# US 2014/0190362 A1 · Machine and method for printing material webs

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- Number: US 2014/0190362 A1
- Document ID: US20140190362A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/238,538
- Filed: 2012-08-17
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-08-22
- Assignees: Windmoeller & Hoelscher KG
- Inventors: Bjoern Weidmann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190362A1

## CPC

- B41F 21/00: Devices for conveying sheets through printing apparatus or machines (through platen presses B41F1/28)
- B41F 33/0036: {Devices for scanning or checking the printed matter for quality control}
- B41F 33/02: Arrangements of indicating devices, e.g. counters
- G01N 21/8983: {for testing textile webs, i.e. woven material}
- G01N 2021/8825: {Separate detection of dark field and bright field}
- B41F: PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES (manifolding devices or office printing machines B41L)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

The invention describes a machine for printing material webs (4), which comprises a station (1, 11, 41) for monitoring the printed material web (4), with the station (1, 11, 41) for monitoring the material web (4) comprising a sensor (3, 13) for monitoring the web (4) and at least one counter support (2, 12) for guiding the web (4), with at least one counter support (2, 12) being located on the side of the web (4) facing away from the sensor (3, 13). The invention is characterized by a device for providing blow air, which shows jets (6, 7) extruding blow air in the area of the station (1, 11, 41) for monitoring the material web (4) at the side of the material web (4) facing the sensor (3, 13).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A machine for printing material webs (4),
which comprises a station (1, 11, 41) for monitoring the printed material web (4),
with the station (1, 11, 41) for monitoring the material web (4) comprising a sensor (3, 1.3) for monitoring the web (4) and at least one counter support (2, 12) for guiding the web (4), with at least one counter support (2, 12) being located on the side of the web (4) facing away from the sensor (3, 13),
characterized in that
devices are provided with which a pressure difference can be generated and which are installed such that a force results acting upon the web in the direction towards the counter support,
comprising a first device, arranged at the side of the web facing the sensor, which generates a pressure, with this device comprising pressurized air jets (6, 7), with a first pressurized air jet (6) acting upon the web (4) upstream from the counter support (2, 12) and a second pressurized air jet (7) acting upon the web (4) downstream from the counter support (2, 12),
and/or a second device, arranged at the side of the web facing away from the sensor, which generates a vacuum, with this second device comprising jets (53) from which air flows can
be guided out, pressurized and aligned perpendicular to the travel direction (z) of the web (4), with the jets (53) being arranged upstream and downstream from the counter support (2, 12) in the travel direction of the web (4).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A machine according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the first device represents an equipment for providing blow air, which in the area of the station (1, 11, 41) shows jets (6, 7) extruding blow air for monitoring the material web (4) at the side of the material web (4) facing the sensor (3, 13).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A machine according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the second device also comprises an equipment showing jets for providing blow air, with the provided blow air showing a flow rate exceeding the traveling speed of the web (4).

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A machine according to claim 3,
characterized in that
the jets are arranged in directions perpendicular in reference to the travel direction (z) such that the blow air assumes a direction of flow essentially extending perpendicular in reference to the travel direction of the web.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A machine according to claim 4,
characterized in that
the jets are provided in channels which are arranged perpendicularly in the counter support in reference to the travel direction of the web.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A machine according to claim 5,
characterized in that
the jets are arranged in the middle of the channels and generate flows aligned in the direction
towards the sides of the counter support.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A machine according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the surface of the counter support (2, 12) facing the web (4) is embodied evenly in the area of the station (1, 11, 41).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A machine according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the surface of the counter support facing the web is white in the area of the station (1, 11, 41).

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A machine according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the surface of the counter support (2, 12, 32) facing the material web (4) is made from a smooth, homogenous material in the area of the station (1, 11, 41).

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A machine according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the surface of the counter support (2, 12, 32) facing the web comprises Teflon in the area of the station (1, 11, 41).

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A machine according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the surface of the counter support (2, 12, 32) facing the web comprises micro-porous Teflon in the area of the station (1, 11, 41).

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A machine according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the sensor (3, 13) is a spectral sensor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A machine according to claim 1,
characterized by
a displacement device, with which the surface of the counter support (2, 12, 32) facing the web can be displaced in the area of the station (1, 11, 41) perpendicular (x) in reference to the travel direction (z) of the web (4).

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A machine according to claim 1,
characterized in that
in the station (1, 11, 41) for monitoring the material web (4) at least one second sensor (12) is provided, preferably a densiometric sensor, with which the side of the material web (4) facing this second sensor (12) can be monitored,
that at least one second counter support (12, 32, 22) can be positioned opposite said sensor (12) on the side of the material web (4) facing away from at least one second sensor (12),
and that this additional counter support is provided with a white roller (22) and/or a stationary counter support (32) with an optic element, preferably a background illumination (39) or a reflector (34).

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A machine according to claim 14,
characterized in that
the stationary counter support (32) can optionally be made to contact the material web (4) and be separated from it.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

A machine according to claim 15,
characterized in that
the surface of the stationary counter support (32) facing the material web (4) in the web travel direction (z) upstream and/or downstream in reference to the optic element (34, 39) is made from a porous or perforated material, preferably micro-porous Teflon.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

A machine according to claim 14,
characterized by
at least two illumination devices (14, 15), with which the monitoring area of at least one second sensor (13) can be illuminated.

### Claim 18

A method for printing material webs,
in which a printed material web (4) is monitored via a sensor (3, 13) in the area of a station (1, 11, 41) for monitoring the material web (4) from its first side.
while the web is guided on its other side by at least one counter support (2, 12, 22, 32),
characterized in that
a pressure difference is generated with devices, with a resulting force acting upon the web (4) in the direction towards the counter support,
with a pressure being generated by a first device, arranged at the side of the web facing the sensor, with this device comprising pressurized air jets (6, 7), with a first pressurized air jet (6) acting upon the web (4) upstream from the counter support (2, 12) and a second pressurized air jet (7) acting upon the web (4) downstream the counter support (2, 12),
and/or with a second device, arranged at the side of the web facing away from the sensor and generating a vacuum, with this second device comprising jets (53) from which an air flow can be guided out, subject to pressurization and aligned perpendicular to the travel direction (z) of the web (4), with the jets (53) being arranged upstream and downstream from the counter support (2, 12), seen in the travel direction of the web (4).

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

A method according to claim 18,
characterized in that
the speed and/or the volume flow of the blow air are adjusted such that no measurable air gap exists between the counter support (2, 12, 22, 32) and the material web (4).

### Claim 20

(canceled)