Bobst Bielefeld Gmbh

Wago Verwaltungsgesellschaft Mbh

Alexander Sudermann

Jörg Fortmann

A method is provided for automatically exchanging a sleeve () of a printing tool () mounted in a printing machine (), in particular a flexographic printing machine, by means of a printing tool handling unit () comprising a coupling interface (). In one step of the method the printing tool handling unit () is temporarily coupled to a coupling interface () located at the end of a shaft () of the printing tool () with its coupling interface (). In a further step, the printing tool handling unit () transports the printing tool () to a separation unit () comprising at least one clamping device () and places the printing tool () in the clamping device () of the separation unit (). The printing tool (), in particular a sleeve () of the printing tool (), is clamped by the clamping device (), and the printing tool handling unit () separates the shaft () from the sleeve () by pulling the shaft () out of the sleeve () while the sleeve () is clamped in the clamping device ().

Method for automatically exchanging a sleeve of a printing tool

A clamping shaft () for a rotationally driven part () is described. It comprises at least one fluid chamber () being located inside a shaft body () and being delimited by a piston () and a cylinder part (). Additionally, the fluid chamber () is delimited by an elastic clamping region () having a first diameter if the piston () and the cylinder part () are in a first relative position, and a second diameter if the piston () and the cylinder part () are in a second relative position. Furthermore, a preloading unit () is provided, biasing the piston () and the cylinder part () towards the second relative position. Moreover, a printing cylinder unit () of a printing machine is presented comprising such a clamping shaft (). Also, a method for operating a clamping shaft () is explained.

Clamping shaft, printing cylinder unit and method for operating a clamping shaft

A bearing assembly () is described. It is suitable for supporting a printing cylinder or an anilox roll in a printing machine and comprises at least one roller bearing () being configured for receiving a shaft () associated with the printing cylinder or the anilox roll. Additionally, it has a first support part () carrying the roller bearing () and a second support part () being a carrier element of the printing machine or being configured for being mounted to a carrier element of the printing machine. Furthermore, a fluid chamber () is provided acting between the roller bearing () and the second support part (). Moreover, a printing machine is presented wherein a shaft () associated with a printing cylinder or an anilox roll thereof is supported by such a bearing assembly ().

Bearing assembly for supporting a printing cylinder or an anilox roll in a printing machine and printing machine

A sleeve station dedicated to the assembly of a sleeve and a mandrel for a flexographic press. The sleeve station can be loaded manually, and assembles the sleeve with the mandrel in a vertical orientation when both are in a vertical orientation with aligned axes, avoiding problems caused by the bending of the sleeves during assembly. After loading of the sleeve, it is returned to a horizontal axis orientation.

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Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock, Germany

Alexander Sudermann