DE102005059503A1 - Device for printing on cylindrical bottle closures by gravure printing method, has feed device for bottle closures whereby bottle closure may pass stereotype roller from feed device on parallel axis - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (10) has a feed device (14) for the bottle closures (12), with a stereotype roller (18), provided with an inking station (20), a doctoring station (22) and a printing station (24). The bottle closure may pass the stereotype roller from the feed device on a parallel axis and rolls off between the stereotype roller and a contact and guide device. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) Method for printing or decorating of bottle closures; and (2) Bottle closures printed or decorated by means of the device.

Description

The The invention relates to a method for printing or decorating Bottle corks made of natural cork or plastic. Plastic corks are usually made of polyethylene. The corks can do that be extruded; In particular, they will achieve one pre-defined scope foamed in corresponding sleeves.

Out the prior art is known, natural corks by stamping too print. Furthermore, it is known that synthetically produced plastic corks High-pressure process, such as stamp printing to print. Due to the comparatively closed surface of Plastic corks result in high-pressure process comparatively pale print results. Are the high pressure clichés too strong against pressed the cork, so the colors run due to the pinching on the cork; the print result is then relatively blurred.

One Another problem with the prior art is the cork adhering and present in the vicinity of the cork particulate matter. In order to obtain a non-contaminating by fine dust pressure, is an elaborate one Cleaning the corks, or the high-pressure clichés required.

Of the The present invention is based on the object, a method for printing or decorating bottle corks, in particular plastic corks, to provide the abovementioned disadvantages. Especially should in a simple way a high quality print image be generated.

These Task is solved by an aforementioned method in that the corks by means of pressure clichés in the direct gravure printing process be printed.

The Application of direct gravure printing has the advantage that due to the in the wells of the printing plate existing color produces a rich print image becomes. Due to the inherent elasticity of the corks, in particular of plastic corks, the cork surface can against the gravure plate pressed like that be that color out of the cups transferred directly to the cork surface becomes.

It would be too conceivable, bottle corks in the offset process, especially in the indirect High-pressure or dry-offset printing. by virtue of of cork fine dust are then but to the cleaning and environment the corks to make very high demands. Total results This is a very complex and expensive procedure.

The Use of the direct gravure process for bottle corks is therefore not obvious, because in Tiefdruckverfahren a impression roller, in usually in the form of a hard, rubberized roller, forcible use takes place to the material to be printed against the gravure printing plate to apply, so that the color from the wells on the to be printed Material passes. The invention has recognized that when printing of bottle corks, in particular bottle corks of plastic, Such a impression roller can be omitted because the elasticity of the cork material the Function of impression roller replaced.

there is particularly advantageous when the corks during printing with one to the elasticity the cork adapted contact pressure be acted upon against the printing plate. Depending on the used Material of corks may be different in their elasticity; the pressing force which is required to transfer the color from the cups to the cork surface, is to be adapted to the respective cork-specific elasticity.

Especially is advantageous if initially dyed the printing plate then the printing plate is doctored off and finally the Corks are printed by means of the printing plate. In particular, that Scrapering just before printing has the advantage that, if necessary on the pressure cliche existing fine dust cork removed becomes. In the cups Existing fine dust is harmless, since this one of the in the wells dyed existing color becomes. Overall, results in a very clean print, not is adversely affected by existing particulate matter.

According to the invention can the cork bellies when printing on a newly formed printing plate or be unrolled on a cylindrically shaped printing plate. When using a flat printing plate, for example, the Cork around its longitudinal axis be rotatable, fixed in space and arranged the pressure cliché is moved relative to the cork so that the cork rotates. It is also conceivable that the pressure cliché firmly arranged in the room is and the cork its relative position in the room when unrolling Printed cliché changed. The same is conceivable if the printing plate is designed as a printing cylinder is. The printing cylinder can be arranged rotating and / or rotationally fixed be.

In order to print on the faces, the so-called cork mirrors, the cork, these are advantageously before or after printing the cork bellies also in the direct low printing process printed.

When In particular, printing ink can be food color and / or solvent or water based paint.

The wells The gravure printing plates are in particular engraved on the surface grid and / or dashes formed. Such rasters and / or bars can, for example by laser into the surface be introduced of the printing plate. The surface of the Druckklischees may be particular ceramic and / or have a ceramic layer.

Around especially plastic corks as authentic as possible appearance to give, can be provided according to the invention be that at least a part of the grid and / or lines formed in such a way is that when printing a natural cork corresponding uneven colorations result.

hereby can be achieved that plastic cork at least at first Look as such are not recognizable.

Of the Doctor blade and / or printing can be done in particular in a closed Doctor housing take place.

The The invention also relates to bottle corks, which according to the inventive method are made. Such bottles can be characterized in particular that they are a rich, very fine and very qualitative high quality print.

In The figure is an embodiment represented the invention.

In the embodiment, the abdomen becomes 10 a synthetic cork 12 which is about its longitudinal axis 14 is rotatably mounted, against a printing plate in the form of a gravure cylinder 16 acted upon by a pressing force F. The gravure cylinder 16 is about its longitudinal axis 18 rotatory driven.

As can be seen from the figure, the gravure cylinder emerges 16 in a paint tray 20 in which the printing ink, for example food coloring, is present. The paint fills on the gravure cylinder 16 , Not shown in the figure, wells, in particular in the form of in the surface of the gravure cylinder 16 Engraved raster and lines are formed. The grid and lines have a diameter or a width of 60 to 140 .mu.m.

An iridescent doctor blade 22 draws the paint from the surface of the gravure cylinder 16 so that the color remains only in the wells, or the grid and the strokes. In addition, deducting removes fine dust from the corks, as a result of which pressure contamination due to the fine dust can not occur.

Due to the rotational movement of the gravure cylinder 16 and the pressing force F of the cork 12 against the gravure cylinder 16 rolls the cork 12 at the gravure cylinder 16 from. Due to the inherent elasticity of the cork 12 the color is transferred from the cups to the cork. Of course, instead of the gravure cylinder 16 to find a gravure plate using the cork 10 is rolled off.

The force F with which the cork 12 against the gravure cylinder 16 is pressed, for example, as indicated in the figure, are transmitted via a corresponding cork holder on the cork. Other brackets or devices are of course also conceivable according to the invention.

Claims (12)

Method for printing or decorating bottle corks ( 12 ) of natural cork or plastic, characterized in that the corks ( 12 ) by means of pressure clichés ( 16 ) are printed by direct gravure printing. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the corks ( 12 ) during the printing process with a pressure force (F) adapted to the elasticity of the corks ( 16 ). Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that first the printing plate ( 16 ) is inked, that the printing plate is doctored off and that the corks ( 12 ) are printed by means of the printing plate. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cork bellies ( 10 ) are rolled during printing on a newly formed printing plate. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cork bellies ( 10 ) during printing on a cylindrically shaped printing plate ( 16 ) are unrolled. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that before or after printing the cork bellies ( 10 ) the cork levels by means of pressure clichés ( 16 ) are printed by direct gravure printing. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that as printing ink food colors and / or on solvents or water based paint is used. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printing plate ( 16 ) has engraved on the surface grid and / or lines. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface of the printing plate ( 16 ) is made of ceramic or has a ceramic layer. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that at least a part of the grid and / or bars is formed so that when printing a natural cork give corresponding uneven colorations. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printing takes place in a sealable doctor blade housing. Bottle corks ( 12 ), printed or decorated by a method according to at least one of the preceding claims.