Rolling machine for printed substrates and related control method

Abstract

A rolling machine suitable for rolling up a continuous printed support, even of great length, is provided having an intermediate unit, containing a second roller with a mobile axis mounted on a movable support of the machine. The second roller is configured to receive a printed substrate and to drag it simultaneously in an direction of advancement towards the roll on which the reel is wound and in a direction perpendicular to the direction of advancement. The movable support is configured to translate perpendicularly to the movable axis of the second roller to increase/reduce a length of an overall path of the printed substrate from the printer to the reel on which it is rolled. A related control method of such a rolling machine is also disclosed.

1 . A rolling machine for printed substrates, comprising in succession in a direction of advancement:
 an input unit, comprising:   a first fixed-axis roller mounted on a frame of said machine, configured to receive a printed substrate directly at the output of a printer and to drag said printed substrate in the direction of advancement,   a first controlled stop element, configured to lock the printed substrate against the first roller and to prevent the printed substrate from advancing, or to allow the printed substrate to advance by sliding on the first roller,   an intermediate unit, comprising at least a second roller with movable axis mounted on a movable support of said machine, said second roller being configured to receive said printed substrate from the input unit and for dragging the printed substrate simultaneously in the direction of advancement and in a direction perpendicular to the direction of advancement;   an output unit, comprising:   a third roller with a fixed axis mounted on said frame, configured to receive said printed substrate from the intermediate unit and to drag the printed substrate in the direction of advancement,   a second controlled stop element, configured to lock the printed substrate against the third roller and to prevent the printed substrate from advancing, or to allow the printed substrate to advance by sliding on the third roller,   a rewind unit mounted on a frame of said machine, the rewind unit being configured to rewind the printed substrate that advances from the output unit and comprising a motorized shaft configured to be inserted into a rigid roll and to rotate it to roll-up the printed substrate onto the rigid roll;   a microprocessor unit configured to:   control said first controlled stop element to lock the printed substrate against the first roller when the printed substrate in the intermediate unit is to be made tense,   controlling said second controlled stop element so as to lock the printed substrate against the third roller while the printed substrate is not rewound on the rigid roll;   wherein said movable support is configured to translate perpendicularly to the movable axis of the second roller to increase/reduce a total distance of said second roller from said first roller and from said third roller, so as to increase/reduce a length of an overall path of said printed substrate from the first roller to the third roller.   
     
     
         2 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein each one of said first controlled stop element and said second controlled stop element comprises a respective movable bar configured to be pressed on the printed substrate respectively against the first roller and against the third roller, to prevent the printed substrate from advancing, and to be moved away from the first roller and from the third roller respectively, to allow the printed substrate to advance. 
     
     
         3 . The machine according to  claim 2 , wherein each respective movable bar of said first stop controlled element and of said second stop controlled element is mounted on a respective arm hinged to the frame of said machine. 
     
     
         4 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said movable support on which the second roller with movable axis is mounted is realized in the form of a rotating arm hinged to the frame of the machine so that, when the rotating arm rotates, the mobile axis of the second roller moves at least partially along said perpendicular direction. 
     
     
         5 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said intermediate unit comprises:   a fourth return roller with fixed axis mounted on the frame of the machine, configured to receive said printed substrate from the second roller,   a fifth roller with movable axis mounted on said movable support, configured to translate perpendicularly to the movable axis of the fifth roller, said second roller being configured to receive said printed substrate from the fourth roller and to drag the printed substrate simultaneously in the direction of advancement and in said perpendicular direction;   said third roller with fixed axis being configured to receive said printed substrate from the fifth roller.   
     
     
         6 . The machine according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said output unit comprises a sixth idle roller with fixed axis mounted on said frame and configured to receive said printed substrate from the third roller; 
 said rewind unit being configured to rewind the printed substrate which advances from said sixth idle roller. 
 
     
     
         7 . The machine according to  claim 1 , in which all the rollers of said intermediate unit are idle rollers. 
     
     
         8 . The machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising an electromechanical actuator controlled by said microprocessor unit, configured to move/counterbalance said movable support. 
     
     
         9 . A method of controlling a rolling machine of a printed substrate according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 controlling, with said microprocessor unit, said first controlled stop element to lock the printed substrate against the first roller when the printed substrate in the intermediate unit is to be made tense;   controlling, with said second microprocessor unit, said second controlled stop element to block the printed substrate against the third roller while the printed substrate is not rewound on a rigid roll;   translating said movable support perpendicularly to the movable axis of the second roller to increase/reduce an overall distance of said second roller from said first roller and from said third roller, to increase/reduce a length of an overall path of said printed substrate from the first roller to the third roller.