WO2007116271A1

WO2007116271A1 - Printing apparatus for single and double-sided printing on a continuous support products

Info

Publication number: WO2007116271A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/000807
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Benato
Original assignee: Hellermanntyton S.R.L.
Priority date: 2006-03-30
Filing date: 2007-03-29
Publication date: 2007-10-18
Also published as: ITPD20060112A1

Abstract

Printing apparatus (5) for single and double-sided printing on a continuous support (S), comprising a containing and supporting structure (6), at least first printing means (11) supported by said structure and turned toward a first side of said support (S) to print said first side of said support, at least second printing means (11) supported by said structure and turned toward a second side of said support opposite to said first side for printing said second side, feeding means (25) supported by said structure to feed with said support said first and said second printing means, and dragging means (28) supported by said structure to drag along said support between said first and said second printing means. In particular, said first and said second printing means are arranged so as to face each other. This solution allows executing prints in positions facing said first and said second side of said support from the beginning to the end of the printing operation on said support. This solution also allows the apparatus to be quickly and easily adapted to various types and formats of supports available on the market.

Description

PRINTING APPARATUS FOR SINGLE AND DOUBLE-SIDED PRINTING ON A CONTINUOUS SUPPORT PRODUCTS

DESCRIPTION

The object of the present invention is a printing apparatus for single and double-sided printing of a continuous support, which is particularly, yet not exclusively, useful in the electrical plant construction branch for producing electrical cable identifying sleeves.

It is customary in this branch to employ a continuous printing support constituted of a squashed tubular support on which reference codes suitable for identifying electrical cables are printed at preset distances on a single or on both sides of said support. The identifying sleeves are obtained from the printed support by detaching smaller supporting portions from the same, each of which contains at least one reference code, and returning these individual portions from their squashed to a tubular condition, so as to allow inserting the cables. In order to carry out the printing on said support, specific printing devices are used. An "Apparatus for Double-Sided Color Printing" is for instance already known and the subject of an international patent application PCT/US96/06799 filed on May 14, 1996 in the name of ASTRO- MED INC. According to an operative configuration suitable for double-sided printing, this apparatus comprises substantially a containing and supporting structure, at least first printing means supported by said structure and turned toward a first side of said support for printing said first side of said support, at least second printing means supported by said structure and turned toward a second side of said support opposite to said first side for printing said second side, feeding means supported by said structure to feed said first and said second printing means by said support, and dragging means supported by said structure to drag along said support between said first and said second printing means. In a practical application, the operation of said apparatus is as follows. The support is fed by said feeding means and passes through said first and said second printing means while being dragged along jerkily by said dragging means. During said passage, said first and said second printing means perform the printing operation on said sides of the support. The main drawback found in these devices consists in that the support printed by said devices cannot be used in its entirety. In these devices, the support printed on both sides in fact presents an initial and a final section of equal length, which must be disposed of as a special refuse, because they are printed only on one side. This drawback derives from that the first printing means are set up in an advanced position with respect to the second means, in the direction of the forward motion of the support. The first and the second printing means consequently start and end the printing operations in offset positions on the support, so that the first and the final section of the support of equal length must be disposed of.

A second drawback found in these devices consists in that they exhibit great difficulties of adapting to the various types and formats of the supports available on the market, and in particular of the supports formed by a pair of parallel strips needed for the forward motion of the support, and by a plurality of sleeves orthogonally associated with these strips at regular intervals. In order to print these supports in such devices it is therefore necessary to perform numerous even manual trials and adaptations for the purpose of identifying the optimum printing conditions. This involves lengthy periods of time for setting up the apparatus, and a waste of printing resources. This drawback derives from that the distance existing between the first and the second printing means is fixed, and then the printing parameters, such as the forward motion and others, must be adapted depending on the type and format of the support to be printed.

The aim of the present invention is to set up a printing apparatus for single and double-sided printing of a continuous support able of solving the drawbacks encountered in the devices according to the prior art.

Within this aim, an important object of this invention is to develop an apparatus able of exploiting the entire printing length of a support, by executing the printing on both sides. Another object of the present invention is to set up an apparatus that can be quickly and easily adapted to the various types and formats of printing supports available on the market. A further object of the present invention is to set up an apparatus able of allowing the execution of one-sided prints on a support, with a few and simple fitting operations of the apparatus suitable for performing double-sided prints. Another further object of this invention is to set up an apparatus with a support being free of feeding and forward moving problems while executing the prints.

Not the last object of this invention is to set up an apparatus of a simple design and construction, aimed at limiting the production costs and consequently limiting its selling price.

This aim, as well as these and other objects that will be better apparent in the following, are achieved by a printing apparatus for the single and double-sided printing of a continuous support, according to the attached claims. In accordance with advantageous first features of the invention, the apparatus comprises a containing and supporting structure, at least first printing means supported by said structure and turned toward a first side of said support to print said first side of said support, at least second printing means supported by said structure and turned toward a second side of said support opposite to said first side in order to print said second side, feeding means supported by said structure for the feeding said first and said second printing means with said support, and dragging means supported by said structure so as to drag along said support between said first and said second printing means. In particular, said first and said second printing means are set up in a reciprocally facing manner. This solution allows performing the prints in reciprocally facing positions on said first and said second side of said support, from the beginning to the end of the printing operation on said support. This achieves the object of the invention, which consists in exploiting the entire printing length of the support, by performing the prints on both sides of the support. Moreover, this solution allows making the apparatus quickly and easily adaptable to the different types and formats of the supports available on the market, owing that it does not present fixed parameters, such as a fixed distance between the printing means, which are typical of the devices of the prior art.

According to these and other features of the invention, the first and the second printing means respectively assume an operative condition such as to determine the configuration suitable for performing a double-sided printing and a semi-operative condition for performing a single-sided printing. This solution allows performing single-sided prints on a support with a few and simple setting-up operations of the apparatus suitable for executing double- sided prints. Further features and advantages of the invention will be better apparent from the description of an embodiment of the printing apparatus for the single and double-sided printing of a continuous support as illustrated in a non restrictive way in the attached drawings where:

- Figure 1 represents a side view of a printing apparatus according to the invention;

- Figure 2 represents a first detailed side view, on an enlarged scale, of the first and second printing means in the mentioned operative condition of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 ;

- Figure 3 represents a second detailed side view, on an enlarged scale, of the first and second printing means in the mentioned semi-operative condition of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 ;

- Figure 4 represents another detailed side view as in the previous views, wherein the first printing means are in a condition suitable for setting up the apparatus in the condition of Fig. 1. With reference to the attached drawings, the printing apparatus for the single and double-sided printing of a continuous support S, as shown in the overall by the reference number 5, comprises above all a containing and supporting structure designated as a whole by the reference number 6. In detail, said structure 6 comprises a box-like body 7, inlet openings 8 and outlet openings 9 of said support S provided on said box-like body 7 and a wall 10 disposed internally and vertically in said box-like body 7. The apparatus 5 also comprises first printing means indicated as a whole by the reference number 11 , supported by said structure 6 and turned toward a first side of said support S to print said first supporting side S, and second printing means indicated as a whole by the reference number 111 , supported by said structure 6 and turned toward a second side of said support S opposite to said first side, in order to print said second side. Said first and said second printing means 11 , 111 are set up in a reciprocally facing manner to as to allow performing the prints in positions reciprocally facing each other on said first and said second side of said support S, from the beginning to the end of the printing operation on said support S. Said first and said second printing means 11, 111 are able of respectively assuming an operative condition, as shown in particular in Fig. 2, so as to determine a configuration suitable for executing said double-sided printing and a semi- operative condition, as shown in particular in Fig. 3, for performing said single-sided print. In detail, said first and said second printing means 11 , 111 comprise first of all fixed elements 12, 112 attached to said wall 10 in a spaced position, mobile bodies 13, 113 inserted between said fixed elements 12, 112 and said wall 10, and rotating connection pins 14, 114 for a rotating connection of said mobile bodies 13, 113 to said fixed elements 12, 112 and to said wall. Moreover, said first and said second printing means 11 , 111 comprise thermal transfer printing heads 15, 115 fastened to said mobile bodies 13, 113 and turned toward said support S and toward said outlet opening 9, printing ribbons N cooperating with said printing bodies 15, 115, unwinding means 16, 116 and winding means 17, 117 for unwinding and winding said printing ribbons N, and finally, controlling means 18, 118 associated with said wall 10 and acting on said mobile bodies 13, 113 so as to induce said first and said second printing means 11 , 111 to assume said operative and semi-operative conditions. In even more detail, said fixed elements 12, 112 comprise plate-like bodies substantially "L" shaped. Said mobile elements 13, 113 in turn comprises central portions 19, 119 crossed by said connecting pins 14, 114, and front appendices 20, 120^' and rear appendices 21 , 121 orthogonally extending from said central portions 19, 119 in offset positions. Said printing heads 15, 115 are in turn applied to the front appendices 20, 120 next to the facing extremities. Said ribbons N are also interposed between said support S and said printing heads 15, 115, and are moving forward with said support S between said first and said second printing means 11 , 111. Finally, said unwinding means 16, 116 and said winding means 17, 117 comprise freewheeling and motorized rollers, respectively, associated with said wall 10. Said controlling means 18 of said first printing means 11 further comprise a rod 22 connected at its first extremity to said wall 10, an elastic element 23 engaged at its first extremity to the second extremity of said rod 22 and at its second extremity to said rear appendix 21 of said mobile body 13 of said first printing means 11 next to the extremity lying behind it, and an operating element 24 applied to said wall 10 next to said rear appendix 21 and acting on said rear appendix 21. In detail, said operating element 24 assumes at command a non-operative position, as shown in Fig. 1 and in particular in Figs. 2 and 3, where said elastic element 23 is in a shortened condition and in a non-operative position, as illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein said elastic element is in an elongated condition. In turn, said elastic element 23 in a shortened condition disposes said mobile body 13 in a forward leaning condition, as shown in Fig. 1 and in particular in the Figs. 2 and 3, and said elastic element 23 in an elongated condition disposes said mobile body 13 in a backward leaning position, as shown in Fig. 4. Again in turn, said mobile body 13 in said forward leaning condition disposes said printing body 15 in a condition drawn close to the support S, as seen in Fig. 1 and particularly in the Figs. 2 and 3, and said mobile body 13 in said backward leaning position disposes said printing head 13 in a condition spaced from said support S, as shown in Fig. 4. The control means of said printing means 111 comprise an elongated rod 112 capable of engaging at one extremity with said wall 10 in a first and in a second position, and of engaging at the other extremity with said rear appendix 121 of said mobile body 113 of said second printing means 111. In this manner, when said elongated rod 122 is engaged in said first position, said mobile body 113 is in a forward leaning position, as shown in Figs. 1 , 2 and 4, and when said rod is engaged in said second position, said mobile body 113 is in a condition leaning backward, as seen in Fig. 3. In this manner, said mobile body 113 in said forward leaning condition disposes said printing head 115 in a condition drawn close to said support S, and said mobile body 113 in said backward leaning condition disposes said printing head 115 in a condition spaced from said support S. Consequently, said printing heads 15, 115 in a condition drawn close to said support S identify said operative condition of said first and said second printing means 11 , 111 , as shown in the Figs. 1 and 2, and said printing heads 15, 115 of said first and said second printing means 11 , 111 , which are respectively set into a drawn close position and into a spaced position to/from said support S, identify said semi-operative condition of said first and said second printing means 11 , 111 , as shown in Fig. 3.

Moreover, the apparatus 5 comprises feeding means supported by said structure 6 for feeding with said support 5 said first and said second printing means 11 , 111. In detail, said feeding means 25 comprise a holding bracket 26 applied at one extremity to said wall 10 next to said inlet opening 8, and a disc-shaped body 27 sustained in a rotating manner by said bracket 26 that carries said support S.

Finally, the apparatus 5 comprises dragging means 28 supported by said structure 6 for dragging along said support S between said first and said second printing means 11 , 111. In detail, said dragging means 28 are arranged downstream of said outlet opening 9 of said support S and comprise a supporting body 29 applied to said box-like body 7 next to said outlet opening 9 and a pair of rollers 30, 31 set side by side, counter-rotating and supported by said supporting body 29, which receive said support S between them, so as to drag it forward continuously or at predetermined intervals.

In an advantageous manner, said support S moves forward between said first and said second printing means 11 , 111 and through said dragging means 28 in a rectilinear fashion.

In conclusion, the apparatus 5 comprises resting means 32 to be arranged in contact with said second side of said support S, in a position underlying said printing head 115 of said first printing means 11 in said position drawn up close to the support S. Said resting means 32 comprise a supporting element 33 attached to said wall 10 and a roller 34 hinged in a rotating manner to said supporting element 33. The setting up for the printing operation and the operation of the printing apparatus 5 described above occurs essentially as outlined in the following, with reference to the attached figures.

Let it first of all be assumed that the printing setup of the apparatus 5 is carried out as seen in the configuration shown in Figure 4, wherein the support S and the ribbons N have already been fitted between the first and the second printing means 11 , 111 , and that the support S has been inserted in the dragging means 28. The operator then acts on the operating means 18 to dispose the apparatus 5 to the configuration 2, wherein both the first and the second printing means 11 , 111 are in an operating condition that determines the configuration suitable for performing the double-sided printing of the support S. The operation occurs in this case as follows. The feeding means 25 feeds the support S which enters into the printing apparatus 25 through the inlet opening 8, proceeds in a straight line between the first and the second printing means 11 , 111 and exits from the printing apparatus 5 from the outlet opening 9 while being dragged along in pulses by the dragging means 28. During the forward motion of the support S, the first and the second printing means 11 , 111 perform a printing on both sides of the supports. Alternatively, the operator acts on the control means 18, 118 to dispose the apparatus to the configuration of Fig. 3, wherein the first and the second printing means 11 , 111 are in a semi-operative condition which determines a configuration suitable for a single-sided printing of the support S. The operation occurs in this case as described above, with the difference that the prints are carried out only on a single side of said support S.

It was in practice found that the apparatus thus described achieves its expected aim and objects. It was in particular found that the apparatus is able of exploiting the entire printing length of a printing support while performing prints on both sides. It was also found that the apparatus is quickly and easily adapted to the various types and formats of printing supports available on the market. Moreover, it was found that the apparatus allows performing onesided stamps on a support by using only a few simple setting up operations of the apparatus suitable for performing double-sided prints. It was also found that the apparatus is free of any problems of feeding or forward moving the support while performing the prints. It was finally found that the apparatus is of a simple design and construction, so as to limit the production costs and contain the sales price.

The apparatus according to the invention is susceptible of variations, all of which fall within the scope of the invention.

In a practical embodiment, the materials employed, the shapes, the dimensions and the executive details may differ from those described herein but be technically equivalent to the same, without thereby abandoning the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Printing apparatus for single and double-sided printing of a continuous support, comprising a containing and supporting structure, at least first printing means supported by said structure and turned toward a first side of said support for printing said first side of said support, at least second printing means supported by said structure and turned toward a second side of said support opposite to said first side for printing said second side, feeding means supported by said structure for feeding with said support said first and said second printing means and dragging means supported by said structure for dragging along said support between said first and said second printing means, characterized in that said first and said second printing means are set up facing each other, so as to allow performing the prints in positions reciprocally facing on said first and said second side of said support from the beginning to the end of the printing operation on said support.

2. Apparatus, according to claim 1 , characterized in that said containing and supporting structure comprises a box-like body, inlet and outlet openings of said support provided on said box-like body, and a wall disposed internally and vertically to said box-like body.

3. Apparatus, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said first and second printing means respectively assume an operative condition such as to determine an operative condition suitable for performing said double- sided printing, and a semi-operative condition for performing said single- sided printing.

4. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and said second printing means comprise fixed elements fastened to said wall in a spaced position, mobile bodies inserted between said fixed elements and said wall, pins for a rotating connection to connect said mobile bodies to said fixed elements and said wall in a rotating manner, thermal transfer printing heads fastened to said mobile bodies and turned toward said support and toward said outlet opening, printing ribbons cooperating with said printing heads, unwinding and winding means to unwind and wind up said printing ribbons, and controlling means associated with said wall and acting on said mobile bodies to induce said first and said second printing means to assume an operative and a semi-operative condition.

5. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fixed elements comprise plate-like bodies approximately profiled to an "L" shape.

6. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said mobile bodies comprise central portions crossed by said connecting pins, and front appendices and rear appendices that orthogonally extend from said central portions at offset positions.

7. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said printing heads are applied to said front appendices next to their extremities lying before them.

8. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said ribbons are interposed between said support and said printing heads and move forward, along with said support, between said first and said second printing means.

9. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said unwinding and winding means respectively comprise free-wheeling and motorized rollers associated with said wall.

10. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said controlling means of said first printing means comprise a rod connected at its first extremity to said wall, an elastic element engaged by the first extremity to the second extremity of said rod, and by the second extremity to said rear appendix of said mobile body of said first printing means next to the extremity lying behind them, and an operating element applied to said wall next to said rear appendix and acting on said rear appendix.

11. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said operating element assumes on command a non- operative position wherein said elastic element is in a shorted conditions and an operative position wherein said elastic element is in an elongated position.

12. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said elastic element in a shortened condition disposes said mobile body in a forward leaning position, and said elastic element in an elongated position disposes said mobile body in a backward leaning position.

13. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said mobile body in said forward leaning condition disposes said printing head into a condition close to said support, and that said mobile body in said backward leaning position disposes said printing head into a condition spaced from said support.

14. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said controlling means of said second printing means comprise an elongated rod that can be engaged at one extremity with said wall in a first and in a second position, and engaged at the other extremity with said rear appendix of said mobile body of said second printing means.

15. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that when said elongated rod is engaged in said first position, said mobile body is in a forward leaning condition, and when said rod is engaged in said second position, said mobile body is in a backward leaning position.

16. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said mobile body in said forward leaning position disposes said printing head in a condition close to said support, and that said body in said backward leaning position disposes said printing head in a condition spaced from said support.

17. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said printing heads in a condition close to said support identify said operative condition of said first and second printing means, and that said printing heads of said first and second printing means in a position respectively close and spaced to/away from said support identify said semi- operative condition of said first and second printing means.

18. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said feeding means comprise a supporting bracket applied at one extremity to said wall next to said inlet opening and a discshaped body sustained by said bracket in a rotating manner, which carries said support in a wound-up manner.

19. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said dragging means are disposed downstream of said outlet opening of said support.

20. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said dragging means comprise a supporting body applied to said box-like body next to said outlet opening and a pair of rollers set side-by-side, counter-rotating and supported by said supporting body, which receive said support between them so as to drag it forward in a continuous manner at predetermined intervals.

21. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support moves forward between said first and said second printing means and across said dragging means in a straight line manner.

22. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises resting means to establish contact with said second side of said support, in a position underlying said printing head of said first printing means in said position close to said support.

23. Apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said resting means comprise a supporting element fastened to said wall, and a roller hinged to said supporting element in a rotating fashion.