlled by a control unit 70. In order to facilitate such movement, projecting slide rails 47 are secured to the media feed means 4 and are embraced by a roller assembly 21. The roller assembly 21 is disposed in a U-shaped mounting means 20 of the machine frame 2 and each roller assembly comprises a roller mounting 121 with rollers 221.

This arrangement therefore provides for four mountings or bearings for the media feed means which is in the form of a working beam.

As already mentioned, this movement is produced by a control cylinder 46 which engages a claw or dog 146. The construction of the means for mounting and also the means for moving the media feed means 4 is intended as an example.

The part stenci 50 can be held fast by a bar 52 in a sub-frame 51. The sub-frame also extends over the plane of movement of the web of material and may comprise longitudinal beam members with transverse cross members 53.

The web of material 1 is moved forward in the direction indicated by arrow B, as already mentioned, for example by means of a printing blanket 3 which is passed over rollers 32 and 33 and which can be driven by a motor 30 by way of a transmission 31.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the design of the media feed means 4. In this arrangement, the media reservoirs are in the form of main feed pipes which extend overtheentire length of the media feed means 4. The discharge means 341 issue from the media reservoirs 41 and pass to the feed flow control means 6 which in this embodiment are in the form of electromagnetically operated valves 60. The electric leads 61 for the valves 60 are taken out of the media feed means 4, preferably at the end thereof, in a collecting line 161, and pass to a control unit 66 (see Figure 1). The valves 60 are arranged to switch on and off or not, only one media reservoir for a preselectable period of time.

The outlets of the valves 60 are the feed flow lines 45, which have already been described.

Figure 4 shows an embodiment with a rotating cylindrical stencil, wherein the media feed means 4 is mounted by a sliding shoe 244 in the interior of the rotating round stencil. The stencil mounting, the drive thereof and the movement thereof, may be in accordance with the present applicants' published application DAS No 2543394.

Figure 5 shows a further diagrammatic view of the construction shown in Figure 3. Figure 5 clearly shows that a large number of valves 60 are associ ated, over their entire length, with the media reser voirs 41, namely the main feed pipes. The valves 60 are all connected by way of the outlets 341 to the media reservoirs 41, while each valve 40 preferably has its own discharge connection 341. Each valve 60 is then in turn connected, as shown in Figure 3, to the feed flow lines 45 (not visible in Figure 5).

Figure 6 shows an embodiment with a rotating belt stencil, also described and illustrated in the pre sent applicants' DAS No 2543394. The belt stencil passes over rollers 54, 55 and 56, which are in part driven, with one of the rollers being formed as a tensioning and control roller in per se known man ner. In this arrangement also the media feed means 4 is provided with a sliding shoe 244 and has feed means to the media reservoirs 41. As this embodi ment permits axial reciprocating movement of the media feed means 4, the claw or dog 146 is shown, and the feed lines to the media reservoirs 41 are each preferably flexible tubes, as in other embodi ments.

Figure 7 shows an embodiment wherein the media reservoirs 41 are of a square or rectangular cross section and the electromagnetically operated valves 60 actuate air cylinders 62 which co-operate with pump-like push rods 162 at the end of their piston rods. The push rods 162 are reciprocated by actuat ing the air cylinders 62. The push rods 162 are dis posed in sleeves 63 which carry through flow sec tions 163 so that the sections 163 are closed once and then re-opened when the push rods 162 move up and down.

In Figure 7, three through flow sections 163 are closed, while one is open. In the case of the open through flow section 163, the application medium passes in the direction indicated by arrow C into the associated feed flow line 45 and from there into the collecting slots or chambers 144.

Figure 8 shows that the feed flow lines 45 can also open directly in the bottom rounded portion 40 of the sliding shoe 244. In the embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8, the supply of air is by way of air lines 64 which extend over the length of the media feed means 4 and from which lines 164 are taken to the valves 60.

Figure 9 shows this system again, in diagrammatic form. The air cylinders 62 are only indicated by lines in the drawing, while only the positions of the valves 60 are indicated. Figure 9 only shows that a large number of air cylinders 62 are associated with the media reservoirs 41. The arrangement may be at a much closer spacing than that shown in Figure 9, and in fact the air cylinders 62 may be very close or packed together, but this cannot be shown in the drawing if a certain degree of clarity in respect thereof is to be achieved.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 show possible embodiments of the collecting slots 144 or collecting chambers.

They are disposed transversely, square or rectangu lar, round or disposed longitudinally.

The mode of operation of the apparatus as shown provides that, by the arrangement of only a small number of media reservoirs 41 in the interior of the media feed means, for example only two, three or four main feed pipes are designated media reservoirs 41, for example ink or dye is passed by the pumps 42 of the plane of movement of the web of material, and the outlets 341 of the media reservoirs 41 are selectively opened and closed by the valves 60, which can be caused by the control unit 66 which is electrically connected to the valves 60.This may be a program control arrangement, but it is also possible to provide for control directly by a drawn pattern, in accordance with the proposal set forth in the present applicants' DOS No 27 53 295, wherein solenoids are also switched on and off, although in this case electromagnetically operated valves 60 are actuated. Such control arrangements are also known for example in relation to bar control arrangements for weaving or knitting machines. Depending on the position of the respective valve, the respective feed flow line 45 is opened or closed or the push rods 62 are actuated, to drive for example ink or dye into the lines 45, whereby the application med:um arrives at the collecting slots 144 or collecting k ambers, or is driven directly out of the lines 45.Therefore, the media discharge region comprises either the ends of the feed flow lines 45 which are respectively associated with each other, or the collecting slots 144.

The advantage of the illustrated apparatuses is that a certain fluid issues for a selected period of time, in the media discharge region, being directly program controlled, and passes on to the web of material either directly or thorough a stencil 5 our a part stencil 50. In this arrangement, the media discharge regions may each be dispiaced by displacement of the media feed means 4, namely the working or applicator beam member. The important point is that each media discharge region 44 or, if there are generally collecting slots 144 or collecting chambers, each slot or chamber is open, to a stencil orto the article, by way of feed flow lines 45 which are provided with or connected to a valve, in such a way that for example each of the collecting slots 144 can be provided with all mediaavailable, for example any desired inks or dyes.The feed of medium is effected at any desired moment and for any desired period of time, and may be switched on or switched over in a determinable or programmable manner respectively.

Each of the individual openings, namely of the feed flow lines 45, has such a valve, and the links or dyes or the like are taken from the media reservoirs 41, that is to say, the main feed pipes, to the individual valves, by means of tubes or other means.

The electromagnetically operated valves used may be simple on-off valves 60 which permit the flow from the reservoir connected thereto when the valve is 'open', and shut off the flow when the valve is 'closed' (Figures 3, 5,7 and 9).

However, the valves may also be multi-way valves 160 (see Figure 7a) which are provided with the media or ink or dye connections and which can be freely selectably switched to different feed means by way of remotely controllable arrangements. The media feed means used will generally always be working beam members or applicator beam members, and the media reservoirs will generally be main feed pipes, with more than two media reservoirs being arranged in the media feed means 4. The embodiments illustrated each show four media reservoirs 41 which are in the form of main feed pipes extending through the working beam member, as the illustrated embodiments are essentially intended for applying inks or dyes and generally the basic method used when applying inks or dyes is a four-colour printing operation.Consequently, the provision of four main feed pipes is extremely advantageous as this makes it possible to apply a very wide range of colour shades to the article, and in fact virtually all shades. A respective row of valves 60 is normally associated by way of hose connections with each media reservoir, the valves providing the ink or dye by way of the feed flow lines 45.

It is irrelevant whether the machine is operated with the media flowing normally out of the media reservoirs 41, in which respect the reservoirs may be subjected to a uniformly controllable pressure by the pumps 42, or whether the medium is actively driven out by means of push rods 162 and air cylinders 62 which are controllable by supplying compressed air through the conduits 262 and 362 from the valves 60.

Obviously, hydraulic cylinders may be used instead of the compressed air cylinders.

When using multi-way valves 160 as shown in Figure 7a, these are disposed between the media reservoirs 41 which are in the form of main feed pipes, and are connected to all main feed pipes and also connected to a feed flow line 45 and may alternately permit the through-flow of the media or dyes.

The advantage of a construction as shown in Figure 3 which has simple electromagnetically operated valves 60 and a number of feed flow lines 45 which each carry only one medium is that inks or dyes can also be passed to a collecting slot 144 by all four feed flow lines 45 so that mixed colours are present in the collecting slot 144. Three inks or dyes can be supplied, two inks or dyes, or even only one, this being unimportant. If multi-way valves are arranged as shown in Figure 7a and associated with the main feed pipes, generally the feed flow may be only from one main reservoir41, unless very complicated multiway valves 160 are used. It is preferable to supply pure inks or dyes from one reservoir by way of a valve 60 and a feed flow line line 45 to the article.

As already mentioned, the concept of the invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown, and a wide range of variations are thus conceivable and possible. The media feed means 4 may operate in the form of working or applicator beam members which move to and fro, but it may also be arranged to be stationary, and operation may be with or without a stencil 5. The media reservoirs 41 may be in the form of main feed pipes and may extend over the entire width, but they may also be containers, they may be under pressure, namely under a controllable pump pressure, or not. The medium can be actively driven out or driven out by simple physical flow pressure or also by pump pressure.It is also important that the media discharge regions are disposed adjacent each other in a straight line, in the axial direction of the media feed means which can be in the form of a working beam member, in which case groups of feed flow lines 45 or even only one single feed flow line 45 always forms a media discharge region 44 or the collecting slots or chambers 144 form a media discharge region and the linear arrangement of the media discharge regions 44 makes it possible for the media, for example even different colours, to be applied to the web of material over the surface thereof, insofar as pattern surfaces of widely varying kind may be produced. The electromagnetically operated valves 60 may be switched on and off by way of computer perforated tapes or by other control means.The air cylinders which actuate the push rods are also controlled by elect tromagnetically operated valves, as already mentioned, for example by way of 4/2 way electromagnetically operated valves or even, when using single-acting cylinders, by way of 3/2 way electromagnetically operated valves, the choice of valves being in dependence on the requirements in question.

The control means 66 for the valves 60 and for driving the web of material 1 or the printing blanket 3 may be combined and selected, like the control means in respect of the nozzles in US patent specification No 3 894 413, wherein the pattern control member is electrically connected directly to each electromagnetically operated valve 60 and controls the opening and closing of each valve 60 or 160. The collecting line 161 would then pass to such a pattern control member.

The control means 70 for the drive 46 for producing movement of the working beam member 44 may be of any desired kind, so that it is possible to use a cam disc which is rotated continuously by a motor and thus sets the speed of the compressed air cylinder 46 more rapidly and more slowly. It is also possible however for the speed of the drive means 46 to be controlled manually by the reciprocating movement of the working beam member4 being set manually more rapidly or more slowly. It is also possible to use a computer control arrangement here, in order to allow small reciprocating movements to alternate with large reciprocating movements. The control means 70 may be connected to the control means 66 in a pattern control member, but separate control means may also be provided, in per se known manner.

The arrangement of the media feed means 4 within a stencil has the advantage that, when using a rotating stencil, the reciprocating movement of the working beam member does not have an effect on the article, but the stencil has an isolating action. The rotating stencil is previously known in its entirety, whether it is a round stencil 5 as shown in Figure 4 or a belt stencil 5 as shown in Figure 6. The stencil is not reciprocated itself, only the working beam member 4 reciprocating in the interior of the stencil.

The stencil must therefore be open laterally in per se known manner so that the motion means for mqving the working beam member 4 can be introduced laterally, as is also shown in Figures 4 and 6.

Claims

1. Apparatus for applying different media in flowable form to a web of material, including media feed means which is guided transversely over the width of the plane in which the web of material is passed through the apparatus, and different media reservoirs and closable outlets for the media, with the media discharges out of the media feed means being reciprocable or not in their position relative to the plane of movement of the web of material, with each media discharge region of the media feed means being connected to more than one media reservoir by way of individually remotely controllable feed flow control means, and with each feed flow control means respectively being arranged to switch on and off, or not, only one media reservoir for a preselectable period of time.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the media feed means is in the form of a working and applicator beam member which extends transversely over the width of the plane of movement of the web of material and which is mounted at both sides in the machine frame, the beam member carrying the media discharge regions at its underside.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the media feed means is arranged within a rotatable stencil or on a part stencil.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the media feed means which is in the form of a working beam member carries main feed pipes in its interior, acting as media reservoirs, which main feed pipes are connected by way of feed flow lines to the media discharge regions or collecting slots or chambers, wherein feed flow control means are disposed in the feed flow region.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which the media reservoirs are connected by way of conduits to multi-way valves which in turn are connected to the feed flow lines which lead to the media discharge region on the underside of the feed flow means which is in the form of a working beam member.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein each media discharge region forms a summation of the discharge ends of the feed flow lines.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the media discharge region is in the form of a collecting slot or chamber into which the ends of a group of feed flow lines open.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which the collecting slots are disposed transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the media feed means which is in the form of a working beam member.

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the media feed means which is in the form of a working beam member carries at its underside a sliding shoe which has a bottom rounded portion in the centre of which the media discharge regions or collecting slots or collecting chambers are disposed in a straight line in the axial direction.

10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the media reservoirs which are in the form of main feed pipes and which are connected to feed flow lines by way of magnetically controlled valves or the like are under a controllable pump pressure.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the media reservoirs are in the form of main feed pipes and, arranged in a straight line in the axial direction, each carry air or pressure cylinders whose pistons are in the form of push rods which are disposed in sleeves which pass through the media reservoirs which are in the form of main feed pipes, wherein the sleeves have through flow sections which are selectively closed or opened by the push rods depending on the control of the air or pressure cylinders.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, in which the air or pressure cylinders are controllable by magnetically operated valves.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11 or claim 12, in which all the multi-way or magnetically operated valves are operable by a per se known programmable control unit, which is electrically connected to the magnetically operated valves or multi-way valves.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1 orclaim 11, in which each feed flow line is connected to a separate magnetically operated valve which is connected by way of a respective conduit to a media reservoir.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the working beam is in the form of the media feed means is mounted for axial reciprocating movement and is provided with a drive means for said movement.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, in which the drive means is connected to a programmable drive means.

17. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which feed flow lines or each media discharge region lies on the web of material being passed through the apparatus or on a part stencil or a rotating stencil, respectively.

18. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which each media discharge region is disposed at a spacing from the web of material being passed through the apparatus or the part stencil or a rotating stencil, respectively.

19. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which feed flow control means which are arranged in rows are arranged below the main feed flow pipes or the media reservoirs and are each connected to a media reservoir and a feed flow line.

20. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the media feed means is disposed within a rotatable cylindrical stencil.

21. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the media feed means is within a rotatable belt stencil.

22. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the part stencil lies with the media feed means on the web of material to be passed through the apparatus.

23. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the part stencil, with the media feed means, is disposed at a spacing from the web of material to be passed through the apparatus.

24. An apparatus according to claim 3, in which the stencil is mounted so as to be stationary but to rotate, in per se known manner, while the media feed means is arranged to be movable to and fro in the interior of the stencil.

25. Apparatus for applying different media in flowable form to a web of material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, as modified or not by Figure 4, FigureS, Figure 6, Figures 7 and 9, Figures 7a and 8, Figure 10, Figure 11 or Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.