JPH0687205A - Replacing device for plate cylinder - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] The plate cylinder for the printing unit is replaced and the plate cylinder is automatically transported to the storage location. [Structure] An automatic warehouse 1 equipped with a stacker crane is provided for storing plate cylinders, a plate cylinder exchange arm is provided for each printing unit 2, and a plate cylinder exchange truck 4 is arranged to move in and out of the unit.
And a crane track 50 for moving the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 is arranged in parallel with the printing machine, and the plate cylinder is placed between the transfer station S and the automatic warehouse 1 below one end thereof. Providing pallet transportation means for transporting pallets.
With this configuration, the pallet carrying means sends the pallet loaded with the plate cylinder from the automatic warehouse 1 to the transfer station S, the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 takes out the plate cylinder from the pallet, and supplies it to the plate cylinder exchange carriage 4. Replace the plate cylinder in the printing unit with the cylinder changing carriage and remove the plate cylinder.
Can be returned to the pallet and returned to the automatic warehouse 1 again.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is a rotary printing press such as a gravure rotary printing press, in which a used plate cylinder (hereinafter referred to as an old plate cylinder) is removed, transported to a predetermined storage location, and stored in the storage location. The present invention relates to a plate cylinder changing device capable of automatically attaching a new plate cylinder to a printing press.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In gravure printing, the pattern to be printed is made as an intaglio on the surface of a cylindrical roll or plate cylinder, and this plate cylinder is replaced on the printing machine whenever the printing item changes. .

Conventionally, as a device for automatically changing the plate cylinder, a trolley provided with a plate cylinder holding frame capable of stacking the plate cylinders in two stages is arranged at a standby position and a plate cylinder replacement position in front of the printing unit. On the other hand, each printing unit is equipped with a plate cylinder exchange arm capable of transporting the plate cylinder into and out of the printing unit, and the new plate cylinder is placed on one of the plate cylinder holding frames of the dolly described above to front the printing unit. It is known that the printing plate is transferred to the plate cylinder replacement position, the old plate cylinder is taken out by the plate cylinder replacement arm, placed on the empty plate cylinder holding frame of the carriage, and then the new plate cylinder is sent to a predetermined position in the printing unit. (See, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-145143).

[0004]

However, in such a conventional apparatus, although it is possible to automatically replace the plate cylinder with respect to the printing unit, the new plate cylinder is transported from the storage location,
It is necessary for a worker to manually carry out the work of placing the plate cylinder on the dolly for replacing the plate cylinder and the work of unloading the old plate cylinder that has been taken out on the dolly for replacing the plate cylinder and transporting it to a predetermined storage place. There was a problem that it took time and effort.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and not only the replacement of the new and old plate cylinders in a printing press but also the supply of the new plate cylinders from the storage location and the transportation of the old plate cylinders to the storage location. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a plate cylinder changing device that can be automatically performed.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a stacker crane for storing a plurality of plate cylinders for storing old and new plate cylinders and for loading and unloading the plate cylinders on and from the shelves. An automatic warehouse equipped with a printing cylinder is provided, and each printing unit of the printing machine is provided with a plate cylinder replacement arm for transferring the plate cylinder inside and outside the printing unit, and the plate cylinder replacement position with respect to the plate cylinder replacement arm and the printing machine A movable plate cylinder exchanging carriage is arranged at a side standby position, and plate cylinder transfer means for transporting old and new plate cylinders is provided between the automatic warehouse and the plate cylinder exchanging carriage at the standby position. It is equipped with the configuration.

Here, in the case of a shaft-equipped plate cylinder having a plate cylinder shaft projecting at both ends, the plate cylinder is provided with a pair of shaft support members for transporting and storing the plate cylinder. A pallet configured to hold the plate cylinder by mounting the plate cylinder shaft is used, and the pallet is placed on the pallet and stored in an automated warehouse.

Further, in that case, as a plate cylinder transfer means for carrying the old and new plate cylinders between the automatic warehouse and the plate cylinder exchange trolley in the standby position, a transfer station near the automatic warehouse and the printing machine. A pallet carrying means for carrying a pallet on which the plate cylinder is mounted, and a pallet of the plate cylinder exchange carriage and the transfer station at the standby position, and between the plate cylinder exchange carriage and the pallet. A cylinder having a plate cylinder transfer crane for transferring the plate cylinder is used.

[0009]

According to the present invention, by using the automatic warehouse for storing the plate cylinder as described above, the plate cylinder can be automatically stored, managed, and put in and taken out. The new plate cylinder can be taken out and placed on the plate cylinder exchange carriage corresponding to each printing unit by means of the plate cylinder transfer means, and the plate cylinder exchange carriage moves to the front of the printing unit by mounting the new plate cylinder. The old cylinder can be replaced.
After that, when the plate cylinder exchange carriage with the old plate cylinder returned to the standby position, the plate cylinder transfer means returns the old plate cylinder to the automatic warehouse, and in the automatic warehouse, the old plate cylinder is stored and managed at a predetermined position. Be prepared to take it out. In this way, it is possible to automate all operations of storing, transporting, and exchanging plate cylinders in the printing unit.

Here, when a pallet is used for storing and transporting the plate cylinder, a plurality of plate cylinders can be transported and stored by one pallet, resulting in good workability. Further, from the automatic warehouse to the transfer station, the plate cylinder is carried while being placed on the pallet, but the pallet is easier to carry than the plate cylinder, so that the design of the pallet carrying device becomes easy.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an entire plate cylinder changing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, as the plate cylinder, a plate cylinder with a shaft having plate cylinder shafts protruding at both ends is used. The plate cylinder changing device is roughly classified into an automatic warehouse 1 for storing the plate cylinder and each printing unit 2 of the printing machine.
And a plate cylinder exchange arm 3 (see FIG. 11) for transferring the plate cylinder to and from the printing unit, and movable to a plate cylinder exchange position with respect to the plate cylinder exchange arm and a standby position on the side of the printing press. It has a plate cylinder changing carriage 4 and a plate cylinder transferring means 5 for carrying the plate cylinder between the plate cylinder changing carriage 4 and the automatic warehouse 1 in the standby position.

FIG. 2 shows a pallet 8 used for storing and transporting the plate cylinder 7. As described above, the plate cylinder 7 has the plate cylinder shafts 7a protruding at both ends thereof. Pallet 8 is
It is provided with a frame 8a formed in a rectangular shape, a pair of shaft support members 8b mounted on the upper surface of the frame 8a on which the plate cylinder shaft 7a is placed, and a plurality of columns 8c having the same height. The columns 8c are provided so that a plurality of pallets 8 can be stacked without any trouble. Although the shaft support member 8b holds three plate cylinders 7 in FIG. 2, the number of plate cylinders that can be held can be appropriately increased or decreased according to the diameter of the plate cylinder. The height of 8b can also be appropriately changed according to the diameter of the plate cylinder. However, since the shape and size of the frame body 8a are constant, different types of pallets can be stacked.

In FIG. 1, an automatic warehouse 1 stores a pallet 8 holding a plate cylinder (see FIG. 2) with a plurality of shelves for storing pallets 8 and puts the pallets in and out of the shelves. The stacker crane 12 (see FIG. 3) and a warehouse-side control device (not shown) that manages the type and number of the plate cylinder stored in the storage unit 11 and controls the stacker crane 12 are provided. Here, a large number of shelves provided in the storage unit 11 are configured to hold only both ends of the pallet. Therefore, with the fork of the stacker crane supporting the lower surface of the pallet, each shelving is It is possible to take in and out pallets. Further, the height-wise interval between the shelves is set so that pallets of desired heights can be stored.

At the bottom of one end of the storage section 11, there is formed a loading / unloading port 13 for loading / unloading the plate cylinder. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a pallet support base 15 is provided at the loading / unloading port 13. This pallet support 15
Has four columns 15a and its reinforcement 15b,
The pallet 8 can be placed on the column 15a by the stacker crane 12.

In FIG. 1, a plate cylinder transfer means 5 is a pallet carrying means for carrying a pallet carrying a plate cylinder between the automatic warehouse 1 and a transfer station S near the printing machine, and a transfer station. A plate cylinder transfer crane 17 for transferring the plate cylinder between the pallet 8 located at S and the plate cylinder exchange cart 4 is provided. The pallet carrier is a first automated guided vehicle 19 for loading and unloading pallets to and from the loading / unloading port 13 of the automated warehouse 1.
And a second automated guided vehicle 20 that further transports the pallets carried by the first automated guided vehicle 19, and a transfer conveyor 21 that receives the pallet from the first automated guided vehicle 19 and transfers it to the second automated guided vehicle 20. And a pallet transport conveyor 22 that receives a pallet from the second automated guided vehicle 20 and transports it to the transfer station S.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the loading / unloading port 1 of the automatic warehouse 1.
3, first unmanned guided vehicle 19, second unmanned guided vehicle 20, transfer conveyor 21, etc., 23 is a rail on which the first unmanned guided vehicle 19 travels, and 24 is a second unmanned guided vehicle 20 The rail 23 is provided in a direction perpendicular to the rail 23. The rail 23 extends into the loading / unloading port 13 so that the first automated guided vehicle 19 can be fed into the loading / unloading port 13.

The first automatic guided vehicle 19 is a self-propelled carriage main body 26 provided with wheels traveling on the rails 23 and a motor (not shown) for rotationally driving the wheels, and is perpendicular to the carriage main body 26. A rotary table 27 that is rotatably held about an axis, a rotary drive device (not shown) that rotates the rotary table 27 back and forth by 90 °, and a lift table 28 that is held by the rotary table 27 and moves up and down. ing. This lift 28
Is a size such that the pallet 8 can be placed on it, and the support 15 of the pallet support 15 of the loading / unloading port 13
The size is such that it can enter between a and a. Therefore, the pallet 8 to be stored in the automated warehouse 1 is placed on the lifting table 28, and the lifting table 28 is lifted to the first automated guided vehicle 1
When 9 self-propels in the loading / unloading port 13, the pallet 8 is positioned above the column 15a without interfering with the column 15a, and then the lifting platform 28 is lowered to move the pallet 8 to the column 15a. Can be placed on top. Further, the pallet 8 to be taken out is placed on the column 15a, the first automated guided vehicle 19 is advanced into the loading / unloading port 13 with the lifting table 28 lowered, and then the lifting table 28.
By raising the pallet 8
The pallet 8 can be taken out of the automated warehouse 1 by holding it on the top and then moving the first automated guided vehicle 19 from the loading / unloading port 13.

The transfer conveyor 21 is arranged at the end of the rail 23 on the rail 24 side, and is provided with a pair of chain conveyors 21a which are arranged at intervals. The interval between the pair of chain conveyors 21a is such that the first automated guided vehicle 19 can enter between them and the pallet 8 held on the first automated guided vehicle 19 is taken out from the loading / unloading port 13. It is set so that both ends of the pallet 8 can be held in a state of being rotated by 90 °. Further, the height of the chain conveyor 21a is determined so that it does not interfere with the pallet 8 above it when the elevator 28 is raised, but can hold the pallet 8 when the elevator 28 is lowered. ing. Therefore,
The first automatic guided vehicle 19 receives the pallet 8 from the loading / unloading port 13, and then rotates the rotary table 27 by 90 ° to rotate the pallet 8 by 90 ° (see the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 3). The first automated guided vehicle 19 self-propels in the transfer conveyor 21 and lowers the lifting platform 28 to lower the pallet 8 onto the transfer conveyor 21.

The second automatic guided vehicle 20 is a self-propelled vehicle having wheels traveling on rails 24 and drive motors for the wheels, and has a chain conveyor 30 on its upper surface. The chain conveyor 30 is provided at almost the same height as the transfer conveyor 21, and can receive the pallet sent out by the transfer conveyor 21 and send out the held pallet onto the transfer conveyor 21. It can be operated in the forward and reverse directions so that it can be operated.

5 and 6 show the second automatic guided vehicle 20, the pallet conveyor 22, and the like. The pallet transfer conveyor 22 is located in the vicinity of the printing machine and is connected to the second unmanned transfer vehicle 20.
The pallets are arranged at right angles to the rails 24 for running the pallets so that the pallets can be put in and taken out from the second automatic guided vehicle 20. 22A, 22B, 22
It is composed of C. Each conveyor portion 22A, 22
B and 22C are capable of transporting pallets in the forward and reverse directions, respectively, and are composed of a pair of chain conveyors 32, 33, and 34 arranged at intervals. The third conveyor portion 22C is located at the transfer station S,
At the transfer station S, the chain conveyor 34,
A pallet elevating device 36 is provided between the pallets 34. Thus, the pallet elevating device 36 raises the pallet 8 sent to the transfer station S by the pallet conveyor 22 to a predetermined height as necessary, and sets it as the plate cylinder transfer position for the plate cylinder transfer crane 17. You can

First and second conveyor sections 22A,
22B is provided with a pallet stocker 40 for storing the empty pallets 8 in a stacked state, and below the pallet stocker 40 between the chain conveyors 32, 32 and between the chain conveyors 33, 33, respectively. There are pallet lifting devices 42 and 43 for loading and unloading the pallets. The pallet stocker 40 is provided at a height that does not interfere with the passage of the pallet 8 with the plate cylinder on the conveyor portions 22A and 22B. The pallet stocker 40 has a horizontal support frame 45 and a pallet attached to the support frame 45. The support member 46 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the pallet support member 46 is attached to a rotatable column 47,
A pallet support member 46 is attached to the stanchion 47.
Withdrawal position (position shown in FIG. 9 (a)) that does not interfere with the pallet and support position for supporting pallet 8 (position shown in FIG. 9 (b))
An air cylinder 48 is connected for moving to and.

The pallet storage and the pallet loading / unloading work by the pallet stocker 40 having this structure are performed as follows. As shown in FIG. 10A, it is assumed that the empty pallet 8 is held on the pallet support member 46. In this state, when the empty pallet 8 to be stored is sent by the chain conveyor 32 of the pallet transport conveyor 22 and stopped, the pallet elevating device 42 rises to lift the empty pallet 8. When the empty pallet 8 is lifted by the raising of the pallet lifting device 42,
Lift the empty pallet 8 previously stored in c. In that state, the air cylinder 48 moves the pallet support member 46 to the retracted position (the position shown in FIG. 10B) where it does not interfere with the pallet. After that, the pallet elevating device 42 further rises to lift the lowermost pallet 8 above the pallet support member 46, as shown in FIG.
Thereafter, the air cylinder 48 operates to move the pallet support member 46 to the support position, and then the pallet lifting device 4
2 descends to its original lower position. As a result, the empty pallets 8 are held by the pallet support member 46 in a stacked state. By repeating the same operation thereafter, empty pallets can be sent one after another and stored in a stacked state. By performing the reverse operation, the empty pallet 8 is
The individual pieces can be taken out on the pallet transport conveyor 22. Although not shown, in order to prevent the stacked empty pallets from collapsing, a suitable guide is provided at an appropriate position around the storage position of the empty pallets (for example, near the corners of the empty pallets). Has been.

In FIG. 1, a crane track 50 is arranged parallel to the printing machine from above the transfer station S, and holds the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 so that it can travel.
The lower part of the crane track 50 is the standby position of the plate cylinder changing carriage 4 provided corresponding to each printing unit 2.

FIG. 7 shows the plate cylinder transfer crane 17, (a) is a schematic sectional view of the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 as seen from the side, and (b) is as seen from the front. It is a schematic sectional drawing. The plate cylinder transfer crane 17 includes a bogie 52 provided with wheels 51 traveling on a crane track 50, a support member 54 provided substantially vertically to the travel vehicle 52, and a rail 55 provided on the support member 54. , The rail 5
5, an elevating member 57 having a slide block 56 slidably held, a drive device (not shown) for elevating the elevating member 57, and a key portion 58a for holding the plate cylinder shaft at the lower end. A pair of arms 58 and a pair of arms 5
8, a support beam 59 for fixing 8 at a constant interval, a stopper 60 for restraining the plate cylinder shaft held by a key portion 58a at the lower end of the arm 58 from falling off, and a driving air cylinder 61 thereof.
And a bearing retainer 62 for retaining the bearing 7b attached to the plate cylinder shaft, a drive air cylinder 63 thereof, and the like. The pair of arms 58 are held by the linear guide 65 so as to be movable laterally with respect to the elevating member 57, and are normally held by springs (not shown) so as to be held in a fixed position with respect to the elevating member 57. The position is regulated. The linear guide 65 allows the arms 58 to escape when an inconvenient lateral force or impact is applied to the pair of arms 58 or the plate cylinder 7 held by the pair of arms 58 during delivery or transportation of the plate cylinder. It is provided in.

The plate cylinder transfer crane 17 is provided with a drive device (not shown) for driving the wheels 51 to make them self-propelled. The means for moving the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 is not limited to this, and other means, for example, a drive chain or belt is arranged along the crane track 50,
The drive chain or belt may be connected to the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 and the drive chain or belt may be driven by a motor.

The plate cylinder transfer operation by the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 is performed as follows. That is, FIG. 8 (a)
At first, the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 first moves above the transfer station S and stops. The stop position at this time is the plate cylinder 7 which the arm 58 should take out from the pallet 8.
It is a position slightly deviated from the plate cylinder axis 7a. In the transfer station S, the pallet lifting device 36 moves the pallet 8 so that the plate cylinder shaft 7a of the plate cylinder 7 holding the pallet 8 is at the delivery position for the plate cylinder transfer crane 17.
Lifted if necessary. Next, as shown in FIG. 8B, the elevating member 57 is lowered to lower the pair of arms 58, and the key portion 58a at the lower end thereof is positioned beside the plate cylinder shaft 7a. At this time, the stopper 60 and the bearing retainer 6
2 (see FIG. 7) is in an open state. Next, the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 is moved slightly to the right, so that the plate cylinder shaft 7a enters the key portion 58a of the arm 58. afterwards,
As the lifting member 57 rises, the arm 58 supports and lifts the plate cylinder shaft 7a as shown in FIG. 8C. At the same time, the stopper 60 operates to restrain the plate cylinder shaft 7a from falling off, and the bearing retainer 62 operates to fix the bearing 7b so that it does not move. In this state, the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 travels to convey the plate cylinder to a predetermined position.

When lowering the plate cylinder 8 held by the plate cylinder transfer crane 17, the above operation may be performed in reverse. Further, the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 also transfers the plate cylinder to the plate cylinder exchanging carriage 4, but the transfer is also performed in the same manner as for the pallet 8 described above.

In FIG. 1, below the end of the crane track 50 opposite the transfer station S, an emergency plate cylinder transfer capable of transferring the plate cylinder to the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 is performed. A mounting table 70 is provided. The emergency plate cylinder transfer table 70 is used when the pallet carrying means for carrying the pallet from the automatic warehouse 1 to the transfer station S has a problem. The supply of the new version cylinder or the removal of the old version cylinder is performed manually by a worker using a cart or the like.

Next, the plate cylinder exchange carriage 3 and the plate cylinder exchange arm 3 provided in the printing unit 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. The plate cylinder replacement carriage 4 includes a carriage main body 72, wheels 74 mounted on the carriage main body 72 and traveling on rails 73 provided on the floor, a drive motor 75 for rotating the wheels 74, and the like. The drive motor 75 allows the vehicle to travel on the rail 73. In addition,
The means for causing the carriage main body 72 to travel is not limited to this configuration, and a configuration in which a drive chain or a belt that travels along the rails 73 is provided and the carriage main body 72 travels may be provided.

A pair of support bases 77 are provided on the carriage main body 72, and hold a rotary shaft 79 via bearings 78, and also hold a drive unit 80 for rotationally driving the rotary shaft 79. A pair of plate cylinder holding arms 81 for holding the plate cylinder shafts 7a extending to both sides of the plate cylinder 7 inside the bearings 7b are attached to the rotary shaft 79.

The plate cylinder holding arm 81 has two arm portions, that is, a first arm portion 81a and a second arm portion 81b, which are arranged substantially at right angles so that two plate cylinders can be held. At the tip of each arm, there is a recess 83 for receiving the plate cylinder shaft 7a. As shown in FIG. 11, the concave portion 83 is formed so as to face upward when the arm portion is made horizontal, so that the plate cylinder shaft can be lowered and held in the concave portion 83 from above. it can. As shown in FIG. 11, FIG. 14, and FIG.
A stopper 85 for fixing the shaft of the plate cylinder housed in the recess 83 and an air cylinder 86 for reciprocating the stopper 85 are provided at the tips of a and 81b. The stopper 85
The present invention is not limited to the case of linearly reciprocating to open and close, and the structure may be opened and closed by turning. In that case, the shape of the stopper 85 is not limited to the linear shape, and
It may be an arcuate shape opposed to.

11 and 12, the printing unit 2
Is provided with unit frames 90 located on both sides, and the unit frame 90 includes the plate cylinder shaft 7 of the plate cylinder 7.
A cutout portion 91 for inserting and removing a is formed.
A support portion for holding the bearing 7b of the plate cylinder 7 is formed in the back of the cutout portion 91. The plate cylinder exchange arm 3 is provided on the outside of the unit frame 90 so as to be rotatable around a support shaft 93, and is connected to an air cylinder 94. Further, at the tip of the plate cylinder exchanging arm 3, an auxiliary arm 97 that is held so as to be able to turn about a support shaft 96 and an air cylinder 98 that turns the auxiliary arm 97 are provided, and the tip of the auxiliary arm 97 is provided. A concave portion 97a that supports the front end of the plate cylinder shaft 7a is formed therein. Thus, by rotating the auxiliary arm 97, the plate cylinder shaft 7a is held at the tip of the auxiliary arm 97, and by rotating the plate cylinder exchanging arm 3, the plate cylinder can be conveyed into and out of the printing unit 2.

An auxiliary arm 9 for holding the plate cylinder shaft 7a.
Instead of using 7, the plate cylinder replacement arm 3 may be provided with a recess for holding the plate cylinder shaft, and the plate cylinder replacement arm 3 may directly support the plate cylinder shaft 7.

In FIG. 13, a rail 73 on which the plate cylinder changing carriage 4 travels is provided in front of each printing unit 2 (between the printing units) at a right angle to the central axis YY of the printing machine, and a crane track 50. Are arranged so as to extend below the plate cylinder, whereby the plate cylinder changing carriage 4 can be moved to a plate cylinder changing position in front of the printing unit and a standby position below the crane track 50.

Next, the plate cylinder exchanging operation using the plate cylinder exchanging carriage 4 and the plate cylinder exchanging arm 3 having the above construction will be described. When the plate cylinder exchanging carriage 4 is stopped at the standby position, the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 carries a new plate cylinder 7 and moves to the second arm portion 81.
Let b hold it. This operation is performed as follows. That is, with the second arm portion 81b horizontal and the recess 83 facing upward, and the stopper 85 open, the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 lowers the plate cylinder shaft 7a from above to lower it onto the recess 83, and then the stopper 85. Closes and restrains the plate cylinder shaft 7a. Next, the rotating shaft 79 rotates, and as shown in FIG. 11, the second arm portion 81b is set to the upper position and the first arm portion 81a is set to the horizontal position.

Next, the plate cylinder changing carriage 4 travels along the rail 73 and stops at the plate cylinder changing position in front of the printing unit 2, and the first arm portion 81a moves to the horizontal position (plate changing position) as shown in FIG. The stopper 85 is opened in the state where it is in the cylinder transfer position. Next, the auxiliary arm 97 at the tip of the plate cylinder replacing arm 3
Rotates counterclockwise and supports the plate cylinder shaft 7a of the plate cylinder 7 held by the printing unit 2 in the recess 97a. Next, the plate cylinder exchanging arm 3 pivots clockwise, the plate cylinder 7 held by the auxiliary arm 97 is moved to the front of the printing unit 2, and the plate is placed in the recess 83 of the first arm 81a waiting at that position. The trunk shaft 7a is inserted (see the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 14). Thereafter, the auxiliary arm 97 pivots downward to hold the plate cylinder 7 on the first arm portion 81a. Next, the stopper 85 is closed, and the plate cylinder shaft 7a of the plate cylinder 7 is recessed into the recess 8
3, the rotary shaft 79 rotates counterclockwise in this state, and as shown in FIG. 15, the second arm portion 81b holding the new plate cylinder 7 is positioned horizontally (plate cylinder transfer position). And At this time, the plate cylinder removed from the printing unit 2 is located below the rotary shaft 79.

Next, the stopper 85 of the second arm portion 81b
Open, the auxiliary arm 97 rotates counterclockwise, the recess 97a at the tip thereof holds the plate cylinder shaft 7a of the plate cylinder 7, and then the plate cylinder exchange arm 3 pivots counterclockwise.
The plate cylinder 7 is carried into the printing unit 2. After that, the auxiliary arm 97 rotates clockwise, so that the plate cylinder shaft 7a
The bearing 7b attached to the unit is held by the supporting portion of the unit frame 90. On the other hand, the plate cylinder changing carriage 4 on which the removed plate cylinder 7 is placed is then moved along the rail 73 to a standby position on the side of the printing unit. Next, the rotation shaft 79 rotates, the first arm portion 81a is made horizontal, and the stopper 85 is opened. As described above, one printing cylinder replacement operation in the printing unit 2 is completed. The plate cylinder 7 held by the plate cylinder exchanging carriage 4 that has returned to the standby position is taken out by the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 (see FIG. 1) at that position, and then the rotating shaft 79 rotates to move the first cylinder. The two arms 81b are made horizontal to prepare for the next reception of the plate cylinder 7 from the plate cylinder transfer crane 17.

In the above embodiment, the plate cylinder holding arm 8
Although the first arm portion 81a and the second arm portion 81b of the first embodiment are configured to be substantially at right angles, the angle formed by the first arm portion and the second arm portion can be appropriately increased or decreased. However,
It is advantageous to make this angle as small as possible as long as it does not interfere with the loading and unloading of the plate cylinder, and it is preferable to make it substantially right angle as shown in the embodiment. Further, in the above description of the operation, as shown in FIG. 11, the new plate cylinder 7 is held by the second arm portion 81b, and the new plate cylinder 7 is held by the rotary shaft 7.
The plate cylinder from the printing unit 2 is configured to be received by the horizontal first arm portion 81a while being held above 9, but instead, a new plate cylinder is held by the first arm portion 81a. Alternatively, the plate cylinder from the printing unit 2 may be received by the horizontal second arm portion 81b in a state where it is held below the rotary shaft 79. Further, in the above description, after the plate cylinder changing carriage 4 receives the plate cylinder 7 from the plate cylinder transferring crane 17, or before the plate cylinder changing carriage 4 transfers the plate cylinder 7 to the plate cylinder transferring crane 17. Rotation axis 7 in standby position
9, the rotation shaft 79 may be rotated at the plate cylinder exchange position in front of the printing unit 2, or may be rotated between the standby position and the plate cylinder exchange position while traveling. Good.

A control device for plate cylinder replacement control is provided near the printing machine. This printing press side control device controls the transfer of the plate cylinder from the loading / unloading port 13 of the automatic warehouse 1 to the plate cylinder exchange carriage 4, and the plate cylinder exchange work in the printing unit by the plate cylinder exchange carriage 4 and the plate cylinder exchange arm 3. Is to control.
Further, the printing machine side control device can communicate with the warehouse side control device that controls the automated warehouse 1. Both the warehouse-side control device and the printing press-side control device are equipped with a control personal computer, and the operations described below can be automatically performed. However, a control device that performs such control can be easily operated. Since it can be designed, the description of the configuration is omitted.

The configuration and operation of each part constituting the plate cylinder changing device have been described above, and the operation as a whole will be described below.

In the automated warehouse 1, several plate cylinders 7 (2 to 6) are placed side by side on a pallet 8 as shown in FIG. It is stored in. At this time, a plurality of plate cylinders placed on one pallet are used for the same item. That is, in general, in multicolor gravure printing, there are plate cylinders corresponding to the number of colors to be printed, and when there are usually four to more than ten colors, there may be more than ten colors, and one item is composed of a plurality of plate cylinders. The plate cylinders used for one item are stored on one pallet or on a plurality of pallets. In addition, at this time, even if there is an empty space on the pallet, it is a rule that plate cylinders of other items are not placed. However, it is a rule that special plate cylinders that are commonly used for several items may be placed on one pallet, even if they are not the same item. Items and types of plate cylinders stored in the automatic warehouse 1 are managed by the warehouse-side control device.

During operation of the printing press, the operator sets the data of the next item (particularly the plate cylinder number used for the next item and the plate cylinder of each item) on the control personal computer of the printer control device. Data), and then press the "delivery button" on the control panel. As a result, the plate cylinder is started to be output from the automatic warehouse 1.

In the automated warehouse 1, the control personal computer of the printing machine side control device transmits the plate cylinder number to be delivered to the control personal computer of the warehouse side control device by communication, and the plate held by the warehouse side control personal computer is communicated. From the cylinder management file, the shelf position where the pallet on which the plate cylinder is placed is stored is searched, and the stacker crane is instructed of that position. In accordance with this instruction, the stacker crane moves to the shelf position, takes out the pallet 8 stored therein with the plate cylinder mounted, and as shown in FIGS.
It is placed on the pallet support base 15 of. Two loading / unloading ports 13 and two pallet support bases 15 are provided on both sides of the stacker crane, and one stacker crane can be placed.

When the pallet 8 is placed on the pallet support table 15, the first automated guided vehicle 19 enters the pallet support table 15 at the loading / unloading port 13 with the elevator table 28 lowered, and then the elevator table 28 is moved. It rises and holds the pallet 8 on it. Next, the first automatic guided vehicle 19 travels from the loading / unloading port 13 toward the transfer conveyor 21. As a result, the pallet 8 holding the plate cylinder 7 is taken out from the automatic warehouse 1.

The first automated guided vehicle 19 temporarily stops on the way to the transfer conveyor 21, and the turntable 27 rotates 90 °.
The direction of the pallet 8 and the plate cylinder 7 holding it is 90
° Rotate. This is because the storage angle of the plate cylinder in the automated warehouse and the plate cylinder mounting angle in the printing machine differ by 90 °, and this is to be corrected. After that, the first automatic guided vehicle 19 starts traveling again and enters the transfer conveyor 21. Next, the elevating table 28 descends, and the pallet 8 held therein is placed on the transfer conveyor 21.

When the pallet 8 is placed on the transfer conveyor 21, a second automatic guided vehicle 20 stands by beside the transfer conveyor 21. Next, the transfer conveyor 21 and the chain conveyor 30 of the second automatic guided vehicle 20 operate simultaneously, and the pallet 8 is transferred from the transfer conveyor 21 onto the second automatic guided vehicle 20. When the pallet 8 is sent to a predetermined position on the second automatic guided vehicle 20, the transfer conveyor 21
And the chain conveyor 30 stops.

Next, the second automated guided vehicle 2 on which the pallet is placed.
0 travels, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, stops at a position where the pallet is transferred to the pallet conveyor 22 and then the chain conveyor 3 on the second automatic guided vehicle 20.
0 and the pallet transport conveyor 22 operate to operate the pallet 8
Is transported from the second automatic guided vehicle 20 to the transfer station S. The second automatic guided vehicle 20 sends the pallet 8 and then moves to the side of the transfer conveyor 21 again to prepare for the next pallet.

When the pallet 8 reaches the predetermined position of the transfer station S, the pallet conveyor 22 stops,
Next, if necessary, the pallet lifting device 36 operates to lift the pallet 8 to a height at which it is transferred to the plate cylinder transfer crane 17. In addition, the palette 8 to be used
There are a plurality of types in which the holding height of the plate cylinder (the height of the plate cylinder shaft) is changed according to the diameter of the plate cylinder to be held. It has a structure that can change the height, and always
The plate cylinder shaft 7a of the plate cylinder 7 held by the pallet 8 can be lifted to a constant height. At this time, the height of the transfer station S is set such that the pallet 8 having the highest plate cylinder holding height at the lowest position of the pallet lifting device 36 can transfer the plate cylinder to the plate cylinder transfer crane 17. According to this structure, in the case of the pallet 8 having the highest holding height of the plate cylinder, it is not necessary to operate the pallet lifting device 36, and the time can be shortened accordingly.

Next, the plate cylinder transfer crane 1 is moved from the pallet 8 lifted to a predetermined height at the transfer station S.
7 takes out the plate cylinder 7 by the procedure shown in FIG. 8, and then moves the plate cylinder 7 held by the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 onto the plate cylinder exchange carriage 4 corresponding to the printing unit 2 to be attached,
The plate cylinder 7 is supplied to the second arm portion 81b of the plate cylinder exchange truck 4. Then, the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 returns to the transfer station S again, takes out the next plate cylinder 7 on the pallet 8, travels on the plate cylinder exchange carriage 4 corresponding to the plate cylinder 7, and 7 is supplied to the plate cylinder exchange carriage 4. The same operation is repeated thereafter, and the plate cylinder 7 on the pallet 8 is supplied to the plate cylinder exchange carriage 4.

When all the plate cylinders 7 are taken out from the pallet 8 on the transfer station S and the pallet 8 becomes empty,
The pallet lifting device 36 descends to lower the pallet 8 onto the conveyor portion 22C of the pallet transport conveyor 22. After that, the pallet transport conveyor 22 operates in the opposite direction to the previous one to transport the empty pallet 8 and the pallet stocker 40 in which the pallet 8 that has carried the plate cylinder currently set in the printing machine is stored. The lower pallet stocker 40 is stopped (that is, on the conveyor unit 22A in FIG. 5). Then, the pallet lifting device 42 provided at that position operates to lift the empty pallet 8 and store it in the upper pallet stocker 40.

In the meantime, the pallets 8 carrying the next plate cylinders 7 are unloaded from the automatic warehouse 1 by the same operation sequentially from the vacant devices in parallel, sent to the transfer station S, and transferred to the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 Then, the plate cylinder is taken out and supplied to the plate cylinder exchange cart 4, and thereafter the empty pallet is stored in the pallet stocker 40. After that, the plate cylinder 7 to be replaced is supplied to the plate cylinder changing device 4 corresponding to all the corresponding printing units of the printing machine, whereby the plate cylinder replacement preparation in the printing machine is completed. These operations are performed while the printing press is running and therefore do not prolong the down time of the printing press.

Next, when the printing operation on the printing machine side is completed and the processing such as washing of the old plate cylinder that has finished printing is completed and it is time to replace the plate cylinder, the operator presses the plate cylinder replacement start button. . As a result, the plate cylinder replacement operation in each printing unit 2 is performed in parallel. That is, first, the plate cylinder changing carriage 4 moves to the front of the printing unit 2 as shown in FIG. 11, and then, as shown in FIG. 14, the plate cylinder changing arm 3 on the side of the printing unit 2 removes the old plate cylinder 7. And is held in the recess 83 of the first arm portion 81b of the plate cylinder exchanging carriage 4, and then, as shown in FIG.
The second arm portion 81b that rotates and holds the new plate cylinder 7
In a horizontal state, the plate cylinder replacement arm 3 is operated, and the new plate cylinder is taken out and attached at a predetermined position in the printing unit. After that, the plate cylinder exchanging carriage 4 holding the old plate cylinder returns to the standby position, the first arm portion 81a holding the old plate cylinder becomes horizontal, and the stopper 85 is opened to stand by.

As described above, since these plate cylinder changing operations are simultaneously performed in all printing units of one printing press,
It is carried out in an extremely short time. After the plate cylinder has been replaced, the printing machine immediately starts printing after performing the work necessary for brand switching.

When the plate cylinder exchanging carriage 4 returns to the standby position, the operator presses the plate cylinder warehousing start button, whereby the old plate cylinder is stored in the automatic warehouse by the operation opposite to the supply operation of the new plate cylinder. Be seen. That is, the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 takes out the plate cylinder from the first arm portion 81a and moves it to the transfer station S. At this time, the empty pallet 8 taken out from the pallet stocker 40 stands by at the transfer station S, and the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 unloads the plate cylinder on the empty pallet 8. When this operation is repeated and a predetermined number of plate cylinders are placed on the pallet 8, the pallet elevating device 36 that has lifted the pallet 8 descends to lower the pallet 8 onto the pallet transport conveyor 22. afterwards,
The pallet transfer conveyor 22 transfers the pallet 8 from the transfer station S to the second unmanned transfer vehicle 20, and the second unmanned transfer vehicle 20 transfers the pallet 8 to the transfer conveyor 21.
The transfer conveyor 21 transfers the pallet 8 to the first automated guided vehicle 1
Supply to 9. The first automated guided vehicle 19 is temporarily stopped in the middle of traveling, and after rotating the rotary table 27 by 90 ° to change the direction of the pallet, the pallet 8 is moved to the pallet support table 15 of the loading / unloading port 13 of the automatic warehouse 1. Take it down. After that, the stacker crane of the automatic warehouse 1 moves the pallet to the automatic warehouse 1.
Return to the specified shelf position. During this time, the pallets 8 stored in the pallet stocker 40 are taken out to the transfer station S by the same operation in sequence from the empty devices in parallel, and the plate cylinder transfer cart 4 is moved onto the empty pallet 8 by the plate cylinder transfer crane 17. Then, the plate cylinder is put on, and then it is stored in the automatic warehouse 1. As described above, one plate cylinder exchange operation is completed.

In the above description, the operation of replacing the old plate cylinder with the new plate cylinder after it has been used in the printing machine has been described. However, the plate cylinder changing device of this embodiment is not limited to this case, It can also be used only for the operation of collecting the old plate cylinder that is used after being removed and stored in the automatic warehouse, or for supplying the new plate cylinder that is taken out of the new plate cylinder that is stored in the automatic warehouse and attached to the printing machine. The operation of only supplying the new plate cylinder and recovering the old plate cylinder eliminates unnecessary operations during the replacement operation of the old and new plate cylinders. In addition, since the number of plate cylinders used varies depending on the item, only the supply of the new plate or the collection of the old plate may be performed in printing unit units even when the old and new plates are replaced.

In the above embodiment, one pallet 8 is used.
The plate cylinder 7 used for the same item is placed on the table, and therefore, after carrying the pallet 8 to the transfer station S,
All the plate cylinders are supplied to the plate cylinder changing device 4, and the empty pallets 8 are stored in the pallet stocker 40. However, in some cases, an unused plate cylinder may be placed on one pallet 8. In that case, after the necessary plate cylinder is taken out by the plate cylinder transfer crane 17 at the transfer station S, the pallet 8 may be returned to the automatic warehouse 1 with the remaining plate cylinder placed. Further, in the above embodiment, the pallet stocker 40 is provided near the transfer station S and the empty pallet 8 is stored at that position, but the pallet stocker 40 is omitted and the empty pallet is stored in the automated warehouse 1.
It may be configured to return to. However, when the pallet stocker 40 is provided as in the embodiment, it takes no time to return the empty pallet to the automatic warehouse 1, and there is an advantage that the plate cylinder supply time can be shortened.

In the above embodiment, the first automated guided vehicle 1 is used for transporting the pallets from the automatic warehouse 1 to the transfer station S.
9, the second automatic guided vehicle 20, the transfer conveyor 21, the pallet transfer conveyor 22 and the like are used, but these can be appropriately changed. For example, an automated guided vehicle that does not use rails can be used for pallet transport from the automated warehouse 1 to the transfer station S or the pallet transport conveyor 22. The degree of freedom is increased, and the automatic warehouse and printing machine can be arranged to some extent. Alternatively, a method of transporting from the automated warehouse to the transfer station S by one conveyor may be adopted.
As a result, the number of facilities can be significantly reduced and control and the like can be simplified.

Further, a transfer station is provided in the vicinity of the automatic warehouse 1, and a pallet is put in and out of the transfer station directly by the stacker crane of the automatic warehouse. The plate cylinder may be transported by a cylinder transfer crane. With this configuration, the equipment is greatly reduced and the control is simplified.

In the above embodiment, the entrance / exit 1 of the automated warehouse 1
Two rails 3 and a first automated guided vehicle 19 are provided for each of the loading / unloading ports 13.
Both of these two first automated guided vehicles 19 have an entrance / exit 1
3 may be used for pallet transfer between the transfer station S, or only one may be used for pallet transfer between the loading / unloading port 13 and the transfer station S, and the other may be used for management of an automatic warehouse. May be used for.

Further, in the above embodiment, the plate cylinder is stored and the pallet 8 is used for the plate cylinder. However, only the plate cylinder may be stored in the automatic warehouse without using the pallet. In this case, the plate cylinder taken out from the automatic warehouse may be directly supplied to the plate cylinder exchange cart by the plate cylinder transfer crane. If the storage is performed without using a pallet, the storage efficiency of the warehouse is improved and the degree of freedom of arrangement is increased, but the plate cylinders are conveyed one by one, which may take time.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention, by using the automatic warehouse for storing the plate cylinder, it is possible to store and manage the plate cylinder, and it is possible to store the plate cylinder according to the printing items of the printing machine. The desired new plate cylinder is taken out, and it can be placed on the plate cylinder exchange carriage corresponding to each printing unit by means of the plate cylinder transfer means, and the plate cylinder exchange carriage moves in front of the printing unit with the new plate cylinder attached. , The old and new edition body can be replaced,
Also, the old plate cylinder removed from the printing unit is returned to the automatic warehouse by the plate cylinder transfer means, and in the automatic warehouse, the old plate cylinder can be stored and managed at a predetermined position and prepared for the next removal. All the operations of storage, transportation, and replacement in the printing unit can be automated, which has the effect of significantly reducing the burden on the operator.

Further, when a pallet is used for storing and transporting the plate cylinder, it is possible to transport and store a plurality of plate cylinders with one pallet, so workability is good, and moreover, from the automatic warehouse to the transfer station. Since it is only necessary to carry the pallet that is easy to carry, it is possible to obtain the effect of facilitating the design of the pallet carrying device.

If a pallet stocker is provided in the vicinity of the transfer station for taking out the plate cylinder from the pallet, it is not necessary to return the empty pallet to the original automatic warehouse, and the working time can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an entire plate cylinder changing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B are views showing a pallet used in the above embodiment with a plate cylinder placed thereon, in which FIG. 2A is a plan view thereof, FIG. 2B is a side view thereof, FIG. 2C is an end view thereof, and FIG. Its bottom view

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a portion extending from a loading / unloading port of the automated warehouse to a rail 24 in the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a portion shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a portion from the rail 24 to the transfer station S in the above embodiment.

6 is a schematic plan view of the portion shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 shows a plate cylinder transfer crane used in the above embodiment, (a) is a schematic sectional view of the crane as seen from a side direction,
(B) is a schematic cross-sectional view seen from the front direction.

8A, 8B, and 8C are schematic side sectional views for explaining the operation of the plate cylinder transfer crane.

9 (a) is a schematic plan view showing the pallet stocker used in the above embodiment with the pallet support member 46 retracted, and FIG. 9 (b) is a pallet stocker with the pallet support member 46 in the pallet support position. Schematic plan view of part of

10A and 10B are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating a pallet supply operation for the pallet stocker.

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view showing the printing unit and the plate cylinder changing carriage in the above embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a schematic front view of the plate cylinder exchange cart.

FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view showing the positional relationship between the printing unit and the plate cylinder exchanging truck in the above embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of the same portion as FIG. 11 showing a state during plate cylinder replacement.

15 is a schematic side view of the same portion as FIG. 11 showing a state different from FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Automatic Warehouse 2 Printing Unit 3 Plate Cylinder Exchange Arm 4 Plate Cylinder Exchange Carriage 5 Plate Cylinder Transferring Means 7 Plate Cylinder 8 Pallet 11 Storage Section 13 Entry / Exit Port 15 Pallet Support Crane 17 Plate Cylinder Transfer Crane 19 First Unmanned Carrier 20 second unmanned guided vehicle 21 transfer conveyor 22 pallet transport conveyor 40 pallet stocker

Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Hashimoto 1-1-1, Ichigayakamachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An automatic warehouse equipped with a large number of shelves for storing plate cylinders and a stacker crane for loading and unloading the plate cylinders to and from the shelves, and a plate cylinder shaft of each printing unit of the printing machine. It is provided so that it can turn around an axis parallel to
A plate cylinder exchange arm for transferring the plate cylinder to the inside and outside of the printing unit, and corresponding to each printing unit, can be moved to the plate cylinder exchange position with respect to the plate cylinder exchange arm and the standby position on the side of the printing press. A plate cylinder changing apparatus having a plate cylinder changing carriage and a plate cylinder transferring means for carrying the plate cylinder between the plate cylinder changing carriage at the standby position and the automatic warehouse. 2. A pallet comprising a pair of shaft support members, configured to hold a plate cylinder by placing a plate cylinder shaft on the shaft support members, and a plurality of shelves for storing the pallets holding the plate cylinder. And an automatic warehouse equipped with a stacker crane for loading and unloading a pallet with a plate cylinder on and from the shelf, and transporting a pallet with a plate cylinder between the automatic warehouse and a transfer station near the printing machine. A pallet carrying means for carrying out the above and a printing cylinder exchange arm for rotatably mounted on each printing unit of the printing machine about an axis parallel to the printing cylinder axis of the printing unit, and for transferring the printing cylinder inside and outside the printing unit. And a plate cylinder changing carriage which is provided corresponding to each printing unit and is movable to a plate cylinder changing position with respect to the plate cylinder changing arm and a standby position on a side of the printing machine, and a plate cylinder changing carriage in the standby position. Trolley and the transfer A plate cylinder changing device which is provided movably above the pallet of the station and has a plate cylinder changing carriage and a plate cylinder transferring crane for transferring the plate cylinder between the pallet. 3. The plate cylinder changing device according to claim 2, wherein the transfer station is provided with a pallet lifting device for lifting a pallet. 4. The pallet carrying means has a pallet carrying conveyor for loading and unloading pallets to and from a transfer station, and a pallet stocker for storing empty pallets is provided above the pallet carrying conveyor. The plate cylinder changing device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein 5. The plate cylinder exchanging device according to claim 4, wherein the pallet conveyor has a pair of chain conveyors arranged at intervals, and the pallet conveyor has a pair of chain conveyors below the pallet stocker. A plate cylinder changing device comprising a pallet lifting device for loading and unloading a pallet to and from a pallet stocker.