US 4,524,692 A · Electronic ink flow control for printing

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling the amount of ink transferred to the ink train in a printing press, which reduces press makeready and precisely regulates the ink transfer amount regardless of press speed. The control apparatus includes a fountain roller in operable contact with an ink supply, and a ductor roller mounted for shiftable movement between the ink train and the fountain roller. A sensor provides a signal representative of the interval of rotational movement of the fountain roller while the ductor roller is in contact with the fountain roller and thereby made available for ink transferring contact therewith. This interval is indicative of the amount of ink transferred from the fountain roller to the ductor roller for deposit to the ink train. Further, the control apparatus includes a processor control assembly which receives signals from the sensor and is operable for receiving an instruction input from the press operator indicative of the desired amount of ink transfer. The processor is programmed to correlate the operating instruction input and signal such that when a programmed relationship exists therebetween, the processor initiates shifting of the ductor roller out of contact with the fountain roller.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method of controlling the amount of ink transferred to an ink train in a printing press, wherein the printing press includes a fountain roller in operable contact with an ink supply and a ductor roller shiftable between an ink train contact position and a fountain roller contact portion, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a control processor;
inputting an operating instruction into said processor indicative of the desired amount of ink transfer;
shifting the ductor roller into contact with the fountain roller;
rotating the fountain roller thereby transferring ink to the ductor roller during the interval contact is established therebetween and the fountain roller is rotated;
determining the amount of rotational movement of the fountain roller during said interval and transmitting the same as a rotation signal to the control processor,
said processor being operable when a programmed relationship exists between said rotation signal and said operating instruction to initiate a disconnect of the ductor roller from contact with the fountain roller;
initiating disconnect of the ductor roller from contact with the fountain roller when said processor determines that said programmed relationship exists, thereby controlling the amount of ink transferred from the fountain roller to the ductor roller;
and
shifting said ductor roller into contact with said ink train for transferring ink from said ductor roller to said ink train.

6 more elements

In a printing press, an ink flow control comprising:

an ink supply;
a fountain roller operably connected to said ink supply;
a ductor roller;
means for shifting said ductor roller into and out of contact with said fountain roller for transferring ink from the fountain roller to the ductor roller during the interval contact is established therebetween and the rollers are rotating;
sensor means for providing a signal representative of the amount of ink transferred as a result of rotational movement of said fountain roller while the ductor roller is in contact therewith;
means for providing an operating instruction input indicative of the desired amount of ink to be transferred from the fountain roller to the ductor roller;
and
processor means for receiving said input and for receiving said signal from said sensor means,
said processor means being operable for comparing the signal from said sensor means with the operating instruction input and to control shifting of the ductor roller to establish and regulate the interval said ductor roller is in ink transferring relationship to said fountain roller in accordance with said input.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electronic ink flow control for printing

Life of this patent

Electronic ink flow control for printing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17