Gravure press for making multicolor proofs

Abstract

A hand fed gravure press primarily for use in making multicolor proofs. A carriage assembly for moving relative to the press bed and comprising an impression cylinder for holding the paper, an ink distribution system for consistently applying a selectable quantity of ink at a predetermined location, a doctor blade spaced a distance from the ink system for spreading the ink across a printing plate and a cleaning unit for removing excess or dried ink from the plate after printing is completed. A control system for regulating the movement of the carriage assembly and the operation of the ink distribution system, the doctor blade and the cleaning unit. The ink distribution system comprising a plurality of reservoirs for separately storing a different color ink, a plurality of channeled cylinders each connected to a respective reservoir for receiving and temporarily retaining a selectable quantity of ink and a plurality of actuators each connected to a corresponding channeled cylinder for dispensing the temporarily retained ink onto the printing plate at a predetermined location. The cleaning unit comprises an applicator for spraying solvent on the surface of the printing plate, two oppositely rotating spaced apart brush elements for sweeping the sprayed printing plate, and a vacuum apparatus disposed between the brush elements for removing any foreign matter upon the printing plate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.