Quick-color change ink pumping system
AssigneeGbs Marketing, Inc.
InventorGary B. Samuels
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable ink pumping system for supplying ink to an ink fountain includes a cart, a container, a progressive cavity pump, and an ink fountain mounting bar. The ink fountain mounting bar is designed to be releasably connected to the ink fountain of a printing station. The ink fountain mounting bar includes a proximity sensor, a control box, and at least two ink dispensing nozzles. The proximity sensor monitors the level of the ink in the ink fountain while the control box controls the level of the ink. The material of the nozzles and associated fittings and tubing allows for quick and thorough cleaning of any remaining ink when an ink change is required. Moreover, when a radical ink color change is required, the nozzles, fittings, and tubing can be removed and replaced with new components.
Claims10
A portable ink pumping system for supplying ink to a standard ink fountain of a printing station, the ink having a level, said portable ink pumping system comprising:
- a container having an opening for holding the ink;
- a progressive cavity pump having an outlet and a motor for driving an impeller and stator located within a shaft, said shaft being inserted into said opening of said container for pumping the ink from said container to said outlet;
- and
- an ink fountain mounting bar including:
- a rigid bar configured to be releasably attached to the standard ink fountain of the printing station;
- at least two ink dispensing nozzles mounted to said rigid bar and being connected in fluid communication with said outlet for dispensing the ink into the standard ink fountain;
- a proximity sensor for monitoring the level of the ink in the standard ink fountain;
- and
- a control box mounted to said rigid bar and being electrically connected to said motor and said proximity sensor for controlling the level of ink in the standard ink fountain.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.