Komori Lithrone LSX640 With Coater to be Introduced at Drupa

The Lithrone SX40 has a new maximum running speed of 18,000 sph. The new higher speed fully automatic plate change

(F-APC) with non stop plate removal, helps increase the speed for job to job changeover, essential for busy print houses handling various run lengths. The Lithrone SX40 can change 6 plates in under two minutes, enabling, along with KHS-AI, a 35% reduction in job-to-job-changeover time. From the end of production on one job to an OK sheet on the next job it takes just 6 ¼ minutes. The automated coater plate change increases speed, precision and ease of use. All controls are integrated and automatic through the new PQC console’s touch screen. The new KHS-AI fast print start-up system has a self-learning function which progressively updates all press settings.

Changes to the feeder

The feeder on the new Lithrone SX40 has been developed for higher speed and to optimise the benefits of the new KHS-AI fast print start system.

The feeder board now requires no wheels and has an independent motor – not driven by the press, so sheet arrival timing can be adjusted electronically – which enables greater control now that the press accelerates towards maximum speed faster.

The front lay area has been modified in order to improve handling of lightweight materials – especially at maximum press speed.

Within the feeder head mechanism, we have modified the cam follower drive to maintain constant contact at the highest speed. This ensures a highly accurate sheet separation and transfer with minimum maintenance.

On top of the feeder pile, we have introduced an air containment system to allow precise sheet transport with the minimum of air, even when feeding at the higher maximum speed.

We have also increased the number of front lays and modified the air control in the sheet infeed area to ensure precise register at this higher speed.

Changes to the printing units:

We have evened out the water flow in the damping system –the effect being to stabilise damping solution temperature and maximise the benefits of alcohol free printing.

The ink fountain has been strengthened and the cheeks are now made of solid brass to ensure zero-set positioning in all operational temperatures – essential in order to maximise KHS-AI.

The fully automatic plate changing system ( F –APC) is new – now enabling non-stop continuous plate removal – and reducing the changeover time for 6 plates to 1 min 55 seconds.

The automatic impression cylinder cleaning device has been repositioned underneath the cylinder, freeing up more space and providing more flexibility in locating interdeck driers and additional air guides which are often beneficial to the higher speed running of heavyweight carton stock.

Blanket washing speed is increased through the new Komori version of the Impact system, with blankets and rollers now washed simultaneously and at the higher cylinder revolution speed of 8,000sph.

Transfer cylinders are of the contact free, skeleton type – with a new venturi system - to create a “virtual cylinder of air”. This is independently controlled via the pre-set air control system which is integrated into the KHS-A1 programme and its settings are progressively updated through KHS-AI’s automatic intelligence function.

We now diagonally skew the transfer cylinder instead of the plate cylinder. In addition to the several benefits this gives to unit-to-unit registration accuracy, it also enables the image on the coating unit’s blanket cylinder to be skewed – useful when precision spot coating.

On the coating unit itself, we have several innovations – automated plate changing, automated varnish circulation, automated blanket and coater impression cylinder cleaning. Furthermore, all these washing programmes are all now integrated into the KHS –A1 programme.

Many changes have been made at the delivery in view of the higher traveling speed of the sheet:

The delivery profile is higher – which improves coater dryer and maintenance access, and means that the sheet is flat when it reaches the final delivery vacuum system. At higher paper speed, this also provides additional sheet control and longer drying time.

We have added more variable speed blowers in the delivery and integrated them into the pre-set and self-learning functions of KHS-AI.

The delivery gripper bars are of a new shape to reduce the delivery air pressure and thereby reduce air turbulence in the delivery.

In the delivery pile we have changed the diameter of the vacuum slow down wheel to give greater sheet control and we have automated the jogger timing to assist in pile removal

Emission levels on the Lithrone SX40 are so impressive that the new press has attained the very important environmental BG certificate even before launch. To comply with the necessary BG standards, the press needed to prove its capability to reduce an extensive range of waste emissions, run alcohol free and produce acceptably low noise levels.