Abstract: An ink supply method in an ink supply apparatus including an ink fountain, a plurality of ink fountain keys, an ink fountain roller, an ink ductor roller, and an ink roller group. An ink film thickness distribution corresponding to an image on a printing plate is formed in the ink roller group. The ink roller group is divided into a plurality of roller subgroups. After or before division, a throw-on operation is performed for at least one of the plurality of roller subgroups, and a plate cylinder on which the printing plate to be used for printing of the next job is mounted. Ink in at least one of the plurality of roller subgroups is supplied to the printing plate mounted on the plate cylinder by rotating the plate cylinder and at least one of the plurality of roller subgroups. An ink supply apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An ink film thickness distribution forming method in an ink supply apparatus including an ink fountain. A plurality of ink fountain keys are arranged in the ink fountain. Ink is supplied to an ink fountain roller in accordance with the opening ratios of the plurality of ink fountain keys. Ink is transferred to an ink ductor roller from the ink fountain roller. Ink from the ink doctor roller is transferred to an ink roller group including at least one ink form roller. A throw-off operation of the ink form roller positioned at an end of the ink roller group is performed after the end of a print job. The ink roller group is divided into a plurality of roller subgroups after the end of the print job. The ink in at least one of roller subgroups is removed. An ink film thickness distribution forming apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An ink film thickness distribution correction method in an ink supply apparatus including an ink fountain storing an ink, a plurality of ink fountain keys, an ink fountain roller to which the ink is supplied from the ink fountain, an ink ductor roller to which the ink is transferred from the ink fountain roller, and an ink roller group including at least one ink form roller to which the ink transferred to the ink ductor roller is supplied. A throw-off operation of the ink form roller positioned at the end of the ink roller group is performed during test printing or final printing. An ink film thickness distribution correction apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cap sheet metal (and pivot sheet metal) is configured to be able to move linearly with a cap arm (and an arm stay) via engagement between an engagement hole and a fitting shaft. Furthermore, the cap sheet metal (and the pivot sheet metal) can move pivotally with respect to the cap arm (and the arm stay) using the fitting shaft, which engages with the engagement hole, as a pivotal shaft. Thus, even if, for example, the direction of biasing toward the applying roller deviates or a positional relationship with the applying roller deviates slightly, the liquid holding member moves and pivots in the bias direction depending on the deviation. As a result, the contacting pressure of a contacting portion on the applying roller can be made uniform.

Abstract: A cylinder, which is part of an inking system or of a dampening system, has a rotary individual drive which is embodied as a drive motor. A changeable drive is also provided. The rotary drive is driven by the drive motors by a bevel or angular gear.

Abstract: An inking or dampening unit includes an applicator roll mounted on levers so that the application roll can be pivoted about a distributor cylinder onto a form cylinder with a controlled throwing-on force.

Abstract: An ink proofer arrangement includes an ink proofer tool, a cylindrical drum roller, a drive motor adapted to rotate the roller and a first movable mounting assembly to retain the ink proofer tool adjacent to and in a non-contact position with the roller, a first variable pressure assembly coupled to the mounting assembly and adapted to move the ink proofer tool between a contact with pressure position and a non-contact position with the roller. The ink proofer arrangement also includes a UV light source positioned downstream of the ink proofer tool to more quickly and uniformly dry the inks on the proof substrate. The UV light source may be pivotable to permit access to the proof substrate. The UV light source may be selectively positionable at different distances from the ink proofer tool so as to provide for adjustability of a dwell time for the proof.

Abstract: An ink proofer arrangement to generate consistent and reliable ink draw-downs irrespective of the size of the substrate or the user preparing the ink sample. One example embodiment includes an ink proofer arrangement and an ink proofer tool. The ink proofer arrangement includes a cylindrical roller and a drive motor adapted to rotate the roller. In addition, a first movable mounting assembly is included that retains the ink proofer tool adjacent to and in a non-contact position with the roller. The proofer arrangement further includes a first variable pressure assembly coupled to the mounting assembly and adapted to move the ink proofer tool between the non-contact position and a contact with pressure position with the roller, wherein a transfer roller of the ink proofer tool is adapted to transfer ink to a substrate that is inserted between the roller and the transfer roll when the drive motor is engaged.

Abstract: An ink proofer arrangement to generate consistent and reliable ink drawdowns irrespective of the size of the substrate or the user preparing the ink sample. The ink proofer arrangement includes an ink proofer tool, a cylindrical drum roller, a drive motor adapted to rotate the roller and a first movable mounting assembly to retain the ink proofer tool adjacent to and in a non-contact position with the roller, a first variable pressure assembly coupled to the mounting assembly and adapted to move the ink proofer tool between a contact with pressure position and a non-contact position with the roller. The transfer roller is adapted to transfer ink to a substrate that is inserted between the roller and the transfer roll of the ink proofer tool when the drive motor is engaged. Additionally, the ink proofer arrangement includes a substrate roll tensioner to control the rotation of the substrate roll.

Abstract: An ink supply unit for a flexographic press that is convenient for exchange of an anilox roll and an order of colors to be printed is disclosed. A time for test printing can be shortened, thereby enhancing a working efficiency. A pivot frame can move between a printing position where an anilox roll is mounted on a stationary frame to engage a printing cylinder and an exchanging position where the anilox roll is spaced away from the stationary frame to disengage the printing cylinder. An ink level of a maximum amount of ink contained in an ink chamber is located near a contact position between an upper doctor blade and the anilox roll, when the pivot frame is located at the printing position. The ink level is located below a lower doctor blade, when the pivot frame is located at the exchanging position.

Abstract: In a printing press, ink fountain keys are disposed to be movable toward and away from an ink fountain roller of an ink fountain to allow them to have a predetermined gap therebetween and hence the amount of ink to be fed to a downstream roller to be determined. The ink fountain roller is rotated while ink is prevented from being fed to the downstream roller. At least one of the ink fountain keys is moved so as to allow the at least one of the fountain keys to change a position thereof relative to the ink fountain roller of the ink fountain with time. With this arrangement, it is possible to improve an ink kneading effect produced by the rotation of the ink fountain roller without the necessity to manually knead ink in the ink fountain by the operator and the necessity to provide any ink kneading device or unit independently of the printing press.

Abstract: A method of controlling an ink transfer roller is provided. This method achieves stabilized printing quality by evenly distributing ink transfer actions of the ink transfer roller for the number of rotation of a plate cylinder. The ink transfer action of an ink transfer roller is controlled based on the fact whether a value obtained by setting the value of C after calculation as a hysteresis value and adding the number ratio thereto exceeds a predetermined basic value or not, thereby allowing the ink transfer roller to perform ink transfer actions evenly at the number ratio set by an operator. With this method, unevenness in printing quality can be prevented.

Abstract: A stamper with a metal plate positioned between a platen and a stamp die is disclosed. The metal plate results in an improved imprint by providing better support to the stamp die. The stamper further comprises a removable ink pad and a rotatably reversible platen with cam mechanism. The metal platen plate with it's adjoining stamp die face downwards when the stamper is in an imprint position and the metal platen plate with it's adjoining stamp die face upwards when the stamper is in a re-inking position.

Abstract: An inking unit for a rotary printing machine includes an ink fountain, a pivotable ink fountain holder in which the ink fountain is mounted, an ink ductor, and a pivotable ink ductor holder in which the ink ductor is mounted. The ink ductor holder and the ink fountain holder are connected by an operating cylinder so that ductor and the ink fountain can be pivoted jointly to a first position in which ink flows out of the ductor without flowing out of the fountain, and so that the ductor can be pivoted away from the first position to a second position while the ink fountain remains in the first position, thereby creating a gap between the ductor and the ink fountain.

Abstract: The present ink proofer arrangement generates consistent and reliable ink draw downs irrespective of the size of the substrate or the user preparing the ink sample. In one example embodiment, an ink proofer arrangement adapted to be used with an ink proofer tool, the ink proofer tool including an ink transfer roller. The ink proofer arrangement further includes a cylindrical roller and a drive motor adapted to rotate the roller. In addition, a first movable mounting assembly is included that retains the ink proofer tool adjacent to and in a non-contact position with the roller.

Abstract: A driving device for printing machines, having a rod for oscillatingly moving a distributor roller in axial direction, includes a joint via which the rod is connected to the distributor roller, the joint permitting relative movement between the rod and the distributor roller so as to compensate for a displacement of the distributor roller perpendicularly to the axial direction of the distributor roller; and a printing machine having the driving device.

Abstract: A printing press has a ductor inking unit that includes a ductor roller and a motor for moving the ductor roller via a rotatable cam disc, the motor being constructed so as to subject the cam disc to periodic angular acceleration at constant printing speed of the printing press, and so as to rotate the cam disc alternatingly in opposite rotational directions; and a method of operating the printing press.

Abstract: An ink duct is used with an ink-metering roller of a printing press. The ink duct includes doctor blades and is shiftable for pivoted movement between a working position and an emptying position with at least one of the doctor blades remaining in contact with the ink-metering roller. When the ink duct is in the emptying position, any printing ink in the ink duct is collected in a very low ink collection channel.