WEB CONTROL TO REDUCE WASTE AND METHOD

• US 20140182470A1
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goss International Americas, LLC
• Original Assignee: Goss International Americas Incorporated (City of Shanghai)
• Inventors: Clarke, Thomas Bowen, Upchurch, Jeffrey S., Walczak, Peter W. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,492,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 101/416.1
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 13/04 intermittently
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 13/24 Cylinder-tripping devices; Cylinder-impression adjustments
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 33/0036 Devices for scanning or checking the printed matter for quality control
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 33/06 for starting or stopping operation of sheet or web feed
• CPC Class Codes: B41P 2233/10 Starting-up the machine
• CPC Class Codes: B41P 2235/22 Rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2403/942 Bidirectional powered handling device
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2801/21 Industrial-size printers, e.g. rotary printing press

Abstract

A method is provided which reduces substrate waste while adjusting the press parameters to obtain a satisfactory image. The method includes the steps of: supplying a web to a printing press; printing a plurality of first images on the web at corresponding printing positions; inspecting one of the first images on the web; rewinding the web to one of the printing positions; and printing a further image over one of the first images on the web. A printing press is also provided which is configured and arranged to print in accordance with the method.

Claims

1. A printing press comprising:

a web supply supplying a web to the press;

at least one printing unit configured and arranged to print images on the web;

an inspection unit configured and arranged to inspect the images on the web;

a rewind device configured and arranged for rewind the web to one of the printing positions;

a controller, the controller coupled to at least one printing unit and the rewind device, the controller configured and arranged to control the at least one printing unit to print first images on the web at corresponding printing position, and, after the inspection unit inspects the images on the web, control the rewind device to rewind the web to one of the printing positions, and thereafter, control the at least one printing unit to print at least one further image over at least one of the first images on the web.

2. The printing press as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one printing unit is a plurality of printing units.

3. The printing press as recited in claim 2 wherein the printing position is a position of the web with respect to one of the printing units.

4. The printing press as recited in claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to record or determine a number of first images that are printed on the web and control an amount of web to rewind based on the number of first images printed on the web.

5. The printing press as recited in claim 3 wherein the controller further controls printing the at least one further images so at least one of the further images is printed on an unprinted area of the web.

6. The printing press according to claim 2,

wherein each printing unit includes:

a plate cylinder and a blanket cylinder,

an ink removal device configured and arranged to selectively contact one of the plate cylinder and the blanket cylinder, and

a throw off mechanism configured and arranged to selectively separate the blanket cylinder from the web; and

wherein the controller is configured and arranged to control the throw off mechanism to separate the blanket cylinder from the web, and while the blanket cylinder is separated from the web, control the ink removal device to contact one of the plate cylinder and the blanket cylinder.

7. The printing press of claim 6,

wherein said one of the plate cylinder and the blanket cylinder is the blanket cylinder;

wherein the blanket cylinder includes a printing blanket; and

wherein the ink removal device includes a roller, and wherein the ink removal device is configured and arranged to selectively move the roller into rolling contact with the printing blanket of the blanket cylinder.

8. The method of claim 6,

wherein said one of the plate cylinder and the blanket cylinder is the plate cylinder;

wherein the plate cylinder includes a printing plate; and

wherein the ink removal device is configured and arranged to selectively contact the printing plate of the plate cylinder.

9. A method for printing an image comprising the steps of:

supplying a web to a printing press;

printing a plurality of first images on the web at corresponding printing positions;

inspecting one of the first images on the web;

rewinding the web to one of the printing positions; and

printing a further image over one of the first images on the web.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising making adjustments to the printed image or printing press after the first image is printed on the web.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the printing press includes a printing unit having a plate cylinder and a blanket cylinder, the method further comprising:

after the step of printing the plurality of first images and before the step of rewinding the web;

separating the blanket cylinder from the web using a throw off mechanism,

moving an ink removal device into contact with one of the plate cylinder or blanket cylinder, and

removing ink from said one of the plate cylinder or the blanket cylinder with the ink removal device; and

after the step of rewinding and before the step of printing the further image;

moving the ink removal device out of contact with said one of the plate cylinder or blanket cylinder, and

bringing the blanket cylinder into contact with the web using the throw off mechanism.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising, after the step of inspecting and before the step of printing the further image, adjusting individual ink zones in the printing unit.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said one of the plate cylinder and the blanket cylinder is the blanket cylinder, the blanket cylinder including a printing blanket, and wherein the step of moving includes:

moving a roller in the ink removal device into rolling contact with the printing blanket of the blanket cylinder to remove ink from the printing blanket.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said one of the plate cylinder and the blanket cylinder is the plate cylinder, the plate cylinder including a printing plate, and wherein the step of moving includes:

moving the ink removal device into contact with the printing plate of the plate cylinder to remove ink from the printing plate.

15. A method for printing an image comprising the steps of:

moving a web in a first direction;

printing a first image on the web moving in the first direction;

rewinding the web;

moving the web in the first direction; and

printing a further image on the web moving in the first direction.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising making adjustments to the printed image or printing press after the first image is printed on the web.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the steps of printing the first image and printing the further image are performed by a printing unit including a plate cylinder an a blanket cylinder, and wherein the method further comprises:

after the step of printing the first image and before the step of rewinding the web;

separating the blanket cylinder from the web using a throw off mechanism,

moving an ink removal device into contact with one of the plate cylinder or blanket cylinder, and removing ink from said one of the plate cylinder or the blanket cylinder with the ink removal device; and

after the step of rewinding and before the step of printing the further image;

moving the ink removal device out of contact with said one of the plate cylinder or blanket cylinder, and

bringing the blanket cylinder into contact with the web using the throw off mechanism.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising,

after the step of inspecting and before the step of printing the further image,

adjusting individual ink zones in the printing unit.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said one of the plate cylinder and the blanket cylinder is the blanket cylinder, the blanket cylinder including a printing blanket, and wherein the step of moving includes:

moving a roller in the ink removal device into rolling contact with the printing blanket of the blanket cylinder to remove ink from the printing blanket.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said one of the plate cylinder and the blanket cylinder is the plate cylinder, the plate cylinder including a printing plate, and wherein the step of moving includes:

moving the ink removal device into contact with the printing plate of the plate cylinder to remove ink from the printing plate.