The Problem
Flexographic printing lines as well as other printing presses are developed to produce flexible packaging in a variety of colours and finishes at high speeds. You can recognise static electricity by experiencing static shocks or seeing sparks as a discharging effect also printing issues like the following can have static as a cause:
- Ink mist
- Ghosting
- Fuzzy printing due to static
- Particles on the print
- Dust attraction due to static
- Print defects due to static
- Overspray due to static
All effects can be static electricity(high-voltage static) related issues. Static charges can create problems in many sections of the flexoprinter or flexopress.
Discharging in Flexoprinters
Discharging the web directly after the unwinder will prevent that a static charge will attract dust particles. Also operators will not get any shocks while passing or touching the web. When the film passes a corona treater a massive static charge is created by the corona unit on the material. After the Corona treater a discharging is recommended (in closed loop feedback, optional).
If the flexoprinting section is indicated as Ex-area because solvents are used, static charges on the material can ignite the gas and cause a fire. Neutralising before the material touches the central drum is done by an ATEX approved static eliminator – the Performax IQ Easy EX.
Commonly Used Products
EP-Sh-N
Each individual emitter pin of this anti-static bar is coupled capacitively to the high voltage. You will therefore not get an electrical shock when the emitter pin is accidentally touched. Another advantage is that the bar continues to function properly when a number of emitter pins are short-circuited, for instance due to heavy fouling.
Manager IQ Easy
Manager IQ Easy Introducing a new level of static control; the heart of the new IQ Easy platform is the Manager IQ Easy. It comprises of a Control unit with a 7” LCD touch screen, provides information from all the connected devices and makes it easy to change and monitor status and parameters. Up to 6 IQ devices can be directly connected to the Manager IQ Easy. The 24V DC power distribution is routed via the Manager, so no extra cables! This makes the connection of a device even easier than connection to a single desktop power supply.
Sensor IQ Easy
A sensor that measures the electrostatic charge of a web can be added to the IQ Easy platform. The Sensor IQ Easy is a bar type device that can hold op to 16 sensor heads. Each sensor head can be placed on a strategical position across the web to monitor the electrostatic charge. All data of each sensor head is communicated to the Manager IQ Easy and stored for process monitoring. For dirty environments or for precautionary protection of the sensor heads, the Sensor IQ Easy bar is equipped with a compressed air connection. Using only a very low pressure and air volume dirt entering the orifice of the sensors is prevented. Anti static bars or charging generators in the system can act on data received from a sensor. This makes it possible to control the static charge level on the web in real time using a closed loop feedback and correction routine. Data received from the Sensor heads can also be used for quality control and process monitoring. It can be retrieved from the Manager IQ Easy through the standard Ethernet port.
Performax Easy Ex
Compact high efficient static neutralising for explosion hazardous environments .
The Performax Easy Ex has an integrated high voltage power supply and requires only a low voltage input of 24V DC. A two color high bright LED visualises bar ON (green) or bar FAULT (red). On the standard connection cable an additional wires for remote on/off contact is available and a signal indicating high voltage O.K. The Performax Easy Ex bar has light slanted ends and protection classification IP66 which allows easy cleaning. The aluminum profile offers a very rugged structure even up to 3 meters. Universal mounting brackets are supplied for various mounting options.
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