IES59577B2 - A system for manufacturing printing inks - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a system for manufacturing printing inks . k In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a system for manufacturing printing inks comprising the steps :preparing a job docket having a formulation for a desired printing ink colour, the formulation including pre-set quantities of ingredient .materials including varnish and pigment concentrates; weighing a desired quantity of each ingredient material; delivering each weighed ingredient material to a mixing station; mixing the ingredient materials at the mixing station to produce a homogenous coloured ink of uniform density and colour; passing a small quantity of the ink through a mill and collecting a sample of the ink discharged from the mill; smearing the sample on a paper test sheet; smearing an ink test sample of the desired colour » alongside the prepared sample of ink from the mill on the test sheet; mounting the test sheet flat on a carriage on a support frame, with the samples facing outwardly of the - 2 carriage and moving a blade on the support frame into . engagement with an outer surface of the sheet; r -t sliding the carriage relative to the blade on the support frame, moving the blade through the samples and 5 evenly spreading the ink samples along the surface of the test sheet; removing the test sheet, back-lighting the test sheet and inspecting the inks, checking for a colour match between the inks; passing the remainder of the ink through the mill, if the colour match is acceptable; collecting the ink and filling the ink into containers of a pre-desired size; mounting a cover on each container and sealing the 15 container by adhering a sealing tape across a free edge of the cover; preparing labels corresponding to the ink type produced; and sticking a label on an exterior of each container.

In another embodiment the desired quantity of each ingredient material is weighed by; . placing a supply container of the ingredient material -a on a weighing scales; noting the initial weight of the supply container and 25 its contents; removing ingredient material from the supply container until the measured container weight is reduced by an · amount corresponding to the desired weight of ingredient material, delivering the ingredient material ♦ from the supply container directly to the mixing station.

In a preferred embodiment the mixing station is formed by a pair of mixing rollers of the mill, a batch of the weighed ingredient materials being retained between and above the mixing rollers, the ingredient materials being mixed by rotating the mixing rollers for drawing dcwn ingredient materials from the batch between the rollers and carrying the ingredient materials on an outer surface of each roller and returning the ingredient materials to the batch.

In a further embodiment mixing of the ingredient materials as the rollers are rotated is assisted by drawing a paddle through the batch of ingredient materials supported on the mixing rollers.

In another embodiment of the system includes the step of applying a colour coded sealing tape between each container and its associated cover, the colour of the tape corresponding to the colour of the ink within the container.

In a further embodiment includes the step of printing the labels for each container by feeding a reel of adhesive labels on a peel off backing strip through a printer for ’ printing information identifying the ink on the labels, the information being printed on each label in ink of a ' colour corresponding to the colour of the ink in the containers.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the system includes , the steps: w maintaining an index of known ink formulations; preparing a delivery docket corresponding to a desired 5 coloured printing ink for each batch of printing ink which is to be produced; checking the index of known ink formulations to ascertain if a known formulation exists for said ink colour and if necessary preparing a new ink formulation 10 corresponding to said colour and recording said formulation in the ink formulation index; and preparing the job docket from the ink formulation information.

The index of ink formulations is preferably retained in a 15 computer memory. Advantageously a large number of ink formulations can be conveniently stored and the user has ready access to the formulations. Advantageously, the index can be used for stock control of ingredient materials used in making up the formulations. Further 20 information on the cost of ingredient materials can be retained to facilitate costing of ink formulations.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying , 25 drawings in which:« Fig. 1 is a schematic flow chart illustrating a system for manufacturing printing inks according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a weighing device used in the system; » Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a mill used in the system; Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of portion of the mill; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an ink spreading device used in the system; Fig. 6 is a partially sectioned elevational view of the ink spreading device; Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the ink spreading device shown in another position; and Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of portion of the ink spreading device.

Referring to the drawings a system for manufacturing printing inks according to the invention will be described.

Data relating to known ink formulations is stored in a computer memory. Each formulation comprises a combination of different ingredient materials, including varnish and pigment concentrates and possibly also additives such as driers, waxes, anti-driers, viscosity adjusters and the like. The required weight of each ingredient material required to be mixed to make a standard weight of ink of the desired colour is retained in the memory. Further, the cost of each ingredient material is also retained in the memory. A corresponding test sample jar containing the mixed known ink formulation is also prepared and kept for comparison with inks prepared according to each formulation.

To produce ink of a particular colour in step 1 of the system a delivery docket is prepared for the printing ink.

The index of known ink formulations is checked to ascertain whether or not a formulation exists for that particular colour. If no formulation exists then a new formulation is prepared (2). From the new formulation a colour is mixed (3) and the colour is printed (4) onto a 10 paper test sheet. Subject to approval of the colour a sample jar of the coloured ink is retained as a test sample (5) and the new formulation is recorded (6) in the index of known ink formulations.

When the required formulation is known a cost per kilo of 15 the required ink can be calculated (10) from the listed costs of the various ingredient materials in the ink formulation index. When costed a job docket (12) is prepared for preparation of the desired quantity of the ink.

A desired quantity of each ingredient material is weighed at a weighing station 15 and delivered to a mixing station 16. The weighing station 15 is shown in Fig. 2 and comprises a scales 17 on which a drum 18 of the ingredient material 19 being weighed is placed. The desired weight 25 of the ingredient material 19 is calculated by first noting the initial weight of the drum 19 of ingredient material 19 and then removing the desired weight of ingredient material 19 from the drum 18 until the drum weight is reduced by the required amount. Advantageously, this direct weighing method speeds up the weighing process as the ink ingredient material is delivered directly from a supply drum to the mixing station 16 rather than delivering the ingredient material from the supply drum to a weighing vessel and then transferring the ink ingredient material from the weighing vessel to the mixing station 16. Weighing accuracy is also improved as handling of the ingredient material is minimised.

At the mixing station 16 there is provided an ink mill 20. The ink mill 20 has a base frame 21 on which three associated rollers are provided. These rollers comprise a pair of mixing rollers 22 and a discharge roller 23. The discharge roller 23 is movable on the frame towards and away from one of the mixing rollers 22 as indicated by the arrow X in Fig. 3. A hopper 25 is mounted on the base frame 21 above the mixing rollers 22. The hopper has end plates 26 and removable side plates 27 which are slidable vertically in associated slots 28 (Fig. 4) in the end plates 26. It will be noted that the side plates 27 extend axially along an uppermost surface of each mixing roller 22. For relatively viscous inks the side plates 27 can be omitted.

The weighed ingredient materials are delivered into the hopper 25 from the weighing scales 17 and when all the ingredient materials have been delivered to the hopper 25 the mixing rollers 22 are operated, rotating in opposite directions to mix the ingredient materials. While mixing, the discharge roller 23 is spaced apart from the mixing roller 22 so that there is no transfer of ink from the mixing roller 22 to the discharge roller 23 during mixing. As the rollers 22 rotate a paddle can be drawn through the ingredient materials within the hopper 25 to further assist mixing. The ingredient materials are mixed until a homogenous coloured ink of uniform density and colour is produced.

The discharge roller 23 is then moved towards the mixing roller 22 until it picks up some of the ink from the mixing roller 22 and a small quantity of the ink is . collected from the discharge roller 23. A sample 30 of this ink is smeared on a paper test sheet 31 (Fig. 8). An , ink test sample 32 is also taken from the sample jar of the desired colour and smeared alongside the prepared sample 30 on the test sheet 31. The test sheet 31 is then mounted on an ink spreading device 35 (Figs. 5-8). The device 35 has a flat carriage 36 on a support frame 37.

The carriage 36 is slidably movable on the support frame 37 by means of a rack 38 and pinion 39 which is driven by an electric motor 40. Quick release clamps 42 are provided at each end of the carriage 36 for releasably securing the paper test sheet 31 on the carriage 36.

Mounted on the frame 37 above the carriage 36 is a blade 45. The blade 45 is carried by a pair of arms 46 on a pivot bar 47 which is rotatably mounted on upright posts 48 of the frame 37. A handle 50 is mounted at one end of the pivot bar 47 for rotation of the blade 45 between a lowered-in use position as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and a raised disengaged position as shown in Fig. 8. Motor operating switches 52, 53 are mounted adjacent an inner end 54 of the handle 50 and when engaged by the inner end 54 of the handle 50 operate the motor 40 for movement of the carriage 36 on the support frame 37.

With the blade 45 in the raised disengaged position as shown in Fig. 8 the test sheet 31 is mounted on the carriage 36. The blade 45 is then rotated downwardly until a lower edge 55 of the blade 45 engages an outer top surface of the test sheet 31. As the blade 45 engages the , 30 test sheet 31, the inner end 54 of the handle 50 engages the switch 52 thus triggering the motor 40 to drive the <* carriage 36 in the direction of arrow A (Fig. 5) moving the blade 45 through the samples 30, 32 and evenly spreading the ink samples 30, 32 along the surface of the test sheet 31. The handle 50 is then pivoted to move the blade 45 into the raised position as shown in Fig.8.

When fully raised the lower end 54 of the handle 50. engages the switch 53 to operate the motor 40 for return of the carriage 36 on the support frame 37. It will be, appreciated that the ink spreading device advantageously gives an accurate and repeatable ink spread on the test sheet.

The test sheet 31 is then removed from the carriage 36 and checked for colour match by back lighting the test sheet and inspecting the inks on the test sheet 31. If the colour match is not close enough, then the ink colour can be adjusted and a further test carried out for a colour match.

When the colour match is correct, the ink mill 20 is operated to process the ink from the hopper 25 discharging the ink from the discharge roller 23 via a scraper plate into containers such as cans of a pre-desired size. A cover is put on each container and at a sealing station 60 a sealing tape is adhered across a free edge of the cover thus sealing the cover. Advantageously, the sealing tape is colour coded to broadly indicate the colour of the ink, for example a blue tape is used for blue inks, a red tape for red inks etc. This advantageously assists in identification of the container contents for both the ink producer and the ink user, and benefits stock handling and control.

At a printing station 62, adhesive-labels on a peel off backing strip are printed with information identifying the ink, including the batch number and production date. Advantageously, these labels are printed in an ink colour > which broadly corresponds to the colour of the ink within the container in a similar fashion to the sealing tape.

Again this also assists in identifying the contents of the container, particularly when the sealing tape is subsequently removed.

The containers of ink can then be packaged if required in any suitable fashion.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in detail.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. A system for manufacturing printing inks comprising the steps :preparing a job docket having a formulation for a 5 desired printing ink colour, the formulation including pre-set quantities of ingredient materials including varnish and pigment concentrates; weighing a desired quantity of each ingredient 10 material; delivering each weighed ingredient material to a mixing station; mixing the ingredient materials at the mixing station to produce a homogenous coloured ink of 1Ξ uniform density and colour; passing a small quantity of the ink through a mill and collecting a sample of the ink discharged from the mill; smearing the sample on a paper test sheet; 20 smearing an ink test sample of the desired colour alongside the prepared sample of ink from the mill on the test sheet; mounting the test sheet flat on a carriage on a support frame, with the samples facing outwardly 25 of the carriage and moving a blade on the support frame into engagement with an outer surface of the sheet; sliding the carriage relative to the blade on the support frame, moving the blade through the samples and evenly spreading the ink samples along the surface of the test sheet; 5 removing the test sheet, back-lighting the test sheet and inspecting the inks, checking for a colour match between the inks; passing the remainder of the ink through the mill, if the colour match is acceptable; 10 collecting the ink and filling the ink into containers of a pre-desired size; mounting a cover on each container and sealing the container by adhering a sealing tape across a free edge of the cover; 15 preparing labels corresponding to the ink type produced; and sticking a label on an exterior of each container.

2. A system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the desired quantity of each ingredient material is weighed 2 0 by: placing a supply container of the ingredient material on a weighing scales; noting the initial weight of the supply container and its contents; removing ingredient material from the supply container until the measured container weight is reduced by an amount corresponding to the desired weight of ingredient material, delivering the ingredient material from the supply container directly to the mixing station; and preferably the mixing station is formed by a pair of mixing rollers of the mill, a batch of the weighed ingredient materials being retained between and above the mixing rollers, the ingredient materials being mixed by rotating the mixing rollers for drawing down ingredient materials from the batch between the rollers and carrying the ingredient materials on an outer surface of each roller and returning the ingredient materials to the batch; and optionally the mixing of the ingredient materials as the rollers are rotated is assisted by drawing a paddle through the batch of ingredient materials supported on the mixing rollers; and preferably the system includes the step of applying a colour coded sealing tape between each container and its associated cover, the colour of the tape corresponding to the colour of the ink within the container; and preferably the system includes the step of printing the labels for each container by feeding a reel of adhesive labels on a peel off backing strip through a printer for printing information identifying the ink on the labels, the information being printed on each label in ink of a colour corresponding 5 to the colour of the ink in the containers .

3. A system as claimed in any preceding claim which further includes the steps: maintaining an index of known ink formulations; 10 preparing a delivery docket corresponding to a desired coloured printing ink for each batch of printing ink which is to be produced; checking the index of known ink formulations 15 to ascertain if a known formulation exists for said ink colour and if necessary preparing a new ink formulation corresponding to said colour and recording said formulation in the ink formulation index; and 20 preparing the job docket from the ink formulation information.

4. A system for manufacturing printing inks substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 25

5. Printing ink whenever produced by the system as claimed in any preceding claim.