US3253542A - Ink applicator - Google Patents

Ink applicator Download PDF

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Publication number
US3253542A
US3253542A US389876A US38987664A US3253542A US 3253542 A US3253542 A US 3253542A US 389876 A US389876 A US 389876A US 38987664 A US38987664 A US 38987664A US 3253542 A US3253542 A US 3253542A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
ink
roller
applicator
plasticizer
resin
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US389876A
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English (en)
Inventor
William F Mcdonough
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Pitney Bowes Inc
Original Assignee
Pitney Bowes Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Pitney Bowes Inc filed Critical Pitney Bowes Inc
Priority to US389876A priority Critical patent/US3253542A/en
Priority to GB33882/65A priority patent/GB1090229A/en
Priority to BR172152/65A priority patent/BR6572152D0/pt
Priority to CH1145765A priority patent/CH461543A/de
Priority to DE1546790A priority patent/DE1546790C3/de
Priority to SE10673/65A priority patent/SE315611B/xx
Priority to NL656510735A priority patent/NL150052B/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3253542A publication Critical patent/US3253542A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F31/00—Inking arrangements or devices
    • B41F31/22—Inking arrangements or devices for inking from interior of cylinder
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41N—PRINTING PLATES OR FOILS; MATERIALS FOR SURFACES USED IN PRINTING MACHINES FOR PRINTING, INKING, DAMPING, OR THE LIKE; PREPARING SUCH SURFACES FOR USE AND CONSERVING THEM
    • B41N7/00—Shells for rollers of printing machines
    • B41N7/06—Shells for rollers of printing machines for inking rollers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41N—PRINTING PLATES OR FOILS; MATERIALS FOR SURFACES USED IN PRINTING MACHINES FOR PRINTING, INKING, DAMPING, OR THE LIKE; PREPARING SUCH SURFACES FOR USE AND CONSERVING THEM
    • B41N2207/00—Location or type of the layers in shells for rollers of printing machines
    • B41N2207/02—Top layers

Definitions

  • ink applicator must apply the ink uniformly over the printing plate surface whenever the plate is actuated to perform its printing function. If the ink applicator, usually in the form of a roller, does not properly contact the printing plate, there may be too much or too little ink applied to the printing plate or a portion of the plate may remain uninked. Further, if the ink in the ink applicator does not flow properly to the ink transfer surface, the printing plate will be poorly inked when it is actuated. The resiliency and surface texture of the ink applicator should be maintained for the printing of good, uniform impressions. Such problems may occur if the ink tends to dry out on the applicator surface, or to set or harden thereon. In such cases ink will be unevenly transferred to the printing plate, if at all.
  • Prior art business machines of this type have employed a roller having part of its outer surface immersed in an ink reservoir with an upper part of the roller surface positioned for contact with an intermediate transfer roller which, in turn, is in contact with the printing plate.
  • rotation of the inking roller carries ink from the reservoir to the intermediate roller which, in turn, transfers it to the printing plate surface.
  • Such prior art approaches have a number of drawbacks including the required periodic filling of the ink reservoir by the user of the machine.
  • a further disadvantage was that atmospheric conditions, cleanliness of the ink transfer roller and like factors determined the amount and the uniformity of the ink which would be transferred from the reservoir to the printing plate.
  • ink-impregnated rollers made in accordance with my invention eliminate the need for ink reservoirs in such business machines. Since the rollers are relatively inexpensive, they are disposable when their ink supply is depleted or, alternatively, such rollers can 3,253,542 Patented May 31, 1966 be impregnated with ink. I have further found that inkimpregnated porous rollers made in accordance with my invention 'will maintain their physical dimensions and characteristics over an extended period of time in use. My roller will not mat down at the surface, but will remain resilient with good ink transferring characteristics for thousands of ink transfer operations over an extended period of time.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an applicator of the above character which will maintain its physical dimensions and characteristics after extensive use and over an extended period of time.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide an inkimpregnated applicator of the above character which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an ink applicator of the above character wherein the porous structure is made of a resin.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide an ink applicator of the above character in which the liquid vehicle of the ink with which the porous structure is impregnated is a plasticizer for the resin of the porous structure.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an inkimpregnated applicator of the above character which is in the form of a roller.
  • the invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others, and the article possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements, which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
  • FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side view of a printing I plate and an ink applicator such as are used in a postage metering machine.
  • FIGURE 2 is a flow diagram of the process of making an ink-impregnated applicator.
  • FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of an ink-impregnated porous roller made in accordance with the invention.
  • a typical printing plate 10 such as is used in a postage metering machine may be secured to a drum 24 and has a curved surface12 carrying the information to be printed.
  • the surface 12 bears against a porous roller 14 which is rotatably supported at 16 for rotation against the printing plate surface 12 as the printing plate is rotated.
  • a porous roller is shown as the ink applicator, the invention is equally applicable to ink transfer structures having a fiat ink transfer surface.
  • the ink roller is made by the following process.
  • a powdered resin is mixed with a plasticizer (or combination of plasticizers) to form a plastisol of plasticizer and resin.
  • Salt crystals are added to the plastisol in the proportion of two to twenty times as much salt, by weight, as plastisol.
  • the salt crystals form the pores of the porous structure and accordingly, the size of the salt crystals will determine the average size of the pores.
  • the plastisol and salt mixture is then molded in the desired shape under heat for a period of time.
  • the mold may be in the shape of a roller to form a salt-filled roller.
  • the salt is then leached from the molded roller by hot water, leaving a porous resin roller.
  • the porous roller is then impregnated with ink by a vacuum process wherein air is evacuated from and around the roller while the latter is immersed in ink and then the immersed roller is exposed to the atmosphere whereby the pores fill with ink.
  • the inked roller thus produced is then ready for use as an ink transfer mechanism in a printing machine such as a postage metering machine.
  • the roller body 14 is provided with a shaft 16 which is journalled in support 18 (FIG- URE 1) to permit rotation of the roller when a printing plate or die rotatably contacts the roller surface.
  • the ink-impregnated roller such as shown in FIGURE 3 should maintain its physical characteristics in dimension after thousands of ink transfer operations.
  • the roller should not vary appreciably in diameter nor should the resilience or texture of its surface vary over an extended period of time or use. It has been found that the principal cause of change in the physical characteristics or dimensions of such rollers is due to the ink vehicle in the porous body.
  • ink generally comprises a pigment or dye or combination thereof which is carried by a vehicle, the liquid medium with which the colorant is applied.
  • polyvinyl chloride and plasticizer are mixed in equal parts to form the plastisol.
  • Granulated sodium chloride preferably in cubicle form and of from 100-140 mesh in size, is then added to the plastisol in the proportion of two to twenty parts NaCl to 1 part plastisol, and preferably five to six parts NaCl to 1 part plastisol, by weight.
  • the plastisol-salt mixture is then molded into the shape of a cylindrical roller at from 300 to 450 F. for a period of from twenty minutes to one hour.
  • the molded salt filled roller is then removed from the mold and is soaked in hot water.
  • the hot water leaches the salt from the salt filled roller leaving a porous roller remaining.
  • the roller may be further rinsed and dried and is then put under a vacuum. While under a vacuum the roller is immersed in ink and is then exposed to atmospheric pressure which fills the roller body with ink.
  • the ink vehicle is very important in maintaining the roller body in good condition to function as an ink applicator.
  • Some ink vehicles tend to cause plasticizer migration, or to extract plasticizer or other constituents from the roller body.
  • the use of improper ink vehicles may cause excessive swelling of the roller which accordingly affects contact of the ink roller and printing plate.
  • Still other ink vehicles tend to set on the roller surface or to cause brittleness in the roller body itself at the roller surface.
  • Such ink vehicles are unacceptable for use in many business machines since the inking roller must remain in good condition for a substantial period of time.
  • the interference between the printing plate surface 12 and roller surface 20 at point 22 should be from .020 to .070 inch for uniform inking of the printing plate.
  • the plate surface 12 deforms the roller surface 20 slightly at point 22 to insure good contact over the plate surface and to gently squeeze ink from the roller pores.
  • roller If the roller swells excessively, the roller will interfere too much with the printing plate, resulting in excessive inking and accelerated deterioration of the inking roller. If the roller shrinks, the printing plate .will be unevenly inked, if at all. Hardening or setting of the roller surface 20 also results in closure of the roller pores and poor ink transfer because the pore squeezing action is adversely affected.
  • an ideal ink vehicle should approximate the composition of the roller body plasticizer or plasticizers. In those cases where a combination of plasticizers are used, a substantial amount of at least one of the plasticizers should be present as the ink vehicle.
  • ink vehicles which are the same as the plasticizer for the roller body are used, I have found that the surface texture and resiliency of the rollers, as well as the physical characteristics and dimensions, are unchanged after thousands of ink transfer operations and after many months of use.
  • Example 1 One hundred parts of polyvinyl chloride resin were mixed with one hundred parts by weight of a plasticizer composed of dioctyl phthalate and 25% Conoco H-35.
  • Conoco H-35 is a synthesized alkyl aryl hydrocarbon having a molecular weight of 280.
  • 5 parts of tribasic lead sulfate (hydrous) was added thereto as a stabilizer.
  • the plastisol thus formed was then combined with cubicle sodium chloride crystals of from 140 mesh in size (-150 microns) in the proportions 85% NaCl to 15% plastisol by weight.
  • the plastisol-NaCl mixture was then molded in the form of a roller at 350 F. for forty-five minutes.
  • the salt-filled roller was removed from the mold and leached with hot water to remove the salt and provide a porous roller body.
  • the porous roller body was then filled with ink by vacuum.
  • the ink vehicle was made up to 75% dioctyl phthalate and 25% Conoco H-35, the same constituents and proportions as used for the resin plasticizer.
  • Example 2 The same procedure as in Example 1 was followed except that the plasticizer and ink vehicle were both composed of 80% dioctyl phthalate and 20% Mobilsol L, a petroleum fraction with an approximate molecular weight of 267, boiling range 520 F. to 769 F. and a carbon atom analysis weight percent of approximately C (aromatic) 12, C (naphthenic) 47 and C (parafiinie) 41.
  • the plasticizer and ink vehicle were both composed of 80% dioctyl phthalate and 20% Mobilsol L, a petroleum fraction with an approximate molecular weight of 267, boiling range 520 F. to 769 F. and a carbon atom analysis weight percent of approximately C (aromatic) 12, C (naphthenic) 47 and C (parafiinie) 41.
  • Example 3 The same procedure was followed as in Example 1 except that the plasticizer and ink vehicle were both composed of a combination of 75% dioctyl phthalate and 25% naphthenic mineral oil.
  • Example 4 The same procedure was followed as in Example 1 above except that the plasticizer and ink vehicle were both composed of tricresyl phosphate.
  • Inked rollers made in accordance with the above examples were then inserted into postage metering machines for testing.
  • Each roller made in accordance with the examples above was tested for at least four thousand printing impressions and showed excellent ink transfer characteristics after four thousand impressions.
  • the tested rollers showed only a slight degree of swelling but were Well within tolerable limits for such a use.
  • the texture and resiliency of the roller surfaces of all four examples above remained substantially uniform over a period of several months with no setting or caking of the roller surface, and with no plasticizer migration or extraction evident in the roller body itself.
  • an ink-impregnated roller made in accordance with the invention is particularly suitable for use in business machines. Further, as a matter of economics, such a roller may be disposable since thousands of printing impression can be made from a single roller.
  • An ink applicator comprising, in combination,
  • said body being made principally of po1yvinylchloride resin, and (2) a liquid plasticizer for said resin, B. an ink contained in the pores of said body,
  • said ink having a colorant in a liquid vehicle, (a) said ink vehicle being of essentially the same composition as said plasticizer, whereby the physical dimensions and characteristics of said ink applicator are maintained within predetermined limits over a substantial period of use and time.
  • An ink applicator comprising, in combination, A. an ink containing porous body,
  • said body being made principally of polyvinylchloride resin, and (2) a liquid plasticizer system for said resin com- (a) a liquid plasticizer for said resin in combination with (b) a liquid hydrocarbon diluent, B. an ink contained in the pores of said body,
  • said ink having a colorant in a liquid vehicle, (a) said ink vehicle being of essentially the same composition as said plasticizer system, whereby the physical dimensions and characteristics of said ink applicator are maintained within predetermined limits over a substantial period of use and time.
  • An ink applicator comprising, in combination, A. an ink containing porous body,
  • said porous body being made of a resin
  • a liquid plasticizer for said resin containing a major portion taken from the group consisting of (a) dioctylphthalate and (b) tricresylphosphate B. an ink contained in the pores of said roller,
  • said ink comprising,
  • plasticizer includes a minor portion of a liquid hydrocarbon diluent in combination with said major portion of said plasticizer.
  • liquid hydrocarbon diluent is an alkyl aryl hydrocarbon having a molecular weight of approximately 280.
  • liquid hydrocarbon diluent is a petroleum fraction having an approximate molecular weight of 267 and a boiling range of approximately 520 to 769 F.
  • said ink comprising a vehicle and a colorant in the vehicle
  • the ink vehicle being of essentially the same composition as said plasticizer, G. and then subjecting the submerged porous body to atmospheric pressure to fill the pores of the body with said ink.

Landscapes

  • Inks, Pencil-Leads, Or Crayons (AREA)
  • Paints Or Removers (AREA)
  • Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)
US389876A 1964-08-17 1964-08-17 Ink applicator Expired - Lifetime US3253542A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US389876A US3253542A (en) 1964-08-17 1964-08-17 Ink applicator
GB33882/65A GB1090229A (en) 1964-08-17 1965-08-06 Improvements in ink applicators for printing
BR172152/65A BR6572152D0 (pt) 1964-08-17 1965-08-16 Aplicador de tinta e processo para fabricar o mesmo
CH1145765A CH461543A (de) 1964-08-17 1965-08-16 Druckfarbenträger und Verfahren zu seiner Herstellung
DE1546790A DE1546790C3 (de) 1964-08-17 1965-08-16 Farbaufträger mit einem porösen Körper und ein Verfahren zu dessen Herstellung
SE10673/65A SE315611B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1964-08-17 1965-08-16
NL656510735A NL150052B (nl) 1964-08-17 1965-08-17 Werkwijze voor het vervaardigen van een inktopbrengorgaan en inktopbrengorgaan vervaardigd met deze werkwijze.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US389876A US3253542A (en) 1964-08-17 1964-08-17 Ink applicator

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3253542A true US3253542A (en) 1966-05-31

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US389876A Expired - Lifetime US3253542A (en) 1964-08-17 1964-08-17 Ink applicator

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3253542A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BR (1) BR6572152D0 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH461543A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1546790C3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1090229A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL150052B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
SE (1) SE315611B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3625143A (en) * 1970-11-18 1971-12-07 Schwaab Label Co Inc The Marking device
US3712215A (en) * 1971-05-27 1973-01-23 Royal Industries Printing apparatus
US3895133A (en) * 1973-04-20 1975-07-15 Fibreboard Corp Method of forming liquid reservoirs
US4057015A (en) * 1976-03-04 1977-11-08 Di/An Controls, Inc. Bar code printing system
US4100853A (en) * 1976-08-09 1978-07-18 Arthur D. Little, Inc. Method of forming a porous shaped body capable of retaining liquids therein
US4112151A (en) * 1976-01-09 1978-09-05 Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. Impregnating porous articles
US4195570A (en) * 1976-05-26 1980-04-01 Dayco Corporation Non-misting inking roll, method of making same, and ink for use therewith
US4226886A (en) * 1979-02-16 1980-10-07 Micro-Cel Systems, Inc. Self-metering liquid retentive pad and process for producing same
US4246842A (en) * 1979-08-03 1981-01-27 Dayco Corporation Printing roller
US4256845A (en) * 1979-02-15 1981-03-17 Glasrock Products, Inc. Porous sheets and method of manufacture
DE3100361A1 (de) * 1980-01-10 1981-11-19 Bridgestone Tire Co. Ltd., Tokyo Farbwalze und verfahren zu deren herstellung
US4383956A (en) * 1981-01-30 1983-05-17 American Optical Corporation Method of a single element complete air filtering structure for a respirator filter cartridge
US4768437A (en) * 1986-06-03 1988-09-06 Porelon, Inc. High contrast printing material
US4884505A (en) * 1985-12-02 1989-12-05 Porelon, Inc. Method and apparatus for printing a light scannable image
US5185111A (en) * 1991-02-13 1993-02-09 Polypore, Inc. Method of producing elastomeric open cell structures
US5970595A (en) * 1995-07-19 1999-10-26 Ncr Corporation Porous inking members for impact printers and methods of making the same
US6389967B1 (en) * 1999-08-10 2002-05-21 Neopost Limited Ink dispenser

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2371868A (en) * 1940-09-09 1945-03-20 Berg Herbert Porous polyvinyl chloride compositions
US2392521A (en) * 1942-02-12 1946-01-08 Ncr Co Porous resilient printing plate
US2620730A (en) * 1951-02-10 1952-12-09 Farrington Mfg Co Printing apparatus
US2631358A (en) * 1948-03-25 1953-03-17 Edward D Hill Ink carrier and method of making

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2371868A (en) * 1940-09-09 1945-03-20 Berg Herbert Porous polyvinyl chloride compositions
US2392521A (en) * 1942-02-12 1946-01-08 Ncr Co Porous resilient printing plate
US2631358A (en) * 1948-03-25 1953-03-17 Edward D Hill Ink carrier and method of making
US2620730A (en) * 1951-02-10 1952-12-09 Farrington Mfg Co Printing apparatus

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3625143A (en) * 1970-11-18 1971-12-07 Schwaab Label Co Inc The Marking device
US3712215A (en) * 1971-05-27 1973-01-23 Royal Industries Printing apparatus
US3895133A (en) * 1973-04-20 1975-07-15 Fibreboard Corp Method of forming liquid reservoirs
US4112151A (en) * 1976-01-09 1978-09-05 Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. Impregnating porous articles
US4057015A (en) * 1976-03-04 1977-11-08 Di/An Controls, Inc. Bar code printing system
US4195570A (en) * 1976-05-26 1980-04-01 Dayco Corporation Non-misting inking roll, method of making same, and ink for use therewith
US4100853A (en) * 1976-08-09 1978-07-18 Arthur D. Little, Inc. Method of forming a porous shaped body capable of retaining liquids therein
US4256845A (en) * 1979-02-15 1981-03-17 Glasrock Products, Inc. Porous sheets and method of manufacture
US4226886A (en) * 1979-02-16 1980-10-07 Micro-Cel Systems, Inc. Self-metering liquid retentive pad and process for producing same
US4246842A (en) * 1979-08-03 1981-01-27 Dayco Corporation Printing roller
DE3100361A1 (de) * 1980-01-10 1981-11-19 Bridgestone Tire Co. Ltd., Tokyo Farbwalze und verfahren zu deren herstellung
US4383956A (en) * 1981-01-30 1983-05-17 American Optical Corporation Method of a single element complete air filtering structure for a respirator filter cartridge
US4884505A (en) * 1985-12-02 1989-12-05 Porelon, Inc. Method and apparatus for printing a light scannable image
US4768437A (en) * 1986-06-03 1988-09-06 Porelon, Inc. High contrast printing material
US5185111A (en) * 1991-02-13 1993-02-09 Polypore, Inc. Method of producing elastomeric open cell structures
US5970595A (en) * 1995-07-19 1999-10-26 Ncr Corporation Porous inking members for impact printers and methods of making the same
US6389967B1 (en) * 1999-08-10 2002-05-21 Neopost Limited Ink dispenser
US6687999B2 (en) 1999-08-10 2004-02-10 Neopost Limited Method for manufacturing ink dispensing roller

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1546790A1 (de) 1970-10-22
DE1546790B2 (de) 1973-08-02
CH461543A (de) 1968-08-31
BR6572152D0 (pt) 1973-09-11
NL6510735A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1966-02-18
GB1090229A (en) 1967-11-08
SE315611B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-10-06
DE1546790C3 (de) 1974-03-14
NL150052B (nl) 1976-07-15

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