EP1880848A2 - Transfer device and method using an embossing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The method for transferring functional layers producing images or coatings from a backing sheet (5) to printed sheets is carried out by coating part or all of the surface of the sheet with adhesive. It is then passed with the transfer sheet through the nip (6) between a pressure roller (3) and a counter-pressure roller (4) so that the functional layer is transferred to the adhesive-coated areas. Independent claims are included for: (A) a machine for carrying out the method; and (B) transfer sheets for use in the method.

Description

The invention relates to a method, a device and a transfer film for transferring imaging or covering layers from a carrier film to printed sheets according to the preamble of patent claims 1, 10 and 18.

It is known to produce metallic layers on printed sheets by means of a film transfer process. So is in the EP 0 569 520 B1 a printing material and a printing apparatus using this material are described. In a sheet-fed machine with a feeder and a boom, printing units and a coating unit are arranged. In at least one printing unit, an adhesive pattern is applied as a printed matter in the planographic printing process. In the coating unit after the printing unit, a counter-pressure cylinder, a pressure roller and a film guide are provided. Therein, a foil strip is passed through a foil supply roll through the transfer nip of the coating unit between impression cylinder and press roll and rewound on the exit side after leaving the coating unit. The transfer film contains a carrier film on which functional layers of various types, such as metallic layers, for example of aluminum, or plastic layers can be applied. Between functional layer and carrier film, a separating layer is provided, by means of which the functional layer can be removed from the carrier layer.

After a printing sheet is provided with a two-dimensional adhesive application or an adhesive pattern, it is passed through the coating unit, wherein by means of the pressure roller, the pressure sheet lying on the impression cylinder is brought into contact with the film material. The down-facing functional layer engages tightly with the adhesive-provided areas on the signature. Thereafter, the functional layer adheres only in the area provided with adhesive pattern or even full-surface adhesive areas on, wherein the carrier film, the functional layer is removed in the region of the adhesive pattern. The print sheet is laid out in the coated state.

Furthermore, it is widely known to cover information media or game lots information by means of so-called rubbing lacquers. Thus, if necessary, the covered information can be exposed to make an evaluation or to control a game result.
The coating of the corresponding substrates here is relatively expensive, since they often performed by screen printing and thus must be done separately from the actual printing process of the products.

Is known from the DE 10 2005 024 989 A1 also a method and apparatus for generating latent information on a printed product. In this case, the adhesion of the printing material is changed according to a desired information, the so-called latent information by means of a coating processes. Thereafter, an ink is applied flat. The latent information can then be visualized by rubbing, the ink being partially removable on the substrate as a result of the adhesion being altered by the pretreatment process.

A disadvantage of the described procedures is that they are not flexible to use, require extensive know-how on the complex processes and are difficult to handle.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and a transfer film according to the preamble of claim 18, by means of which a flexible coating of printed sheets can be simple, secure, economical and accurate, the method and the transfer sheet easy to handle should be.

The solution to this problem results in a method according to the features of claim 1, in an apparatus according to claim 10 and in a transfer film according to the features of claim 18.

Advantageously, a method is proposed by means of which a detachable partial coating for exposing coverable information media to be coated, e.g. with information properties, carried out in a sheet-fed rotary printing press and the coating is carried out in the cold foil stamping process.

It can be advantageously by the combination of coating units such. As paint modules, a device for perfecting and coating modules for a one- or two-sided film application are possible. The production of effect and functional application or film composite packaging can also be made possible by methods and apparatus in conjunction with a printability of the printing substrate on both sides.

1. 1. Im Inlinedrucken bzw. -beschichten kann mittels einer Bogenrotationsdruckmaschine und einer Kaltfolienpräge-Applikation die Herstellung von kombinierten Bedruckstoffen vorgenommen werden. Damit kann die Aufbringung einer Information und die Applikation einer die Information verändernden Schicht miteinander kombiniert werden.
2. 2. Die Aufbringung des für das Kaltfolienprägeverfahren notwendigen Klebers erfolgt in einem Druckbild im Bereich einer abzudeckenden Information. Der Kleber ist mit einer verringerten Haftkraft gegenüber dem zu verwendenden Beschichtungsmaterial versehen, wobei die Entnahme der Folienbestandteile von der Trägerfolie gewährleistet ist.
3. 3. Eine Beschichtung bzw. Teilbeschichtung eines Bedruckstoffes durch eine Folienapplikation mittels eines Kaltfolienprägeverfahrens dient zur Aufbringung einer Rubbelfolie, die leicht ablösbar ist.
4. 4. Eine Beschichtung bzw. Teilbeschichtung eines Bedruckstoffes durch eine Folienapplikation mittels eines Kaltfolienprägeverfahrens dient zur Aufbringung einer festen Abziehfolie, die leicht ablösbar ist.
5. 5. In eine Beschichtung bzw. Teilbeschichtung eines Bedruckstoffes durch eine Folienapplikation mittels eines Kaltfolienprägeverfahrens wird eine latente Information mittels eines anderen Druckverfahrens eingebracht.
6. 6. Die Vorrichtung ist eine Druckmaschine und beinhaltet ein oder mehrere Druckwerke zur Erzeugung der erforderlichen Bildinformation. In einem innerhalb der Druckmaschine angeordneten Beschichtungswerk kann die Teilbeschichtung im Kaltfolienprägeverfahren erfolgen.
7. 7. Die Teilbeschichtung kann auch in einem Offlineprozess in einer weiteren Druckmaschine erfolgen, die mit einem Beschichtungswerk versehen ist.

As procedures are provided

1. 1. Inline printing or coating can be carried out by means of a sheet-fed rotary printing press and a cold foil stamping application, the production of combined substrates. Thus, the application of information and the application of an information-changing layer can be combined with each other.
2. 2. The application of the necessary for the cold foil stamping adhesive takes place in a printed image in the range of information to be covered. The adhesive is provided with a reduced adhesive force to the coating material to be used, wherein the removal of the film components is ensured by the carrier film.
3. 3. A coating or partial coating of a printing material by a film application by means of a cold foil stamping process is used for applying a scratch-off film, which is easily removable.
4. 4. A coating or partial coating of a printing material by a film application by means of a cold foil stamping process is used for applying a solid release liner, which is easily removable.
5. 5. In a coating or partial coating of a printing substrate by a film application by means of a cold foil stamping process, a latent information is introduced by means of another printing process.
6. 6. The device is a printing machine and includes one or more printing units for generating the required image information. In a coating unit arranged inside the printing press, the partial coating can take place in the cold foil stamping process.
7. 7. The partial coating can also take place in an offline process in another printing press, which is provided with a coating unit.

In the following the invention is illustrated in more detail with reference to drawings.

Figur 1

eine Druckmaschine mit einer Folientransfereinrichtung,

Figur 2

eine erste Konfiguration und

Figur 3

eine zweite Konfiguration einer Bogendruckmaschine mit einem Beschichtungswerk.

Showing:

FIG. 1

a printing machine with a film transfer device,

FIG. 2

a first configuration and

FIG. 3

a second configuration of a sheet-fed press with a coating plant.

• Ein Druckbogen wird zunächst mit einem flächigen oder bildgebenden Klebstoffmuster versehen (Druckwerk als Auftragwerk 1).
• Im Folgedruckwerk wird der Druckbogen gemeinsam mit einer Transferfolie 5 unter Pressung durch einen Transferspalt 6 geführt, (Beschichtungswerk 2).

FIG. 1 shows parts of a sheet-fed rotary printing press which contains two printing units and is used for the following purposes:

• A printed sheet is first provided with a two-dimensional or imaging adhesive pattern (printing unit as commissioned work 1).
• In the following printing unit, the printed sheet is guided together with a transfer film 5 under pressure through a transfer nip 6 (coating unit 2).

The transfer nip 6 in the coating unit 2 is formed by a press roll 3 and an impression cylinder 4. The press roller 3 may correspond to the blanket cylinder, the impression cylinder 4 to the impression cylinder of an offset printing unit. The press roller 3 can also correspond to the forme cylinder and the impression cylinder 4 to the impression cylinder of a paint module. Within the used for the film transfer coating 2 a web guide for transfer films is shown.

Alternatively, as shown in the context of applicator 1, an integrated in the applicator 1 film transfer device may be provided, whereby an integrated film application module is created. In this case, a press roll 3 'is assigned downstream of a printing gap between a blanket or forme cylinder 13 and the impression cylinder 4 on a counter-pressure cylinder 4. Thus, a film web 5 'of a transfer film after the coating of the printing material by means of the applicator 1 to the transfer gap formed as mentioned above 6' supplied and also be discharged directly again. The cold foil stamping takes place in a single integrated foil application module FA, as indicated in FIG.

As shown schematically in FIG. 1 in the applicator 1, an applicator can also be arranged in a compact design within the coating module in an integrated film application module FA. For this purpose, an adhesive application device 1 'associated with the impression cylinder 4 and the transfer gap, which would be provided here between the blanket cylinder 13 and the impression cylinder 3, be arranged upstream. The transfer film would be guided here around the blanket cylinder 13 or approximately tangentially past it through the designated printing nip.

Such an adhesive applicator device 1 'may consist of a compact forme cylinder for supporting a printing form for the adhesive and an applicator of a chamber doctor blade and an anilox roller for supplying the adhesive. In this case, on the same counter-pressure cylinder 4, in turn, the adhesive application is first carried out on the printing substrate and the film application is carried out immediately thereafter.

The film supply roll 8 is assigned to the coating unit 2 on the sheet feed side. The film supply roll 8 has a rotary drive 7 for the continuous controlled feeding of the transfer film to the coating unit 2. In the film feed deflection or tension rollers for guiding the transfer film 5 may be provided in a substantially constant tension against the press roller 3. On the downstream side of the printing unit, a film collecting roller 9 is provided for the used sheet material. A rotary drive 7 on the film collecting roller 9 is always advantageous. It can even be provided that the transfer film 5 is conveyed on the outlet side by means of the rotary drive 7 and held taut on the inlet side by means of a brake.

With the device described, it is possible to partially seal or laminate a printing substrate and to provide it with an opaque surface layer. For this purpose, the device for the film transfer in a printing units of a sheet-fed printing machine downstream printing or coating plant is arranged. With such an arrangement, the surface of the fresh print is further protected.
For this purpose, in particular so-called rubbellack layers are suitable, which serve to cover information, so that they can be exposed only when needed. A well-known example of this are lots or informational resources with an educational or learning character.

The function of the cover can also be realized by peelable covers in the form of a film strip. This will change the type of application the opaque or opaque coverage of information changed only in its handling.

The basis of the application is the variability of the layer to be applied to a printing sheet with regard to its adhesion to the substrate and with respect to its internal structure.

In the cold foil embossing process, an adhesive which transfers the image-forming layers from the carrier film to the substrate or the printed sheet under pressure is generally required. The adhesive also ensures that the contour of the desired coating is adhered to during layer transfer to the finest details. On the other hand, even thicker layers can be well, i. be transferred sharp edges, provided that their internal strength falls below the adhesion to the adhesive.

• dass zunächst wie üblich die Anhaftung der zu übertragenden Schicht auf dem Substrat aber stärker sein muss, als die Anhaftung der zu übertragenden Schicht auf der Trägerfolie,
• dass weiterhin die Anhaftung der Schicht auf dem Substrat einfach aufhebbar sein muss und
• dass dabei die innere Festigkeit der zu übertragenden Schicht beim kantenscharfen Übertragen von der Trägerfolie auf das Substrat lediglich infolge der Haftungsverhältnisse überwindbar sein muss, da das Kaltfolienprägeverfahren keine mechanischen Abrisskanten für die zu übertragenden Elemente der Folie zur Verfügung stellt.

For the method according to the invention, the product and the device for this it is necessary

• that, as usual, the adhesion of the layer to be transferred on the substrate must be stronger than the adhesion of the layer to be transferred on the carrier film,
• that further the adhesion of the layer on the substrate must be easily canceled and
• in that the internal strength of the layer to be transferred must be surmountable during edge-to-edge transfer from the carrier foil to the substrate merely as a result of the adhesion conditions, since the cold foil stamping method does not provide any mechanical tear-off edges for the elements of the foil to be transferred.

For the mentioned requirements a Rubbellackschicht is particularly well suited. Their strength is so high within the layer that a layer can be safely detached and transferred. On the other hand, because of its consistency as a peelable layer, it has a comparatively low intrinsic strength and can therefore be easily transferred even in thicker layers. The functions of the solubility of the layer of the carrier film, the edge-precise separation of the covering layer and the sufficient adhesion to the substrate of the printing material can be determined sufficiently accurately beforehand. The central element here is the adhesive which, in the consistency and drying state, causes the edge-to-edge detachment when the layer is transferred from the carrier film to the substrate.

Alternatively, instead of a rubbing lacquer layer, a covering or opaque layer of solid foil material may also be provided. To expose the information covered in this case, the film is deducted in total.
Here, the predetermination of the function of the detachable or exposable cover of an information area with simplified handling for the end user in relation to the film application is more difficult to solve.

The film must either be very strong colored for safe coverage or it must have a sufficient thickness.
If heavily colored, a thinner film may be used, but it must have sufficient strength to allow it to be easily removed from the substrate. For this purpose, the consistency and the drying state of the adhesive can in turn be chosen so that the adhesion of the film order can be executed exactly and thereby also sufficiently easily releasably adjusted.

For thicker films, the adhesion to the substrate of the printing material is much easier to solve. The adhesion can be relatively strong because the thicker film is more durable when peeled off from the substrate. Therefore, the consistency of the adhesive can be set a little more variable here. This is also necessary because the edge-to-edge separation on the carrier film is more difficult with thicker film layers and requires stronger adhesion as well.

Finally, the information to be covered can also be applied during the coating process. For this, printing methods are very different Type applicable. For example, an information to be covered can be applied by means of ink-jet printing and then covered.
Of course, the information can also be carried out in offset printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing or in other types of non-stop printing processes.

For this purpose, a machine configuration can be provided which provides a first film application module in front of the first printing unit transmitting a color or a coating and a second film application module for the last color-transferring printing unit. Thus, a first coating or lamination can be applied directly to the substrate and a second partial coating can be applied over the printed image.

Advantageously, the combination of coating units such. As paint modules, a device for perfecting and coating modules for a one- or two-sided film application are possible. The inventive method and apparatus, the production of functional application or information media of o. G. Art also be possible in conjunction with a two-sided printability of the substrate.

For this purpose, machine configurations are schematically illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, which allow for example corresponding operating modes.

In Figures 2 and 3, printing units D are provided for processing of viscous printing inks. Instead of the printing units D can also be optionally used paint modules for processing liquid coatings or coating media. Printing units D can also be used to apply a coating of liquid coating media.

FIG. 2 shows a first variant of such a configuration. The illustrated printing machine has after two to the sheet feeder AN subsequent printing units D or paint modules or a combination of printing units and paint modules on an applicator 1 and a coating module 2, which also as integrated foil application module FA can be arranged within a printing unit. This is followed by a turning device W, which in a sheet-fed printing machine evert a one-sided printed or coated printing sheet, so that its back side becomes the front side, which can subsequently be printed or coated. In normal operation, the turning device W acts as a transfer device T for transporting the sheet without turning.
This is followed by the Wende- / transfer device W / T Then several more printing units D are provided to the sheet delivery AU if necessary.

Thus, each printing sheet can first be printed on one side or bicoloured or printed and coated with this printing machine, then coated with a covering film layer over part of the area, then possibly turned and subsequently printed again in multiple colors. An application example of this is packaging or other information media that contain a functional area for information that should not be directly visible. The detachable cover of the information contents described here also prevents the information present on the packaging or the information medium from reaching undesired times or from undesired addressees, or else from being adversely affected.

FIG. 3 shows a second configuration. The illustrated printing machine then has a one- or two-part film application module on the sheet feeder AN and subsequently a turning / transfer device W / T, which serves to turn over a printed sheet coated with film material so that its previous underside is subsequently printed or coated can be.
This is followed by the turning / transfer device W / T one or more printing units D and then an applicator 1 and a coating module 2, which can also be arranged as an integrated film application module FA within a printing unit. Thereafter, if necessary, several further printing units D are provided up to the sheet delivery AU.

With a printing press of this kind, each printed sheet can first be printed one-by-two or two-color from its rear side or coated or laminated. Then the printed sheet can be turned over, then printed in multicolor and subsequently coated with a covering layer over part of the surface and subsequently optionally reprinted or coated. An example of this is packaging or information media that require a one-sided jewelry or protective layer for media content. Thus, a double-coated product can be provided in a simple manner with envelopes, ornamental leaves and covered information areas to supplement image or text content, with a possibly sensitive special coating is added later and so safely applied.

Furthermore, in such machines further production possibilities arise by providing printed sheets with optical or tactile patterns, which are underlaid and visible or palpable by the film coating, or also by applying optical or tactile surface patterns over the film itself. These coating operations can again be done on one side or both sides on unprinted or printed surfaces.

The detachable coating of the type described can also be achieved by painting the printed sheet in a varnishing or printing unit D before the film application in the film application module FA. This process creates a smoother surface of the press sheet, which makes the glue work better. At the same time, the solubility of the coating from the surface of the printing sheet is improved.

Here, a double-sided film application in inline and / or offline operation should be made possible in order to improve the barrier properties of the packaging.
The device includes a coating module for the cold foil stamping process before and / or after a turning device within a sheet-fed printing machine and complements the described process engineering in an advantageous manner.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1.

commissioned

Second

coating plant

Third

press roll

4th

Impression cylinder

5th

Transfer foil / foil web

6th

transfer nip

7th

roller drive

8th.

Film supply roll

9th

Foil composite role

10th

Press covering

11th

winding shaft

12th

plate cylinder

13th

Part film roll

14th

unwinding

15th

Printing plant security

16th

squeegee

17th

outlet opening

18th

dancer roll

D

printing unit

AT

investor

AU

boom

FA

Foil application module

W

turning device

Claims (20)

Method for transferring image-forming or covering or covering functional layers from a carrier film to printing sheet in a sheet-processing machine, in particular a sheet-fed rotary printing machine, at least with an applicator (1) for imagewise or areal coating of a printed sheet with an adhesive and with at least one coating unit (2) for transferring image-forming or covering functional layers from the carrier film to the printing sheet, wherein in a coating unit (2) a transfer nip (6) is formed and the carrier film on the surface of a press roll (3) along and with the coated side on a printing sheet placed on top and under pressure together with this through the transfer nip (6) is guided, so that the image-forming or covering layers are transferred in adhesive provided areas of the support film to the printing sheet,
characterized,
in that each printed sheet is provided on at least one printed or coated first side in a transfer nip (6) with a partial film coating of the carrier film (5) to cover image areas, wherein the adhesion of the adhesive to the functional layers of the carrier film (5) between the adhesive force exceeds the functional layers and the carrier layer of the carrier film (5) and the adhesive force of the adhesive allows the removal of the transferred to the substrate functional layer or parts thereof. Method according to claim 1,
characterized,
in that a partial coating of the carrier foil (5) is produced on the printing sheet in the transfer nip (6), that the coating is a rubbellack layer, and that the coating adheres more strongly to the printed sheet by means of the adhesive than the rubbellack layer on the carrier foil (5) and the adhesive simultaneously forms a detachable connection on the printing sheet in conjunction with the rubbing-lacquer layer. Method according to claim 1,
characterized,
in that a partial coating of the carrier film (5) is produced on the printing sheet in the transfer nip (6), that the coating is a covering film layer, and that the coating adheres more strongly to the printed sheet by means of the adhesive than the rubbing ink layer on the carrier film (5) and the adhesive simultaneously forms a detachable connection on the printing sheet in conjunction with the rubbing-lacquer layer. Method according to claims 1 to 3,
characterized,
that the printed sheet within the same printing machine both printed, and in part is coated. Method according to claims 1 to 3,
characterized,
that the printed sheet is printed within a printing machine and partially coated in a coating machine. Method according to claim 5,
characterized,
that an introduction of information takes place before the partial coating in a printing unit or coating module or by means of ink-jet printheads. Method according to claim 5,
characterized,
that an introduction of information before the partial coating in a printing unit in the process after high, gravure or planographic printing. Method according to claims 1 to 7,
characterized,
in that the full surface film coating transferred from the carrier film (5) an optical functional layer is. Method according to claims 1 to 7,
characterized,
in that the full-area film coating transferred from the carrier film (5) is a functional layer forming structures. Device for transfer of imaging and / or ab- or overlapping layers in a method according to claim 1 of a transfer sheet (5) on printed sheets with an at least applicator (1) for imagewise or areal coating of printed sheets with an adhesive and at least one coating unit (2) for transferring imaging and / or covering layers of the transfer film (5) onto the printing sheets in a transfer nip (6), in which the transfer film (5) with the coated side is placed under pressure on the printing sheet, so that the image forming or covering or covering layer is adhesively transferred from the transfer film (5) to the printed sheets in the area of the areas provided with adhesive on the printing sheet,
characterized,
that in a sheet-fed rotary printing machine between a sheet feeder (AN) and a sheet delivery (AU) a plurality of as printing and / or painting and / or coating units (D) formed working units that the first of the working units are printing units (D) by means of an information-related printing of a page of the sheet is possible, and that the printing units (D) downstream of a at least one applicator (1) and a coating unit (2) containing foil application module (FA) is assigned to produce a partial coating of the printed image to cover information content. Device according to claim 10,
characterized,
that the transfer film (5) carries a removable coating of rubbellack. Device according to claim 10,
characterized,
that the transfer foil (5) carrying a releasable coating of an opaque covering. Device according to claims 10 and 11,
characterized,
in that the film application module (FA) has an applicator unit (1) for applying an adhesive to a printed sheet which, in conjunction with the printed sheet, adheres more strongly to the coating than the coating adheres to the transfer film (5), and in that the adhesive is combined with the adhesive Rubbellackschicht forms a removable coating on the sheet. Device according to claims 10 and 12,
characterized,
in that the film application module (FA) has an applicator unit (1) for applying an adhesive to a printed sheet, which in combination with the printed sheet adheres more strongly to the coating than the coating adheres to the transfer film (5), and in that the adhesive is combined with a opaque cover film forms a removable partial coating on the printed sheet. Device according to claims 10 to 14,
characterized,
that the sheet-fed rotary printing press between the sheet feeder (AN), and - a cantilever (AU) has the following configuration in the sheet transport direction: - n printing units (D) - a foil application module (FA) - n printing units (D). Device according to claims 10 to 14,
characterized,
that the sheet-fed rotary printing press between the sheet feeder (AN), and - a cantilever (AU) has the following configuration in the sheet transport direction: - n printing or coating plants (D) - a turning / transfer module (W / T) - n printing units (D) - a film application module (FA). Device according to claims 10 to 14,
characterized,
that the sheet-fed rotary printing press between the sheet feeder (AN), and - a cantilever (AU) has the following configuration in the sheet transport direction: - a film application module (FA). - n printing or coating plants (D) - a turning / transfer module (W / T) - n printing units (D) - n Lackwerke (D) - a film application module (FA). Transfer film for carrying out a coating method according to claim 1 in a device according to claim 10,
characterized,
that an image-forming layer is provided on a carrier film (5), which is opaque and, the more to an adhesive on a print sheet as adhered to the support film (5) and which is detachable from the print sheet. Transfer film according to claim 18, characterized by an imaging layer of rubbellack. Transfer film according to claim 18, characterized by an imaging layer of opaque or opaque cover film.

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