Printing machine

• US 20050066826A1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Machines Dubuit
• Original Assignee: Machines Dubuit
• Inventors: Dumenil, Francois, Dubuit, Jean-Louis
• Granted Patent: US 7,261,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 101/126
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 15/0872 for printing on articles having essentially cylindrical surfaces

Abstract

The invention relates to a printing machine, comprising a support stand (2), a plate (4) rotational with respect to the stand (2) about an axis of rotation (A-A), means for driving the plate in rotation, at least two mandrels (6) for holding two articles to be printed in succession, the said mandrels being carried by the plate (4), means (94) for driving the mandrels in rotation about axes of rotation (B-B) parallel to the axis of rotation (A-A) of the plate (4), and a plurality of workstations (18, 18A, 18B) distributed around the rotational plate (4).

This machine is characterized in that it comprises means for the displacement of each mandrel in a plane parallel to the plane of the plate (4), in order to modify the spacing between the axis of rotation (B-B) of the mandrel and the axis of rotation (A-A) of the plate, and in that the said means for the displacement of the mandrels are designed to synchronize the displacement of each mandrel (6) with the rotation of the plate (4).

Claims

1. Printing machine, comprising:

a support stand (2),

a plate (4) rotational with respect to the stand (2) about an axis of rotation (A-A),

means (8, 30) for driving the plate in rotation,

at least two mandrels (6) for holding two articles to be printed in succession, the said mandrels being carried by the plate (4),

means (94) for driving the mandrels in rotation about axes of rotation (B-B) parallel to the axis of rotation (A-A) of the plate (4),

a plurality of workstations (18, 18A, 18B) distributed around the rotational plate (4),

characterized in that the machine comprises means (22, 24, 36, 64, 82, 98) for the displacement of each mandrel in a plane parallel to the plane of the plate (4), in order to modify the spacing between the axis of rotation (B-B) of the mandrel and the axis of rotation (A-A) of the plate, and in that the said means for the displacement of the mandrels are designed to synchronize the displacement of each mandrel (6) with the rotation of the plate (2).

2. Printing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the displacement means (22, 24, 36, 64, 82, 98) comprise a control unit (98) and at least one actuator (82) for the displacement of the mandrels, and in that the control unit is designed to control the displacement of the mandrels (6) as a function of the position of the plate (4).

3. Printing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the or each actuator (82) for the displacement of the mandrels is carried by the stand (2) and comprises releasable means (22, 52, 54, 64) of connection to the mandrel.

4. Printing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the means (94) for driving the mandrels in rotation are carried by the stand (2) and comprise releasable means (22, 38, 46, 64) for rotational coupling to each mandrel (6).

5. Printing machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the means (94) for driving the mandrels in rotation are mounted movably with respect to the stand (2) and are coupled to the actuator (82) for the displacement of the mandrels in order to displace them simultaneously with the displacement of the mandrels.

6. Printing machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the means (94) for driving the mandrels in rotation are fixed with respect to the stand (2), and in that the machine comprises a no-play homokinetic coupling (92) interposed between the said means for driving in rotation and the releasable means (22, 38, 46, 64) for rotational coupling.

7. Printing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the mandrels (6) are connected to one another by means of a belt for transmitting the rotational movement from one mandrel to the other.

8. Printing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that each actuator (82) for the displacement of the mandrels (6) is secured to the plate (4) and comprises permanent means of connection to each mandrel.

9. Printing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (94) for driving the mandrels in rotation are secured to the plate (4) and comprise permanent means of connection to each mandrel.

10. Printing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (94) for driving the mandrels in rotation comprise a motor, the axis of which is parallel to the axis of the mandrels and is arranged substantially in the extension of the latter.

11. Printing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the control unit (98) is capable of controlling the actuator (82) for the displacement of the mandrels and/or the means (94) for driving the mandrels in rotation, in order to synchronize the displacement of the mandrels in the plane parallel to the plane of the plate (4) and the drive of the mandrels (6) in rotation.

12. Printing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate (4) supports at least two mandrel support carriages (22), on each of which a mandrel (6) is mounted movably in rotation, and in that the plate (4) comprises first means (24, 36) for guiding the mandrel support carriages (22).

13. Printing machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the first guide means (24, 36) extend radially on the plate (4) and are capable of causing a radial displacement of the mandrels (6).

14. Printing machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the stand (2) comprises second means (56, 60, 62) for guiding the carriages (22), forming a ring and comprising a plurality of complementary parts, one part (56, 60) of the second guide means being secured to the stand (2) and one part (62) being movable with respect to the stand (2) and secured to the support carriage (22) for its displacement.

15. Printing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a printing station (18A) equipped with a screen carrying a decoration to be printed, and a means for driving the screen in translational motion, and in that the control unit (98) is capable of controlling the means (94) for driving the mandrels in rotation in synchronism with the means for driving the screen.