Routine maintenance and upkeep of printing presses

Static Maintenance of Printing Machines

    Static maintenance of printing machines refers to the maintenance of the machines while they are in a stationary state.

1. Establishing regulations for machine maintenance. Maintenance of offset printing machines should adhere to the machine's instruction manual. This may include tasks like regular oil changes, cleaning filters, and routine precision checks.

2. Strengthening the maintenance of critical components. Components such as gears, cams, sprockets, rollers, and bearings are the most crucial parts of printing machines. Their maintenance should differ from other components because changes in their precision will affect the final print quality. Springs are one of the most widely used components for balancing the machine's mechanisms. The quality of their performance directly influences the accuracy of the moving parts' coordination. Springs must exhibit responsiveness, and any viscoelastic or unrecoverable plastic deformation is highly detrimental to their function. If any of these issues are identified, immediate replacement of the springs is necessary.

3. Implementing technical upgrades for better machine maintenance. Machine maintenance requires that machines are designed with maintenance convenience in mind. However, given the complexity of printing machines, it is impossible to account for every factor, and machine maintenance requirements may change due to environmental factors. Thus, any structures that are unfavorable for machine maintenance should be improved, as long as they do not affect normal machine operation.

Dynamic Maintenance of Printing Machines

    Dynamic maintenance of printing machines refers to the maintenance of the machines while they are in operation. Static machine maintenance serves as the basis for dynamic machine maintenance, and dynamic machine operation can help assess the level of static maintenance. Dynamic maintenance is crucial for the proper functioning of the machines. The following aspects analyze the main aspects that should be maintained during dynamic machine operation.

1. Checking the machine's readiness status. The machine's readiness status can be assessed through jogging or test runs. This can help identify issues like tools or other items stuck in the machine, inappropriate plate installation that could damage the plate or cause printing difficulties, and improper rubber blanket installation, which can lead to printing problems or even machine damage.

2. Assessing the lubrication status of the machine. The state of the machine's lubrication can be initially observed by checking oil levels. If the oil levels are low or unclear, it's necessary to stop the machine and inspect the oil system for any leaks. While oil leaks are easy to spot, identifying their root causes can be difficult. For machines using sliding bearings, low-speed operations are not conducive to proper lubrication, especially during jogging or low-speed operations. It's advisable to rotate the machine without printing before these operations, which should be a primary task before starting work every day. Some machines have oil pumps driven by the main engine, so reversing the machine can lead to a dangerous situation where oil is drawn back to the tank. Therefore, reversing the machine should be avoided. Lubrication for critical machine parts can also be checked by monitoring the temperature of nearby metal components. Elevated temperatures could indicate lubrication issues.

3. Managing the impact during machine operation. Reducing the impact during machine operation is essential to extend the machine's lifespan. Lowering printing pressure results in smoother machine operation, which is beneficial for overall printing quality. On the premise of ensuring print quality, lower printing pressure is preferred. Reducing machine speed is another important consideration for minimizing the moment of inertia. The slower the machine operates, the lower its moment of inertia, so the machine should not always run at high speeds.

    These considerations are just a part of the daily maintenance and care required for printing machines. The quality of daily maintenance and care directly impacts the longevity of the printing machines and the quality of the products. Therefore, it is a matter that should not be taken lightly.