Magnetic Rotary Encoders Ensure Synchronous Roller Movement in Printing Presses

Every day, millions of people pick up and read a newspaper. To make this possible, printing presses run nonstop at full speed. It's important that this production is reliable and trouble-free. Powerful magnetic rotary encoders support this high-speed process.

Newsprint flies through the offset press at an approximate speed of 50 kilometers an hour. At this velocity, the movement of numerous rollers must be coordinated with absolute precision to ensure that the webs do not tear or crinkle, and that the information is printed in the right place. Any deviations put the process in jeopardy.

Printing presses are among the most complex and expensive machines in existence. In order to recoup the purchase costs of these machines, the presses should be run with as few breaks as possible. Maintenance times should be kept as short as possible. In the presses, the rotation of the rollers is monitored using rotary encoders. Despite strong vibrations and ever-present ink dust, rotary encoders must remain both precise and reliable in their operation.

The ENA58IL series from Pepperl+Fuchs is the first line of magnetic rotary encoders that meet the requirements of high-performance printing presses. Due to their resistance to shock and vibrations, and their ability to withstand harsh environments of dirt and dust, they are highly reliable. Using a Wiegand sensor allows a more compact design and eliminates the need for gears.

Due to their short cycle time of less than 80 microseconds, the ENA58IL series magnetic rotary encoders are the ideal solution for high-speed operation in printing presses. With an accuracy of 0.1 degrees and a 16 bit resolution, the magnetic rotary encoders provide exact data position, ensuring the rollers run synchronously. The devices generate an induction voltage with every axis rotation, which supplies power to the electronics. This eliminates the need for a built-in battery that has to be changed at regular intervals. Using this intrinsic energy, the magnetic rotary encoders are able to provide exact data position even in the event of a power failure. Thus, the press can continue to run immediately after a restart without any recalibration. Additionally, interfaces for SSI, EtherCAT, PROFIBUS, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP and CANopen ensure seamless communication.

• High degree of accuracy and high resolution for synchronous roller movement
• Extremely robust, not susceptible to wear, maintenance-free
• No downtime caused by sensors
• Exact position data provided even in the event of a power failure, enabling an immediate restart
• Wide range of interfaces (EtherCAT, PROFINET, SSI, PROFIBUS, EtherNet/IP, CANopen)