Flexographic proofing tools and methods
AssigneeProbity Engineering, LLC
InventorRonald K. Westby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hand holdable ink proofing tool including an anilox roll and an ink transfer roll, supporting a resilient printing plate. A metering roll adjacent the anilox roll is shiftable to be in contact with the anilox roll and to force ink into cells of the anilox roll; and a leading edge doctor blade is positioned to shear excess ink from a surface of the anilox roll.
Claims20
A method of proofing ink to be applied to a photopolymer plate in a flexographic printing process with a hand-holdable ink proofing tool, the plate configured to have a desired dot gain range, the method comprising:
- mounting the photopolymer plate on a transfer roll, the transfer roll disposed in the hand-holdable ink proofing tool;
- disposing the hand-holdable ink proofing tool above a drive roll;
- adjusting a first micrometer thimble disposed on the hand-holdable ink proofing tool to set a nip distance between an anilox roll and the photopolymer plate mounted on the transfer roll;
- supplying the ink to be proofed to the anilox roll;
- transferring ink from the anilox roll to the photopolymer plate as the anolox roll and transfer roll rotate in opposite respective directions;
- rolling the transfer roll along a substrate disposed between the photopolymer plate and the drive roll to form a proof image on the substrate corresponding to the photopolymer plate on the transfer roll;
- measuring a dot gain value of the image on the substrate;
- and
- adjusting a second micrometer thimble disposed on the hand-holdable ink proofing tool to adjust a nip defined between the photopolymer plate and the substrate to alter an ink density property of a future proof image corresponding to the photopolymer plate on the transfer roll.
A method of proofing ink before application of the ink to a flexographic printing press, the method comprising:
- mounting a photopolymer plate on a transfer roll disposed in a handle assembly;
- setting a nip distance between an anilox roll disposed in the handle assembly and the photopolymer plate;
- supplying the ink to be proofed to the anilox roll;
- transferring ink from the anilox roll to the photopolymer plate mounted on the transfer roll;
- generating a proof image on a substrate corresponding to the photopolymer plate on the transfer roll;
- measuring a dot gain value of the proof image;
- and
- adjusting a minimum nip distance defined between the photopolymer plate and the substrate to alter an ink density property for a future proof image.
A method of proofing ink to be applied to a resilient plate prior to application of the ink to a flexographic printing press, the ink proofing method comprising:
- mounting the resilient plate on a transfer roll of a handle assembly;
- setting a nip distance between an anilox roll of the handle assembly and the resilient plate;
- supplying the ink to be proofed to the anilox roll;
- transferring ink from the anilox roll to the resilient plate;
- drawing the transfer roll along a substrate to form a first proof image corresponding to the resilient plate on the transfer roll;
- measuring a printing proof factor of the first proof image;
- comparing the printing proof factor to a predetermined value for the printing proof factor;
- adjusting a pressure setting with which the resilient plate contacts the substrate to alter the printing proof factor;
- drawing the transfer roll along a substrate to form a second proof image;
- and
- measuring the printing proof factor for the second proof image to confirm that the printing proof factor satisfies the predetermined value for the printing proof factor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.