EP2602112B1 - Farbbehälter für eine Rundlaufdruckpresse - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an inkwell for a rotary printing press, and in particular but not exclusively to the invention relates to a pressure control arrangement for regulating the ink supplied to a cylinder by such inkwells.

For rotary printing presses, ink is delivered to a cylinder by means of inkwells, also known as ink trays. When printing using a rotary printing press, the plate which forms the printing pattern may have only one printing pattern on a certain part of its surface and therefore the control of the ink for this plate is important. If too much ink is delivered to the plate then the plate may be embedded which will compromise print quality but also ink can be wasted, which increases printing costs. To control the ink flow, ink tanks or dams are provided to control the ink flow and in rainbow printing, where multiple colors are printed at a time and in which different color inks are delivered. at appropriate portions along the length of a plate cylinder, ink dams are provided for each color so that the adjacent inks do not mix with each other.

Ink dams are described in the Japanese registered model publication number 6-46 675 . This document describes an axially movable intermediate ink barrier module on a reservoir axis extending parallel to an inkwell cylinder. The intermediate ink barrier module is attached to a shaft and there is a spring to push the edge of the intermediate ink dam into abutment against a blade. The intermediate ink dam is brought into close contact with the outer surface of the ink cylinder and there is a pivoting of the entire ink ink barrel so that it comes into contact with a cylinder using an applicator member of pivoting force.

In this known ink dam, there is the problem that the entire arrangement pivots on an axis that is related to the printing press and that it is therefore difficult to remove and replace individual ink dams since the reservoir and the dam must be removed from the printing machine to replace parts which is time consuming and expensive. Also, the way the ink dam is pressed against the blade can still cause leaks between the blade and the cylinder.

EP1533118 and EP1498267 describe ink fountains for rotary presses. EP-A-1498267 describes an inkwell for a rotary press according to the preamble of claim 1.

EP2204284 describes an inkwell ink zone separator.

The present invention aims to solve the problems of the prior art by providing an easily replaceable ink while still achieving good contact between the blade and the rotary printing press to prevent ink flow.

• un réservoir à encre, et un séparateur d'encre, le réservoir à encre étant raccordable au niveau d'une première extrémité à un chariot d'encrage, le réservoir à encre s'étendant dans une direction axiale de sorte qu'en utilisation une seconde extrémité dudit réservoir à encre bute contre le séparateur d'encre, le réservoir à encre et le séparateur d'encre s'étendant tous les deux suivant la même direction axiale, le séparateur d'encre ayant une première extrémité qui bute contre le réservoir à encre et une seconde extrémité qui bute contre une face d'un cylindre C pour la presse rotative d'impression, caractérisé en ce que le réservoir à encre inclut un organe adaptatif qui s'étend dans une direction longitudinale suivant le même axe vertical que le réservoir à encre et le séparateur d'encre mais à un certain angle par rapport à la direction axiale du réservoir à encre de sorte que l'organe adaptatif peut appliquer sur le séparateur d'encre une force qui est tangentielle à la face circonférentielle du cylindre C.

According to a first aspect, the present invention proposes an inkwell for a rotary printing press, said inkwell comprising:

• an ink tank, and an ink separator, the ink tank being connectable at a first end to an inking carriage, the ink tank extending in an axial direction so that in use a second end of said ink tank abuts against the ink separator, the ink tank and the ink separator both extending in the same axial direction, the ink separator having a first end abutting against the reservoir printer and a second end which abuts against a face of a cylinder C for the rotary printing press, characterized in that the ink tank includes an adaptive member which extends in a longitudinal direction along the same vertical axis as the ink tank and the ink separator but at a certain angle to the axial direction of the ink tank so that the adaptive member can apply to the ink separator a force which is tangential to the circumferential face of the cylinder C.

The adaptive member / arrangement applies to the separator a diagonal force rather than an axial force as in many devices of the prior art and because this force is transverse to the separator body it pushes the lower part of the separator against the circumference of the cylinder. This, in turn, pushes the blade into a more intimate contact with the cylinder and thus provides better ink flow control and prevents leakage beyond the separator. Furthermore, because of the diagonal force on the separator, it is possible for the ink reservoir and the ink separator to be held in position by a single member, i.e., the adaptive member, and this therefore avoids the need for screw fixing to hold the tank and the separator together which makes the whole arrangement much easier to replace if needed.

Preferably, the adaptive member is an elastic member which allows the displacement of the ink separator towards the face of the cylinder C and away from it. By "adaptive" is meant that there is a certain level of play so that the force applied to the cylinder may vary depending on the profile of the cylinder surface.

The adaptive member is intended to be a compression spring.

It is preferred that the adaptive member extends to an outer wall of the ink tank so as to allow adjustment of the force applied by the adaptive member. The simplicity of the arrangement allows the manipulation of the adaptive body without having to disassemble the inkwell, which was to be done with the known systems.

Preferably, the ink tank has an upper surface and a lower surface that faces the ink carriage, the upper surface having an opening for adjusting the adaptive member to change the force applied to the face of the cylinder C.

It is expected that the adaptive member terminates in a pressure member which abuts against a face of the separator.

Preferably, the pressure member has a rounded end face abutting against the face of the separator.

It is expected that the pressure member is circular or cylindrical.

In a preferred arrangement, the pressure member moves along an elongate guide opening of the ink tank. The guide aperture is angled to allow a directional force to be applied to the separator.

In a preferred arrangement, the ink tank has two arms separated by an opening in which one end of the separator can be placed so that one face of the separator abuts against the pressure member.

Preferably, the face of the separator has a notch in which can be placed the pressure member when the ink tank and the separator abut against each other.

According to a second embodiment, the invention proposes an ink tank adapted for use in an inkwell according to a first embodiment, said ink tank having an adaptive member that extends at a certain angle with respect to the axial direction. of the ink tank and the separator, said angle being between 25 and 45 degrees, more particularly 30 and 40 degrees and even more particularly 35 degrees with respect to the axial direction.

According to a third embodiment, the invention proposes a separator adapted to be used with an ink fountain according to a first embodiment of the invention, in which the separator is a member adapted to abut against an ink tank and the circumferential face. a rotary cylinder C, the separator having a notch in which can be placed in use a pressure member.

Preferably, the separator comprises a blade attached to an edge of the separator which faces a support of an inking carriage so that, when a cylinder C rotates towards the separator, a face of the cylinder passes one face of the separator before going past the blade.

It is preferred that the blade be made from an elastic elastomeric material having a Shore hardness of 60 to 70.

According to a fourth embodiment, the invention proposes a printing press adapted to receive one or more inkwells according to a first embodiment.

• la figure 1 est une vue de côté d'un encrier in situ avec une presse rotative d'impression selon un mode de réalisation de la présente invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue d'un agencement de commande de presse utilisé avec un encrier que montre la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'un encrier que montre la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de côté d'un encrier où un séparateur a été décalé par rapport à un réservoir ; et
• la figure 5 montre l'agencement de la figure 4 avec le séparateur qui a été ramené à sa position de fonctionnement.

The invention will be well understood and its advantages will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows. The description refers to the following drawings, which are given as examples, and in which:

• the figure 1 is a side view of an in situ inkwell with a rotary printing press according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• the figure 2 is a view of a press control arrangement used with an inkwell as shown in FIG. figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a perspective view of an inkwell that shows the figure 1 ;
• the figure 4 is a side view of an inkwell where a separator has been offset from a reservoir; and
• the figure 5 shows the layout of the figure 4 with the separator that has been returned to its operating position.

The figure 1 shows an inkwell which is globally designated by 1 in the figure. The ink arrangement A is in the vicinity of an ink carriage B which is integrated with or can be mounted on a printing machine. The inkwell and the ink carriage cooperate with a cylinder C which rotates and receives ink from the inkwell for printing. The inking carriage B serves to support the ink tank arrangement A so that it can deliver ink to the cylinder C. The inking carriage which is designated 2 is generally triangular in shape and comprises an inclined surface 3, which is generally perpendicular to the inkwell A. The lower end of the inclined surface 3 terminates adjacent to the cylinder C. At the top of the base 2 there is a support arm 4 to which can be fixed a tank for the inkwell.

The inkwell A is formed of two parts, an ink tank 5 and an ink separator 11. The ink tank is an elongate body having a main body and two walls 7 extending from the main body and which are parallel to each other and separated by a space (shown at figure 3 ). The ink tank 5 is attached at one end to the support arm 4 of the inking carriage B by a fastener 6, which is typically a screw fastener. The other end of the ink tank 5 is near a separator 11, which is placed between the walls 7 of the tank. The separator has a substantially rectangular profile with a shorter end 100 of the rectangle which is slightly curved and this end is housed between the walls 7 and abuts against the portion of the reservoir 5 between the two arms. The other end of the separator 120 is curved so that it matches the curved profile 14 of the cylinder C. Along one edge of the separator (the edge facing the inking carriage 2) there is a blade 12 which is attached to the separator 11 by an attachment such as a pin 13. The pin is at the end of the separator 11 which is closest to the cylinder C. The blade 12 is typically made of a plastic material such as polyurethane or another elastomer-based compound which provides a member which can withstand a pressure applied thereto via the force of the adaptive member 8 on the separator 11. Indeed, the force applied to the blade is an indirect force, the separator being pushed towards the cylinder and because the blade is attached to the separator it is also brought closer to the cylinder. In addition, just as the blade 12 is able to withstand a pressure, it is also flexible enough to allow displacement of the blade with a displacement of the cylinder C in the direction of the blade 12. Typically, the Shore hardness of the blade is from 60 to 70.

The ink tank 5 and the separator 11 abut one against the other at a face 10 of the reservoir which is situated between the two arms 7a and 7b (shown in FIG. figure 3 ). Where the reservoir 5 and the separator 11 meet there is a pressure member 9, which may be a cylindrical member or a rounded member and which is attached to an elastic arrangement 8, as a spring arrangement, which extends at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tank.

The elastic arrangement is arranged to extend at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the ink tank 5. The angle is typically 20 to 45 degrees, more preferably 30 to 40 degrees, and still more particularly around 35 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ink tank, which is typically of a rectilinear shape. A particular angle is 20 to 25 degrees and in particular 20 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the ink tank.

As shown in figure 2 , the separator 11 abuts against the ink tank 5 at a face 10 of the reservoir which is between the arms 7a and 7b (see FIG. figure 3 ). There is a slight curvature at the end 100 of the separator which abuts against the ink tank 5 and because of this curved face there is a variation of the space between the abutting faces of the tank 5 and the separator 11. There is a larger gap in the direction in which the blade is attached to the separator 11. Indeed, there is a larger gap under the pressure member 9 than above. him when the ink tank arrangement is in situ on a printing press. The pressure member 9 is contained in an elongated opening 20 which gives a certain freedom of movement to the pressure member in a rectilinear direction along the axis of the elongate opening. The spring arrangement 8 includes a spring 80, which is typically a compression coil spring, which presses against the pressure member 9. Although a compression coil spring has been shown, any type could be used. elastic member that has enough elasticity to push the separator against the face 14 of the cylinder. The pressure member 9 in turn pushes the separator 11, which abuts against the cylinder C. The compression forces on the spring can be modified by a regulator 81, which is typically a screw arrangement which compresses or releases the spring. function of the proximity with which the separator 11 must be placed against the curved face 14 of the cylinder C. The pressure member 9 has an opening 90 which can receive a fixing member when the pressure member is correctly positioned relative to the face 14 to maintain it at the desired location.

The ink tank 5 is indirectly at the opposite end of the point where it is connected to the ink carriage by means of the attachment 4. The reservoir is supported by the fact that the inclined surface 3 of the ink carriage 2 is under the blade 12.

As can be seen on the figure 3 , the two arms or walls 7a and 7b of the ink tank are separated by the face 10 and the separator 11 is placed between the walls 7a and 7b and abuts against the face 10 of the ink tank which connects the two walls 7a and 7b. The separator is used to separate two different X and Y ink colors on a rotary press so that the color deposited by the press can be controlled. The cylinder turns in the direction towards the inkwell in order to take ink from the blade 12. In order to create a close leakage contact between the front edge of the ink fountain A and the cylinder C, the pressure applied by the spring arrangement 8 is adjusted. The fact that the spring-type arrangement is inclined in the tank, with the fact that there is access to the adjusting means for modifying the compression of the spring 8, means that the entire arrangement can be easily adjusted for different printing conditions, types of ink and different cylinders. Access to the spring 8 is via an opening 82 which is in the upper surface of the ink tank 5.

The figure 4 shows the ease with which the arrangement of the invention can be adjusted. The ink tank 5 is attached to the support arm 4 of an inking arrangement which is included in a printing machine. The pressure member 9 can be detached from the face 100 of the separator 11 which abuts against the face 10 of the ink tank 5 and this, in turn, allows the curved face 120 of the separator which is in contact with the curved face The separator may need to be removed for cleaning or replacement if it has been damaged or worn out. The separator 11 may include a notch 101 which is a small indentation in the end 100 of the separator and this notch provides a bearing position for the pressure member 9 when the separator 11 is in position and abutting against the face 10 of the ink tank 5. Also, the notch will act as a positioning device so that an operator will know that he has correctly positioned the separator 11 since it will properly press against the pressure member 9 with a displacement. minimal. The fact that there is a physical stop for positioning the pressure member and a notch means that this provides a quick and convenient indication of what the inkwell is properly positioned for operation, which is another time saving feature of the invention.

As shown in figure 5 , just as the separator 11 can be removed, the separator can just as easily be positioned for use. The end 100 of the separator which is distal to the end 120 which bears against the face 14 of the cylinder is slightly curved. The curvature of the end 100 is advantageous when replacing the separator, since it can push against the rounded end of the pressure member 9 and can be made to shrink by compression of the 8 and, as the curved face projects beyond the face of the pressure member 9, the spring arrangement then forces the pressure member back into position. The end 120 of the separator 11 which is proximal to the curved face 14 of the cylinder also moves on the face 14 of the cylinder so that the separator 11 can rotate about the central axis of the cylinder to move the separator 11 following an arc in the direction of the arms 7, while maintaining the position of the proximal end of the separator relative to the cylinder. As the curved end face 100 of the separator moves in an arc around the cylinder, it comes into contact with the ink tank 5 and when the face 100 comes into position between the arms 7a, 7b the separator 11 presses against the pressure member 9. The curved face 100 of the separator 11 pushes the pressure member 9 and, since there is a certain latitude of displacement due to the spring arrangement 8, the pressure member 9 can retract into its guide hole to allow the separator 11 to reach its final position between the arms 7a and 7b of the tank 5. Once in position, one can adjust the spring 8 so that the separator is positioned to press against the face 14 of the cylinder C.

In a printing machine, for example a printing machine capable of printing bank notes where several colors, there are a number of ink wells arranged axially between a pair of legs (not shown) arranged to face each other at a predetermined distance. When a motor (not shown) rotates, the opening ratios of the distal ends of the separators 11 are adjusted in directions suitable for bringing them closer to and away from the outer surface of the ink roller C.

Typically, the tanks 5 are made of thin steel or they may also be of a polymer-based material such as polyvinyl chloride. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the separator can be made of any elastic material as long as it has some resistance to wear. As described above, according to the present invention, the state of close contact between the ink tank and the separator with the outer surface of the ink cylinder is partially adjusted, so that the force of close contact is strengthened and that it can prevent a partial leakage of the ink. As a result, the amount of ink consumed is reduced and the print quality of a rainbow print is improved.

Claims (13)

1. Ink feed (1) for a rotary printing press, said ink feed having:

   an ink reservoir (5), and an ink separator (11), the ink reservoir (5) being connectable at a first end to an ink carriage (2), the ink reservoir (5) extending in an axial direction and having a second end adapted to abut against the ink separator (11), the ink reservoir (5) and ink separator both extending along the same axial direction, with the ink separator having a first end (100) that abuts the ink reservoir (5) and a second end (120) which abuts a face (14) of a roller C for the rotary printing press, the ink reservoir (5) including an elastic adaptative member (8) that extends in a longitudinal direction having a certain angle to the axial direction of the ink reservoir so that the adaptative member can provide a force on the ink separator (11) to allow movement of the ink separator (11) towards the face (14) of the roller C, the ink reservoir (5) having an upper surface and a lower surface that faces the ink carriage (2), characterized in that the adaptative member (8) extends to an outer wall of the ink reservoir so allowing adjustment of a force applied by the adaptative member (8), the upper surface having an aperture (82) to allow the adaptative member (8) to be adjusted to alter the force on the face (14) of the roller C.
2. Ink feed (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the adaptative member (8) is a compression spring.
3. Ink feed (1) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the adaptative member (8) terminates in a press member (9) that abuts against a face (100) on a separator (11).
4. Ink feed (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the press member (9) has a rounded end face that abuts against the face (100) of the separator (11).
5. Ink feed (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the press member is circular or cylindrical.
6. Ink feed (1) according to any of claim 3 to 5, characterized in that the press member (9) travels along an elongate guide aperture (20).
7. Ink feed (1) according to any preceding claim when dependent on claim 1, characterized in that the ink reservoir (5) has two arms (7a,7b) separated by an aperture into which an end (100) of the separator (11) can be positioned so that face (100) of the separator abuts against the press member (9).
8. Ink feed (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the face (100) of the separator (11) has a notch (101) into which press member (9) can sit when the ink reservoir (5) and the separator (11) abut against one another.
9. Ink reservoir (5) adapted to be used in an ink feed according to any preceding claims, characterized in that said ink reservoir has an adaptative member (8) that extends at certain angle to the axial direction of the ink reservoir (5) and the separator (11), said angle being between 20 and 40 degrees, more particularly 25 and 35 degrees and even more particularly 30 degrees and more particularly 20 to 25 degrees to the axial direction.
10. Separator (11) adapted to be used with an ink feed (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the separator is a member adapted to abut against an ink reservoir (5) and the circumferential face (14) of a rotary cylinder C the separator having a notch (101) that in use can seat a press member (9).
11. Separator (11) according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a blade (12) attached to an edge of the separator that faces a support (2) of an ink carriage such that, when a cylinder C rotates towards the separator, a face (14) of the cylinder passes a face (120) of the of the separator (11) before pass the blade (12).
12. Separator (11) according to claim 11, characterized in that the blade is made from an elastic elastomeric material having a Shore hardness of 60 to 70.
13. Printing press adapted to receive one or more ink feeds according to any of claims 1 to 8.

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