Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ink rail assembly having a key sharing provision. The ink rail assembly includes a page pack having an ink inlet for receiving ink from an ink source and an ink outlet; and an ink rail fluidly coupled to the page pack ink outlet. The ink rail includes at least two ink keys for delivering ink to a drum of a printing press, and a diverter assembly in fluid communication with the at least two ink keys and to the page pack to control the flow of ink from the page pack and selective divert the flow of ink between the at least two ink keys.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ink rail assembly having a key sharing provision. The ink rail assembly includes a page pack having an ink inlet for receiving ink from an ink source and an ink outlet; and an ink rail fluidly coupled to the page pack ink outlet. The ink rail includes at least two ink keys for delivering ink to a drum of a printing press, and a diverter assembly in fluid communication with the at least two ink keys and to the page pack to control the flow of ink from the page pack and selective divert the flow of ink between the at least two ink keys.

Abstract: A control system for regulating the composition of an emulsion ink made from an oil-based ink and a water-based fountain solution using a mixing and dispersing apparatus includes a liquid level sensor, means responsive to the liquid level sensor for maintaining a proper liquid level in the mixing and dispersing apparatus, and means for producing an emulsion ink with a water content value which is within a predetermined range from a desired water content value. The producing means includes a feedforward controller and a feedback controller for regulating water-based fountain solution input rate to the mixing and dispersing apparatus.

Abstract: A control system for regulating the composition of an emulsion ink made from an oil-based ink and a water-based fountain solution using a mixing and dispersing apparatus includes a liquid level sensor, means responsive to the liquid level sensor for maintaining a proper liquid level in the mixing and dispersing apparatus, and means for producing an emulsion ink with a water content value which is within a predetermined range from a desired water content value. The producing means includes a feedforward controller and a feedback controller for regulating water-based fountain solution input rate to the mixing and dispersing apparatus.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting the level of circulating fluid in a tank comprises a paddle blade disposed at a particular height and oriented generally radially from a rotating shaft in the tank. A sensing device, such as a strain gauge, is attached to the paddle blade to detect when the paddle blade is in at least one of a normal and a displaced position, thereby indicating that fluid is absent or present at a particular level. Additional sensors may be used in the same tank to provide fluid level feedback at more than one height.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supplying emulsion ink to a printing plate on a printing press is disclosed. The apparatus includes an ink feed and recirculation system and associated control system to quickly and reliably form a high quality emulsion ink. The control system utilizes both feedback and feedforward control strategies. The recirculation of the emulsion ink ensures that the emulsion ink remains stable and makes it possible to reformulate the emulsion ink, if necessary, without waiting for the exhaustion of all of the emulsion ink that is in need of reformulation.

Abstract: A fluid level detection system (50) for ink in a printing press (10) having a vessel (58) having walls (60) defining a chamber (62), an elongated rotatable shaft (64) in the chamber (62), a motor (66) for rotating the shaft (64), an elongated flexible blade (68) affixed to the shaft 64 such that the motor (66) rotates the blade (68), and a proximity sensor (72) adjacent the walls (60) of the vessel (58) to detect the rotating blade (68) in the absence of ink at the level of the blade (68), with the blade (68) flexing in the presence of ink such that the sensor (72) does not detect the blade (68).