MXPA98007364A - Mechanism to fix an it deposit - Google Patents

Abstract

A mechanism is provided to removably fix an ink reservoir to a pad printing machine wherein the pad printing machine includes a printing plate that is movable with respect to the ink reservoir. The mechanism includes four pads, which are fixed to the pad printing machine, and acts in the ink reservoir in two different opposite directions during the movement of the printing plate with respect to the ink reservoir. The four pads act on the ink tank below its center of gravity, and in particular on an ink backing ring on the bottom of the ink tank. Two of the pads are attached to the front panel of the mechanism, which can be released from the mechanism to allow removal of the ink tank from the mechanism.

Description

MECHANISM FOR. FIXING AN INK TANK DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a mechanism for fixing an ink tank to a pad printing machine (pad printer) and in particular to a mechanism that allows easy removal and installation of the ink tank. ink. Pad printers are used to print mainly on uneven surfaces. An ink tank is provided containing the ink and the solvent for example tiner, so that the ink is not exposed to the atmosphere.

Such ink tanks can be made of hardened steel, aluminum, nylon, ceramic or other similar plastic materials. An image of the template to be printed is graven on the top surface of a steel plate. The ink tank is filled with ink and pressed against the steel plate with its open end colliding with the steel plate. During the relative movement of the ink tank through the upper surface of the steel plate, the ink remains in the engraved image on the steel plate, to be taken by a printing pad for subsequent printing on a workpiece. Ways have been designed to attach the ink tank to the pad printing machine by allowing the ink tank to be released from it for maintenance or to replenish the ink. Such a mechanism is shown in GB 2 305 632 and includes a clamp that is pivotable with respect to the pad printing machine, the clamp includes two arms, each with a recess for coupling one of two diametrically opposed projections of the same. deposit of ink, in order to attach the ink tank to the rest of the pad printing machine. A disadvantage associated with this arrangement is that the ink tank may still rotate during its movement with respect to the printing plate, which may lead to the ink leaking. In addition, the bottom edge of the ink tank is worn due to its movement on the surface of the steel plate. However, since the ink tank does not exhibit any rotational movement about its longitudinal axis, certain regions at the lower edge of the tank may suffer from greater resistance, leading to uneven wear of the bottom edge of the ink tank. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an ink deposit fixing mechanism with which the above disadvantages are mitigated, or at least provide a useful alternative to the trade and the public. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a mechanism is provided to releasably fix an ink tank to a pad printing machine, having a printing plate movable with respect to the ink tank, characterized in that the mechanism comprises retainer means fixed to the pad printing machine and adapted to act on the ink reservoir in two different directions during movement of the printing plate with respect to the ink reservoir. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mechanism for releasably attaching an ink container to a pad printing machine, characterized in that the mechanism comprises a detachable panel member and engageable with the mechanism for attaching the deposit of ink to the printing machine. According to a third aspect of the present invention, a mechanism for attaching an ink container releasably to a pad printing machine having a movable printing plate with respect to the ink tank is provided, the mechanism comprises retaining means fixed to the printing machine and adapted to act on the ink tank during the movement of the printing plate with respect to the ink tank, characterized in that the retaining means are adapted to act on the ink tank below its center of gravity . DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 is a bottom view of an attachment mechanism of an ink tank according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the fixing mechanism shown in Figure 1, with a printing plate; Figure 3 is a side view of the fixing mechanism shown in Figure 1, also with a printing plate, and Figure 4 is a top view of the fixing mechanism shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figures 1- 4, an ink tank 10 is shown attached or attached to an ink tank fixing mechanism, indicated by 12. The mechanism 12 includes a backing plate 14 that can be fixedly attached, for example with screws to the rest of the container. the pad printing machine (not shown). A pair of arms 16 are fixedly fixed to the two sides of the backing plate 14. A front panel 18 is slidably positioned with the ends of two arms 16. Also fixed on the back plate 14 is a clamp 20 having a curved edge 22. The shape of the curved edge 22 substantially follows the shape of the upper cylindrical part of the ink tank 10. When the ink tank 10 is used, it is placed on an upper surface of a printing plate 24, which is placed on a magnetic plate 26. the upper surface of the printing plate 24 is engraved with an image of the template to be printed. During the printing operation, the ink tank 10 can remain stationary with respect to the remainder of the template printing machine, while the printing plate 24 and the magnetic plate 26 reciprocate in the directions shown in FIG. arrows A and B, with respect to the printing plate 24 and the magnetic plate 26. In the present example, however, it is assumed that the ink tank 10 will remain stationary, while the printing plate 24 and the magnetic plate 26 present a reciprocal movement. It can be clearly seen that in the position shown in Figures 1 to 4, the ink tank 10 can not be moved from the mechanism 12. The front panel 18 can nevertheless be separated from the pair of arms 16 to allow the ink tank 10 to be removed from or attached to the mechanism 12. As a pair of fiberglass pads 28 are attached to the bottom of the back plate 14, a pair of fiberglass pads 30 are fixed to the front panel 18. While FIGS. 1 and 3 appear to show that all four pads are in contact with the reservoir of ink 10, there is actually a small space between the pads 28, 30 and the ink tank 10, so that there is room for a relative movement between the tank 10 and the fixing mechanism 12. When the direction of movement of the plate of printing 24 with respect to the ink tank 10 is as shown by the arrow 10 in Figure 3, the pads 30 will directly contact and collide against the ink tank 10 by exerting a counterforce in the direction of arrow B. another part, when the direction of movement of the printing plate 24 with respect to the ink tank 10 is as shown by the arrow B in Figure 3, the pads 28 will directly contact and collide an against the ink tank 10 and will exert an opposite force in the direction of the arrow A, which is directly opposite to the direction of the arrow B. It can also be seen, that the pads 28, 30 directly contact and act on a ink scraping ring (doctor blade) 34 on the bottom of the ink tank 10. The ink scraping ring 34 is made of ceramic or steel, serves to clean the printing plate 24 of any unwanted ink, and to preserve the ink inside the ink tank 10. In particular the pads 28, 30 act below the center of gravity of the ink tank 10, this vacuum or filled with ink and / or tiner. Such an arrangement will prevent rotation with movement of the ink tank 10 during its movement with respect to the printing plate 24. It has been found in practice that during the relative movement between the ink tank 10 and the printing plate 24, the deposit of ink 10 also presents a rotational movement around its own longitudinal axis 32. Such rotational movement is at a very slow rate, approximately one turn (this is 360 °) every hour. However, such rotational movement will dramatically increase the working life of the ink scraper ring 34 before it needs to be re-sharpened or replaced. It should be understood that neither the ink scraping ring nor the printing plate 34 are perfectly flat. Thus the friction occurs during its relative movement and the ink scraper ring will wear out. Nevertheless, if the ink tank 10 does not exhibit any rotational movement, certain parts of the ink scraper ring 34 will be finished sooner than other parts. However, due to the rotational movement of the ink tank 10 in the present arrangement, all parts of the ink scraper ring 34 will be uniformly finished, thus increasing the working life of the ink scraper ring 34 before its replacement or re-sharpening. . It should be understood that numerous changes are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims (16)

1. CLAIMS 1.- A mechanism for releasably fixing an ink tank to a pad printing machine having a printing plate movable with respect to the ink tank, characterized in that the mechanism comprises holding means fixed to the printing machine of pad and adapted to act on the ink tank in two different directions during the movement of the printing plate with respect to the ink tank.
2. 2. - A mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining means comprises at least two retaining members, each of which is adapted to act on the ink tank in a different direction during the movement of the printing plate with respect to the ink tank.
3. 3. - A mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining means comprises at least two pairs of retention members, each pair is adapted to act on the ink reservoir in a different direction during the movement of the plate. printing with respect to the ink tank.
4. 4. A mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the two different directions are substantially opposite each other.
5. 5. - A mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the two different directions are substantially parallel to the direction of relative movement between the ink tank and the printing plate.
6. 6. A mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that the mechanism comprises a panel member to which at least one retaining member is fixed.
7. 7. A mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that at least two of the retention members are fixed to the panel member.
8. 8. A mechanism for releasably attaching or fixing an ink tank to a pad printing machine, characterized in that the mechanism comprises a panel member releasably engageable with the mechanism for fixing the ink tank to the machine of pad printing.
9. 9. A mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that the panel member is removably engageable with two arms of the mechanism.
10. 10. A mechanism according to claim 9, characterized in that the panel member is slidable with respect to the arms.
11. 11. A mechanism for releasably fixing an ink tank to a pad printing machine having a printing plate movable with respect to the ink tank, the mechanism comprises holding means fixed to the pad printing machine and adapted to act on the deposit of the mechanism during the movement of the printing plate with respect to the ink tank, characterized in that, the retaining means is adapted to act on the ink tank below its center of gravity.
12. 12. - A mechanism according to claim 11, characterized in that the retaining means is adapted to act on an ink scraper member of the ink tank.
13. 13. A mechanism according to claim 11 characterized in that the retainer means makes contact directly with the ink scraper member of the ink tank when the retainer means acts on the ink scraper member.
14. 14. - A mechanism according to claim 12 characterized in that the ink scraper member has an annular shape.
15. 15. - A mechanism according to any of claims 1-11 characterized in that the retainer means comprises at least two retention members.
16. 16. - A mechanism according to any of claims 1-11 characterized in that the retainer means comprises at least four retention members.