Preparation of the inking unit of a printing press for a change of printing job

A method for changing an ink zone profile in at least one printing unit of an offset rotary printing press and for substantially reducing a previous ink zone profile corresponding to a previous printing job on a plurality of inking rollers prior to starting a subsequent printing job;

• said method further being for changing from the previous ink zone profile corresponding to the previous printing job to a subsequent ink zone profile corresponding to the subsequent printing job;
• the printing press comprising:
• an ink reservoir for holding a supply on ink and an inking mechanism for transferring the ink between the ink reservoir and the printing plate during operation of the at least one printing unit;
• a plurality of cylindrical bodies comprising:
• a printing plate cylinder for positioning a printing plate, the printing plate for having a printing surface area extending in a substantially circumferential direction with respect to the printing plate cylinder;
• a blanket cylinder disposed adjacent the printing plate cylinder and for being engaged therewith;
• a plurality of inking rollers for supplying ink to the printing plate cylinder, each of the plurality of inking rollers having an inkable width thereof for the deposition of ink thereupon;
• and
• at least one ink transfer roller for supplying ink to the plurality of inking rollers, the at least one ink transfer roller being engaged with the plurality of inking rollers;
• the inking mechanism comprising:
• the plurality of inking rollers,
• a plurality of individually adjustable ink zone metering devices,
• at least one ink fountain roller positioned adjacent the plurality of individually adjustable ink zone metering devices,
• means for transferring ink away from the ink fountain roller to the plurality of cylindrical bodies, and
• the at least one ink transfer roller, wherein the at least one ink transfer roller is for transferring the ink between:
• the means for transferring ink away from the ink fountain roller and
• the plurality of inking rollers;
• and
• a damping mechanism for providing a supply of damping solution at least to the printing plate cylinder;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• feeding sheets to the at least one printing unit for printing the sheets;
• initiating the supply of damping solution to the printing plate cylinder;
• mounting the printing plate on the printing plate cylinder;
• engaging at least some of the plurality of cylindrical bodies with each other, thereby forming an engaged set of cylindrical bodies, the engaged set of cylindrical bodies comprising at least:
• the plurality of inking rollers and the printing plate cylinder;
• interrupting the feeding of sheets to the at least one printing unit;
• subsequent to said step of interrupting the feeding of sheets to the at least one printing unit, substantially eliminating the previous ink zone profile in the printing unit by:
• interrupting the supply of damping solution to the printing plate cylinder;
• preventing the transfer of ink between the at least one ink fountain roller and the inking mechanism to result in a remnant quantity of ink remaining among the engaged set of cylindrical bodies;
• maintaining the engagement of the engaged set of cylindrical bodies;
• transferring the remnant quantity of ink solely among the engaged set of cylindrical bodies;
• continuing the transfer of the remnant quantity of ink among the engaged set of cylindrical bodies until both of:
• a layer of ink having a constant thickness is established on at least one of the inking rollers throughout the entire inkable width thereof;
• and
• a layer of ink having a constant thickness is established on the entire printing surface area of the printing plate;
• and
• subsequent to said step of substantially eliminating the previous ink zone profile in the printing unit:
• removing the printing plate form the printing plate cylinder;
• mounting a new printing plate, for the subsequent printing job, on the printing plate cylinder;
• and
• subsequent to said step of mounting the new printing plate:
• reinitiating the feeding of sheets to the at least one printing unit for printing the sheets;
• reinitiating the supply of damping solution to the printing plate cylinder;
• and
• reinitiating the transfer of ink between the at least one ink fountain roller and the inking mechanism.

A method for changing an ink zone profile in at least one printing unit of an offset rotary printing press and for substantially reducing a previous ink zone profile corresponding to a previous printing job on a plurality of inking rollers prior to starting a subsequent printing job;

• said method further being for changing from the previous ink zone profile corresponding to the previous printing job to a subsequent ink zone profile corresponding to the subsequent printing job;
• the printing press comprising:
• an ink reservoir for holding a supply of ink and an inking mechanism for transferring the ink between the ink reservoir and the printing plate during operation of the at least one printing unit;
• a plurality of cylindrical bodies comprising:
• a printing plate cylinder for positioning a printing plate;
• a blanket cylinder disposed adjacent the printing plate cylinder and for being engaged therewith;
• a plurality of inking rollers for supplying ink to the printing plate cylinder, each of the plurality of inking rollers having an inkable width thereof for the deposition of ink thereupon;
• and
• at least one ink transfer roller for supplying ink to the plurality of inking rollers, the at least one ink transfer roller being engaged with the plurality of inking rollers;
• a first printing plate, corresponding to the previous printing job, for being mounted on the printing plate cylinder;
• a second printing plate, corresponding to the subsequent printing job, for being mounted on the printing plate cylinder;
• each of the first and second printing plates for having a printing surface area extending in a substantially circumferential direction with respect to the printing plate cylinder;
• the inking mechanism comprising:
• the plurality of inking rollers,
• a plurality of individually adjustable ink zone metering devices,
• at least one ink fountain roller positioned adjacent the plurality of individually adjustable ink zone metering devices,
• means for transferring ink away from the ink fountain roller to the plurality of cylindrical bodies, and
• the at least one ink transfer roller, wherein the at least one ink transfer roller is for transferring the ink between:
• the means for transferring ink away from the ink fountain roller and
• the plurality of inking rollers;
• and
• a damping mechanism for providing a supply of damping solution at least to the printing plate cylinder;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• removing the first printing plate from the printing plate cylinder;
• mounting the second printing plate on the printing plate cylinder;
• prior to said step of removing the first printing plate:
• feeding sheets to the at least one printing unit for printing the sheets;
• initiating the supply of damping solution to the printing plate cylinder;
• mounting the first printing plate on the printing plate cylinder;
• engaging at least some of the plurality of cylindrical bodies with each other, thereby forming an engaged set of cylindrical bodies, the engaged set of cylindrical bodies comprising at least:
• the plurality of inking rollers and the printing plate cylinder;
• interrupting the feeding of sheets to the at least one printing unit;
• subsequent to said step of mounting the second printing plate:
• reinitiating the feeding of sheets to the at least one printing unit for printing the sheets;
• reinitiating the supply of damping solution to the printing plate cylinder;
• and
• reinitiating the transfer of ink between the at least one ink fountain roller and the inking mechanism;
• performing at least one of the following steps (a) and (b):
• (a) prior to said step of removing the first printing plate:
• subsequent to said step of interrupting the feeding of sheets to the at least one printing unit, substantially eliminating the previous ink zone profile in the printing unit by:
• preventing the supply of damping solution to the printing plate cylinder;
• preventing the transfer of ink between the at least one ink fountain roller and the inking mechanism to result in a remnant quantity of ink remaining among the engaged set of cylindrical bodies;
• maintaining the engagement of the engaged set of cylindrical bodies;
• transferring the remnant quantity of ink solely among the engaged set of cylindrical bodies;
• and
• continuing the transfer of the remnant quantity of ink among the engaged set of cylindrical bodies until both of:
• a layer of ink having a constant thickness is established on at least one of the inking rollers throughout the entire inkable width thereof;
• and
• a layer of ink having a constant thickness is established on the entire printing surface area of the first printing plate;
• and
• (b) subsequent to said step of mounting the second printing plate:
• substantially elminiating the previous ink zone profile in the printing unit by:
• preventing the supply of damping solution to the printing plate cylinder;
• preventing the transfer of ink between the at least one ink fountain roller and the inking mechanism to result in a remnant quantity of ink remaining among the engaged set of cylindrical bodies;
• maintaining the engagement of the engaged set of cylindrical bodies;
• transferring the remnant quantity of ink solely among the engaged set of cylindrical bodies;
• and
• continuing the transfer of the remnant quantity of ink among the engaged set of cylindrical bodies until both of:
• a layer of ink having a constant thickness is established on at least one of the inking rollers throughout the entire inkable width thereof;
• and
• a layer of ink having a constant thickness is established on the entire printing surface area of the first printing plate.