Omron's lineare Antriebstechnik in der Druckindustrie

Seit dem Jahre 2003 beschäftigt sich die Spühl AG im Geschäftsbereich Digital Printing Systems mit der Entwicklung und Produktion von Großformat-Tintenstrahldruckern. Drucksysteme dieser Art eigenen sich für einen breit gefächerten Bereich von Anwendungen. So können Trägermaterialen wie Papier, Folie, Textilien, Glas oder Holz bei einer Breite von bis zu 3,5 m und einer Höhe von 75 mm problemlos bedruckt werden.

Endprodukte sind zum Beispiel diverse Varianten von Großplakaten, die sich über komplette Hochhausfassaden erstrecken. Ein Blick zurück zu den Olympischen Sommerspielen in Athen: Fast jeder erinnert sich an die bunt bedruckten Sonnenschirme, die den Athleten in den Wettkampfpausen Schutz vor der brennenden Hitze geboten haben. Diese Stoffe wurden exklusiv von Spühl AG für die Olympische Sommerspiele bedruckt.

Examples of end products include the various types of large placards we see stretching right across the facades of high-rise buildings. Looking back to the summer Olympic Games in Athens, almost everybody will remember the brightly decorated sunshades where athletes sheltered from the blazing heat between competitive events. The materials for these sunshades were printed exclusively by Spühl AG for this event.

Fundament des Erfolgs – Innovative Produkte gepaart mit sehr guter Kundenbetreuung Bei der Neuentwicklung des Printing Systems “Spühl Virtu MT25” entschied sich die Firma Spühl AG für ein Antriebskonzept aus dem Hause Omron. Gründe dafür waren die innovativen und technisch hervorragenden Produkte sowie die sehr gute partnerschaftliche Zusammenarbeit zwischen der Spühl AG, Omron und der Regatron AG, einem Schweizer Omron-Systempartner im Bereich Antriebstechnik. Nach Meinung der Entwicklungsabteilung Elektronik bei der Spühl AG, „sind technische Unterstützung und ausgereifte ...   ....der gesamte Beitrag steht Ihnen hier als Download zur Verfügung.

The reason for the decision was the company’s innovative and technically superior product range and the excellent partnership co-operation between Spühl AG, Omron and Regatron AG, which is a Swiss partner company of the Omron Group. Regatron itself is specialized in engineering and design-in of Omron’s motion & drive technology components to industrial applications. According to Spühl AG’s Design Management, “technical support and properly defined products are essential to any successful new design”. The print line of this latest generation of ‘roll-to-roll’ printing machines is equipped with a magnetic direct linear drive unit from the SGLFW Series with 4 metres of magnetic line. Several Omron servo-drives are used for the material feed. The powerful combination of high-performance drive components provides a printing capacity of up to 150m2 every hour.

Fast, precise dot-to-dot in a compact unit

The most important criterion for this size of print system is the micrometer-precise positioning on the base material of each dot of ink. Only 100% positioning and axis synchronization will produce a brilliant piece of printing.

Another aspect was the high acceleration rate of the almost 100kg print head at its printing speed of about 3m/sec. Every centimetre used to generate acceleration is lost as far as productive motion is concerned. In other words: the better the acceleration of the drive system, the more efficient and compact the installation.

When the design engineers considered these process-related major requirements for precision, speed and dynamic acceleration, they very quickly decided on a direct linear drive system supplied by Omron. This was considered to be the only way of reliably achieving these extremely high standards on a line of 4 metres and more. The general performance of the drive system with its 5m/sec. Output and acceleration reaching 20g will allow the design engineers at Spühl AG to view the future with confidence.

Competitive advantage due to lower costs and versatility

Other positive aspects were revealed to the designers during the development phase. Cost-intensive and resource-blocking construction work was reduced in comparison to conventional spindle drives. This created a definite competitive advantage. The response to customers’ special requirements is quick and flexible. According to Spühl AG Mechanical Development Department, “no drive system other than the direct linear drive is flexible enough to be integrated as quickly and easily into a newly designed machine. The system is not just a time-saver, it has also prevented a few headaches during the planning phase”.

Maintenance-free process stability

It is not just the manufacturer who benefits from this technology; the customer also gains great production advantages with the direct drive used with this type of system. The maintenance- free, no-adjustment drive system means that costly downtimes for servicing work are a thing of the past. Drive unit wear can have serious consequences in printing applications. The print area lies beneath the drive axis and falls of dirt particles can permanently damage and spoil the quality of the end product as the colours dry.

Direct drive systems offer the ability to operate above the product, without any kind of risk. Process optimisations necessitated by mechanical play in converter shafts are dispensed with completely. Once a process has been initiated, it will continue consistently in 24-hour production at maximum output.