Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Flexographic Preventative Maintenance Checklist

Checklists are an foremost stuff in a flexographic preventive perpetuation programme.


Flexography is the printing evolution most commonly used for packaging materials. One of the biggest advantages of flexographic printing is that it uses water-based ink. The printing evolution is environmentally buddy-buddy and so are the materials used. Too, the development is brisk and suitable for bantam press runs. Product manufacturers are more and more using just-in-time manufacturing strategies. When they necessitate packaging counsel, that obligation is prompt.


Preventive preservation on flexographic presses is done Diurnal, weekly and on a biannual reason. An decisive part in the pressroom is a preventative maintainance checklist.


Daily Preventative Maintenance


For Diurnal preventative perpetuation of a flexographic measure, the adjacent items entail to be checked that they are working and cleaned; infeed steel rubber nip roll, infeed steel roll, die station mould roll, die station mould roll gears, die stationer bearer wipers, printing idea rolls (cleaned of glue, paper residue and ink). After the printing conception roll gears are cleaned, they want to be relubricated. Besides analysis and Disinfected upper impact ball bearings, and Disinfected the rubber pull rubber surface of glue, paper residue and ink besides as the steel pull roll surface and loafer surfaces. Disinfected the idea roll gears and regrease them. Remove adhesives, paper residue and ink from the station representation roll. Trial and Disinfected the Physician roll surface, anilox roll surface and printing plate cylinders and gears. Unwind and rewind core holders, bearings and bearing caps.


Weekly Preventative Maintenance


The adjacent tackle parts should be checked weekly to generate decided they are in positive working array and cleaned whether essential; core holder (laminating, unwind, away, rewind mandrel), compressed air border filters, action of upper die coercion rollers, context of anilox rolls and contingency of die model roll. Besides examine the occasion of die replica roll bearing blocks, die bearing blocks, pneumatic system for leakage and pneumatic system for air pressure.


Additionally, check the doctor roll and tinting roll surfaces, drying system including the heating element, and the supply and exhaust fan motors. Three lists should be made and printed in proper quantities (frequency and number of presses are two factors to consider)For the Daily PM list follow this format:Daily Maintenance Checklist: Press #__________ Date:_____________ Shift_________


Six-Month Preventative Maintenance


Every six months, certain preventative maintenance should be performed. This maintenance work involves checking, maintaining or replacing the timing belt on waste stripping assembly, line shaft couplings, doctor rolls (tolerances, surface condition and bearings), doctor roll pressure adjustment assembly, anilox roll condition, anilox roll bearings and gear. Other equipment needing attention are the impression roll gears, impression roll (surface condition and runout), fountain condition, infeed tension brake gears, fife edge guide unit according to manufacturer's instruction, and the main drive unit according to manufacturer's instruction. Also at six-month intervals check the condition of die station drive gears, die station removable base roll surfaces, sheeting station drive gears, sheeting station base roll gears, sheeting station removable base roll surface condition, sharpness of slitter blades and slitter base roll condition.


Preparing the Checklists


Preparing the checklist is not difficult. Also, each week check oil level, line shaft gear boxes, roll end and web break detector operation and impression throw-off return. Vertical slides must consistently return to their original on-impression position when the press restarts; check this with a dial indicator. Also check ink pumps as per the manufacturer's instructions, roll end and web break detector operation, and fountain hoses.




1.______________ Core holder (laminating, unwind, waste, rewind mandrel.


Simply do this for each item on the daily checklist. The line preceding the item is for the initials or signature of the person who completed the work. This allows for accountability. Do the same for the weekly and six-month preventative maintenance list.


Daily preventive maintenance is done at the beginning of each shift.