Ink blade adjusting mechanism having shape memory material actuator
AssigneeVeslatec Oy
InventorsHans-Willi Wehmeier, Olli Saarniaho
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Abstract
The invention relates to an adjusting mechanism for zonal control of an ink blade (2) in respect of a ductor roller surface (5) in a printing press. The adjusting mechanism comprising a plurality of moving means (1) in contact with the ink blade and movable in a longitudinal direction (P1, P2) towards and away from said ductor roller. Each moving mean comprises at least one bar (6) of a shape memory material (SMM) and activating means (7) to provide e.g. a magnetic field strength (H±ΔH) bar(s). A controlled electrical voltage/current (U, I) is fed into the activating means, whereupon a variable length (L±ΔL) of said bar is determined for said adjustment.
Claims29
An adjusting mechanism for zonal control of an ink blade in respect of a ductor roller surface in a printing press having a frame, said adjusting mechanism comprising a plurality of moving means in contact with the ink blade and movable in a longitudinal direction towards and away from said ductor roller, wherein
- each of said moving means comprises:
- at least one bar of a shape memory material having a length at least partly in said longitudinal direction, a first end of the at least one bar being supported by said frame and a second end thereof adapted to said contact;
- activating means positioned to provide a magnetic field strength or a temperature or an electrical voltage and current into said at least one bar;
- and
- said adjusting mechanism comprises:
- a control unit supplying a controlled electrical voltage and/or current into the activating means, whereupon the length of said at least one bar is determined by the magnetic field strength or the temperature or the electrical voltage and/or current thereof.
An adjusting mechanism for zonal control of an ink blade in respect of a ductor roller surface in a printing press, said adjusting mechanism comprising a plurality of moving means in contact with the ink blade and movable in a longitudinal direction towards and away from said ductor roller, wherein
- each of said moving means comprises:
- at least one bar of a shape memory material having a length at least partly in said longitudinal direction,
- activating means positioned to provide a magnetic field strength or a temperature or an electrical voltage and current into said at least one bar;
- and
- said adjusting mechanism comprises:
- at least one force sensor to detect compression forces between said ink blade and said ductor roller,
- a control unit supplying a controlled electrical voltage and/or current responsive to said compression forces into the activating means.
A method for zonal control of an ink layer thickness on a ductor roller by adjusting position of an ink blade in respect of a ductor roller surface in a printing press, in which method a plurality of moving means in contact with the ink blade are moved independently of each other in a longitudinal direction towards and away from said ductor roller, said method comprising the step of:
- providing a higher or a lower electrical voltage and/or current and/or an inverse electrical voltage and/or current into activating means for at least one bar of a shape memory material arranged within each of the moving means, whereupon a magnetic field strength or a temperature or a voltage and/or current in said at least one bar is changed altering a dimension of said at least one bar thereby adjusting the position of the ink blade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.