Thermographic analysis of inking device of narrow web flexographic press

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Kukura Yu. A., Misiura M. O., Repeta V. B. № 1 (75) 68-74 Image Image

The article presents the results of contactless thermographic analysis of the inking device of the flexographic press in the process of the label printing with UV-inks. The uneven distribution of the temperature along the anilox roller and the printing plate has been established, which in its turn creates the fluctuations in the value of the structural viscosity of printing inks.

The thermographic analysis has been carried out during the printing of label pro­ducts on the eight-color linear flexographic press Graficon Ilma MP340 using UV inks of UVivid Flexo JD series (Sericol) and Cold Foil UV Adhesive RVA16 (Sericol). The thermal imager of the brand Testo 882 has been used in the study.

As a result of experimental studies, the unevenness of the temperature distribution along the surface of the anilox roller and the printing plate has been revealed.

It has been established that the temperature difference between the center of the cylinder and its edge is on average 2–3 оС. In its turn, they also influence the fluctuation of the structural viscosity of printing inks. It has also been established that the tem­perature of the cylinder heating depends on the type of printing ink. The conducted la­boratory studies on the rotary viscometer Brookfield RVT have allowed determining the dependency of the viscosity of the studied printing inks on the temperature.

It has been discovered that the adhesive, which is a homogeneous liquid, does not cause excessive heating of elements of inking system, indicating significant influence in the process of ink transfer of the structural viscosity of heterogeneous systems (UV inks), which is the result of pigment interaction and interaction of the binding agent with pigments.

The results of experimental studies carried out in specific production conditions ha­ve made it possible to present practical recommendations for ensuring the stability of the process of flexographic printing with UV inks.

Keywords: flexography, inking device, UV-inks, viscosity, temperature.


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