EP1060886B1 - Method and device for feeding ink to ink fountains in printing machines - Google Patents

Abstract

An ink cartridge (1) fits to an ink ductor (2) stretching across the whole width of the ink cartridge. An ink gauger (3) divided into several sections fits on the ink cartridge's side facing the ink ductor. The ink gauger's sections make up ink zones fitted with ink dosing elements (4) that place the ink gauge's relevant section at a defined distance from the ink ductor according to the need for ink in the corresponding ink zones, so that a dosing gap (5) is formed between the ink ductor and the ink gauge along the length of the ink ductor.

Description

The invention relates to a method for supplying printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines, wherein the printing machine has a color box for ink supply, the a ink duct interacting with ink metering elements is assigned, so that ink zones for differentiated supply of printing materials with ink and the Color requirements of the color zones or groups of color zones determined, these values a computer fed and processed there, the computer adequate to the local color requirements Issues control commands to supply the individual of the ink zones or ink zone groups and a paint dispenser that can be moved parallel to the ink ductor Ink zones or ink zone groups supplied.

The invention further relates to a device for supplying printing ink in ink fountains of printing presses, which consist of an ink duct arranged in the ink fountain, which overlaps its entire width extends and with a color knife divided into several color zones forms a metering gap. This facility also includes a color box assigned color donation device, controllable by a computer, for needs-based Supply of the color zones.

From DE 23 24 462 C2 a device is known through which the level in the ink fountain a printing press can be kept at a constant level. The constant Level is aimed at to keep the printing ink in the ink fountain low to be able to. For this, a color stirrer is used, which is moved along the color ductor. This movement creates a wave that comes from a moving one above the paint stirrer Button as a measure of the level is detected. The ink supply is then blocked, if the level is higher than the specified level.

This solution is said to cause an evenly low color level in the ink fountain can be held.

However, it is not possible to feed the color in such a way that the color is fed into the individual Color zones according to the color requirements. This problem is said with the DE 195 12 727 A1 can be solved. Here a color cartridge can be moved on a sled arranged. A moving sensor is arranged in front of the ink cartridge in the direction of movement, which detects the level zonally and when the level falls below the required level issues a control command. This causes the color cartridge to have a corresponding Gives the amount of paint to the color zone in need.

This solution has the disadvantage that the ink fountain is not sufficiently empty at the end of the job can be printed. Since dosing is carried out as required, an uneven remains at the end of the order Surface profile with areas that accumulate color due to their low color requirement exhibit. These clusters of ink can no longer be printed and remain in the ink fountain of the printing press.

DE 44 24 591 C1 describes a device for supplying printing ink from an ink dispenser Known when to empty the ink fountain at the end of the job the quantity of product to be printed adjustable presetting counter is arranged. This is technically connected to the paint dispenser. This can be done before the order ends by a control signal depending on the amount of product to be printed Ink supply can be stopped by the ink dispenser.

Due to the uneven surface profile, this device also makes it impossible to empty the ink fountain residue-free.

The object of the invention is therefore to develop a method and a device by the zonal dosing corresponding to the color requirement takes place and the color box at Order end or when changing orders are left largely empty can.

This object is achieved by the features of the 1st and 18th claims. The invention undergoes further training in the respective subordinate claims.

The advantage of the solution according to the invention is that at the end of the order or at Order change the ink fountain is almost empty. In addition to the savings, this also eliminates of color the time-consuming manual emptying of the ink fountain by the printer.

Figur 1

Schnittdarstellung (Schema) der erfindungsgemäßen Einrichtung mit einer verfahrbaren Farbkartusche als Farbreservoir.

Figur 2

Darstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Einrichtung nach Figur 1 in der Draufsicht.

Figur 3

Schnittdarstellung (Schema) der erfindungsgemäßen Einrichtung mit einem verfahrbaren Füllschlauch zum Dosieren.

Figur 4

Darstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Einrichtung nach Figur 2 in der Draufsicht

The invention will be explained in more detail below with the aid of two exemplary embodiments. The drawings have the following meaning:

Figure 1

Sectional view (diagram) of the device according to the invention with a movable color cartridge as a color reservoir.

Figure 2

Representation of the device according to the invention according to Figure 1 in plan view.

Figure 3

Sectional view (scheme) of the device according to the invention with a movable filling hose for dosing.

Figure 4

Representation of the device according to the invention according to Figure 2 in plan view

Embodiment 1

As can be seen from Figure 1, the device consists of a paint box 1, the one Color guide 2 is assigned. The ink duct 2 extends over the entire width of the Ink box 1 (see Figure 2). On the side of the ink fountain facing the ink duct 2 1, a color knife 3 is arranged, which is divided into several sections 3.1 ... 3.x (see Figure 2). These sections 3.1 ... 3.x implement so-called color zones. These are color metering elements 4 assigned, depending on the color requirements of the corresponding color zones relevant section of the ink knife 3 at a defined distance from the ink duct 2 so that over the length of the ink duct 2 between it and the ink knife 3 a metering gap 5 is formed.

Above the ink duct 2 is arranged on a first cross member 6, which is parallel to the Ink duct 2 extends. On the first traverse 6, a carriage that runs on it travels 7.1 to which a paint dispenser 7, here in the form of a color cartridge 7.2, is attached is.

The color cartridge 7.2 is provided with an outlet valve 7.4, which is not shown by a Computer can be controlled. By pneumatic means, not shown, or others suitable means, a constant pressure is exerted on the inside of the ink cartridge 7.2.

To monitor the fill level of the ink fountain 1, the carriage 7.1 has a sensor 8 assigned.

Furthermore, the ink fountain 1 is assigned a second crossbeam 9, which also extends over the entire width of which extends and is arranged parallel to the crossmember 6. On the traverse 9, a movable carriage 10.1 runs as part of a paint spatula 10. The paint spatula 10 is firmly connected to the carriage 10.1 and further consists of a receptacle 10.4, one Bracket 10.3 and a stroke 10.2. The coating sheet 10.2 is like this when the ink is transported that there is a minimal gap between the coating sheet 10.2 and ink duct 2 and between Stroke 10.2 and ink box 1 is formed. The bracket 10.3 is in the recording 10.4 rotatable.

The movable paint dispenser 7 and the paint spatula 10 are circuitry connected to the computer.

With this device described above, the following method according to the invention realized:

The color requirement of the individual color zones is determined. This is done by the calculator Data about the current job can be entered. This data is either from read a plate scanner or can also in the form of the known for the order Prepress data can be entered. Furthermore, changing machine-related Data, such as the speed of the ink ductor 2, is permanently determined and the Computers are made available or become unchangeable machine-related in memory of the computer. This data is processed in the computer and - the local Corresponding color requirements - control commands for supplying the individual color zones are issued. It is also possible for several color zones to be combined into one color zone group which is then treated in the computer like a color zone.

The dosage is now done in the following way:

With the ink cartridge 7.2, the sensor 8 on the first crossmember 6 is parallel to the ink duct 2 proceed. This palpates the fill level of the individual color zones or color zone groups from. If the fill level in ink fountain 1 is in the sampled ink zone or ink zone group the ink cartridge 7.2 doses a definitely fixed amount. The Dosing is done on the ink duct 2.

The quantity of product is recorded via a known counting device, not shown here. This means that the printed sheets are counted and sent to the computer. At the same time, the ink consumption is determined and also made available to the computer. With this data, the computer is now able to determine the color requirement per product unit to investigate. Since the order-related data is known, the computer can be accessed at Inclusion of machine-related data and the total amount of products to be printed determine the point at which there is still a minimal, up to the calculated Sufficient ink quantity for the product quantity still to be processed in the order Color box 1 is available. When this time is reached, a residual dosing process is started initiated.

When this time has been reached, the ink supply is switched off by the ink cartridge 7.2 and the remaining dosing process is initiated. The sensor 8 is still active and drives the Ink box 1 from. In doing so, the color zones or groups of color zones are constantly being reduced Color requirements - characterized by an accumulation of colors - and the color zones or color zone groups with larger color requirements - characterized by less quantities of color - determined and made available to the computer.

The color spatula 10 is activated at the start of the residual metering process. This starts the location of the currently largest color cluster and pushes the color from this color zone or ink zone group in the ink zone or ink zone group with the currently highest Color requirement, so in the "color holes". For technological reasons, this can also be done by deviated from this rule. That is the case when the largest color accumulation is spatially far from the largest "color hole". It is crucial, however, that always "Color holes" are supplied as required, so that there is no local lack of color and thus misprints are generated. This means that almost to the last printed sheet order-related color profile can be obtained in the inking unit.

When moving in the direction of ink accumulation, the color spatula 10 is preferred turned from their working position. In the actual work step, shifting the color, the paint spatula 10 is rotated back into its working position. The speed at Shifting the color is several times less than moving the Paint spatula 10 to the place of work.

Embodiment 2

As can be seen from Figure 3, the device consists of a paint box 1 ', the one Color guide 2 'is assigned. The ink duct 2 'extends over the entire width of the Color box 1 '. On the side of the ink duct 1 'facing the ink duct 2' is a Color knife 3 'arranged that is divided into several sections (see Figure 2). These sections implement the so-called color zones. These are color metering elements 4 ' assigned to the relevant section depending on the color requirements of the corresponding color zones of the ink knife 3 'at a defined distance from the ink duct 2' so that a metering gap over the length of the ink duct 2 'between it and the ink knife 3' 5 'is formed.

A stationary ink supply device in the form of a ink reservoir 11 is arranged in the frame of the printing press, which is not shown in detail. The stationary color reservoir 11 can be acted upon pneumatically with a constant pressure p ₂ .

Above the ink fountain 1 'there are two guide rods parallel to the ink fountain roller 2' 14.1; 14.2 attached. On the guide rods 14.1; 14.2 is a dosing slide 15.1 movably arranged. The end of a flexible filling hose is in the dosing slide 15.1 12 added, which is operatively connected to the interior of the stationary color reservoir 11 stands. The end of the filling hose 12 assigned to the metering slide 15.1 represents the outlet opening for the paint. With the metering slide 15.1, the outlet opening can thus the color can be moved along the color ductor 2 '. To this movability too ensure, the length of the filling hose 12 is dimensioned accordingly and by a resilient support 13 intercepted.

A switching cylinder 15.2 is arranged on the metering slide 15.1, the piston rod 15.3 is provided with a hose pinch roller 15.4. The switching cylinder 15.2 is with a Pressure p1 can be applied, whereby the piston rod 15.3, the hose pinch roller 15.4 presses against the filling hose 12 and blocks the ink supply.

A sensor 18 which can be moved with it is also arranged on the metering slide 15.1.

Furthermore, a traverse 16 is assigned to the ink fountain 1 ′, which extends over the entire one Width extends and parallel to the guide rods 14.1; 14.2 runs. On the traverse 16 runs a movable carriage 17.1 on which a paint spatula 17 is arranged. This exists from a holder 17.4, a holder 17.3 and a coating sheet 17.2. The Stroke 17.2 is placed so that there is a minimal gap between the Spreadsheet 17.2 and the ink fountain pen 2 'and the spreadsheet 17.2 and the ink fountain 1' is formed. The holder 17.3 is rotatable in the receptacle 17.4.

A computer, not shown, is assigned to the device described above. The movable filling hose 12 and the paint spatula 17 are circuitry with the Computer connected.

With this device, the following method is implemented according to the invention:

The color requirement of the individual color zones becomes analogous to the exemplary embodiment described above 1 determined and stored in the computer. The data are processed in the computer and - according to the local color requirements - control commands to supply the individual Color zones issued.

So the facility is able to target the required amount of paint into the needy To spend color zone or group of color zones. This is done by the dosing slide 15.1 moves with the end of the filling hose 12 to the color zone in question. There is the shift cylinder 15.2 relaxed and thus the way for dosing the color is cleared. The Dosing takes place on the rotating ink duct 2 '. After completing the dosing process the switching cylinder 15.2 is actuated again and the hose pinch roller 15.4 blocks the Ink supply. Then the following color zone in need of color is approached and this accordingly of their color needs.

In another embodiment, not shown, the stationary color reservoir is almost unpressurized and the movable end of the filling hose is a squeezing device assigned, which subtracts the required amount of color from the fixed color reservoir and the in need of the color zone.

With the filling hose 12, the sensor 18 on the traverse is parallel to the ink duct 2 ' method. This palpates the fill level of the individual color zones or simultaneously of several, color zones summarized in color zone groups. The fill level in the paint box 2 'in the scanned color zone or color zone group, one is specified amount dosed into the color zone in need. The dosage is done on the Color roller 2.

In the further course, the procedure is analogous to that of exemplary embodiment 1. That is, it will be again the printed sheets are counted and sent to the computer. At the same time the Color consumption determined and also made available to the computer. With this data the color requirement per product unit can be determined. Including the known Data stored in the computer can now be determined when the ink supply to the ink zones or ink zone groups is prevented. The computer can determine the point in time in analogy to embodiment 1 when for the color zone or Ink zone group with the lowest ink requirement no ink supply until the end of the job more is needed. When this time is reached, a residual dosing process is initiated.

When this time has been reached, the ink supply through the filling hose 12 is stopped and the remaining dosing process is initiated. The sensor 18 is still active and drives the Color box 1 '. Here, too, the color zones or the color zone groups are constantly changing determined with the least color requirement and largest color requirement and transmitted to the computer.

The color spatula 10 is activated and processed at the start of the residual metering process the amount of residual ink analogous to embodiment 1.

List of the reference symbols used

Claims (22)

1. Method of feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines, wherein the printing machine comprises, for ink supply, an ink fountain (1; 1') with which there is associated an ink ductor (2; 2'), which co-operates with ink metering elements (4; 4'), so that inking zones for differentiated supply of the printing substance are formed, and the ink requirement of the inking zones or of inking zone groups is ascertained, these values are fed to a computer and processed there, the computer issues for the local ink requirement adequate control commands for supply of the individual ones of the inking zones or inking zone groups and an ink dispensing device (7; 15) which is movable parallelly to the ink ductor (2; 2;) and supplies the inking zones or inking zone groups requiring ink, characterised in that the ink feed is stopped before the end of coating, wherein this instant is so disposed that a minimal ink quantity sufficient for the product quantity still to be coated up to the precalculated coating end remains in the ink fountain (1) and during the processing of the remaining product quantity the ink is displaced by means of an ink spatula (10, 17) from the inking zones or inking zone groups with lesser ink requirement to inking zones or inking zone groups with the higher ink requirement at this instant.
2. Method of feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claim 1, characterised in that the product quantity and the ink consumption are detected during printing, the ink requirement per product unit is ascertained and with consideration of the total product quantity to be processed the instant is determined at which the ink feed to the inking zones or inking zone groups is suppressed.
3. Method of feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claim 1, characterised in that during the processing of the remaining product quantity the ink is displaced when possible from the inking zone or inking zone group with the lowest ink requirement to the inking zone or inking zone group with the highest ink requirement at this instant.
4. Method of feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claim 1 and 2, characterised in that the zonal ink requirement is ascertained by way of machine-related and/or job-specific data and fed to the computer.
5. Method of feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claim 1 and 2, characterised in that the job-specific data is ascertained by way of a plate scanner.
6. Method of feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claim 1 and 2, characterised in that the local ink requirement is ascertained by way of coating-related pre-stage data.
7. Method of feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claim 1 and 2, characterised in that the machine rotational speed is detected as machine-related magnitude.
8. Method of feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claim 1, characterised in that the ink is metered to the ink ductor (2).
9. Method of feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claim 1, characterised in that an ink dispensing device (7) controllable by a computer and movable along the ink ductor (2) supplies the inking zones or inking zone groups, which require ink, with ink.
10. Method of feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claim 1, characterised in that the requisite ink quantity for supply of the inking zones is provided by way of a stationary ink reservoir (11) and the ink is conveyed by way of a filler hose (12) to the inking zones requiring ink, in that the ink outlet opening of the filler hose (12) is brought to the inking zone concerned.
11. Method of feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claim 10, characterised in that the stationary ink reservoir (1) is under permanent pressure.
12. Method of feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claim 10, characterised in that the metering of the ink in the region of the ink outlet opening of the filler hose (12) is carried out in that this is kept open or closed according to the respective requirement.
13. Method of feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claim 10, characterised in that the ink outlet opening is closed and the ink reservoir (11) relieved at the conclusion of the printing coating.
14. Method of feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claim 10, characterised in that the ink quantity remaining at the conclusion of the printing coating is for the most part conveyed back into the ink reservoir (11).
15. Method of feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claim 1, characterised in that an ink spatula (10; 17) is used for displacing the ink after stopping of the ink feed.
16. Method of feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claims 1 to 15, characterised in that the ink spatula (10; 17) is rotated out of its working position after each working process.
17. Method of feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claims 1 and 15, characterised in that the speed of the return movement of the ink spatula (11) is a multiple of the speed which is selected for the displacing of the ink.
18. Device for feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines, consisting of an ink ductor (2; 2') which is arranged in the ink fountain (1; 1') and extends over the entire width thereof and which forms a metering gap (5; 5') with an ink blade (3; 3') divided into several sections (3.1; 3.1' ... 3.x; 3x') and of an ink dispensing device (7; 12), which is associated with the ink fountain (1; 1') and controllable by a computer, for supply of the inking zones appropriate to requirement, characterised in that there is arranged in the ink fountain (1; 1') an ink spatula (10; 17) which is movable along the axis of the ink ductor (2; 2') and is connected in terms of circuit with the computer.
19. Device for feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claim 18, characterised in that the ink dispensing device is constructed as a movable ink cartridge (7.2).
20. Device for feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claim 18, characterised in that an ink reservoir (11) with a filler hose (12), the ink outlet opening of which is movable along the axis of the ink ductor (2') and is controllable by a computer, finds use as ink dispensing device.
21. Device for feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claim 18, characterised in that the position of the scraper blade (10.2; 17.2) of the ink spatula (10; 17) is rotatable out of its working setting.
22. Device for feeding printing ink in ink fountains of printing machines according to claim 18, characterised in that the scraper blade (10.1; 17.2) is so set during ink transport that a minimum gap arises between scraper blade (10.1; 17.2) and ink ductor (2; 2') and scraper blade (10.1; 17.2) and ink fountain (1; 1').

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