JPH0557911B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing unit for a gravure printing press, and more particularly to a printing unit that facilitates cleaning of the plate cylinder and inking device and facilitates plate cylinder replacement.

Conventional technology In gravure printing, especially in the field of special printing where films and the like are used as printing materials, when changing ink colors or replacing plate cylinders, regardless of whether it is multi-color printing or monochrome printing, ink adhering to the plate cylinder is washed off and the ink pan is removed. It is necessary to clean the inking device including the ink circulation system and the like. In recent years, there has been a trend in gravure printing to include a wide variety of products and small lots, and the frequency of plate cylinder replacement and plate cylinder inking device cleaning has become extremely high.

Conventionally, plate cylinders have been exchanged by holding the plate cylinder by hand or by using a transport cart equipped with a support base that can be raised and lowered. Immediately after printing, the plate cylinder is cleaned by rotating the plate cylinder at a low speed while dripping a cleaning solvent from above with a roller, wetting the plate surface, and wiping it off with a rag or the like. Further, in order to clean the inking device, the ink pan and its associated piping are first removed from the printing press, transported to a cleaning location, and then carried out manually or by using a cleaning device.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, this method has various problems as follows.

(1) Manually cleaning the plate cylinders of each unit is not only labor intensive but also time consuming. Moreover, during the work, the worker inhales the vapor of the cleaning solvent, which is unfavorable from a sanitary standpoint.

(2) The manual method of replacing plate cylinders is extremely labor-intensive. Furthermore, in the method of using a transport cart equipped with a support stand that can be raised and lowered, the transport cart must be placed below the plate cylinder, and therefore the inking device such as an ink pan below the plate cylinder must be removed each time the plate cylinder is replaced. , which is hard labor and time consuming work.

(3) The work of removing the ink pans, ink piping, etc. of each unit from the printing press and transporting them to the washing area is a difficult and time-consuming task for the workers.

(4) Cleaning at the cleaning site is often done manually using solvents, which is hard labor and time-consuming.
There are also many problems in terms of environmental hygiene.

(5) Cleaning work is labor-intensive, especially since dirty ink dries during transportation to the cleaning site, making cleaning very difficult. Even if a cleaning device is used, ink stains cannot be completely removed, and manual labor is required.

(6) In addition, since more solvent than necessary is used, the solvent cost is also high.

(7) Some attempts have been made to coat the dirty surface of the ink pan with a material that has good mold releasability to improve cleaning performance, but in order to remove heavy dirt, it is necessary to physically scrape it with something like a spatula. It was often dropped, and the release surface was damaged, so the effect could not be expected.

As described above, the preparatory work associated with changing printing conditions is laborious and time-consuming work, and in order to solve the problem of increasing productivity, it is important to simplify the preparatory work and shorten the time.

The present invention was made in view of the current situation, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a gravure printing unit that mechanizes plate cylinder replacement work and cleaning work of plate cylinders and inking devices, and can perform the work easily and quickly.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention, which has been made to achieve the above object, provides a printing unit for a gravure printing press that includes a shaftless plate cylinder supported by plate cylinder support shafts protruding from unit frames on both sides, and an upper plate cylinder. an ink pan that is movable between an operating position and a lower standby position; an ink pan sealing device that surrounds and seals an upper surface opening of the ink pan located in the operating position and a plate cylinder above the ink pan; a first injection device that injects a cleaning liquid onto the inner surface of the ink pan, a second injection device that injects the cleaning liquid onto the inner surface of the ink pan, a cleaning liquid supply means that supplies the cleaning liquid to the first injection device and the second injection device, and a peripheral surface of the plate cylinder. The gravure printing unit is characterized by having a plate cylinder exchange device that supports and conveys the plate cylinders into and out of the printing unit.

Operation In the apparatus of the present invention, plate cylinder replacement and cleaning of the plate cylinder and inking device are performed as follows. First, the plate cylinder is cleaned by injecting a cleaning liquid onto the plate cylinder using a first injection device while the top opening of the plate cylinder and ink pan are sealed.
The cleaning liquid sprayed at this time is collected in the lower ink pan and does not evaporate and scatter around.
Next, after the plate cylinder is cleaned, the ink pan is moved downward to create a space below the plate cylinder so that the operation of the plate cylinder changing device is not hindered. In this state, a plate cylinder supporter supporting the peripheral surface of the plate cylinder below the plate cylinder is sent in, receives the plate cylinder, and carries it out of the printing unit. Thereafter, the ink pan is sealed again, and the second injection device sprays cleaning liquid to clean the ink pulses. At this time, since there is no plate cylinder above the ink pan, the injection device for cleaning the ink pan can be placed at a position suitable for cleaning the ink pan, and every corner of the ink pan can be cleaned satisfactorily.
Further, by circulating the cleaning liquid used at this time through the ink circulation system, cleaning can be performed on the spot without also removing the ink circulation system. After cleaning is completed, the ink pan is lowered again to create an operating space for the plate cylinder changing device, and a new plate cylinder from outside is sent into the printing unit, and the plate cylinder is installed.

Embodiments Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described.

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view showing the printing unit of the present invention during printing, Fig. 2 is a side sectional view showing the state in which the plate cylinder is removed and the ink pan is sealed and cleaned after printing is completed. 4 is a horizontal sectional view thereof, and FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the printing unit gear side with the plate cylinder removed and the ink pan sealing device opened. In the figure, 1 is a unit frame, 2 is a plate cylinder, 3 is a plate cylinder support shaft, 4 is an impression cylinder, 5 is a fine print roller, 6 is an ink pan, and 7 is integrally fixed to the paper discharge side side of the ink pan 6. 8 is a lifting platform on which the ink pan 6 is placed and goes up and down; 9 is a doctor; and 10 is a plate cylinder changing device.

The unit frame 1 on both sides has overhanging parts 1.
1 are provided facing each other. This projecting portion 11 has a lower sealing portion 11A on its outer periphery that contacts the upper surface of the end of the ink pan 6 to exert a sealing effect, and an upper sealing surface 11 that is curved into a convex shape.
B, and a side sealing surface 11C extending substantially perpendicularly upward from one end of the lower sealing surface 11A.
A stay 12 and a flexible sheet winding tool 13 are arranged near the lower part of the upper seal part 11B, that is, near the upper edge of the side part of the ink pan on the paper discharge side of the printing unit, so as to span over the overhanging parts 11 on both sides. be done.
The lower surface of the stay 12 forms a sealing surface for tightly sealing with the upper edge of the ink pan 6. The flexible sheet winding tool 13 has pins 15 attached to brackets 14 at both ends of the stay 12, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG.
The arm 16 is swingably held by the arm 16.
It consists of a support rod 17 held by a support rod 17, a winding core 19 supported by the support rod 17 via a spring 18, and a flexible sheet 20 wound around the winding core 19 into a roll. The spring 18 constantly biases the winding core 19 in the sheet winding direction. Therefore, by pulling the leading end of the sheet 20, the sheet 20 can be pulled onto the winding core 19.
However, when the leading edge of the sheet is released, the sheet 20 is automatically wound onto the winding core 19.

The upper end of the vertical portion of the stay 12 is arranged at a height that matches the upper sealing surface 11B of the overhanging portion, and the sheet 20 is pulled out from this vertical portion side. As can be clearly seen from FIG. 4, the sheet 20 has a width that allows it to come into contact with the upper sealing surfaces 11B of the projecting portions 11 on both sides, and serves as a cover to cover the area sandwiched between the upper sealing surfaces 11B on both sides. . A rod 22 longer than the width of the sheet 20 is connected to the tip of the sheet 20, and the rod 22 is movable along the upper sealing surface 11B. Bar 22
A wire 23 is connected to both ends of the upper sealing surface 11 of the overhanging portion 11.
B, passes through the pulley 25, and is wound onto a pulley 27 provided on a shaft 26 extending between the unit frames on both sides. The shaft 26 is connected to a reversible rotary motor 28 with a brake. These motor 28, pulley 27, wire 2
3 constitutes a drive mechanism that moves the rod 22 along the upper sealing surface 11B. Thus, when the motor 28 winds the wire 23 around the pulley 27,
The rod 22 slides on the upper sealing surface 11B and moves toward the doctor 9, pulls out the flexible sheet 20, and covers the upper part of the ink pan with the sheet 20. Also, when the motor 28 is rotated in the reverse direction and the wire 23 is fed out. , the flexible sheet 20 is wound onto the winding core 19, and the upper part of the ink pan is opened. Furthermore, when the tip of the sheet 20 is restrained, tension is applied to the sheet 20 due to the winding force of the spring 18, and the sheet 20 is pressed against the upper sealing surface and sealed. Rotate the sheet 2 in the direction
0 strongly against the upper edge of the stay 12 to seal this part. Note that the sealing between the flexible sheet 20, the upper sealing surface 11B, and the stay 12 is not limited to the case where the tension acting on the sheet 20 is used as described above. It may be pressed against the sealing surface and the stay for sealing.

The doctor 9 is fixed to a doctor holder 30, and the doctor holder 30 is attached to a shaft 33 held by a hanging arm 32. This doctor holder 30 is movable between a doctor operating position shown in FIG. 1 and a raised position shown in FIG.
Further, the doctor holder 30 has an arcuate outer peripheral surface 30.
A and a flat surface 30B at the tip, and the flat surface 3
0B becomes approximately the same height as the upper sealing surface 11B so that the rod 22 moving along the upper sealing surface 11B hits it when the doctor 9 is raised and made almost horizontal as shown in FIG. A sealing plate 35 is provided below the doctor holder 30. This sealing plate 35 is attached to a support (not shown) that is rotatable around the shaft 33, and is rotatable while its upper end contacts and seals the outer peripheral surface 30A of the doctor holder 30. The sealing plate 35 is the second
When the doctor holder 30 is in the raised position as shown in the figure, the side sealing surfaces 1 of the protruding parts 11 on both sides
It is connected to an air cylinder 38 installed on the doctor's suspension arm 32 so as to have a size that can come into contact with the stay 37 extending over 1C and its lower end, and to be pressed against these. Thus, the sealing plate 35
opens and closes the area sandwiched between the side seal surfaces 11C on both sides. The stay 37, which extends over the lower ends of the side sealing surfaces of the projecting portions 11 on both sides, has a sealing surface that comes into close contact with the sealing plate 35, and also has a sealing surface that comes into close contact with the upper edge of the ink pan. The above-described overhang portion 11, flexible sheet winding tool 13,
The doctor holder 30, sealing plate 35, etc. are on the plate cylinder 2.
An ink pan sealing device is configured to surround the ink pan and cover the ink pan top opening. In the above embodiment, the sealing plate 35 was suspended from the doctor holder 30, but instead, the doctor holder was moved further upwards than the position shown in FIG. Alternatively, it may be held by a holding mechanism and pressed against the side sealing surface and the stay 37 for sealing.

A first injection device for cleaning the plate cylinder, which is composed of a number of nozzles 39, is attached to the sealing plate 35. As shown in Fig. 1, this injection nozzle 39 is hidden below the upper edge of the ink pan 6 during normal printing, but when raised to the position shown in Fig. 2, it is placed in a position where it can inject cleaning liquid onto the plate cylinder. . As can be clearly seen from Fig. 3, the nozzles 39 are arranged in a straight line along the plate cylinder 2, and the nozzles at both ends are used for cleaning the plate cylinder support shaft 3, and the other nozzles are used for cleaning the plate cylinder. be done.
As the nozzle 39, any commercially available one can be used as appropriate, but the nozzle for cleaning the plate cylinder support shaft 3, which is heavily contaminated, should be a large-flow type that sprays the cleaning liquid in a conical shape.
Further, the nozzle for cleaning the plate cylinder is preferably of a small flow rate type that sprays the cleaning liquid in a flat fan shape. The mounting position of the nozzle 39 can be changed as appropriate. For example, it is located at an appropriate position on the arcuate outer circumferential surface of the doctor holder 30, that is, when the doctor is used as shown in FIG. It may be built in such a position that it faces the plate cylinder when rotated to the position shown in FIG. Alternatively, a pipe or rod parallel to the plate cylinder 2 with a large number of nozzles attached thereto may be retracted into an overhang and used by being sent out to a position facing the plate cylinder 2 during cleaning.

A recess 40 is formed in the mutually facing end surfaces of the projecting portions 11 on both sides, and a second injection device 41 for cleaning the ink pan is accommodated in the recess 40, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. There is. The injection device 41 is held by a support tube 42 extending through the wall of the overhanging portion 11, and a mechanism such as an air cylinder or the like for moving the support tube 42 in the axial direction is connected to the support tube 42. There is. Thus,
The injection device 41 has a standby position in the recess 40 and a third
It is possible to move to the ink pan cleaning position shown by the solid line in FIG. Note that it is not necessarily necessary to provide the recess 40 in the overhanging portion 11 and store the injector 41 inside the recess 40, as long as it can be retracted to a position that does not interfere with printing, but if it is stored in such a recess 40, ink may leak during printing. It is preferable because it does not get dirty. The spray device 41 is capable of spraying the cleaning liquid onto almost the entire inner surface of the ink pan 6 and the ink pan sealing device, and as shown in FIG. 7, a nozzle assembly in which a number of nozzles 44 are embedded in the surface of a polyhedral block 43 is suitable. . The support tube 42 supports the spray device 41 and also serves to supply cleaning liquid to each nozzle. Note that the injection device 41 is not limited to one using the illustrated polyhedron, but may be one in which a large number of nozzles are embedded in the surface of a pipe.
The nozzle may be of a type that rotates due to the injection pressure of the liquid.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the inking device that supplies ink to the plate cylinder 2 consists of an ink pan 6 and an ink circulation system 7 attached to the side thereof, and no ink tank is used. This is to reduce the amount of remaining ink and to facilitate cleaning of the ink circulation system 7. Side plates 50 at both ends of the ink pan 6
and a body plate 51 between the side plates 50.
1 has a smoothly curved bottom as can be clearly seen in Figure 2. Further, as can be clearly seen from FIG. 3, both ends of the body plate 51 are fixed to the side plates 50 in a smoothly curved state, and are inclined toward the center. This structure facilitates cleaning of the inner surface of the ink pan 6 and allows the liquid inside to always flow toward the deepest part in the center. The inner surface of the ink pan is coated with Teflon to improve cleaning performance.

A connecting pipe 53 is provided at the deepest part of the ink pan 6, and a pipe 54 on the inlet side of the ink circulation system 7 is fixed to the connecting pipe 53. The ink circulation system 7 has a connector 55, an ink pump 56, a connector 57, a filter 58, a valve 59, a bypass 60, a bypass valve 61, etc., and the outlet piping 62 is fixed to the upper part of the ink pan 6. There is. The ink circulation system 7 is thus integrated with the ink pan 6. In addition,
A suitable means (not shown) for supplying ink discharged from the pipe 62 into the ink pan to the finer roller 5 is provided at the connection portion of the pipe 62 of the ink pan 6. A drain pipe 65 equipped with a drain valve 64 is connected to the lower connector 55 . As the ink pump 56, an air-driven diaphragm pump equipped with a check valve is suitable. Bypass 6
0 is for removing ink remaining in the piping above the pump when using a diaphragm pump.
Bypass valve 61 is closed during operation. if,
Bypass 60 is not required if a pump is used that allows ink to flow downward through the pump from above when the pump is stopped. As the filter 58, a magnetic filter having a built-in magnet is suitable so as to reliably remove metal powder mixed into the ink.

A circular hole is formed in the side plate 50, and a disk 67 is rotatably held in the hole via a sealing material and a bearing. This disk 67 is attached so as to be substantially flush with the inner surface of the side plate 50, making it easy to clean the side surface of the ink pan. The disc 67 rotatably holds the shaft 5A of the fannisher roller 5 via a sealing material and a bearing at an eccentric position apart from the rotation center. A pulley 68 is fixed to the end of one shaft 5A of the fancier roller 5, and this pulley 68 is drivingly connected to a pulley 70 of an intermediate shaft 69 held at the center of the disc 67. The intermediate shaft 69 further holds a pulley 71, which is drivingly connected to a drive motor (not shown). Thus, disk 6
No matter which position 7 rotates, the fancier roller 5 can be rotated by a drive motor (not shown). Further, on the outside of the ink pan 6, an air cylinder 72, a lever 73, and a rod 7 shown in FIG.
4. A pin 75 is provided to connect the rod 74 to the disc 67, and constitutes a means for rotating the disc 67.

The side plate 50 of the ink pan 6 is fixed to a support stand 77, and casters 78 are attached to the support stand 77 to facilitate movement. The ink pan 6 is mounted at a predetermined position on the lifting table 8 of the printing unit.

FIG. 9 is a piping diagram showing the means for supplying cleaning liquid to the nozzle 39 for cleaning the plate cylinder and the injection device 41 for cleaning the ink pan. Nozzle 39 and injection device 4
1 is connected to a cleaning liquid supply means having a filter 80, a cleaning liquid supply pump 81, and the like. The suction side of the pump 81 is connected to a new cleaning liquid supply source, and a pipe 82 is connected to the connecting pipe 53 at the bottom of the ink pan 6.
connected via. Piping 82 is further connected to an exhaust blower (not shown). On the other hand, the discharge side of the pump 81 is connected to a waste cleaning liquid reservoir via a branch pipe 83. Furthermore, a carbon dioxide gas supply source is connected to the discharge side piping of the pump 83 via a piping 84 . As the pump 81 used here, a gear pump is preferable so that the pressure and discharge amount necessary for injection by the nozzle 39 and the injection device 41 can be secured.

As shown in FIG. 10, the plate cylinder changing device 10 includes a drive shaft 91 rotatably held by the unit frame 1 parallel to the central axis of the plate cylinder support shaft 3;
It has a rotating arm 92 fixed to the drive shaft, a plate cylinder support 93 rotatably held at its tip, and the like. The drive shaft 91 is adapted to be rotationally driven by a rotational drive device (not shown), and swings the supported swing arm 92. The plate cylinder support 93 has a substantially V-shape so that it can support the peripheral surfaces of plate cylinders of various diameters. Note that instead of directly supporting the plate cylinder on the V-shaped inner surface (top surface), a freely rotating ball 94 may be provided on the plate cylinder support 93 as shown in FIG. 11, or as shown in FIG. A rotatable roller 95 may be provided. By providing such balls 94 and rollers 95, the plate cylinder 2 can be rotated easily, and when the plate cylinder support shaft 3 is inserted into the plate cylinder 2, the phase alignment of both can be facilitated.

The plate cylinder support 93 has a shaft 96 fixed thereto, which shaft 96 is rotatably held on the pivot arm 92. A pulley 97 is fixed to the tip of this shaft 96, and is connected by a belt 99 to a pulley 98 rotatably held by the drive shaft 91.
The pulley 98 is fixed to the unit frame 1 by suitable means and does not rotate regardless of the rotation of the drive shaft 91. As a result, even if the swing arm 92 swings due to the rotation of the drive shaft 91, the plate cylinder support 93 at its tip does not rotate and remains in a constant direction, that is, in a horizontal state with the surface holding the plate cylinder facing upward. to maintain the plate cylinder 2 well at all times. These pulleys 97, 98 and belt 99 constitute a horizontal maintenance mechanism that maintains the plate cylinder support horizontally regardless of the rotation of the swing arm. Note that the leveling mechanism is not limited to the one using the illustrated pulleys and belts, but may use other means, such as one using links.

Near the printing unit, a rail 102 for running the plate cylinder carrier 101 is provided, and a stopper (not shown) for positioning the plate cylinder carrier 101 at a predetermined position is provided. The transport truck 101 has a plate cylinder support stand 103 that supports approximately the center of the plate cylinder, and the length of this support stand 103 is determined to be smaller than the interval between the pair of plate cylinder supports 93. The mounting position of the drive shaft 91 of the plate cylinder exchange device 10 is determined so that the plate cylinder supported by the plate cylinder support 93 comes to the plate cylinder chucking position and the plate cylinder support stand 103 position of the transport truck by the rotation of the swing arm 92. It will be done. The mounting position of the drive shaft 91 is preferably selected so that when the center of the plate cylinder on the plate cylinder support 93 is aligned with the center of the plate cylinder support shaft 3, the swing arm 92 becomes substantially horizontal. With this selection, when plate cylinders of various diameters are placed on the plate cylinder support 93 and the rotating arm is rotated to align the center of the plate cylinders with the same height as the center of the plate cylinder support shaft, the horizontal deviation will be reduced. Make smaller.

The plate cylinder changing device 10 of the above embodiment has a structure in which the plate cylinder support 93 is held at a predetermined position on the swing arm 92, but the plate cylinder support is held in an auxiliary arm that is pivotable with respect to the swing arm. Alternatively, it may be held slidably relative to the pivot arm. In this way, the plate cylinder support 9
3 can be moved relative to the rotating arm, the plate cylinder support 93 can be moved to any position (particularly to a different position in the horizontal direction) together with the rotation of the rotating arm, and the plate cylinder support Advantages such as being able to accurately position the center of the plate cylinder held by the tool at the center of the plate cylinder support shaft 3 and being able to lower the plate cylinder to different positions on the carrier are obtained.

Next, the operation of the above device will be explained. Note that the following operations are performed automatically by a control device (not shown) or by push button operation, but since this control device itself can be easily designed by a person skilled in the art, a description thereof will be omitted.

During normal printing, the ink pan 6 is in the raised position as shown in FIG.
7 and is sealed. A spray device 41 for cleaning the ink pan is housed in a recess 40 of the projecting portion 11. Most of the flexible sheet 20 is wound up by the flexible sheet winding tool 13, and the rod 22 attached to the tip is located near the flexible sheet winding tool 13. In this state, there is no flexible sheet above the ink pan 6 and it is wide open, so there is no problem in pressing the impression cylinder against the plate cylinder 2 or in passing the paper to be printed. In addition, if necessary, the motor 28
The wire 23 is wound around the pulley 27, the rod 22 is pulled out to a position that does not interfere with the running paper, and the upper part of the ink pan 6 is partially covered with the flexible sheet 20 to prevent ink stains from scattering around. Evaporation of the solvent may be limited. On the other hand, the sealing plates 3 and 5 below the doctor holder 30 are pressed against a stay 37 pressing against the upper edge of the ink pan, and prevent the ink scraped by the doctor 9 from scattering to the outside. Further, at this time, the nozzle 39 is located below the sealing position between the stay 37 and the sealing plate 35, so that the ink scraped off by the doctor 9 and the ink scattered from the plate cylinder are not contaminated.

After printing is finished, first move the impression cylinder 4 upwards,
Next, the sealing plate 35 below the doctor holder 30 is opened at one end to raise the doctor holder 30 to the position shown in FIG. By pressing against the sealing surface 11C and the stay 37, the upper side of the ink pan is sealed.
Next, the motor 28 shown in FIG. 5 is operated to wind the wire 23 around the pulley 27, and the rod 22 attached to the tip of the flexible sheet 20 is moved along the upper sealing surface 11B. When the rod 22 hits the flat surface 30B at the tip of the doctor holder 30 and stops, the motor 28 is stopped and the brake is applied, and the rod 22 is kept in constant contact with the flat surface 30B and sealed. On the other hand, since the flexible sheet 20 covering the upper surface of the ink pan 6 is applied with tension by the spring 18 of the flexible sheet winding tool 13, the flexible sheet 20 is pressed against the convex upper sealing surface 11B by its own tension and is sealed. Also, in Figure 6,
The tension acting on the flexible seal 20 causes the arm 16 holding the winding core to swing clockwise, pressing the flexible sheet 20 against the upper end of the stay 12 and sealing it.
Thus, above the ink pan 6 is a flexible sheet 20,
The plate cylinder 2 is surrounded and sealed by a doctor holder 30, a sealing plate 35, etc., and preparations for cleaning the plate cylinder are made.

Next, the plate cylinder cleaning procedure will be explained with reference to FIG. After the ink pan is sealed, residual ink is first drained from the drain pipe 65 at the bottom of the ink pan 6. Next, carbon dioxide gas is supplied from the pipe 84 and injected into the ink pan 6 through the nozzle 39 to lower the oxygen concentration in the ink pan. This is to avoid the risk of explosion when a cleaning liquid such as a solvent is injected into the ink pan. After carbon dioxide gas is injected, while slowly rotating the plate cylinder, a new cleaning liquid is supplied to the nozzle 39 by the pump 81 and is sprayed onto the plate cylinder from the nozzle 39 to clean the plate cylinder. After continuing cleaning with the new cleaning liquid to a certain extent, the supply of the new cleaning liquid is stopped, and the cleaning liquid accumulated in the ink pan 6 is supplied to the nozzle 39 with the pump 81.
Continue cleaning the plate cylinder. Thereafter, the cleaning liquid in the ink pan is discharged out of the system as waste cleaning liquid, and the plate cylinder is cleaned again using new cleaning liquid. After repeating this operation appropriately, the cleaning liquid in the ink pan is discharged as waste cleaning liquid, and cleaning of the plate cylinder by nozzle jetting is completed. After cleaning the plate cylinder, connect the inside of the ink pan 6 to the piping 8.
2 to exhaust the solvent vapor in the ink pan. After that, the ink pan 6 is moved to the plate cylinder changing device 1.
0 to a position that does not interfere with the operation of the robot.

Next, as shown in FIG. 13A, the swing arm 92 is rotated to position the plate cylinder support 93 at the tip under the plate cylinder 2, and in this state, the plate cylinder is unchucked to move the plate cylinder to the plate cylinder support 93. I'll put it on. Next, as shown in FIG. 13B, the rotating arm 92 is rotated and carried out of the printing unit and to a position higher than the plate cylinder support stand 103 of the transport truck 101. Then,
As shown in FIG. 13C, by positioning the plate cylinder transport cart 101 below the plate cylinder and pivoting the swing arm 92 downward, the plate cylinder 2 is moved onto the transport cart 101.
Transfer to. This completes the removal of the used plate cylinder.

Next, the ink pan 6 is raised again and pressed against the lower surface of the projecting portion 11 and the stays 12, 37, and the ink pan 6 is sealed in the state shown in FIG. After sealing and exhausting the air via piping 82, the injection device 41 is moved to the operating position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and new cleaning liquid is sent from the pump 81 to inject the cleaning liquid onto the inner surface of the ink pan 6 and the ink pan sealing device. and wash. After a certain amount of cleaning has been performed, the supply of new cleaning liquid is stopped and cleaning is continued using the cleaning liquid in the ink pan. At this time, the ink pump 56 of the ink circulation system 7 is operated to pass the cleaning liquid into the ink circulation system 7, thereby cleaning the ink circulation system 7 in parallel. If the cleaning solution becomes dirty, stop cleaning and discharge it as waste cleaning solution.
Next, cleaning with a new cleaning solution is started. Thereafter, the ink pan, its sealing device, and ink circulation system are cleaned by repeating the same cleaning process. After cleaning is completed, the inside of the ink pan is evacuated again to sufficiently discharge the solvent vapor, and then the ink pan 6 is lowered to prepare for mounting a new plate cylinder.

To install a new plate cylinder, first, as shown in FIG. 13D, the carrier 101 carrying the plate cylinder 2 is positioned at a predetermined position, and the swing arm 92 is rotated upward to scoop up the plate cylinder. Next, the transport truck is pulled out from below the scooped-up plate cylinder, the swing arm 92 is turned as shown in FIG. 13E, the plate cylinder 2 held at the tip is brought to the chucking position, and stopped at that position. After that, the plate cylinder support shaft 3 is advanced and its tip is inserted into the hole on the side of the plate cylinder 2.
hold. At this time, even if there is some deviation between the center of the plate cylinder and the center of the plate cylinder support shaft, there is no problem because the tip of the plate cylinder support shaft is tapered. If it is necessary to align the phases of the plate cylinder 2 and the plate cylinder support shaft 3, the phases are adjusted by rotating the plate cylinder by hand on the support 93 or by rotating the plate cylinder support shaft 3. After the plate cylinder 2 is held on the plate cylinder support shaft 3, the swing arm 92 is returned to the position shown in FIG. 13F, and the plate cylinder installation is completed. This completes the plate cylinder, ink device cleaning, and plate cylinder replacement work after printing is completed.

Although the above embodiment applies the present invention to a printing unit using a finesse roller for ink supply, the present invention is not limited to this method, and may be applied to other ink supply methods, such as a cascade method. It is also applicable to printing units. Also,
Even when a finesse roller is used, the holding mechanism for the finesse roller is not limited to that shown in the drawings, and can be modified as appropriate. However, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, a mechanism that holds a disc rotatably attached to the side of the ink pan in an eccentric position can easily accommodate changes in the diameter of the plate cylinder, prevent ink from scattering, and is easy to clean. This is preferable because it has advantages such as being easy to use.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the plate cylinder and the ink device (ink pan and ink circulation system) can be quickly and efficiently cleaned on the spot without removing them from the printing unit. For this reason, as in the past, printing cylinders were cleaned individually by hand, ink pans,
There is no need to remove the ink circulation system from each unit, transport it to the cleaning location, and clean it. Furthermore, each unit can be cleaned at the same time, so the plate cylinder and ink device can be cleaned in an extremely short time. . Moreover, the operator does not have to directly handle the cleaning solution (solvent) during cleaning, which is hygienic.
Less contamination of the working environment with solvent vapor.
In addition, plate cylinders can be exchanged by simply lowering the ink pan using the plate cylinder exchange device, so there is no need to remove the ink pan as in the conventional case, and the process can be done quickly and easily. In this manner, the present invention has the excellent effect of making the work environment cleaner and significantly shortening the printing preparation period.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing the printing unit according to the present invention during printing, Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the state in which the plate cylinder is removed and the ink pan is sealed and cleaned after printing is completed. is its front sectional view, No. 4
The figure is a horizontal cross-sectional view, Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of the printing unit gear side with the plate cylinder removed and the ink pan sealing device opened, Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible sheet winder, and Figure 7 is a cleaning solution. A side view of the injection device 41, FIG.
FIG. 9 is a piping diagram showing the cleaning liquid supply means used in the apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the plate cylinder changing device, and FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrams of the plate cylinder changing device. Perspective view of a modification of the plate cylinder support, 1st
3A to 13F are explanatory views of the plate cylinder exchanging operation by the plate cylinder exchanging device. 1...Unit frame, 2...Print cylinder, 6...
Ink pan, 7... Ink circulation system, 11... Overhang, 11A... Lower sealing surface, 11B... Upper sealing surface, 11C... Side sealing surface, 13...
Flexible sheet winding tool, 20...Flexible sheet, 30...
...Doctor holder, 35...Sealing plate, 39...
Nozzle (first injection device), 41... second injection device,
43... Polyhedral block, 44... Nozzle.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a printing unit of a gravure printing press, a shaftless plate cylinder is supported by plate cylinder support shafts protruding from unit frames on both sides, and is movable between an upper operating position and a lower standby position. an ink pan, an ink pan sealing device that surrounds and seals the top opening of the ink pan located in the operating position and the plate cylinder above the ink pan, a first injection device that injects a cleaning liquid onto the plate cylinder, and the ink pan. a second injection device that injects a cleaning liquid onto the inner surface; a cleaning liquid supply means that supplies the cleaning liquid to the first injection device and the second injection device;
A gravure printing unit characterized by having a plate cylinder exchange device that supports the circumferential surface of the plate cylinder and transports the plate cylinder into and out of the printing unit. 2. The ink pan sealing device is an overhang provided on unit frames on both sides of the printing unit so as to face each other,
a lower sealing surface that contacts the upper end surface of the ink pan in a sealing relationship, a side sealing surface extending substantially perpendicularly upward from one end of the lower sealing surface, and a side sealing surface extending from the upper end of the side sealing surface to the lower sealing surface; an overhanging portion having an upper sealing surface extending to the other end; an openable and closable flexible sheet that contacts the upper sealing surfaces of the overhanging portions on both sides in a sealing relationship and covers an area sandwiched between the upper sealing surfaces; An opening/closing device that is disposed below the doctor holder of the printing unit in contact with the lower surface of the doctor holder, and that contacts the side seal surfaces of the protruding portions on both sides in a sealing relationship and covers the area sandwiched between the side seal surfaces. 2. A gravure printing unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it has a sealable plate. 3. The gravure printing unit according to claim 2, wherein the flexible sheet is wound into a roll by a flexible sheet winding tool disposed near the upper surface of the side of the ink pan. 4. The gravure printing unit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first injection device is composed of a plurality of injection nozzles attached to the sealing plate. 5. The second injection device is composed of a nozzle assembly in which a large number of injection nozzles are embedded in a polyhedral block, and the nozzle assembly has a standby position in a recess formed on an end surface of the overhang and an operation above the ink pan. The gravure printing unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is provided movably between positions. 6. The plate cylinder exchange device includes a swing arm that is pivotable about an axis parallel to a central axis of the plate cylinder support shaft, and a plate cylinder support that is held by the swing arm and supports the peripheral surface of the plate cylinder; Claim 1, further comprising a horizontal maintenance mechanism that maintains the plate cylinder support horizontally regardless of rotation of the rotating arm.
The gravure printing unit according to any one of items 5 to 5.