EP1682351A1

EP1682351A1 - Method and device for combined printing

Info

Publication number: EP1682351A1
Application number: EP04797748A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lappe Kurt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-11-14
Filing date: 2004-11-10
Publication date: 2006-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2024-11-10
Also published as: ES2511741T3; US20070234919A1; EP1682351B2; WO2005049322A1; PL1682351T3; JP4850713B2; JP2007510560A; EP1682351B1; RU2006120562A; RU2363588C2; PL1682351T5; DK1682351T4; KR101127020B1; CN100453315C; DK1682351T3; CN1878674A; ES2511741T5; KR20070024459A

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and to a device for the production of printed products which are printed according to various methods. The invention also relates to a method for the production of printed products by combining various immediately successive processing steps, in order to provide a printing method and a device which enables various methods to be used on the same printed products in immediately successive working steps. The printed products, which are produced in one of the steps of the method in a film printing method, are coated with a film (10) in predetermined positions and are provided with a structure and or are stamped in another step of the method in a structure method and/or stamping method. The printed products to be produced undergo the steps of the method without intermediate storage.

Description

Method and device for combination printing

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing printed products which are printed using different methods.

Printing devices are known per se and are used extensively. Printing documents, i.e. paper, cardboard, foils and the like, are fed as sheet or roll goods through roller / cylinder gaps past inking units. In the inking units, ink is transferred to the surface of the print substrate using different transfer methods. These methods include, for example, offset printing, screen printing and the like.

Furthermore, film printing processes are known per se from the prior art. It is common to all known film printing processes that a film is partially applied under pressure and permanently fixed on a printing substrate, such as paper, cardboard or film as sheet or roll goods. In particular, films with gold or silver sheen, e.g. B. so-called transfer films, but also printing films in various colors with high-gloss or silk-gloss surfaces are known.

The printing foil is usually applied to the base using the technique of stamping foil printing. In its basic form, this printing technique is similar to a letterpress process and is similar in this respect to letterpress printing. The crucial common feature is that the printing parts of the printing form are higher than the surrounding non-printing parts. During the printing process, the printing form is heated indirectly and kept at a constant temperature. The printing medium which passes from the printing film to the base during the printing process consists of a printing film layer in the form of a thin, multilayer dry film which is detachably fastened on a mostly transparent carrier film by means of a separating layer. For its part, the printing film layer has a two-layer structure with silver-colored aluminum vapor deposition and a mostly colored lacquer layer. This double layer of printing film is finally provided with a synthetic resin coating that is adhesive when heated.

During the printing process, the printing film is passed through the printing unit together with the support to be printed, the pressure film layer being detached from the carrier film and transferred to the support by the contact pressure of the heated printing form at the locations determined by the elevated elements of the printing form. The heat transferred from the printing form evaporates, on the one hand, the separating layer between the carrier film and the printing film layer, so that the latter easily detaches from the carrier film. On the other hand, the synthetic resin layer is activated under the action of heat from dry to sticky, so that the synthetic resin layer forms an adhesive layer between the base and the printing film layer. As a result, the printing film layer, for example in the form of a gold-glossy layer, permanently adheres to the base at the locations specified by the printing form.

A disadvantage of this known film printing process is that the manufacture and installation of the printing form, i. H. of the cliché, requires a very long preparation and setup time. Since the preparation and set-up time can make up almost half of the total production time, the known film printing process is very time-consuming overall and is therefore associated with high production costs. In addition, heating is common, sometimes to over 200 ° C, which results in very high energy costs.

To overcome the aforementioned disadvantages, EP 0 578 706 B1 has already proposed a film printing process in which a carrier film, a transfer layer and a separating layer arranged between carrier film and transfer layer are placed on a substrate to be printed under pressure having transfer film is placed, the surface of the base being provided with an adhesive layer for the transfer layer at the locations provided for the film support in a process step upstream of the film layer and the base with the transfer layer adhering thereto by means of the adhesive layer in a method step downstream of the film layer the pressure during the film overlay is exposed to contact pressure. This process is referred to as a film transfer process.

With this film transfer or film printing process, there is no need to create a printing form beforehand. H. of a cliché. The transfer of the transfer layer also does not take place through the partial application of pressure in the area of the raised areas of the printing form or the cliché. Rather, even before the process step of film application, the substrate intended for film printing is provided with a partial adhesive layer, for example an adhesive layer, which then takes over the transfer layer from the transfer film at the relevant points within the printing unit. Since the adhesive layer is already on the base before the actual printing process, the synthetic resin layer present in the known transfer films can be omitted. Finally, it is also no longer necessary to heat the printing surfaces, since if the synthetic resin layer on the transfer film is eliminated, there is also no need to heat it in order to bring about the adhesive effect.

In order to establish a permanent connection between the base and the transfer layer, the film overlay, i. H. the actual printing process subsequent process step the pad with the transfer layer thereon exposed to a contact pressure that significantly exceeds the pressure during the film application.

Although the above-described film printing method according to EP 0 578 706 B1 has proven itself in practice, it is disadvantageous that further processing, e.g. B. printing, embossing or the like, which can not be carried out with a transfer layer provided in a simple manner. It is namely necessary to temporarily store the base at a separate location after the transfer layer has been applied, whereby if necessary, it is cut to size beforehand. Subsequently, the base provided with a transfer layer is in a separate operation of another processing device, for. B. a printing device, mitteis which then further processing, z. B. printing of the pad can be made. Both the intermediate storage of the underlay provided with a transfer layer and the additional work step of feeding the underlay into a further processing device is not only time-consuming but also cost-intensive, because it is necessary to work with a high degree of accuracy so that it is furthermore separate processing operation to be carried out is precisely matched to both the base and the transfer layer applied to the base. In the past there have been deviations and misprints with regard to the further processing of the more frequent process, which disadvantageously has resulted in a high level of rejects, which is very cost-intensive, particularly in view of the underlay already provided with a transfer layer.

The same applies if the print material to be coated is pretreated, e.g. B. are pre-printed or pre-embossed. Here, too, a completely separate second process is required in order to transfer the pretreated printing documents to the film transfer after the finishing of the processing processes, including any drying, packaging and the like that may be required.

Against the background of the prior art described, the invention is based on the object of providing a printing method and a device which enable the application of different methods to the same printed products in directly successive operations.

On the process side, the invention for the technical solution to this problem proposes a method for producing printed products by combining different, immediately successive processing methods, the printed products to be produced being coated with a film at predetermined positions in one process step in a film printing process and in one another process stage in a structural and / or embossing processes are provided with a structure and / or embossing, the printed products to be produced passing through the process stages one after the other without intermediate storage.

The method according to the invention is characterized by its in-line implementation. The individual process steps for handling the documents are connected in direct succession and can be carried out in one process run. In contrast to the prior art, it is therefore no longer necessary to temporarily store the base provided with a film or transfer layer at a separate location, in order to then carry out additional processing of the base in a further operation. Rather, the method according to the invention allows the method to be carried out continuously, the result of which is a base coated with a transfer film or a transfer layer, which is additionally additionally provided with a structure and / or embossing. According to the invention, the film printing process and the structure and / or embossing process are therefore coupled to one another in a coordinated manner.

According to a first alternative of the invention, it is provided that the printed products to be produced are first film-coated and then provided with a structure and / or embossing. As an alternative to this, it can be provided that the printed products to be produced are first provided with a structure and / or embossing and then coated with film. In any case, however, the method according to the invention is carried out continuously in-line, that is to say the film printing method is either upstream or downstream of the structure and / or embossing process. The print products to be produced are not stored temporarily.

Embossing in the sense of the invention is to be understood to mean that the base, whether or not it is already coated with a film, is provided with elevations and / or depressions. The elevations and / or depressions can optionally form any pattern in their overall appearance. It is conceivable, for example, that all those areas of the base which are coated with a film are formed as an elevation and / or depression either before or after the film coating. The formation of a structure in the sense of the invention means that the base is provided with a uniform pattern of elevations and / or depressions either before or after a film coating. For example, a structure can be designed in such a way that the base is provided with linear, elevations and / or depressions which run lengthways, crossways and in some other way and which are arranged at the same distance from one another. Of course, other patterns can also be formed, the. There are no limits to your imagination. The only thing that matters is that the structuring takes place as part of a continuous process implementation.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the printed products to be produced are printed with color in a further process step in a printing step having at least one inking unit. The printed product to be produced can be color-printed before or after the film coating or before or after the embossing process. According to these procedural alternatives, the base previously provided with a film or transfer layer and a structure or embossing can first be dried and thus prepared for the subsequent printing process. After drying, the substrate with a film or transfer layer and a structure or embossing is then printed. The result of this process implementation is a base provided with a film or transfer layer and a structure or embossing, as well as additional printing, which can then be cut to size as required and, if necessary, further processed for a desired determination. In any case, in contrast to the prior art, it is not necessary to carry out the application of the film or transfer layer, the formation of the structure and / or embossing, and the printing of the base in individual, complex process steps. In this respect, the method according to the invention is much easier to carry out and is also much less expensive.

In a modification of the previously described alternative method, it can also be provided that the substrate is printed in a method step immediately preceding the application of the film or the transfer layer and then dried. Then a structure and / or imprint on the already printed underlay and provided with a transfer film. This process variant is also characterized by its in-line process implementation. In contrast to the first-mentioned alternative, however, it is provided according to this implementation of the method that additional printing on the base is carried out in advance of a transfer layer application or a process for forming a structure and / or embossing. It is provided that the base is first printed in a first process step. Then the printed substrate is dried in a drying process. The printed base is then provided with a film or transfer layer and a structure and / or embossing in the manner described above. Of course, it can also be provided that the printing process is first followed by the embossing process before the then printed and embossed base is provided with a film or transfer layer. As a result, according to this implementation of the method, there is also a base which has a film or transfer layer and is additionally provided with printing and a structure or embossing. A multi-part process implementation is also not necessary in this alternative process variant, so that the same advantages arise as in the previously described first process variants.

It goes without saying that it is within the scope of the invention that the sequence and frequency of the individual process steps can be varied as desired. For example, the base can first be provided with an embossing, then with printing and finally with a transfer film. The printing can be, for example, a multi-color print, in which printing of the original takes place in a variety of color / printing units in a manner known per se from the prior art, in each case with the necessary steps such as drying and the like. It is essential that, with regard to printing or film printing, the finished products in the respective process step are dried to such an extent that the product is still in-iine, that is to say without the, for further processing of any kind as an intermediate product Interim storage is necessary. Even if further pressure stages follow after the transfer foil coating or further foil transfer stages are carried out, this can be done in any Order and frequency occur. The same applies to the structure and / or embossing process. After a printing process, a film transfer process or a structure and / or embossing process, however, the intermediate product status is always set first. For this reason, according to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the printed products to be produced are dried in a further process step, the drying taking place after the film coating and / or after the color printing. In this case - as described above - several film coatings and / or several color prints can be provided, with drying following each film coating and / or after each color print.

According to a further proposal of the invention, the drying process can be carried out by means of infrared radiation, blower admission and / or similar methods. The drying process is of importance for the implementation of the process insofar as the subsequent processing step can be carried out with dimensional accuracy and the incorrect execution of the process does not occur as a result of a substrate which may still be wet. The application of blower or infrared radiation has proven to be particularly suitable for the drying process. Other drying options are of course also suitable and can be used as required, depending on the process. However, the methods mentioned are characterized by their effectiveness while at the same time minimizing costs.

According to a further proposal of the invention, the transfer film to be fed to the base during the process implementation is fed in an additional process step to a spreader roll equipped with lamellas. It is hereby achieved that the transfer film is smoothed and also stretched in the width direction, which advantageously enables an improved formation of the print image caused by the transfer layer. According to a particular advantage of the invention, it is provided that the spreader roll is shorter than the width of the film transfer unit. Spreader rolls are usually rolls covered with rubber-like lamellae. As a rule, these lamellae each point from the center plane of the roller outside to the ends of the rollers. This means that material passed over these rollers is always stretched outwards, that is to say in width, by the pressure applied by the lamellae. If the full printing or transfer width of a device is now not to be used, an spreader roller can be used, for example, which is asymmetrical. If only half the transfer width is used, the center will lie after about a quarter of the length of the spreader roll, from which slats extend at the end or center of the roll. This means that only half the width of a system can be used. The second half of the spreader roller can for example be designed without any lamella formation.

The method according to the invention makes it possible to use a smooth, possibly elastic pressure surface for the action of the film. The size of the pressure during the film application should advantageously be such that it is not sufficient to press the edges of the film into the substrate. However, the pressure must be large enough to partially or flatly detach the transfer layer from the carrier material.

In order to enable the film printing process to be carried out continuously, it is proposed in a further development of the process that the film overlay takes place between two rolls of a transfer calender running in opposite directions. It is also advantageous to apply the required contact pressure between two rollers running in opposite directions in order to ensure that the transfer layer is finally fixed.

If, according to an embodiment of the method, the base is provided with the adhesive layer in a single or multi-color unit, a commercially available printing unit can be used for this part of the method, so that relatively low acquisition and operating costs are incurred. The primer can be used to cover the adhesive layer if the underlay is too absorbent. A two-color printing unit is particularly suitable for this. With a two-color printing unit, a two-component adhesive can also be applied well as an adhesive layer for the transfer film. A structure and / or embossing calender is preferably provided to form a structure and / or embossing. This calender has counter-rotating rollers arranged one above the other in the vertical direction, which are arranged at a distance from one another, the base to be provided with a structure or an embossing being fed to the rollers and being passed through the nip which forms. It goes without saying that the gap width between the at least two rollers can be set optionally. One of the two rollers is equipped with a comparatively hard surface, whereas the other roller has a comparatively less hard surface and is formed, for example, from an elastic material, for example rubber. The harder of the two rollers has the pattern to be embossed on the base in negative form. The other roller opposite this roller serves as a pressure roller and presses the base to be provided with a structure and / or embossing pattern against the embossing roller. The result is a base provided with a structure or an embossing, which can be provided with a transfer film and / or a print as described above as part of the further in-line process implementation.

According to a further feature of the invention it can be provided that the pad is printed with a circuit. Such a circuit can, for example, comprise conductor tracks, which can be used as an electronic unit. The application of a circuit or multiple circuits can be upstream, downstream or intermediate to the above-described method steps. There is no limitation here.

According to a further feature of the invention, the underlay can also be provided with security motifs. Security motifs in the sense of the invention can be motifs that are not visible under normal conditions, such as daylight. These motifs only become visible under UV radiation, for example. Such security motifs can serve, for example, as an authenticity criterion. The formation of security motifs can also be connected upstream, downstream or in-between the previously described method steps. For the application of circuits and / or Security motifs are suitable for structural calenders, embossing calenders, embossing plants and printing units.

The film printing process has proven to be particularly suitable for the formation of circuits. A carrier film provided with copper as the transfer layer is used as the transfer film. In addition to copper, other conductive materials can of course also be considered. The only decisive factor is that the print image formed by the foil printing reproduces the conductor tracks to be applied to the documents in order to form the desired circuit.

Another fundamental problem with regard to the technology described arises from the construction of the printing cylinders. For example, these have a standard circumference of 920 mm, but only 720 mm are available as a pressure zone. The grippers for the printing foils are arranged in the remaining 200 mm. In the case of pressure cylinders, one speaks of the so-called channel zone in relation to the 200 mm mentioned, which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis essentially over the entire length of the cylinder. If the described carrier film provided with the transfer layer now continuously runs completely around the printing cylinder for the purpose of transfer, there is a dead space of 200 mm every 720 mm, which cannot be used for transfer purposes. This is after all over 20%, so that there is also a corresponding loss of film, since these areas ultimately become rejects. Completely independent of the solutions, advantages and features described, the present invention provides an independent solution to this problem. This consists in the fact that it is provided on the process side that the film advance of the transfer film can be controlled independently of the rotation of the printing cylinder. For this purpose, it is provided on the process side that the transfer film is briefly stopped and / or even guided in opposite directions with respect to the rotation of the printing cylinder. In an advantageous manner, the transfer film can be lifted off the printing cylinder at least in regions for the stated purpose. The printing cylinder then runs, for example, over the 200 mm described relative to the fixed or even transported film, and the channel zone does not necessarily produce a film scrap. This presented solution is described by all others in the present application Solutions can also be used independently with transfer plants belonging to the state of the art.

On the device side, the technical solution to the above-mentioned object is a device for producing printed products by combining different processing processes that follow one another directly, comprising at least one structure and / or embossing calender and at least one film transfer device.

Furthermore, according to a further proposal of the invention, a printing device having at least one inking unit can be provided, which is connected in series with the film transfer device and the structure and / or embossing calender.

According to the invention, a device suitable for carrying out the process is created with at least one structure and / or embossing calender and at least one printing unit, which has a transfer film feed, a transfer film discharge and a printing gap, on the one hand, delimited by a printing area and, on the other hand, by a counter area for the passage of a base to be printed together with the through the transfer film feed provided transfer film, further provided are an upstream of the printing unit adhesive with an adhesive member provided in the base with an adhesive layer and a downstream pressing unit with a press nip on the one hand by a press surface and on the other hand by a press counter surface to pass the printed Document. This device is supplemented by a drying device downstream of the pressing unit and a printing device downstream of the drying device. Additionally or alternatively, a printing device upstream of the adhesive mechanism and a drying device arranged between the printing device and the adhesive mechanism are also provided. The structure and / or embossing calender can also be connected upstream or downstream of either the printing device or the film transfer device.

The device variants described above advantageously enable the method according to the invention to be carried out in-line. It is according to A first alternative embodiment provides that a drying device is connected upstream or downstream of the pressing unit. The purpose of the drying device is to dry the base provided with a film or transfer layer and thus prepare it for a further processing operation. Such drying can be carried out by means of blowers or by means of infrared radiation. The drying process is followed by printing or embossing of the base already provided with a film or transfer layer, for which purpose the drying device is followed by a printing device or a structure and / or embossing calender. The printing device can be formed from an upper roller and a lower roller, the upper roller preferably serving for the actual printing process, whereas the lower roller is designed as a counter roller to the upper roller so as to be able to ensure a sufficient contact pressure of the upper roller.

According to a further alternative device, it can be provided that the base, before it is provided with a film or transfer layer in the manner described above, is printed in an upstream printing process and embossed in an embossing process downstream of the printing process. For this purpose it is provided that a printing device is connected upstream of the gluing unit. Before the base is provided with an adhesive layer and then with a film or transfer layer, the base is printed and embossed. To ensure that the adhesive layer can be properly applied after the printing of the base, a drying device is provided between the printing device and the adhesive unit. This causes the pre-printed underlay to dry before it is subsequently provided with an adhesive layer. Of course, it is also possible to first emboss the underlay in one embossing process, then to print it and finally to provide it with a transfer film.

According to a particular advantage of the invention, the individual assemblies of the film transfer machine are arranged in-line one behind the other, which enables an in-line process implementation with the advantages already prescribed. According to a further feature of the invention, a spreader roller equipped with lamellae is part of the film transfer machine according to the invention. According to a further feature of the invention, the spreader roller can be designed asymmetrically with regard to its lamella arrangement. That is, as described for the method, the part of the spreader roller provided with lamellas cannot extend over the full length of the spreader roller and can be arranged asymmetrically to the central plane of the roller. In this way, sections of the system can be used.

The film transfer machine is thereby designed in such a way that the pressing surface and the pressing counter surface are formed by two smooth-surface rollers of a printing calender. The printing surface and the counter surface are preferably also located on smooth-surface rollers, which in this case form a transfer calender.

In a further embodiment, the printing unit and the pressing unit form a structural unit, wherein the upstream adhesive unit can be designed as a single-color or multi-color unit known per se.

A single or multi-color unit, printing or transfer unit and press unit together form the one that enables inline film transfer

Foiling machine. It is readily possible to assign this film transfer machine to a continuous printing press, web printing press or label printing press as downstream in the sense of inline production. The machine unit composed of the printing unit and the pressing unit can also be connected downstream of existing printing units or adhesive application machines as an additional unit.

In relation to the method, an invention has been described which is independent of all other solutions, advantages and features with regard to bridging the channel zone of the printing cylinder. In order to allow the printing cylinder to advance relative to the stationary or even returned film at least over the area of the channel zone of 200 mm without advancing the transfer film, it is proposed on the device side to guide the transfer film over the printing cylinder via so-called dancers. These are waves with displaceable Axes. A curve control, preferably a drum curve control and a corresponding drive, can be used to adjust at least one of the dancers used relative to the film by shifting the axis in order to control the tension on the transfer film in this way. This makes it possible for the printing cylinder to be able to run empty at least over a circumferential area with respect to the transfer film. In addition, the transfer film can be guided relative to the printing cylinder in such a way that it only rests on the printing cylinder in the transfer nip in order to reduce the friction surfaces. This results in almost any controllability of the film feed compared to the printing cylinder. These device-side solutions are independent of the above-described solutions, advantages and features of the invention and represent an independent invention.

Further details and advantages of the subject matter of the invention result from the following description of the associated drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention and the device according to the invention are shown. The representations in the drawings do not reflect the actual proportions. In detail show:

1 shows a simplified, partially sectioned side view of a printing unit according to a first embodiment;

2 shows a simplified, partially sectioned side view of an integrable printing unit according to a second embodiment;

3 shows a simplified, partially sectioned side view of an integrable printing unit according to a third embodiment;

4 shows a partially sectioned side view of an asymmetrically designed spreader roller;

Fig. 5 in a shortened detail view of a printing unit and the press unit according to FIGS. 1 and 2 and 6 is a partial top view of the printing unit corresponding to FIG. 4.

The printing unit shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 consists of several individual assemblies. These are the gluing unit 1, the transfer or printing unit 7, the pressing unit 8, the drying unit .26, the printing unit 29, the structure and / or embossing calender 33 and the smoothing unit formed by spreader rollers 23.

The adhesive unit 1 shown in the figures consists of a conventional two-color printing unit which, in the context of the invention, is used for the partial coating of a base 2 to be printed with a thin adhesive layer 3, for example a thin one- or two-component adhesive film. For this purpose, the gluing unit 1 has, among other things, a lower roller 4 and an upper roller 5, the upper roller 5 serving as an adhesive member being designed as a blanket cylinder which partially applies the adhesive film according to a predefined pattern to the base passed through the gap between lower roller 4 and upper roller 5 2, e.g. B. transmits a paper or cardboard strip.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the gluing mechanism 1 is followed by the transfer or printing mechanism 7 and the pressing mechanism 8 in the transport direction 32. In the exemplary embodiments shown, both are integrated in a system and housed in a housing 6. Individual stages, modular arrangements and the like can of course also be implemented here, since functional integrity is also important, not structural one.

In the printing unit 7, a transfer film 10 wound on a supply roll 9 is partially transferred to the base 2, which is guided through the printing unit 7 in a printing nip formed by two rollers. For this purpose, the transfer film 10 is guided via two tensioning rollers 11 to a smooth, possibly elastic printing roller 12 and then passes via an intermediate roller 13 to a collecting roller 14. The printing roller 12 runs under the interposition of the base 2 and the transfer foil 10 with a defined pressure on a chromed one Counter roll 15 and forms together with this a transfer calender. In the exemplary embodiments, the optional press unit 8 also consists of a quiver with two rollers, of which the upper roller forms a smooth-surface press roller 16 and the lower roller forms an equally smooth-surface press counter-roller 17. The contact pressure generated between the pressure roller 16 and the pressure counter-roller 17 considerably exceeds the pressure between the pressure roller 12 and the counter-roller 15.

According to a first alternative device, which is shown in FIG. 1, a drying device 26, a printing device 29 and a structure and / or embossing calender 33 are connected upstream or downstream of the pressing unit 8 in the transport direction 32. In the transfer unit, the film 10 is smoothed in width by spreader rolls 23. Due to the roller guide, the length is smoothed anyway. In this way it is ensured that a smoothed film carrier web is introduced for the transfer between the pressure roller 12 and the counter roller 15. A spreader roll 23 can also be arranged in the discharge area in order to keep the film carrier smooth, in order to avoid warping or folding in the area of the pressure roll. The underlay 20 provided with the transfer layer 20 passes through the drying device 26 before it reaches the printing device 29. By means of blower or infrared radiation, the underlay 2 provided with the transfer layer 20 is dried in the drying device 26, which serves, in particular, to apply to the underlay 2 completely dry out previously applied adhesive layer 3. This drying process is necessary insofar as subsequent printing of the base 2 provided with a transfer layer 20 can be carried out properly in-line, that is to say without intermediate storage of the base 2 provided with a transfer layer 20. This printing process takes place in the printing device 29 downstream of the drying unit 26 in the transport direction 32. This printing device 29 is preferably formed from an upper roller 30 and a lower roller 31, the surface 30 preferably carrying out the actual printing of the base 2, whereas the lower roller 31 is designed as a counter roller to the upper roller 30 and the production of what is necessary for the printing through the surface Back pressure serves. For the sake of clarity, the representation of inking units and other print templates and the like has been omitted, since these are known per se from the prior art. A structure and / or embossing calender 33 is arranged between drying unit 26 and printing device 29. This structure and / or embossing calender 33 serves to provide the structure 2 with a structure and / or embossing pattern with a previously provided and dried transfer layer 20. Subsequent to the embossing process, the base 2 is printed by means of the printing device 29, as described above.

The structure and / or embossing calender 33 consists of a rubber roller 34 or also a steel cylinder, which serves as a pressure roller, and a structure and / or embossing roller 35, the surface of which is the structure to be embossed into the base 2 or the embossing to be embossed into the base 2 in negative form.

As can also be seen in FIG. 1, the drying unit 26 consists of an upper part 27 and a lower part 28. The underlayer passed through the film transfer machine can thus be dried on both sides in one process step. Alternatively, provision can also be made for only one upper part 27 or only one lower part 28 to be provided, but in order to achieve a sufficient drying process, it may then be necessary to make the drying device 26 correspondingly long in the longitudinal direction of transport 32.

2 shows the printing unit according to the invention in accordance with a second embodiment. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, it is provided according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2 that the substrate 2 is printed on before a transfer layer 20 is transferred from the film 10 to it. For this purpose it is provided that the printing device 29 is connected upstream of the adhesive mechanism 1 in the transport direction 32. In the manner already described, printing is carried out on the base 2, which, in contrast to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, is not yet provided with a transfer layer 20. In order to be able to properly ensure the application of the adhesive 3 and a subsequent placement of the transfer layer 20, a drying device 26 is provided immediately downstream of the printing unit 29. In the manner already described, this consists of an upper part 27 and a lower part 28, preferably using the drying device for infrared drying or drying by means of a blower is carried out. The printed and dried base 2 is then fed to the gluing unit 1 and the transfer layer 20 is subsequently applied to the base 2 already printed in the manner already described. Furthermore, spreader rollers 23 are provided which stretch the transfer layer 20 in the width direction of the base 2 in order to ensure proper formation of the transfer layer 20.

In contrast to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, it is additionally provided according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2 that the base 2 to be further printed and provided with a transfer film 20 is first provided with an embossing, for which purpose the printing device 29 in the transport direction 32 a structural and / or embossing calender 33 is connected upstream. The structure and / or embossing calender 33 comprises, as already described above, a rubber roller 34 on the one hand and a structure and / or embossing roller 35 on the other hand. The other components of the structural and / or embossing calender 33 have not been shown for reasons of clarity.

3 shows a further embodiment variant of the invention. According to this alternative, the structural and / or embossing calender 33 is connected upstream of the adhesive unit 1. The transfer or printing unit 7, the pressing unit 8, the drying unit 26 and the printing unit 29 follow the adhesive unit 1 in the manner already described. In the course of carrying out the method according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3, the base 2 is first provided with an embossing. The adhesive 3 then follows, followed by the application of the transfer film 20. The base 2 provided with a transfer film 20 is then dried and finally printed. The procedure described above is particularly suitable if the embossments introduced into the base 2 by means of the structural and / or embossing calender 33 are subsequently to be provided either with a transfer film 20 or printed.

4 shows a spreader roll 23 in an exemplary embodiment. The spreader roll 23 is formed from a drum body 24 which is equipped with asymmetrically arranged slats 25. The asymmetrical arrangement of the Slats .25 is provided if a base is only partially covered with a transfer layer 20 or only narrow templates are printed. It goes without saying that the symmetry of the spreader roller can be chosen according to the specifications. So half, quarter widths and the like, but also use of only a middle roller area and the like can be provided.

The implementation of the film overlay of the transfer film 10 within the printing unit is shown in the left part of FIG. 5. The transfer film 10, which is only about 12 μm thick, is composed of a total of three layers. The innermost layer lying directly on the printing roller 12 is designed as a carrier film 18, on which a transfer layer 20 is arranged over a separating layer 19 serving as an adhesive base. The transfer layer 20 can therefore be detached from the carrier film 18 relatively easily. The transfer layer 20, in turn, is in most cases made up of two layers and consists of a thin, vapor-deposited aluminum layer and, for example, a colored lacquer layer. However, this two-day structure of the transfer layer 20 is not expressly shown in the drawing.

When the film support is carried out, the support 2 to be printed is passed at the peripheral speed of the printing roller 12 or counter-roller 15 through the printing nip formed between these two rollers, the transfer film 10 carried on the surface of the printing roller 12 being partially transferred to the support 2. This transfer takes place exclusively at those points of the base 2 which have been provided with the adhesive layer 3 within the upstream adhesive unit. It is also not the transfer film 10 as a whole that is transferred to the base 2, but only the transfer layer 20 that is easily detachable from the carrier film 18. When leaving the printing unit 7, the transfer layer 20 sticks to the base at the locations previously provided with the adhesive layer 3 2. The transfer layer 20 is designed, for example, as a gold foil, the aluminum layer producing the metallizing effect, while the gold coloring is produced by the yellow to ocher-colored lacquer layer. In some applications it may be necessary, in order to give the film support carried out in this way in the printing unit 7 to the required durability, to subsequently guide the base 2 with the transfer layer 20 adhering to it between the press roll 16 and the press counter roll 17 of the press unit 8 of the calender unit. In most cases, this unity can be dispensed with. While the pressure in the printing unit 7 only has to be sufficient to ensure the film support, ie the transfer of the transfer layer 20 from the carrier film 1.8 to the base 2, the contact pressure causing an intimate connection between the transfer layer 20 and the base 2 is significantly higher in the press unit 8.

The implementation of the film overlay in the printing unit 7 is shown in FIG. 6 for a printing example. In the context of a continuous printing, the base 2 consists in each case of a printing sheet 21 having 4x5 fields. For illustration purposes, the printing sheet 21 is provided with five different printing motifs 22 which are repeated four times for each printing sheet 21. In the left part of FIG. 6, the printing sheets 21 are shown with the printing roller 12 in the state before they pass through the printing unit. In the area of the individual print motifs 22, the printed sheet 21 is already provided with the partial adhesive layer 3. After leaving the printing roller 12, the printing sheets 21 are provided with the transfer layer 20 in the region of the partial adhesive layers 3 and thus form the finished printing motifs 22. In each case in the region of the printing motifs 22, the transfer film 10 lying on the printing roller 12 lacks the transfer layer 20, such as this is shown in the right part of FIG. 5.

Instead of the transfer film 10 shown in FIG. 6, which extends over almost the entire width of the transfer calender composed of pressure roller 12 and counter roll 15, a plurality of individual webs of transfer film can also be used. This is particularly recommended when the print motifs 22 are only distributed over part of the web width. To save on transfer foils, it is also possible to separate the transport of the transfer film from the transport of the base at least temporarily by opening the transfer calender and to guide the transfer film in cycles. Several narrow film webs can also be used or the transfer calender can be subjected to intermittent pressure. The print motifs 22 shown by way of example in FIG. 6 can, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 described above, embossed, that is, protruding or indented in relation to the plane of the base 2.

The exemplary embodiments described serve only for explanation and are not restrictive. In particular, the units according to the invention can vary with regard to the sequence, frequency of switching between conventional printing and film transfer and the like. In addition, it is within the scope of the invention that the use of a calender after the film transfer is optional. This is only necessary if, for example, the film has to be feared to float on adhesive or other post-processing is required.

LIST OF REFERENCES

1 gluing unit

2 pad

3 adhesive layer

4 bottom roller

5 top roller

6 housing

7 transfer or printing unit

8 press

9 supply roll

10 transfer film

11 tension pulley

12 pressure roller

13 intermediate roller

14 Collecting role

15 counter roller

16 press roll

17 press counter roller support film

Interface

transfer layer

sheet

print motifs

Spreader roll

drum body

slats

drying device

Upper part Lower part Printing device Upper roller Lower roller Transport direction Textured and / or embossing calender Rubber roller Textured and / or embossing roller

Claims

Expectations

1. A process for the production of printed products by combining different, immediately successive processing methods, the printed products to be produced being coated with a film at predetermined positions in one process step in a film printing process and with a process and / or embossing process in a different process step Structure and / or embossing are provided, wherein the printed products to be produced pass through the process stages one after the other without intermediate storage.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the printed products to be produced are first film-coated and then provided with a structure and / or embossing.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the printed products to be produced are first provided with a structure and / or embossing and then film-coated.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printed products to be produced are printed with color in a further process stage in a printing stage having at least one inking unit.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printed products to be produced are color-printed before or after the film coating or before or after the embossing process.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printed products to be produced are dried in a further process step, the drying being carried out after the film coating and / or after the color printing.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a transfer film supplied for the film printing process is stretched in width.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the stretching of the transfer film takes place only in a portion of the printing device area.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printed products to be produced are subjected to a pressing process in a further process step after the film coating.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer film can be controlled independently of its rotation with respect to its advance relative to the printing cylinder.

11. Device for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one structure and / or embossing quiver and at least one film transfer device.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized by at least one printing device having an inking unit.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 or 12, characterized by a drying unit downstream of the printing device and / or the film transfer device.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, 12 or 13, characterized in that the film transfer device has at least one spreader roller.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the spreader roller is shorter than the width of the film transfer device.

16. The device according to one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that the film transfer device has a calender.

17. Device according to one of the preceding claims 11 to 16, characterized in that the transfer film is guided over at least one roller with an axis which can be displaced transversely to the direction of rotation.