DK2571694T3

DK2571694T3 - Format Related cold-stamping

Info

Publication number: DK2571694T3
Application number: DK11720074.1T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Jürgen Schölzig
Original assignee: manroland sheetfed GmbH
Priority date: 2010-05-17
Filing date: 2011-05-06
Publication date: 2015-06-29
Also published as: DE102011007462A1; CN102985257A; WO2011144462A1; PL2571694T3; CN102985257B; EP2571694A1; EP2571694B1

Description

The invention relates to a device for the transfer of imaging layers from a substrate foil onto print sheets according to the preamble of Patent Claims 1, 4, 5 and to a method according to the preamble of Claim 9.

It is known to produce metallic layers on print sheets by means of a foil transfer method. Accordingly, a print material and a printing device using this material is described in EP 0 569 520 B1. There, a sheet processing machine is shown which comprises a feeder and a delivery, wherein between both units printing units and a coating module are arranged. In at least one of the printing units, an adhesive pattern is applied by means of the planographic printing method. This adhesive pattern is applied by a cold printing method and comprises a certain imaging subject. In the coating module following the printing unit with an impression cylinder and a press roll, a foil guide is provided. The latter is designed in the manner that a foil strip or a transfer foil is guided from a foil storage reel through the nip of the coating module between the impression cylinder and the press roll. Having left the coating module, the foil strip is wound up again on the discharge side. The transfer foil comprises a substrate layer onto which the imaging layers such as metallic layers, for example of aluminium, can be applied. Between the metallic layer and the substrate foil a separating layer is provided which ensures that the metallic layer can be peeled off the substrate layer.

During the transport of print sheets through the printing unit, each print sheet is provided with an adhesive pattern. After this, the print sheet is guided through the coating module, wherein by means of the press roll the print sheet resting on the impression cylinder is brought into contact with the foil material. In the process, the downward-lying metallic layer is closely joined to the regions on the print sheet that are provided with adhesive. Following the further transporting of the print sheet, the metallic layer merely adheres in the region of the patterns provided with adhesive. The metallic layer is thus removed from the substrate foil in the region of the adhesive patterns. The transfer foil which is used up in this manner is wound up again. The print sheet is delivered in the coated state.

From DE 10 2009 026 438 A1 a device for cold foil embossing is known. In this device, the foil feed is to be expanded in its applicability in a coating module for the transfer of imaging layers from a transfer foil to a substrate. To this end, a limited press area is arranged in the coating module for transferring layers from the transfer foil. This makes possible a specific control of the foil feed. Here, the transfer foil is preferentially guided past a press roll in a limited width and approximately tangentially. For foil storage and foil transport, special clock-operable transport devices are assigned for this purpose. The clocking of the foil feed can be carried out with respect to an interruption of cylinder active surfaces that are present on the circumference or with respect to transfer zones for the transfer foil that is variable on the circumference or over the width of cylinder active surfaces.

From DE 102 13 651 A1 a cylinder with a fastening device for a flexible, upper packing in a processing machine is known. The cylinder comprises a fastening device for a flexible upper packing which is provided with a fixing device arranged within the cylinder circumference. The same serves for the separate fastening of a lower packing between the cylinder circumference and the upper packing arranged on the cylinder. The lower packing consists of a flexible substrate material, on which multiple underpacking forms are arranged spaced from one another. The fixing device is driveable. The lower packing, which is received in the fixing device in the end-side fixing region is thus moveable on the cylinder circumference. Thus, at least one underpacking form each can be positioned with respect to the upper packing.

From DE 199 47 228 A1 a cylinder is known. The cylinder is covered with a blanket. The blanket is provided with a underpacking, the front and rear edge of which is cut obliquely to the leading edge of the cylinder gap in order to avoid gap repercussions.

It is known to employ such coating modules for example in printing units of printing presses. Disadvantageous in the known devices is that they are not flexibly employable.

The object of the invention therefore is to provide a device by means of which the transfer of an imaging layer for example a metallising layer onto a print sheet can be performed safely, economically and exactly, wherein the device should be handleable for an expanded range of applications. Partial foil application in particular is to be made possible.

The solution to this object according to the invention is presented by a device having the features of Patent Claim 1 and a method according to the features of Patent Claim 13.

The device provides a clock system for guiding the foil web, wherein the press area is raised on the press roll as a function of the format to be coated. Advantageously, the device is characterized in that a press roll comprises a press area which takes up a part area of the total area of a print sheet. Advantageously, such press areas are embodied as segments that can be clamped below a blanket for the blanket to be provided over the entire area on the press roll.

To this end, different packing materials for press covering can be employed. The following can be used: so-called underpacking sheets or format sheets suitable for the blan-ket/the press covering of the press roll which only extend over the effective area for the foil transfer underpacking sheets/format sheets, which are mounted onto the press roll jointly with the blanket/with the press covering underpacking sheets/format sheets each of which can be mounted separately and locked below the blanket/the press covering on the press roll underpacking segments that can be bonded onto the press roll, which are positioned in the active region of the surface of the press roll and are covered by the blanket.

As a neutral substructure of the corresponding press covering it is provided for the total region of the press roll surface to use a underpacking with or without dampening effect such as for example an underblanket, which serves for levelling the total surface while the format sheets themselves only come to lie in the working region of the foil transfer.

Given as clamping systems are a clamping spindle as known in a blanket cylinder or so-called combination clamping rails for blankets or printing plates, as known from the blanket cylinders or from the form cylinders. Depending on the construction, the surface of the press cylinder packing is also suitable for profiled embossing.

This produces an expanded application range for the method of cold foil embossing. The setup time reduction is achieved through prepared press cylinder packings. In addition, register automation can also be implemented.

For the solution it should be added that the press cylinder can be embodied with a register system for example via registered pins. The press cylinder can continue to be adjustable for example in the manner of a register system for automatic printing plate mounting. Here, a side and a circumference register as with a forme cylinder can be adjustable wherein the adjustment can be equipped to be motorically and/or automatically performable. In addition, the press cylinder packing can also be provided with register punch holes.

The device is advantageously employable also in order to achieve an improvement of the foil utilisation in that the transfer foil is divided into one or multiple part foil webs of lesser width. Combined with the aforementioned method, different foil types can also be employed next to one another in this way.

To ensure the economy of the coating method it can be provided to control the foil feed in such a manner that the transfer foil is then stopped when there is no transfer of the imaging or metallising layer.

Advantageously, the transfer foil is controlled in such a manner that on passing through a surface region of the press roll which with respect to the surface of the sheet guiding impression cylinder is set back, foil feed is stopped, wherein the press roll can then slidingly pass through under the transfer foil since then the transfer foil is not clamped in between the active surfaces in the nip.

In the following, the invention is represented in more detail by means of figures.

It shows:

Figure 1 a fundamental representation of a printing press with a foil transfer device,

Figures 2 the construction of a coating module with a foil transfer device,

Figures 3 and 4 the arrangement of a press covering on a press roll ac cording to the invention,

Figures 5a and 5b alternative structures of press coverings,

Figures 6 and 7 further press coverings on a press roll according to the invention and

Figure 8 a further mountable and dismountable press covering on a press roll according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows parts of a sheet-fed rotary printing press comprising two printing units which is employed for the following purposes: A print sheet is initially provided with an areal or imaging adhesive pattern (printing unit as application unit 1).

In the following printing unit, the print sheet jointly with a transfer foil 5 is guided through a nip 6 under pressure, (coating unit 2).

The application unit 1 can be an offset printing unit known per se with an inking unit 11, a plate cylinder 12 and a blanket cylinder 13. The blanket cylinder 13 interacts with an impression cylinder 4.

The coating unit 2 can likewise be formed by an offset printing unit. The nip 6 in the coating unit 2 is formed by a press roll 3 and an impression cylinder 4. The press roll 3 can correspond to the blanket cylinder. The press roll 3 can also correspond to the forme cylinder of a varnish module. Within the coating unit 2 utilised for the foil transfer a web guide 14 for transfer foils is realised. The transfer foil 5 in the process is introduced and discharged through protective devices 15 of the coating unit 2.

The foil storage reel 8 is assigned to the coating unit 2 on the side of the sheet feed. The foil storage reel 8 comprises a rotary drive 7 for the continuous controlled feeding of the transfer foil to the coating unit 2. In the foil feed, deflection or tensioning rollers for guiding the transfer foil 5 can be provided at a substantially constant tension relative to the press roll 3. On the expiring side of the printing unit, a foil collection reel 9 for the consumed foil material is provided. A rotary drive 7 on the foil collection reel 9 is always advantageous. It can even be provided that the transfer foil 5 is conveyed by means of the rotary drive 7 on the expiry side and held taut on the inlet side by means of a brake.

The press roll 3 (as blanket cylinder or forme cylinder or separate press roll) carries on its surface a compressible or dampening element which for example is also provided with a compressible intermediate layer. The press roll 3 can be additionally provided with a press covering 10 for example as plastic covering comparable to a blanket, which is held by clamping devices in a cylinder gap.

To secure the economy of the coating method it can be provided that the foil feed of the transfer foil 5 from the foil storage reel 8 to the nip 6 and to the foil collection reel 9 is controllable in steps, wherein the transfer foil is then stopped when no transfer of imaging or covering layers is to take place. The associated device preferentially includes a corresponding feed control for the transfer foil 5 which ensures that at least the part of the foil web that is located in the region of the press roll 3 and of the impression cylinder 4 is stationary, for as long as the cylinder gap 26 of the impression cylinder 4 passes through. More details will be explained in this regard later on in Figures 2 to 4. A further improvement of the foil utilisation of the described typed is obtained when the transfer foil 5 is divided into one or multiple part foil webs of lesser width. Accordingly, with suitable control with the help of the device or devices for clocking the foil feed of each of the part foil webs, the utilisation of the transfer foil 5 can also be improved with zonally different length coating regions within a sheet.

Furthermore, dryers 16 can be provided in the foil application module thus formed of the application unit 1 and the coating unit 2, by means of which dryers 16 the adhesive application or the entire foil coating can be dried. For example UV-dryers are possible here.

Furthermore, the foil application module can include a monitoring device 17 for scanning the sheet surface. The monitoring device 17 makes possible evaluating image contents of the coating and determining defects in the foil coating. Such a monitoring device can also be connected in connection with the printing press, in which the foil application module is integrated. Then it can be arranged for example in the sheet delivery of the printing press or a last printing couple.

The transport of the transfer foil 5 can be monitored on or between foil guide rollers 14 by means of checking the web tension of the foil web 5. In a foil web guide, one or multiple web tension measuring devices 19 are provided for this purpose.

Furthermore, for stabilising the foil web 5, a stabilising device 30 can be arranged between a first deflection roller and a first lead-in roller to the transfer unit in order to reduce flapping movements of the foil web 5. The stabilising device 30 comprises for example two rotatably mounted rollers which are provided on the guide rollers for the variable adjusting of the angle of wrap of the foil web 5, so that the guiding effect and the dampening effect on the foil web 5 is adjustable depending on the operating state. Adjusting the stabilising device 30 can be performed in connection with devices for the web tension control 19 and if appropriate a sensor device 20 for the web breakage monitoring.

Electrical signals of the web tension measuring devices are evaluated. Different operating states are possible for this purpose: 1. A web tension above a presettable minimum value is evaluated as a single for the presence of the foil web 5 and supplied to the machine control. 2. Exceeding the maximum value of the preset web tension is reduced via dancing rollers 18 or roller drives 7 of the foil storage reel 8 or foil collection reel 9. Impermissible web tension or web tearing is thus avoidable. 3. When the minimum preset web tension is undershot it is checked if the web tension control is still active. If increasing the web tension via dancing rollers 18 or a break is not possible, a web tear is detected.

The additionally gained information regarding the web tension as actual value, in particular in connection with the mentioned evaluations, can be used for controlling the print or transfer process. For this purpose the system can be coupled to a control station of the printing press, via which the set values for maximal and minimal web tension can be entered. This can be dependent on the type of transfer foil 5 used and on the printing or transfer conditions in the coating mod- ule 2 in connection with the characteristics of the substrate, of the adhesive or the press covering. The necessary data can be read in via interfaces directly from data carriers on foil storage reels and changed by means of parameter values from the setting of the transfer process on the coating module 2.

The method relating to the foil transfer is carried out in the described printing press or application machine according to Figure 1 as follows:

It is provided, to apply a colour print onto the print sheet coated with an image-based metallised layer in a printing unit 50 following the coating unit 2. Here, the print sheet is transferred out of the coating unit 2 from the impression cylinder 4 via a sheet transfer drum or a sheet transfer unit to an impression cylinder 40 of the printing unit 40.

As is usual in offset printing units, the printing unit 50 comprises the impression cylinder 40, a blanket cylinder 41 assigned to the same and a plate cylinder 43 assigned to the same. The plate cylinder 43 is, schematically shown, assigned an inking unit and a dampening unit.

Between impression cylinder 40 and blanket cylinder 41, a further nip 60 is formed. In this nip 60, printing ink from a printing plate 44 mounted on the plate cylinder 43 is applied onto the print sheet via a covering 42 arranged on the blanket cylinder 41.

The gap dimension of the nip 60 between the surfaces of the blanket cylinder 41 and of the impression cylinder 40 is adjustable with the help of adjusting devices 45 assigned to the blanket cylinder 41. This is usually called printing impression adjustment in the area of offset printing since the mentioned adjustment relates to the thickness dimension of the substrate to be processed, which is to be printed in the nip 60. For this purpose, printing pressure is necessary in order to transfer the printing ink from the blanket cylinder 41 to the substrate held on the impression cylinder 40. The adjustments with respect to the nip 6 are performed by means of further adjusting devices 46 which are assigned to the press roll 3. The adjusting devices 45, 46 are usually employed in offset printing presses on blanket cylinders of printing units or forme cylinders of varnish modules.

Furthermore, a contoured or segmented press area is to be provided in the press covering 10 as surface of the press roll 3. To this end, according to the invention, segmented press regions which are limited to one or multiple regions to be coated are employed on the press roll 3 instead of a full-area press region.

The segmented press area can be designed as an insulated areal element, as an annular, narrow areal element wrapping the press roll 3, as an areal element which follows an outer surface line covering a limited circumferential section, extending over the width of the press roll 3 or in the form of multiple such areal elements, thus forming the press covering 10.

The function of this limited segmented press area in the press covering 10 is that - as is similarly the case during the passage of a cylinder gap of the press roll 3 and of the impression cylinder 4 located opposite - the clamping of the transfer foil 5 materialises only when the segmented press area passes through the nip contacting the transfer foil 5. In other words, the press area should only act on the transfer foil 5 in the regions where imaging layers are actually to be transferred from the transfer foil 5 onto the print sheet.

Two effects in a coating module 2 can thus be achieved with a segmented press area provided in a press covering 10. I. Initially, to carry out foil clocking, the transfer foil 5 can be stopped with respect to feed in a highly advantageous manner in addition to the period of time of the gap passage even in particular when the region to be coated is located somewhere within the image region of the print sheet and has not yet reached the region of the segmented press area or the region of the segmented press area ends even before the end of the sheet region to be coated. Thus, the transfer foil 5 only has to be transported when the segmented press area is in engagement between press roll 3 and impression cylinder 4 within the nip 6. Accordingly, the utilisation of the transfer foil 5 can almost completely take place between the print sheets to be coated. The foil transport in this case is stopped only during the gap passage when using an annular press area. When using press areas in the form of individual or multiple, cylinder-wide segments reaching over part circumferences the foil feed can be additionally stopped during free areas on the circumference of the press roll 3. II. A further improvement of the foil utilisation of the described type is obtained in that the transfer foil 5 is subdivided into one or multiple part foil webs of lesser width. This is a major advantage in particular in connection with the segmented press area. With a segmented press area, the transfer foil 5 can be employed restricted to the width of the press area. Saving during foil consumption is significant. Foil guidance in the nip 6 is significantly improved through a full-area contact of a narrow web of the transfer foil 5 on the segmented press area - at least in the nip 6. With corresponding controlling with the help of the device or devices for clocking the foil feed of each of the part foil webs, the utilisation of the transfer foil 5 can thereby be improved even with zonally different length coating regions within a sheet. To this end, each part foil web is conveyed onwards only precisely in the region where the imaging surface layer is to be applied. In the regions which are not to be coated each part foil web can be stopped independently of the other part foil webs, so that no unnecessary foil consumption is created.

Combined with the aforementioned methods, different foil types can thus be employed alongside one another as well. It is thereby made possible that surfaces of different foil colour or of different smoothness or structure can be created.

For the structure of the press covering, different working materials known per se can be employed. The following can be used: so-called underpacking sheets or format sheets suitable for the blan-ket/the press covering of the press roll which only extend over the effective area for the foil transfer underpacking sheets/format sheets, which are mounted onto the press roll jointly with the blanket/with the press covering underpacking sheets/format sheets each of which can be mounted separately and locked below the blanket/the press covering on the press roll underpacking segments that can be bonded onto the press roll, which are positioned in the active region of the surface of the press roll and are covered by the blanket.

As substructure of the corresponding press covering 10 with segmented press areas, an underpacking with or without dampening effect such as an underblanket can be used (but only in the case of press coverings without stiff support layer).

Clamping systems in the cylinder gap of the press roll 3 for fastening the press covering 10 can be clamping spindles as in a blanket cylinder or combination clamping rails for blankets or printing plates as known from the blanket or forme cylinders. The surface of the press covering junior is suitable for profiled embossing depending on structure. This results in an expanded application range for the method of cold foil embossing. Using the mentioned elements, a very simple and rapid handling of the equipment of the foil application module is possible.

According to the invention, devices are provided which allow the clocking transport of the foil web 5. Here, the following operating variants from the facts explained above can be mentioned: gap clocking during the passing of cylinder gaps of the press roll 3 and of the impression cylinder 4, format clocking or subject clocking based on the coating or application length, in the case of foil feed restricted to the format length of the foil transfer on the circumference of the press roll 3 and embossing with foil feed restricted to foil feed defined by segmented press regions in the press covering 10 of the press roll 3.

For the foil feed (also the discharge), the drive of the foil reels 8, 9 is usually provided continuously since the mass of the foil reels 8, 9 is too great for a rapid change of the drive movement. This results in excess or lacking foil lengths in the feed and discharge regions of the foil web 5 relative to the movement of the foil reels 8, 9 during the braking of the foil reel up to the renewed accelerating in the transfer region. Such transition regions between foil start and format or application start are additionally different in size with respect to the respective format underpackings used according to the invention, as will still be explained in connection with Figure 5.

For this reason, solutions are suggested according to the invention which can buffer the excess or lacking web sections that are incurred with continuous feeding or drawing of the foil web 5. These are already described in principle with the dancing rollers 18 as a version of foil storage units. The dancing unit rollers 8 however are not controllable precisely enough to the described clocking that occurs at high speed, more so since they are usually arranged far away from the place of consumption and near the foil reel 8, 9, in order to maintain the web tension there. In the Figures 2 to 5, further possibilities for rapidly offsetting web shifts during the foil clocking in the cold foil process are therefore stated.

Figure 2 shows a foil transfer module corresponding to Figure 1. Flere, the dancing rollers 18 are arranged in order to regulate the web tension. To offset major changes in the foil transport as during the stopping of the foil transport in the transfer region (region of the foil transfer between press roll 3 and impression cylinder 4) without foil consumption (gap clocking, format clocking, clocking over embossing regions), roller pairs 23, 24 described as drive assemblies 22 are additionally arranged before the inlet of the fresh foil web 5 in the nip 6 and after the exit of the consumed foil web 5 from the nip 6.

The drive assemblies 22 are described here for all embodiments and show a roller pair each, which can clamp the foil web 5 thus guiding it in a defined manner with respect to a desired transport path. The roller pairs of the drive assemblies 22 in Figure 2 consist of a foil guide roller 24 each and a driver roller 23. Both the foil guide roller 24 as well as the drive roller 23 are at least partially driveable. The drive of the driver roller 23 in this case cannot only be directed in transport direction of the foil web 5 (from foil reel 8 to 9), but can also create backstroke movements. This is practical since the foil web 5 during braking does not stop immediately and thus overruns a desired stopping point. As a result, a piece of the foil web 5 could not be utilised. When a short defined back-stroke following the braking and stopping of the foil web 5 is carried out in the transfer region, this step reduces or eliminates unnecessary foil consumption. To this end, the drive of the drive roller 23 is rapidly controllable. The drive roller 23 itself can be segmented in order to be able to rapidly carry out the changing drive movements. Furthermore, the foil guide roller 24 can be engaged and disengaged from the drive roller 23, but it can also remain permanently engaged with the drive roller 23.

Accordingly, it can also be provided that the foil guide roller 24 performs a movement which is more or less controlled by the foil web 5, while the drive roller 23 carries out a transport movement and the backstroke movement. The foil guide roller 24 exerts a back-rotating movement with respect to the foil transport direction merely through controlled engaging with the foil web 5 lying on the drive roller 23. The drive roller 23 then performs a continuous transport movement against the running direction of the foil web 5. This is possible since the foil web 5 at this time is freely moveable in the transfer region because of the lacking pressure by the press roll 3 against the impression cylinder 4. Furthermore, the drive assemblies 22 can also hold the foil web 5 under the necessary tension in the transfer region by braking at the time of the foil stoppage, here at least on the feed side to the nip 6, so that upon renewed starting of the foil transfer with pressure by the press roll 3 against the impression cylinder 4 good transfer quality is again achieved immediately.

The system of the drive assembly 22 is suitable even with foil guide rollers 24 which are arranged in a segmented manner with format-wide drive rollers 23 both for guiding a full-format wide foil web 5 and also for guiding part foil webs 5 which, if appropriate, are also arranged distributed. To this end, the segments of the foil guide roller 24 can be arranged suitably adjustable to the positions of the part foil webs 5 in axial direction relative to the press roll 3.

The drive assembly 22 can be simplified in that the drive roller 23 is embodied with a rough or adhesive surface or as suction roller. With appropriately large wrap through the foil web 5, adequate adhesion for secure guidance of the foil web 5 on the drive roller 23 can then be achieved. A foil guide roller 24, even in segmented form, could then be omitted. This is also quite safe also with respect to the format-wide embodiment of the drive roller 23. A drive roller 23 embodied as suction roller could then be embodied so that when required in segments suction devices which are switchable corresponding to the respective foil web widths to be processed could be provided.

The dancing arrangement for offsetting the transport paths of the transfer foil web 5 during the clocking of the feed can also be embodied in the form of loop routing for the transfer foil web 5 operated by means of vacuum.

The foil feed and discharge can be carried out with controllable or self-controllable systems such as friction shafts and individual drives on the foil rollers 8, 9 in the versions of a format-wide foil reel or with multiple part foil reels.

Furthermore it is provided that the transfer foil web 5 in the region of the nip 6 is guided passed the press roll 3 on an approximately tangential path. To this end, a foil section 5.1 is directed in the region of the foil inlet in the nip 6 from the foil guide roller 14 through the nip 6 into the same at a corresponding angle with respect to a tangent. Furthermore, a foil section 5.2 in the region of the foil exit from the nip 6 is directed through the nip 6 out of the same by a further foil guide roller or the drive roller 23 on the exit side at a suitable angle with respect to a tangent.

By forming the angle between the foil sections 5.1 and 5.2 or the respective angle between the foil sections 5.1 and 5.2 respectively and a tangent (see tangent line T in Figure 4) through the nip 6, it is achieved on the one hand that the grippers on the impression cylinder 4 during the passing of the cylinder gap 26 do not press into the transfer foil web 5 and damage the same. This relates in particular to the exit side of the transfer foil web 5 on the nip 6, since the so-called gripper backs slightly protrude into the region of the cylinder gap 27 of the press roll 3 there and can press against the freely tensioned transfer foil web 5.

Furthermore, the angle between the foil sections 5.1 and 5.2 however is also selected so that the transfer foil web 5 touches the surface of the press roll 3 in only a very narrow region. Ideally, this should only be a contact strip of few millimetre length on the circumference of the press roll 3 over the entire width of the press roll 3. By forming the narrow contact strip it is ensured that the clocking of the movement of the transfer foil web 5 at the moment of a release or pressure reduction on the transfer foil 5 in the nip 6 can take place rapidly in that the transfer foil 5 can be stopped preferably immediately. The same applies to restarting of the transport movement at the next start of a new transfer region (start of a press subject or end of the cylinder gap).

The arrangement of the extension of the foil sections 5.1 and 5.2 relative to a tangent T is likewise schematically shown in Figure 4.

In Fig. 3 and 4, the arrangement of format underpackings for the press covering 10 according to the invention is shown.

In Figure 3, the press covering 10 for the press roll 3 in flat representation is shown. The working regions for an intended foil transfer are drawn therein. The working direction with respect to the direction of rotation of the press roll 3 is shown on the upper edge by a directional arrow. The working regions are marked by three format underpackings 30, 31,32, which join the left edge (start of print) of the press covering 10 and end against the working direction on format edges K1, K2, K3. The format underpackings 30, 31,32 are provided with a width that is adapted to suit the required working regions and with the format edges K1, K2, K3 which are arranged in the working region to suit the respective desired length of the working format and thus cover different regions of a press subject on the circumference of the press roll 10.

In Fig. 4, this arrangement is schematically transferred to a cylinder section through the press roll 3 forming the nip 6 and the associated impression cylinder 4 with direction of rotation drawn on. Here, the format underpackings 30, 31, 32 are superimposed on one another in the view and are therefore drawn in different thickness. The format edges K1, K2, K3 lie on different circumferential points of the surface of the press roll 3. The press covering 10 is drawn in dashed line placed over the packings 30, 31, 32 and follows their surface contour. Accordingly, fine shoulders in the surface of the press covering 10 form in the region of the format edges K1, K2, K3 following their end a corresponding pressure reduction in the nip 6 is achieved when a print sheet is guided there jointly with the transfer foil web 5 contacting the press roll 3. Through the pressure reduction, no foil transfer can take place there any longer since the transfer foil 5 is no longer clamped in. This is shown here with respect to the packing 30 and for the associated format edge K1. Over the width of the press roll 3, the respectively same state is obtained for the two packings 31 and 32 with respect to their format edges K2 and K3. Thus, the transfer foil 5 is released in different circumferential positions with respect to the three working regions of the press subject. Preferentially, the transfer foil 5 in this case is divided into three part foil webs corresponding to the width of the working regions of the press subject for the format underpackings 30, 31, 32. If now for each of the part webs of the transfer foil 5 a device for clocking according to the above description is provided, each part foil web can be stopped in the transport at the time of the release when one of the format edges K1, K2, K3 passes through the nip 6 since it is then no longer clamped in the nip 6. Thus, substantial savings in the foil consumption are possible. The same applies to the following cylinder gap 27.

In Fig. 4, the guiding of the transfer foil web 5 in foil sections 5.1 and 5.2 is additionally shown in front of and after the nip 6, as has already been explained in connection with Figure 2. Flere, a tangent T on the press roll 3 through the nip 6 is shown as dash-dotted line. Flere it is evident that the angle of the foil section 5.2 on the outlet side of the transfer foil web 5 relative to the tangent line T can be greater than the one of the foil section 5.1 on the inlet side in front of the nip 6. The foil guide elements determining the respective angle of the foil sections 5.1 and 5.2 relative to the tangent line T are indicated in dashed line as guide rollers.

In the Figures 5a and 5b the arrangement of a press covering according to the invention is schematically shown on the surface of a press roll 3 shown in developed manner. Here, the surface of the press roll 3 is designated in its extension in rotation direction with a format length 38. The surface is followed by a cylinder gap 27.

In Figure 5a, on the surface of the press roll 3, a underpacking sheet 39 extended over the entire surface is arranged. Over the underpacking sheet 39, a format underpacking 30 used for the pressing during the cold foil transfer is arranged. Over the underpacking sheet 39 and the format underpacking 30 the press covering is attached. Fixing on the press roll 3 is effected with known clamping means.

As alternative, a format underpacking 31 extending over the entire surface is attached on the surface of the press roll 3. The format underpacking 31 is designed as a high-pressure plate or varnish plate of known technology. On such a high-pressure plate a press subject created with known plate production methods is worked out, which relative to the base area of the high-pressure plate extending over the format length 38 is shortened. A varnish plate of known type can be designed accordingly. The press subject forms the effective press area of the format underpacking 31 used for the pressure during the cold foil transfer based on the desired print format. The press covering 10 is attached above the format underpacking 31. Fixing the press covering 10 on the press roll 3 is also effected with known clamping means in this case. Furthermore, a underpacking sheet below the high-pressure plate or varnish plate can also be provided in the arrangement according to Figure 5b.

As already indicated further up, transition regions LI are noticeable at the respectively shown transitions from the region outside the respective defined print format or press subject to the start of the print format on the edge of the format underpackings 30 or 31 in the arrangements according to Figures 5a and 5b. The print format or press subject used in this case is called application length LA.

The transition regions LI are obtained by the transition of the support of the press covering 10 from the press roll 3 or a support like the underpacking sheet 39 or the basic region of the high-pressure plate or the stripped varnish plate as far as to the format underpackings 30 and 31 respectively.

For the transition region LI, a start-stop ramp then has to be adjusted for the acceleration and braking movement of the foil web 5 during the foil clocking. This is necessary for safety reasons in order to ensure a complete foil transfer. If in Figure 5b an arrangement without press covering 10 is shown, this transition region LI - as indicated by the dashed arrows - is almost reduced to zero. The start-stop ramp can then be very short. The start-stop ramp can be adjusted via a corresponding control software for the drive of the foil web 5 and is equally or differently adjustable for both format edges, i.e. in the start and in the rundown. In connection with the application length LA, the control parameters for the foil clocking are automatically entered via a control station or manually by operating personnel. The control of the foil clocking is then effected as a function of the format underpacking 30, 31 or of the structure of format underpacking 30, 31 and press covering 10 automatically in adapted start-stop ramps.

The previously described relationships with respect to the transition regions LI and the application length LA apply also to the arrangements according to the Figures 3, 4 and 6 to 8.

In the Figures 6 and 7, the arrangement of a press covering 10 with format underpackings 32, 33, 34 based on a print format of the same length is shown, which can have a same length in circumferential direction of the press roll 3 but are each arranged in different association with respect to the working surface of the press roll 3 extending over the format length 38 with respect to the circumferential direction of said press roll 3.

In Figure 6, three developments of the surface of the press roll 3 are shown. The effective working surface of the press roll 3 in this case is designated by limitation arrows as format length 38 which extends in the direction of the circumference of the press roll 3. The working surface of the press roll 3 in this case is limited by a cylinder gap 27, which in this case is shown on the respectively right end of the format length 38, i.e. on a print end 29 and which analogously extends on the press roll 3 as far as to a print start 28.

In each of the part figures, a format underpacking 32 or 33 or 34 is shown on the working surface of the press roll 3, wherein the same in each case covers a shorter print format for the cold foil transfer which is not extended over the entire format length 38. The press covering 10 in this case however covers the press roll 3 in each case over its entire format length 38.

In the first part figure, the format underpacking 32 extends from the print start 28 as far as to a position spaced from the print end 29. Thus, a print format for the cold foil transfer can be covered which extends over the shorter print format corresponding to the format underpacking 32, starting at the print start 28 and ending before the print end 29, of the format length 38.

In the second part figure, the format underpacking 33 extends with a distance after the print start 28 as far as to a position that is spaced from the print end 29. Thus, a print format for the cold foil transfer can be covered which extends over the shorter print format corresponding to the format underpacking 33, starting after the print start 28 and ending before the print end 29, of the format length 37.

In the third part figure, the format underpacking 34 extends with a distance after the print start 28 as far as to the print end 29. Thus, a print format for the cold foil transfer can be covered which extends over the shorter print format corresponding to the format underpacking 34, starting after the print start 28 and ending on the print end 29 of the format length 38.

In Figure 7, the arrangement of the format underpackings 32, 33, 34 in top view of the working surface of the press roll 3 shown in a developed manner is shown. The format underpacking 32 in this case is shown in a narrow working track A designated according to the first part figure from Figure 6. The format underpacking 33 in this case is shown in a narrow working track B designate according to the first part figure from Figure 6.

The format underpacking 34 in this case is shown in a narrow working track C designated according to the first part figure from Figure 6. The format underpackings 32, 33, 34 however can also extend in their respective position to the format length 38 over the entire width transversely to the movement or circumferential direction of the press roll 3.

With the shown arrangements, foil saving with areal cold foil transfer in the circumference of the distances of the format underpackings 32, 33, 34 to the print start 28 and/or to the print end 29 can be achieved with format underpackings 32, 33, 34 extending over the width of the press roll 3 since in the regions which are not covered by the format underpacking 30 and in which the cylinder gap 27 extends, the foil transport during the rotation of the press roll 3 and of the impression cylinder 4 with the print sheet can be stopped. In these regions, the transfer foil 5 is not clamped in the region of the nip 6.

In the case of format underpackings 32, 33, 34 arranged in working tracks A, B, C, corresponding foil saving can be achieved by using part foil webs of lesser width matched to the working tracks A, B, C. Here, the transport of the part foil webs in the regions previously described accordingly is stopped when the respective part foil web is not clamped between the press covering 10 on the press roll 3 and a print sheet arranged on an associated impression cylinder 4 for carrying out the foil transfer in the region of the nip 6. This functionality obviously applies to each part foil web also to the region of the cylinder gap 27.

Finally, a distributed arrangement of format underpackings 34, 35, 36 and 37 on the working surface of the press roll 3 is shown in Figure 8. The working surface is again designated by the format length 38. On the working surface of the press roll 3, the format underpackings 34 to 37 are attached in a distributed manner in a working track D, E and F each. In working track D, the format underpacking 34 is assigned nearest to the print start 28.

In the working track E, the format underpackings 35 and 36 are arranged on behind the other, wherein the format underpacking 36 is assigned nearest to the print end 29. In working track F, the format underpacking 37 is attached in a middle region between print start 28 and print end 29. The design of the effective press surfaces with the press covering 10 is schematically shown in circumferential direction of the press roll 3 on the right next to the representation of the entire working surface.

Such an arrangement can be achieved through preassembled attachment of the format underpackings 34 to 37 on an assembly packing 48. To this end, the format underpackings 34 to 37 can be designed as self-adhesive elements. They can also be attached as magnetically active adhesion means. Likewise, a high-pressure plate or a varnish plate of known technology can likewise be used here corresponding to Figure 5b, on which the format underpackings 34 to 37 are worked out accordingly. The assembly packing 48 and a corresponding high-pressure plate respectively are preferentially provided with register devices 47 for the appropriate assembly on the press roll 3. These are designed for ex ample as known register punch holes at the start of the print 28 and interact with corresponding stop devices such as for example register pins on the press roll 3. Accordingly, a prefabricated press subject can be created and easily attached in the coating module 2 on the press roll 3.

Furthermore, in connection with the register devices 47 or independently thereof, an actuating device which is not shown here can be provided in connection with the assembly packing 48. By means of such an actuating device the assembly packing 48 can be independently positioned below the press covering 10 in order to adjust the position of the press subject of the format underpackings 34 to 37 on the working surface of the press roll 3.

The embodiment according to Figure 8 is suitable in particular for use of part foil webs for the reduced cold foil transfer. The foil feed and the foil discharge of the coating module 2 are then provided with devices for unwinding and winding up of part foil webs. The part foil webs in this case are selected only as wide as predetermined by the format underpackings 34 to 37. The foil transport can then be separately stopped for each part foil web in the region of the non-raised surfaces on the press roll 3 and in the region of the cylinder gap 27.

The measures for implementing the operating mode according to the invention are simple and can be realised for popular designs of press rolls 3 in the form of forme or blanket cylinders.

The format underpackings 30 to 37 in this case can be attached over the full area or even part area (see Fig. 3, 7 and 8) in quasi any conceivable arrangement. Flere, assembly together with the press covering 10 or separately can be carried out. The format underpackings 30 to 37 can be formed as conventionally used underpacking sheets for blankets or also underpackings of self-adhesive foil that can be glued onto the surface of the press roll 3. The format underpackings 30 to 37 in this case are formed of so-called calibrated material, the thickness of which is exactly determined and the flatness of which is of a high quality in order to ensure even impression pressure for the cold foil transfer in the nip 6.

As a fundamentally advantageous and easily employable arrangement, a stripped blanket or a varnish blanket for creating the format underpackings 30 to 37 is used. Then, the blanket or the varnish plate preferentially has a metal support plate and a photopolymer surface.

As further advantageous and easily employable arrangement, the use of one or multiple underpacking sheets matched to the press subject or the application length A with a blanket as press covering 10 is provided, so that the underpacking sheets then make possible the cold foil transfer over the desired application length LA.

List of reference characters 1 Application unit 2 Coating module 3 Press roll 4 Impression cylinder 5 Transfer foil/foil web 6 Nip 7 Roller drive 8 Foil storage reel 9 Foil collection reel 10 Press covering 11 Inking/dampening unit 12 Plate cylinder 13 Blanket cylinder 14 Foil guiding device 15 Printing unit protection 16 Dryer 17 Inspection device/monitoring system 18 Dancing roller 19 Web tension monitoring 20 Web tear monitoring 21 Print cylinder blowing device 22 Drive assembly 23 Foil guide roller 24 Drive roller 25 Foil guide roller 26 Cylinder gap of the impression cylinder 27 Cylinder gap of the press roll 28 Print start 29 Print end 30 Format underpacking 31 Format underpacking 32 Format underpacking 33 Format underpacking 34 Format underpacking 35 Format underpacking 36 Format underpacking 37 Format underpacking 38 Format length 39 Underpacking sheet 40 Impression cylinder 41 Blanket cylinder 42 Blanket 43 Plate cylinder 44 Printing plate 45 Actuating device 46 Actuating device 47 Register device 48 Assembly packing 50 Printing unit 60 Nip K1 Format edge K2 Format edge K3 Format edge A Working track B Working track C Working track D Working track E Working track F Working track T Tangent, tangent line LI Transition region AL Application length

Claims

Apparatus for transferring imaging layers from a carrier foil onto printing sheets and having at least one imaging unit (1) for imaging application of a layer of adhesive to the printing sheets and an application module (2) for transferring the imaging layers from the carrier foil to the printing sheets at a transfer slot (6) between a receiving cylinder (4) and a press roller (3), and wherein the carrier sheet with the coated side - this side abutting the printing sheet - together with the printing sheet is passed through the transfer slot (6), thereby image-forming layers are imaged onto the printing sheets, and with a device for applying the transfer film (5) to the applicator (2) and to divert from the applicator (2) by means of a drive for moving the transfer film in the working direction and where the tension of the transfer film by means of a device for guiding the foil can be controlled such that the transport of the transfer foil is stopped when the transfer slot (6) of the annular work (2) does not transfer an imaging layer to a printing sheet, and wherein a guide in connection with a guide of the transfer foil (5) is designed so that the transport of the transfer foil (5) at specified times during the transport through the transfer slot (6) can be stopped, interrupted or started, and the surface of the press cylinder (3) has a press-cover member (10), which is provided with one or more, the surface of the press-cover member (10) contour of the press roll (3). -forming and extending to a perimeter of a press surface extending format substrate (30 to 37), and wherein some format substrate (30, 31, 32) is formed as calibrated rubber sheet (39) substrates, and which together with press the tire member (10) on the press roll (3) clampable backing sheets (39) for rubber cloth or which are separately held, and underneath the press tire member (10) on the press roll (3) mountable and held support sheets (39) for rubber cloth, and / or h our format supports (30 to 32) are configured as a blanket, and wherein the blanket cloths are held together with the press cover member (10) on the press roll (3) or the blanket sheets are separately held and mounted and held under the press cover member (10) on the press roller (3), and wherein the pressing surface of the press roller (3) is limited to the area to which a maximum layer is to be applied, and where the foil feeding - when an area of the press roller (3) outside the format substrates (30 to 37) is passed through it with applied layers of restricted pressure surface - can be stopped and where the pressing roller (3) - when there is a further contact with the transfer oil (5) - can slip through.

Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the transfer foil (5) is divided into one or more sub-foil webs and that the sub foil webs - positioned or adjacent to each other - can be applied to the transfer column (6) and that the sub foil webs are provided with different or imaging layers and that layers of different color and / or different luster and / or different surface texture can be produced.

Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the format substrates (30 to 32) are formed as calibrated and unilaterally adhering substrates and are affixed to the surface of the press roll (3) and can be spanned by the press cover member. (10).

Apparatus for transferring imaging layers from a carrier sheet to printing sheets, at least by means of an applicator (1) for imaging application of layers to the printing sheets with an adhesive, and with a coating application module (2) for transferring the imaging layers from the carrier sheet for the printing sheets in a transfer slot (6) between a backpressure cylinder (4) and a press roller (3), and wherein the carrier sheet with the side provided with said layer is brought into contact with the printing sheet and the latter is passed through the transfer slot (6) and wherein the imaging layers can be image-wise transferred to the printing sheet, and there is provided a device for applying transfer foil (5) to the layer applicator (2) and to discharge from the layer applicator (2) with a drive for moving the transfer foil (5) in scars. -the working direction, and wherein the conveying of the transfer foil (5) can be controlled by means of a device for guiding the foil, that the transport of transfer foil one (5) is stopped when in the transfer slot (6) of the applicator (2) there is no transfer of an imaging layer to a printing sheet, and where a guide for feeding the transfer foil (5) is arranged so that the film transport to certain times during transport of the transfer oil (5) through the transfer slot (6) can be stopped, interrupted or started, and the surface of the press cylinder (3) has a press cover member (10), which is provided with one or more, on the surface of the the contour-forming member (10) of the press roll (3) contour forming, and a format substrate (30 to 37) extending to a circumference of a pressing surface, and wherein the format substrate (31) is formed as a high-pressure mold and wherein on the high-pressure mold is formed a foil transfer area comprising, and of one or more parts of the blank, that the format substrate on the surface of the press roll (3) is arranged tightly or adhesively and formed so that it can be held separately or can be clamped together with the press cover member (10) on the press roll (3) and the format supports can be covered and the press surface of the press roll (3) is limited to the area which can be applied maximum to layers and where the foil feed - by passing through an area of the press roller (3) outside the format surface (30 to 37) to the pressing surface limited to the rear guide area - can be stopped and where the press roller (3) can slide smoothly through with further contact with the transfer film (5).

Apparatus for transferring imaging layers from a carrier sheet to printing sheets, and having at least one applicator (1) for producing an image coating on printing sheets with an adhesive, and with a layer application module (2) for transferring imaging layers from a a carrier sheet for printing sheets in a transfer slot (6) between a backpressure cylinder (4) and a press roller (3), and wherein the carrier sheet with applied layer is brought into abutment against the printing sheet, and along with this is passed through the transfer slot (6), the imaging layers have been transferred to the printing sheets and there is provided a device for applying transfer foil (5) to layer applicator (2) and to dissipate the foil from the layer applicator (2), by means of a drive for moving the transfer foil ( 5) in a working direction and wherein the transfer of the transfer film (5) can be controlled by means of a device for conveying the film in such a way that the transport of transfer the ring foil is stopped if in the transfer slot (6) of the applicator (2) there is no transfer of an imaging layer to a printing sheet, and where a control in connection with a guide of the transfer foil (5) is arranged so that the foil transport for a fixed time during the transport of this film (5) through the transfer slot (6) can be stopped, interrupted or can be started, and wherein the surface of the press cylinder (3) has a press-cover member (10), which is provided with one or more, on the pressing surface of the press. the contour-forming press of the roll (3) (10), and extending to a certain outline of a press surface extending format substrate, and wherein the format substrates (33 to 37) are formed as single members, that the format substrates (33 to 37) are formed unilaterally adherent, and that the format supports (33 to 37) are loosely adhered to the surface of the press roller (3) and that an adhesive or magnetic adhesive is provided and is overlaid by means of the press-cover means (10), and wherein the pressing surface of the press roll (3) is limited to the layered area, and the foil feeding - through a region of the press roll (3) outside the by means of the format substrates (30 to 37), to the pressing surface limited by the applied layer - can be stopped and where the pressing roller (3) can slide smoothly under further contact with the transfer foil (5).

Apparatus according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the format substrates (30 to 37) or a mounting substrate (48) having a format substrate (33 to 37) or a format substrate (31) of the kind which is a kind of high pressure plate - is positionably positioned by the press roller (3) by means of registering devices (47).

Apparatus according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the format substrates (30 to 37) or a mounting substrate (48) with a format substrate (33 to 37) or a format substrate (31) of the type which is a high pressure plate , is positionably positioned by means of an adjusting device and optional additional registering devices (47) on the working surface of the press roller (3) and opposite or together with the press cover member (10).

Apparatus according to Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, for the film web (5), controllable transport devices for braking and acceleration are arranged as the film transfer process is processed and that some transport devices (22, 33) are formed as roll pairs. which can squeeze the foil web (5) and that the roller pairs can be driven at least partially.

9th

A method of applying layers to printing sheets in a sheet-forming machine, in particular a sheet-rotating printing machine using an image-forming layer and a carrier sheet transfer film (5) for transferring image-forming layers from the carrier sheet to the printing sheets, and - wherein at least one applicator (1) applies images to a print sheet with an adhesive, and - by means of a coating application module (2), transferring the imaging layers from the carrier foil to the printing sheets and wherein the coating application module (2), a receiving cylinder (4) and a pressing cylinder (3) form a common transfer slot (6) through which the transfer film (5) can be guided under pressure in such a way that it can be applied to a layered side. the printing sheet inserted on the backpressure cylinder (4) - and where the image-forming layer (s) - after the printing sheet has emerged from the transfer slot (6) - then in the area provided with pictures which is provided adhesive nets, surface conformally adhered to the printing sheet and removed from the carrier sheet, and wherein the transfer film in the transfer slot (6) - at least in the region where the image layer (s) is located - is pressed against the printing sheets and - where a partial elevation of the surface of a press cover member (10) on a press roll (3) is provided by inserting format supports (30 to 37) under the press cover member (10) on the press roll (3) - and this in an area, where the press surface is designed as a pressed blank (ty: Press suction). - in which one or more format substrates (30 to 37) are tensioned separately or in connection with the press-cover member (10) or - by means of a mounting base (48) - held on the surface of the press roll (3), and the mounting layer (3) 48) is comprised of magnetic foil, adhesive foil or a blanket on which the format supports (30 to 37) can be placed so that they are adhered - and thus to give them as a press blank a press surface which can be adapted to the surface expansions in connection with the pictorial and - wherein the transfer foil (5) is passed through the transfer slot (6) only when a contact is provided between a transfer foil (5) which rests on the press-over-cover member (10) on that on the format substrates (30 to 37). on the surface of the pressing roller (3) - and a pressing material disposed against the backpressure cylinder (4), and - where the transfer film (5) is enclosed and / or viewed axially in relation to the pressing roller (3) only to the transfer slot (6) ) by means of areas having pressurized, circumferential or axially extending sections.