A corrugated box flexo printing machine is designed specifically for printing graphics and text onto corrugated cardboard boxes. It utilizes the flexographic printing process, which involves a flexible relief plate to transfer ink onto the substrate. Here's a general overview of how a corrugated box flexo printing machine works:
Preparing the machine: The operator sets up the machine by mounting the printing plates onto the printing cylinders. These plates contain the image or text to be printed.
Feeding the substrate: The corrugated cardboard sheets or pre-cut box blanks are fed into the machine using a feeder mechanism. The sheets are guided through various rollers and tension controls to ensure proper alignment and tension.
Ink application: The machine has an ink system that consists of ink reservoirs, anilox rollers, and doctor blades. The ink reservoirs hold different colors of ink, and the anilox rollers are engraved with tiny cells that pick up a controlled amount of ink. The doctor blades scrape off excess ink from the anilox rollers, leaving ink only in the cells.
Printing process: As the cardboard sheets pass through the machine, they come in contact with the rotating printing cylinders. The printing plates on the cylinders transfer the ink from the anilox rollers onto the substrate. Each printing cylinder corresponds to a particular color, and the machine can have multiple printing stations for different colors or varnishes.
Drying: After the ink is applied, the printed sheets pass through a drying section. This section typically consists of heaters or hot air dryers that quickly dry the ink, allowing for immediate handling and further processing.
Finishing: Once the printing process is complete, the printed sheets can undergo additional operations like die-cutting, folding, gluing, or scoring to transform them into finished corrugated boxes.
Throughout the process, the machine incorporates various control systems to ensure accurate registration (alignment) of the different colors and precise print quality. These systems may use sensors, cameras, or mechanical adjustments to maintain the desired printing parameters.
It's important to note that different flexo printing machines may have variations in their design and features, but the basic principles outlined above are commonly employed in the printing of corrugated boxes.
