GB2234493A

GB2234493A - Device for collecting and dispensing measured quantities of printing ink

Info

Publication number: GB2234493A
Application number: GB8915783A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Nigel Tidbury
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-07-10
Filing date: 1989-07-10
Publication date: 1991-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 2009-07-10
Also published as: GB8915783D0; GB2234493B

Abstract

A device for collecting and dispensing measured quantities of printing ink for mixing together which includes an outer cylinder (1) and a replaceable inner cylinder (3) which contains a piston (9) which can be pulled and pushed along the inner cylinder. A stock of inner cylinders (3) can be provided, each cylinder containing a different coloured ink. The device enables measured quantities of different colours of ink to be drawn up and expelled for mixing; a measuring scale (11) and a ratchet and pawl arrangement are provided, as is a release trigger (14). <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR COLLECTING AND DISPENSING MEASURED QUANTITIES OF PRINTING INK This invention relates to a device for collecting and dispensing measured quantities of printing ink.

Hitherto, where a particular colour of printing ink for a printing machine has to be made up by mixing two or more basic colours, printing ink is normally taken out of a tin by a palette knife or the like and is mixed and delivered to the printing machine. To obtain particular colours, there exist recommended proportions of the different colours of ink to be mixed together to obtain the desired colour. However, it is difficult to achieve the correct proportions required except by an electronic device which is known.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device for collecting and dispensing measured quantities of printing ink for mixing together, the device including an outer cylinder and a replaceable inner cylinder arranged to be secured in the outer cylinder, the inner cylinder having one open end adjacent an open end of the outer cylinder and a piston slidably mounted in the inner cylinder, the piston being releasably coupled to a piston rod which can be incrementally drawn and propelled through an aperture in the other end of the inner cylinder, thereby to draw in and expel printing ink through said one end of the inner cylinder.

The inner cylinder is preferably a sliding fit within the outer cylinder and preferably the open end of the inner cylinder is coterminous with the open end of the outer cylinder when the inner cylinder is fitted in the outer cylinder. The open end of the outer cylinder can be surrounded by a removable ring flange so that the device can be conveniently laid flat on top of the surface of the ink in its tin.

Preferably, the piston rod is provided with ratchet teeth which form part of a pawl-and-ratchet system. The end of the piston rod remote from the piston can be provided with a pull ring or knob. The piston rod could also carry a measuring gauge which can be viewed through a window in the outer cylinder.

The inner cylinder can be arranged to be screwed into a threaded aperture in a shoulder straddling the outer cylinder.

The device can be provided with a hand grip and a trigger arrangement arranged to release the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism and to propel the piston rod in a direction to cause the piston to expel the printing ink from the device.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional side view of a device for collecting and dispensing measured quantities of printing ink for mixing together, Figure 2 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 shows a detail of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, the device for collecting and dispensing measured quantities of printing ink for mixing together includes an outer cylinder 1 having an open end and a closed end and a removable ring flange 2 surrounding its open end. Inside the outer cylinder 1 is an inner cylinder 3 which is about half the length of the cylinder 1. The inner cylinder 3 is a sliding fit in the outer cylinder 1 and has one open end which is coterminous with the open end of this outer cylinder 1.

The outer cylinder 1 has a shoulder 4 straddling it and against which a closed end of the inner cylinder 3 abuts, the closed end having an axially-central, externally-threaded portion 5 which releasably screws into an axial, internally-threaded bore 6 of the shoulder 4. The threaded portion 5 itself has a bore 7, through which a piston rod 8 can pass, the piston rod 8 being releasably coupled to a piston 9 which is a sliding fit in the inner cylinder 3. To provide the releasable coupling between the piston rod 8 and the piston 9, the piston rod 8 is provided with a part-spherical portion 8A which snap-fits in a corresponding recess 9A of the piston 9. The part-spherical portion 8A can be surrounded, if required, with a small flange (not shown) between the portion 8A and the main body of the piston rod 8.

The piston rod 8 can be square or otherwise rectangular section and carries on an upper face thereof ratchet teeth 10 of a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism. The piston rod 8 carries a measuring scale 11 on another face which can be viewed through a window 12 in the wall of the outer cylinder 1 in a location remote from the inner cylinder 3.

The device is provided with a hand grip 13 joined to the outer cylinder 1 and a spring-loaded trigger mechanism extends through an aperture in the outer cylinder 1 and is pivotably coupled to the piston rod 8. The end of the piston rod 8 remote from the piston 9 is provided with a pull ring 15 or a ball grip.

In use, the device is positioned with the removable flange 2 resting on the surface of the printing ink in a particular tin, say a blue ink, and the ring 15 is pulled sufficiently to draw the piston 9 by the required increment to draw into the inner cylinder 3 the amount of blue ink needed. The device is then transferred, after cleaning or replacing the surface of the removable flange 2, to another colour of ink and again the piston 9 is drawn by the required amount in the pre-determined proportion to the amount of the first ink. This can be repeated as necessary with one or more other inks. The pawl-and-ratchet mechanism provides an accurate, incremental control of the amount of ink drawn into the device. The ink in the inner cylinder 3 can then be expelled at a location where it is to be mixed by pulling on the trigger mechanism 14, which causes the piston 9 to move towards and as far as the open end of the inner cylinder 3.

The externally-threaded portion 5 of the inner cylinder 3 is provided with recesses 16 into which an appropriate tool such as a screwdriver can be fitted in order to unscrew and thereby release the inner cylinder 3 from the outer cylinder 1. This is appropriate for cleaning purposes. A stock of inner cylinders 3 is provided for the device, each inner cylinder 3 being for use with a different coloured ink, each with its own piston 9 for snap-fitting on the piston rod 8. The piston assembly is also readily removable for cleaning purposes.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device for collecting and dispensing measured quantities of printing ink for mixing together, the device including an outer cylinder and a replaceable inner cylinder arranged to be secured in the outer cylinder, the inner cylinder having one open end adjacent an open end of the outer cylinder and a piston slidably mounted in the inner cylinder, the piston being releasably coupled to a piston rod which can be incrementally drawn and propelled through an aperture in the other end of the inner cylinder, thereby to draw in and expel printing ink through said one end of the inner cylinder.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said inner cylinder is a sliding fit within the outer cylinder.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the open end of the inner cylinder is coterminous with the open end of the outer cylinder when the inner cylinder is fitted in the outer cylinder.

4. A device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the open end of the outer cylinder is surrounded by a removable ring flange.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the piston rod is provided with ratchet teeth which form part of a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism.

6. A device according to claim 5 and being provided with a hand grip and a trigger arrangement arranged to release the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism and to propel the piston rod in a direction to cause the piston to expel printing ink from the device.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the end of the piston rod remote from the piston is provided with a pull ring or knob.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the piston rod carries a measuring gauge which can be viewed through a window in the outer cylinder.

9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner cylinder is arranged to be screwed into a threaded aperture in a shoulder straddling the outer cylinder.

10. A device for collecting and dispensing measured quantities of printing ink for mixing together, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.