Ink level control system for offset printing presses
AssigneeBaldwin Technology Corporation
InventorAlan F. Barney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for monitoring and controlling the level of the ink in the ink fountain of offset printing presses, using an ultrasonic transducer for measuring the distance between the ink and the transducer which includes a microprocessor system for calculating a time duration of an ink feed cycle to fill the ink fountain to a preset ink level and for generating an ink cycle control signal based on time duration data and ink viscosity characteristics. A control valve activated by the ink cycle control signal delivers ink to the ink fountain.
Claims12
An apparatus for monitoring ink supply in an ink fountain for offset printing presses, comprising:
- an ink fountain;
- a transducer capable of receiving an electrical signal and converting said signal to a sonic wave and receiving a sonic wave and converting said wave to an electrical signal;
- a transmitter for transmitting an electrical signal to said transducer for causing a sonic wave reflection from said ink fountain;
- a receiver for receiving a signal reflected from said ink fountain through said transducer;
- data entry means for entering data including preset ink level and ink viscosity characteristics;
- memory means for storage of said data;
- microprocessor means having a stored program for controlling said transmitter and receiver of said electrical signal, for processing the time occurrence of said transmitted and reflected signals for determining the ink level in said ink fountain, for calculating the time direction of an ink feed cycle to fill said ink fountain to said preset ink level and for generating an ink cycle control signal based on said time direction data and said ink viscosity characteristics;
- and
- a control valve activated by said ink cycle control signal for delivering ink to said ink fountain.
A method for monitoring ink supply in an ink fountain for offset printing presses, comprising:
- supplying ink into an ink fountain;
- inputting data including preset ink level and ink viscosity characteristics;
- storing said data in memory;
- generating a time-marked electrical signal pulse with a microprocessor having a stored program;
- converting said electrical signal pulse into a sonic wave;
- reflecting said sonic wave from said ink fountain;
- receiving said reflected sonic wave;
- converting said reflected sonic wave into a reflected electrical signal;
- processing of data in response to said stored program, including the time occurrence of said time-marked pulse and said reflected electrical signal for determining the ink level of said ink fountain and calculating the time duration of an ink feed cycle necessary for filling the ink level to said preset ink level;
- generating a signal based on said time duration data and said ink viscosity characteristics;
- and
- adjusting the ink level of said ink fountain by activating a control valve in response to said generated signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.