Crabtree of Gateshead, Manufacturer and Global Supplier of Quality Metal Printing Machinery

Fastready Press
Raised Infeed

In 1990 Crabtree launched the 1290 Press, and in 1996 the Fastready Press was introduced. These presses offered
good register performance on most materials up to speeds of
6000 sph.
Crabtree of Gateshead Fastready Press View showing extended plastic top plate on Fastready Press Infeed
View showing extended plastic top plate on Fastready Press Infeed

Crabtree has continued to develop the Fastready Press registration system specifically to address the following issues:
  • Increase speed and improve register performance up to 7500sph (dependent on material qualities).

  • Reduce front edge sheet damage on multiple passes.

  • Improve the machines capacity to handle sheets with a wider range of internal lacquers and coatings.

  • Improve sheet handling.

  • Reduce sheet distortion, especially of larger format and thinner sheets.

  • We can also offer an out of grip sensor system to flag and remove sheets.
Extensive testing and development has been carried out in house, and at a selected site for the past 18 months, the results of which have now been incorporated into the build as standard for all new Crabtree Fastready Press and C2000 Plus series presses.

Infeed Improvements

All of the following modifications result in an increase in register performance.

  • The sheet line of the infeed has been raised to a true tangent to the top of the impression cylinder. Crabtree has patented this technology. This has eliminated the need for ramps on the infeed top plate.

  • The sheet support system in the register area has been changed. The front centre top plate has been redesigned to benefit thinner, double reduced materials, and eliminate snag points.
    The top plate material and actual contact area have been specified to minimise the build up of lacquer deposits from the underside of the sheets, which can alter the frictional characteristics, and influence the registration performance.
    The outer front top plates on the existing machine have been removed and replaced with extended outer sheet supports. This eliminates the possibility of the front edge corner of the sheet snagging in the register area.

  • The drive to the infeed assembly has been stiffened up to reduce torsional oscillation in the drive. This ensures the position of the front edge of the sheet remains constant relative to the front lays, especially at speeds in excess of
    6000 sph.

  • The speed differential between the impression cylinder and the pushers, dog and belts of the infeed has been changed.

  • The reduced pusher speed means that for a given sheet and line speed, the energy that the sheet has to absorb is about half that of the current machine, considerably reducing front edge sheet damage at higher speeds.
Raised Infeed R2 Features
  • Extended centre top plate for improved thinner sheet handling (0.18mm and below).

  • Extended outer sheet supports for improved thinner sheet handling (0.18mm and below).

  • Increased gripper throat (was 7.5mm now 9.5mm) for improved performance handling wavy sheets.

  • Magnetic sideguide for improved sheet position control and improved thinner sheet handling (0.18mm and below).

  • New eccentric adjustment articulating sidelay for improved sheet handling.
Benefits
  • Improved sheet handling reduces waste due to damaged sheets.

  • Increased front register time reduces register problems, there by reducing waste.

  • The increased speed capability increases the machine’s production capacity.

Maximum Recommended Printing Speeds (MRPS)
Speeds are dependent on a number of conditions, including sheet internal lacquer.
Other factors (eg UV equipment) may limit the actual line speed.
Extended sidelay alternative:
Steel rectangular and scroll sheets, in the thickness range 0.17mm to 0.30mm
MRPS 7000sph
The MRPS reduces progressively for sheet above 0.3mm thick. At 0.5mm thick material, for example, the MRPS is 4500sph.
The MRPS reduces progressively for sheet less than 0.17mm thick.
At 0.15mm thick material, the MRPS is 5500sph.
Aluminium body plate and scroll sheets
(Specify the aluminium material infeed alternative)
MRPS 6000sph
Single point sidelay alternative:
Steel body plate, in the thickness range 0.17mm to 0.30mm, the speed may have to be reduced for materials outside this thickness range.
MRPS 6000sph

Note: The single point sidelay alternative has been added for reference purposes only as the package outlined in this specification includes the extended sidelay alternative as standard.

The above information relates to the performance of a new machine fitted with the raised infeed and therefore can only be used as a guide and does not constitute any form of guarantee when a raised infeed is retro fitted to an existing press.

As the package included here is a mechanical upgrade only, Crabtree of Gateshead cannot guarantee the performance of a machine, as the actual performance is dependent on many factors other than those covered by this package.

 

Download a copy of our Product Update brochure >

 Crabtree of Gateshead Product Update brochure

 

New Pusher Assembly
A new pusher assembly replaces the current unit. The new pushers have many features which enhance their durability, including a new air cylinder assembly incorporating liners and a wiper, a new front stop and eccentric adjuster for alignment, bearings in all the pivot points, and a recirculating ball slide unit which replaces the current hepco slide. These features help to increase the service life of the unit and its serviceability.
Crabtree of Gateshead Fastready Press New Pusher Assembly
View of new pusher assembly


New Sidelay System
A new unique patented sidelay assembly, complete with new side guides replaces the sidelay fitted to the current machines. These sidelays, with the longer support and distributed force characteristic, are better at registering thinner materials. They also handle scroll in the same way as body plate, without the need for any mechanical changes. An eccentric adjuster is incorporated in the articulation stops to allow adjustments to be made when handling non Euronorm standard sheets.
Crabtree of Gateshead Fastready Press View of sidelay assembly
View of sidelay assembly


Impression Cylinder Changes
To match the raised infeed, the impression cylinder is fitted with a new gripper cam and other mechanical changes to enable the grippers to be opened wider. These changes improve the sheet action to the front lay points and increase the front lay time for register, while reducing the chances of sheets going over the grippers.
Crabtree of Gateshead Fastready Press General view of impression cylinder
General view of impression cylinder

Product Market
This product is available to upgrade the following equipment:
Crabtree 1290, C2000 and Fastready Presses
Full technical and engineering support is included with this product to ensure that the designed performance is obtained from day one.