EP2216180B1

EP2216180B1 - A system for supplying ink to a printing machine

Info

Publication number: EP2216180B1
Application number: EP10388001A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jesper Herloev
Original assignee: Masytec AS
Current assignee: Masytec AS
Priority date: 2009-02-09
Filing date: 2010-02-09
Publication date: 2012-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 2030-02-09
Also published as: ATE556853T1; EP2216180A2; EP2216180A3; DK200900030U4

Abstract

An automatic ink filling system for printing machines, where a pipe (3) has a plurality of inlet openings (4) and outlet openings (5), said inlet openings (4) being connected with a base member (6) of an ink case, in which case an ink cartridge (20) with ink is disposed, while an air hose (8) is connected at the cover (7) of the ink case via a magnetic valve (9), which is in turn connected with a level sensor (11) via a control, so that compressed air may be supplied to the ink in the cartridge (20), whereby it is pressed out through the outlet opening (5) and down into the ink chamber (21).

Description

The invention relates to a system for the supply of Ink to an ink chamber in a printing machine, said system comprising one or more ink cartridges which are capable of supplying ink to the ink chamber through one or more discharge openings, and a control system for controlling the supply of ink, said control system comprising a sensor, which detects the Ink level in the ink chamber.

The prior art

Systems of this type are used for the filling of ink into the ink chamber in a printing machine, so that the ink may be used with the desired colour in such a suitable amount that filling may be performed at suitably great intervals, and/or an empty ink cartridge may be replaced by a filled one.
There may be an alarm which indicates when filling and possible cartridge exchange must take place, but it is a nuisance that the ink level and the ink distribution in the chamber must be ensued by manual work, which is an obstacle to the performance of other operations, as the ink by its own flowing does not distribute itself to the locations in the chamber where the consumption is greatest, and where, thus, the need for filling arises rapidly.
To this should be added that an operator will tend to replace cartridges not yet completely empty, because, for practical reasons, the operator prefers to perform the replacement in good time to avoid operational stoppages.
Examples of this prior art can be seen in EP1142713 A2 , EP1920933 A2 , EP753411 A2 , US5980030 A , DE19702283 A1 , EP2127886 A1 and US5343226 A all disclose that one ink cartridge supplies ink to an ink chamber, e.g. an ink storage chamber in a printer cartridge, and that the supply of ink is controlled using different types of level sensors.

The object of the invention

It is the object of the invention to remedy these nuisances and drawbacks of known ink supplies to printing machines, and this is achieved according to the invention by a system, in which the ink is supplied to the ink chamber through several discharge openings, which are distributed over the extent of the ink chamber, and that the outlet openings are connected to one or more ink cartridges by a common distribution channel or that each of the outlet openings is connected to its own ink cartridge.
In this surprisingly simple manner, a current control of the ink level in the chamber is achieved and in addition an automatic supply of ink to it, so that there will always be a suitable amount of ink for the operation of the machine.
This reduces the work to replacing an empty ink cartridge by a filled one when needed, which, however, is a both easy and quick operation. It is moreover ensured in this manner that the exchange of the ink cartridge takes place only when the cartridge is emptied completely, which is an economic advantage, of course.
As disclosed in claims 2-3, the common distribution channel may be a pipe or a flexible hose.
When, as stated in claim 4, these openings are arranged in suitable positions over the entire length of the chamber, an operationally reliable distribution of ink will be achieved.
When, as stated in claim 5, the ink discharge opening is provided with a valve, this may be opened and closed manually, according to where supply of ink is desired and in which amount to the chamber.
When, as stated in claim 6 each of the ink cartridges is inserted in an ink case and, as disclosed in claim 7, the ink case is a pressure container and that a compressed air channel is able to supply compressed air to the ink case in an area above a piston in the ink cartridge, the desired pressure-forced discharge of ink is achieved and supply of ink from the cartridge in a simple and clean manner is ensured.
When, as stated in claim 8, a level sensor is mounted, which detects the level of ink in the chamber, it is ensured that a signal is applied to the control system when compressed air is to be supplied to the cartridge, and thus supply of ink to the chamber.
Finally, as stated in claim 9, it is expedient to be able to remove the apparatus from the chamber, when cleaning, etc., of the printing machine is needed.

The drawing

An example of a system according to the invention will be described more fully below with the reference to the drawing, which shows a system in a partial section comprising a part of the supply channel and the ink chamber.

Detailed description of the invention

An ink filling system 1 for printing machines according to the invention is shown in the drawing, in which a channel 3, preferably in the form of a pipe, e.g. an extruded aluminium pipe, has a plurality of inlet openings 4 for ink and outlet openings 5 for ink, which are connected by means of a channel 12 in the longitudinal direction of the pipe 3, which ensures that the ink may pass through the system in an expedient manner.
The number of outlet openings 5 may vary as desired and needed for the individual printing machine, just as each of the openings 5 may be controlled individually and be closed completely or partly by means of valves 13, if adjustment of the distribution of ink over the extent of the ink chamber is needed.
In the example shown, the outlet openings 5 are oriented to face downwards, i.e. toward the ink surface 22 in the ink chamber 21. This ensures that the ink is pressed from a higher to a lower level, so that no more energy than is strictly necessary is used in connection with the supply.
Further, only one inlet opening 4 is shown, which is in liquid communication with the ink in the ink cartridge 20, which is inserted in an ink case 2. A connection for an air hose 8 is provided at the cover 7 of the ink case, said air hose being connected with a sensor-controlled magnetic valve 9.
Thus, in one embodiment, the ink case 2 is a pressure container which, in a preferred embodiment, receives an air pressure of 4 - 5 bars, which presses on a piston above the ink in the inserted ink cartridge 20. A gasket (not shown) ensures tightness between the cover 7 and the ink cartridge 20.
In another embodiment, the said pressure on the ink in the inserted ink cartridge 20 is generated by the propulsion by a motor (not shown) of a mechanical piston (not shown).
Also, the ink case 2 may be a structure which secures the top member 24 and the base member 6 relative to each other around the ink cartridge 20.
The level sensor 11, which is preferably an ultrasonic sensor, is preferably disposed on the part of the system which, in use, is intended to face downwards toward the ink surface 22, it being the level of the ink surface that decides when the ink filing system 1 is to supply ink. In the embodiment shown, the level sensor 11 is disposed on the part of the base member 6 of the ink case 2 which faces downwards toward the ink surface 22.
In a generally known manner, the sensor 11 emits a signal via a control 10 (not shown) comprising a circuit board with an amplifier circuit and a processor with preset values, to a magnetic valve 9, which thus admits or bars the air supply via the air hose 8 to the interior of the ink case 2 and thus of the ink cartridge 20.
The magnetic valve 9 and the control 10 are disposed in a mounting box 15, e.g. on the pipe 3, so that the ink filling system 1 constitutes an assembled unit ready for mounting on a printing machine, and is connected to 24 V electricity and 4 bars air in a preferred embodiment.
The ink filling system 1 is connected with a visual and/or acoustic alarm 16, which is mounted e.g. on the mounting box 15, so that it is easy for the printer to see which ink filling system 1 needs ink and thus requires replacement of the ink cartridge 20.
Connections for electricity 19 as well as air 18 are provided externally on the mounting box 15, and a common switch 17 for these is provided externally on the box 15.
When an alarm has thus been given, the switch 17 must thus be activated first to cut off air and electricity. Then, the cover 7 may be removed, and the spent and empty ink cartridge 20 is replaced by a new and filled one. Finally, the switch 17 is activated again to switch on the supply of electricity and air again, following which the automatic filling system 1 is in service again.
To facilitate the mounting of the system 1 on the various printing machines, and to facilitate access e.g. for the cleaning of the printing machine, the pipe 3 has a rotary, tilting or sliding bracket 23 at each of its ends for mounting on the walls of the ink chamber 21.
In an alternative embodiment, the outlet openings 5 are connected with the outlet opening 4 in the ink case 2 via flexible hoses instead of being connected with the channel 3. Thus, the channel 3 is replaced by a carrier rod which carries the ink case 2, and on which the outlet openings 5 are mounted displaceably. This allows the outlet openings 5 to be positioned in any desired position above the ink chamber 21 depending on where the need for the supply of ink is greatest.
In another alternative embodiment, an ink outlet opening 5 is connected directly with an outlet opening 4 on the ink case 2. The entire ink case 2, including the ink outlet opening 5 is likewise arranged displaceably on the carrier rod. The supply of ink from the outlet opening 5 may be controlled by a sensor 11, as described above. Several of these ink filling units 1 may be mounted on the carrier rod, which are mutually independent, and the ink supply from the individual ink filling units 1 may be controlled individually. This embodiment is particularly useful on large printing machines, where there is a great need for the supply of ink and thereby also a need for individual adaptation of the supply of ink over the extent of the ink chamber.
The system is very reliable in operation, and since it is entirely without unnecessary mechanical devices and is moreover very simple, it will be able to work automatically without any noticeable manual operation apart from a simple replacement of the ink cartridges.
To this should be added that the air pressure above the piston in the ink cartridge ensures that all ink is pressed out of the cartridge, thereby completely avoiding waste.

Claims

A system for the supply of ink to an ink chamber (21) in a printing machine, said system comprising one or more ink cartridges (20) for supplying ink to the ink chamber (21) through one or more discharge openings (5), and a control system (10) for controlling the supply of ink, said control system comprising a sensor (11), which detects the ink level (22) in the ink chamber (21),
characterized in
that the ink is supplied to the ink chamber (21) through several discharge openings (5), which are distributed over the extent of the ink chamber (21), and
that the outlet openings (5) are connected to one or more ink cartridges (20) by a common distribution channel (12) or that each of the outlet openings (5) is connected to its own ink cartridge (20).
A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the common distribution channel (12) is a pipe (3).
A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the common distribution channel (12) is a flexible hose.
A system according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the discharge openings (5) are movable and may thereby be positioned in any desired position over the extent of the ink chamber (21).
A system according to any of the claims 1 - 4, characterized in that each of the discharge openings (5) is provided with a stop valve (13).
A system according to any of the claims 1-5, characterized in that each of the ink cartridges (20) is inserted in an ink case (2).
A system according to claim 6, characterized in that the ink case (2) is a pressure container and that a compressed air channel (8) is able to supply compressed air to the ink case (2) in an area above a piston in the ink cartridge (20).
A system according to any of the claims 1-7, characterized in that the sensor (11) is a level sensor, such as an ultrasonic sensor.
A system according to claim 2 and any of the claims 5-8, characterized in that the pipe (3) is provided with brackets (23) at the ends for releasable attachment to the opposed side walls of the ink chamber (21).