# US 8,783,175 B2 · Method for operating an anilox printing unit and printing press with an anilox printing unit

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- Number: US 8,783,175 B2
- Document ID: US8783175B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/541,912
- Filed: 2012-07-05
- Published: 2013-01-10
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-06
- Assignees: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
- Applicants: Michael Diews
- Inventors: Michael Diews
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783175B2

## CPC

- B41F 31/04: with duct-blades or like metering devices
- B41F 31/022: {Ink level control devices}
- B41F 31/06: Troughs or like reservoirs with immersed or partly immersed, rollers or cylinders
- B41F: PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES (manifolding devices or office printing machines B41L)

## Abstract

A printing press includes an anilox printing unit having a screen roller and a feed blade as components, in which ink accumulates on an outer side of the feed blade during printing. A method for operating the anilox printing unit includes removing the accumulated ink from the feed blade by moving one of the two components relative to the other of the two components in a first direction in a first step, causing the accumulated ink to be flattened by the feed blade and to be spread onto the screen roller. The component that was moved in the first direction in the first step may be moved in an opposite, second direction in a second step, causing the accumulated ink to be scraped off the screen roller by the feed blade.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for operating an anilox printing unit, the method comprising the following steps:
providing a screen roller and a feed blade as two components, the feed blade having an outer side accumulating ink thereon during printing;
removing the accumulated ink from the feed blade by moving one of the two components relative to the other of the two components in a first direction in a first step, causing the accumulated ink to be smoothened and spread onto the screen roller by the feed blade; and
moving the component having been moved in the first direction in the first step in an opposite, second direction relative to the other of the two components in a second step, causing the accumulated ink to be scraped off the screen roller by the feed blade.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which further comprises carrying out the relative movement between the two components in the first step by rotating the screen roller in the first direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, which further comprises rotating the screen roller in the first direction through less than 360°.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, which further comprises rotating the screen roller in the first direction through less than 180°.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, which further comprises rotating the screen roller in the first direction through less than 90°.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, which further comprises rotating the screen roller in the first direction through less than 45°.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which further comprises bending an edge of the feed blade away from the screen roller due to the accumulated ink as the accumulated ink is spread onto the screen roller.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which further comprises carrying out the relative movement between the two components by rotating the screen roller in the second direction, and rotating the screen roller in the second direction during printing.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which further comprises, during the step of scraping the accumulated ink off the screen roller, resting an edge of the feed blade against the screen roller and causing the accumulated ink to run across an inner side of the feed blade into an ink fountain.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which further comprises moving the feed blade relative to the screen roller.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, which further comprises moving the feed blade together with an ink fountain relative to the screen roller.

### Claim 12

A printing press, comprising:
an anilox printing unit including a screen roller and a cooperating feed blade having an outer side; and
a control device configured for controlling said screen roller;
said control device being programmed to rotate said screen roller in an operating direction during printing; and
said control device being programmed to rotate said screen roller in a direction opposite to said operating direction in a first step and to rotate said screen roller in said operating direction again in a second step, upon a removal of accumulated ink from said outer side of said feed blade.