GB1563102A

GB1563102A - Apparatus for use in the printing of articles

Info

Publication number: GB1563102A
Application number: GB3870675A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Malkin & Co Ltd F
Current assignee: Malkin & Co Ltd F
Priority date: 1975-09-20
Filing date: 1975-09-20
Publication date: 1980-03-19
Also published as: DE2641787A1

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE PRINTING OF ARTICLES (71) We, F. MALKIN & COMPANY LIMITED, a British Company of Campbell Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to apparatus for use in the printing of articles and is especially but by no means exclusively applicable to the decoration of articles of ceramic ware.

One conventional method of decorating articles of ceramic ware involves the application thereto of a pattern in a ceramic colouring medium or ink. One such method utilises an inking head or pad shaped to correspond to the surface of the article to be decorated and having the appropriate pattern in relief thereon, the pad being alternately applied to an inked surface to pick-up colouring matter and to an article to be decorated so as to transfer the colouring matter thereto. Various difficulties arise in connection with such apparatus particularly as regards to achievement of uniform colouring over a continuing period and its is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus by means of which such difficulties can be obviated or mitigated.

The invention provides inking apparatus for use in association with a printing machine. the apparatus comprising means for retaining a supply of ink or other colouring material, an inking roller rotatably mounted for contact with said supply, an endless inking band from which, in use, ink may be picked up by a printing head, and a transfer roller movably mounted between positions in contact with said inking roller and said inking band whereby to transfer ink from the former to the latter.

Preferably said inking roller is arranged to be continuously rotated and said inking band is arranged to be driven intermittently, the transfer roller being freely rotatable and being arranged to be in contact with said inking band when the latter is moving and in contact with said inking roller when the inking band is stationary. Movement of the transfer roller between its two positions may be affected by any suitable means, for example by an air cylinder.

Preferably the means for retaining inking medium comprises a blade member disposed adjacent to said inking roller so as to form a nip therebetween, the inking medium being supported in the nip so as to form a coating on the inking roller when the latter rotates relative to the blade member.

Preferably also said inking band is vertically disposed in the region thereof which is contacted by said transfer roller and is inclined in the region intended to be contacted by the printing head. When the inking apparatus is incorporated in a printing machine, the printing head is preferably pivotally mounted for movement between an inclined pick-up position in which printing medium is picked up from said inking band and a horizontal printing position in which the head is moved vertically downwards on to an article of ware to be printed.

The transfer roller is preferably carried by support arms having a degree of play to allow correct alignment of the transfer roller with both the inking roller and the inking band.

This may be effected by constructing the support arms from two parts capable of limited pivoting movement relative to one another.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described. by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an end elevation of a printing apparatus incorporating an inking unit according to the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-section through the inking unit; and Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-section of a detail.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus comprises an inking unit consisting of an ink supply assembly 5, an inking band 6 and a transfer roller 7 operable to transfer ink from the supply assembly 5 to the band 6. A printing mechanism (not shown) picks up ink from the band 6 and transfers same to articles of ceramic ware to be decorated.

The ink supply unit comprises an inking roller 10 rotatably mounted in contact with an adjustable blade member 11 so as to form a nip between same, the size of which may be altered by an adjuster 12. The inking roller 10 is arranged ro be continuously rotated in the direction of the arrow and is coated with ink drawn through the nip. The inking roller and the blade are mounted on a support 13 and a drip tray (not shown) is disposed beneath the nip between the blade 11 and the inking roller 10. The inking band 6 is entrained round driving an idler rollers 15 and is arranged to be driven during application of ink thereto but stopped during periods when the printing mechanism contacts the band so as to pick up ink therefrom.

Ink is transferred from the inking roller 10 to the band 6 by means of the transfer roller 7. This is freely rotatably mounted on a shaft supported between pivotted arms 16 and may be moved bodily between positions respectively in contact with the inking roller 10 and the inking band 6 by means of an air cylinder (not shown) acting on a linkage connected to a cross-shaft 17 interconnecting the arms 16. When the transfer roller 7 is in contact with the inking roller 10, ink from the latter is picked up by the transfer roller.

When the transfer roller is in contact with the inking band 6 ink carried by the transfer roller is applied to the inking band.

The arms 16 are formed in two parts pivotally connected to one another to allow a limited degree of play. This ensures that the transfer roller 7 is correctly aligned both with the inking roller 10 and the inking band 6 in its two operative positions. Correct alignment is essential to achieve even coating of the transfer roller and the inking band. Even coating mav be further assisted by an oscillating roller mounted in guides 21 behind the vertical section of the inking band 6 and arranged to move up and down in contact with the inner surface thereof.

The inking roller 10 is continuously rotated by a chain and a sprocket drive from a suitable drive motor. The inking band 6 is driven from a separate motor by means of a belt drive. The transfer roller 7 is rotated by frictional contact with the inking roller 10 or inking band 6 as the case may be. Control means is provided to stop the movement of the inking belt 6 periodically at those times in the operating cycle when ink has to be picked up by the printing mechanism.

The printing mechanism comprises a printing head of rubber or other resilient material having formed thereon in relief the pattern to be applied to the articles of ware. The printing head is supported on a telescopic pivotted arm which may be moved between an inking position in which the printing head contacts the sloping surface of the inking band 6 and a printing position in which the printing head is moved vertically downwards into contact with an article of ware to be printed. For example the article may comprise a plate supported on a carrier to which suction may be applied to hold the plate in position, the carrier itself being mounted on an a turntable or other support.

A backing member 30 (Figure 3) is disposed behind the inclined section of the inking band 6 and is shaped to correspond to the surface of an article to be decorated. The backing member 30 is arranged to be connected by means of a pipe 31 to a source of vacuum so as to draw the band 6 into contact with the backing member.

In operation a supply of ink is maintained in the nip between the inking roller 10 and the blade member 11 and serves to coat the surface of the roller as the latter rotates. In order to transfer ink from the inking roller 10 to the inking band 6, the transfer roller 7 is brought into contact with the inking roller 10 so as to pick up ink therefrom and is thereafter move, by actuation of the associated air cylinder, into contact with the inking band 6 so as to transfer ink thereto. Even coating of the transfer roller 7 and the inking band 6 is achieved by virtue of the slight play in the support arm 16 referred to previously and is assisted by operation of the reciprocating roller located behind the band.

In order to transfer ink from the inking band 6 to an article of ware to be decorated, the band 6 is stopped and suction applied to the backing member 30 to draw the band into contact therewith. The printing head is then moved into contact with the band 6 and ink is thus transferred to the relief pattern formed on the printing head. Thr printing head is then withdrawn and swung to its printing position whereupon the band 6 recommences its movement.

During the period when the band 6 is stopped the transfer roller 7 is moved to its initial position in contact with the inking roller 10 and further ink is thereby applied to the transfer roller. When the band 6 recommences its movement the transfer roller 7 is moved into contact with the band so as to transfer the new supply of ink thereto for printing of the next article.

Since the transfer roller 7 is in contact with the inking roller for a predetermined fixed period during each operating cycle a uniform quantity of colour is transferred to the inking band at each operation and this produces greater uniformity of colouring than hitherto. The arrangement is also of simple and compact construction and not liable to malfunctioning. By virtue of the fact that colouring is picked up from the inclined section of the band, the articles may be printed with the printing head moving vertically and the articles arranged horizontally. This is an improvement over certain conventional techniques where the articles are supported in an inclined position.

A vernier adjustment device is associated with the doctor blade to allow alteration of the gap between the blade and the inking roller and to enable desired gaps to be accurately re-set.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the arrangement of the inking roller, transfer roller and inking band may be altered considerably provided the transfer roller is arranged to transfer ink periodically from one to the other. The printing head may also be of different construction and need not pick up ink from an inclined section of the inking band. The backing member 30 may be omitted, especially where the ware to be decorated is relatively flat. as in the case of plates, for example. In a further modification the transfer roller may be replaced by an assembly of two or more rollers mounted for bodily movement in unison between the inking roller and the inking band, the colouring material being transferred to each roller of the assembly in turn before application to the inking band.

Inking units according to the invention are particularly suited to multicoloured printing, a plurality of such units being arranged at different locations around a turntable. It should be appreciated however that the invention is equally applicable to single colour printing and may also be applied to printing or decorating of articles other than ceramic products.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: l. Inking apparatus for use in association with a printing machine, the apparatus comprising means for retaining a supply of ink or other colouring material, an inking roller rotatably mounted for contact with said supply, an endless inking band from which, in use, ink may be picked up by a printing head, and a transfer roller movably mounted between positions in contact with said inking roller and said inking band whereby to transfer ink from the former to the latter.

2. Inking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inking roller is arranged to be continuously rotated and said inking band is arranged to be driven intermittently, the transfer roller being freely rotatably and being arranged to be in contact with said inking band when the latter is moving and in contact with said inking roller when the inking band is stationary.

3. Inking apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said inking band is vertically disposed in the region thereof which is contacted by said transfer roller and is inclined in the region intended to be contacted by the printing head.

4. Inking apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said means for retaining inking medium comprises a blade member disposed adjacent to said inking roller so as to form a nip therebetween, the inking medium being supported in the nip so as to form a coating on the inking roller when the latter rotates relative to the blade member.

5. Inking apparatus according to claim 4 wherein means is provided for adjusting the nip gap between said inking roller and said blade member.

6. Inking apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said transfer roller is carried by support arms having a degree of play to allow correct alignment of the transfer roller with both the inking roller and the inking band.

7. Inking apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said support arms are constructed from two parts capable of limited pivoting movement relative to one another.

8. Inking apparatus according to any preceding claim including a pressure member disposed behind the region of said inking band acted on by said transfer roller to urge the band into contact with the roller.

9. Inking apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said pressure member comprises a roller adapted for reciprocating movement along the band.

10. Inking apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein a backing member is disposed behind that section of the inking band intended to be contacted by the printing head, said backing member shaped to correspond to the surface of an article to be decorated.

11. Inking apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said backing member is adapted for connection to a source of vacuum so as to draw the inking band into contact with the backing member.

12. Inking apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein a plurality of transfer rollers are provided between said inking roller and said inking band.

13. Inking apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A printing machine incorporating inking apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 13.

15. A printing machine incorporating inking apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said printing head is pivotally

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Claims

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band at each operation and this produces greater uniformity of colouring than hitherto. The arrangement is also of simple and compact construction and not liable to malfunctioning. By virtue of the fact that colouring is picked up from the inclined section of the band, the articles may be printed with the printing head moving vertically and the articles arranged horizontally. This is an improvement over certain conventional techniques where the articles are supported in an inclined position.

A vernier adjustment device is associated with the doctor blade to allow alteration of the gap between the blade and the inking roller and to enable desired gaps to be accurately re-set.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the arrangement of the inking roller, transfer roller and inking band may be altered considerably provided the transfer roller is arranged to transfer ink periodically from one to the other. The printing head may also be of different construction and need not pick up ink from an inclined section of the inking band. The backing member 30 may be omitted, especially where the ware to be decorated is relatively flat. as in the case of plates, for example. In a further modification the transfer roller may be replaced by an assembly of two or more rollers mounted for bodily movement in unison between the inking roller and the inking band, the colouring material being transferred to each roller of the assembly in turn before application to the inking band.

Inking units according to the invention are particularly suited to multicoloured printing, a plurality of such units being arranged at different locations around a turntable. It should be appreciated however that the invention is equally applicable to single colour printing and may also be applied to printing or decorating of articles other than ceramic products.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: l. Inking apparatus for use in association with a printing machine, the apparatus comprising means for retaining a supply of ink or other colouring material, an inking roller rotatably mounted for contact with said supply, an endless inking band from which, in use, ink may be picked up by a printing head, and a transfer roller movably mounted between positions in contact with said inking roller and said inking band whereby to transfer ink from the former to the latter.
2. Inking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inking roller is arranged to be continuously rotated and said inking band is arranged to be driven intermittently, the transfer roller being freely rotatably and being arranged to be in contact with said inking band when the latter is moving and in contact with said inking roller when the inking band is stationary.
3. Inking apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said inking band is vertically disposed in the region thereof which is contacted by said transfer roller and is inclined in the region intended to be contacted by the printing head.
4. Inking apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said means for retaining inking medium comprises a blade member disposed adjacent to said inking roller so as to form a nip therebetween, the inking medium being supported in the nip so as to form a coating on the inking roller when the latter rotates relative to the blade member.
5. Inking apparatus according to claim 4 wherein means is provided for adjusting the nip gap between said inking roller and said blade member.
6. Inking apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said transfer roller is carried by support arms having a degree of play to allow correct alignment of the transfer roller with both the inking roller and the inking band.
7. Inking apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said support arms are constructed from two parts capable of limited pivoting movement relative to one another.
8. Inking apparatus according to any preceding claim including a pressure member disposed behind the region of said inking band acted on by said transfer roller to urge the band into contact with the roller.
9. Inking apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said pressure member comprises a roller adapted for reciprocating movement along the band.
10. Inking apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein a backing member is disposed behind that section of the inking band intended to be contacted by the printing head, said backing member shaped to correspond to the surface of an article to be decorated.
11. Inking apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said backing member is adapted for connection to a source of vacuum so as to draw the inking band into contact with the backing member.
12. Inking apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein a plurality of transfer rollers are provided between said inking roller and said inking band.
13. Inking apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
14. A printing machine incorporating inking apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 13.
15. A printing machine incorporating inking apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said printing head is pivotally

mounted for movement between an inclined pick-up position in which printing medium is picked up from said inking band and a horizontal printing position in which the head is moved vertically downwards on to an article of ware to be printed.