Abstract: A relatively thick-bodied doctor blade made of a low friction plastic material includes a seal relief bevel of between approximately 5 and 10 degrees. The blade then tapers to a tip support shape and tip of between approximately 0.001 and 0.005 inch. When used in conjunction with a chamber type inking system, the doctor blade cooperates with the chamber end seals to form a more positive and controlled seal therebetween.

Abstract: The chambered doctor blade unit is intended to ink an anilox roller (10) with ink having a viscosity of at least 1 d Pa s and preferably greater than 40 d Pa s. Each of the side walls (3) when the inker is in operative position with respect to the anilox roller (10) form circumferential gaps (13) with respect to the anilox roller, having a width (A) of between about 0.1 to 3 mm, thereby preventing wear and tear on the side walls and sealing of the receptors or cells of the anilox roller with a braided material. The doctor blades (4, 5) are resiliently pressed against upper (20) and lower edges of the side walls, to prevent formation of undulation, the side walls being formed with recessed surfaces (11) facing the anilox roller, with abraded surfaces terminate in inclined relief surfaces (19) forming an inclined gap, to permit escape of ink adjacent the lateral surfaces.

Abstract: A chambered doctor blade unit (1) has at least one doctor blade (7, 8; 32) projecting from leading edges of a generally U-shaped or channel-shaped rail element, closed off at the lateral ends by side walls (4) to form the unit so that it can be inexpensively made by extrusion, rolling or other simple profiled rail forming machinery. A rear wall of the unit is formed with an elongated slit (12), preferably narrower in the middle. The unit (1) can be releasably coupled to a carrier (2) by interlocking rotatable pins (22) formed with projecting locking cams (23) with grooves or recesses (25) formed in bolts projecting from a rear surface (10) of the chambered doctor blade unit (1). The chambered doctor blade unit (1) thus can be readily removed by rotating the pins by handles (26), not requiring tools, and maximum ink distribution is ensured by the elongated slit which receives ink via a flattened funnel-shaped distribution duct (16) coupled to the holder unit (2).

Abstract: To permit easy removal and/or engagement and disengagement of a chambered doctor blade unit (1) from an anilox roller (2), the chambered doctor blade unit is attached to a holder (4) which has axially extending projecting pins or bolts (6, 7). The pins or bolts (6, 7) engage in hook-like extensions (12, 13) depending from a cross member (9) extending between the side walls (8) of the printing machine. An eccentric clamping cam disk (10) is rotatable about the cross member (9) and bears, in dependence on the rotary position thereof, against an upper surface of the holder for the chambered doctor blade unit (1) to thereby ensure interengagement of the projecting pins or bolts (6, 7) in the hook-like extensions (12, 13) and on support as well as locating surfaces (14, 16; 17, 18) thereof, while permitting quick release of this interengagement permitting movement and easy removal of the chambered doctor blade unit (1).

Abstract: A wiper for use in a high speed cable printer having a rotatably mounted high speed printing wheel includes a wiper blade holder and at least one wiper blade detachably mounted in the holder for wiping at least one of the side surfaces of the printing wheel.

Abstract: A printing press unit for a printing press system which has a main frame with an impression roller mounted for rotation on a first axis characterized by a sub-frame being mounted for pivotal movement around a second axis and supporting a printing cylinder which will be moved into contact with the web passing between the impression roll and the cylinder. The sub-frame can be laterally adjusted along the second axis and the second axis can be skewed as necessary for purposes of registration of the web during a printing process. For a rotogravure printing, the ink applicator and doctor blade holder are both releasably mounted on positoning assemblies which are provided on the sub-frame.

Abstract: In a wiping apparatus for an intaglio printing press, a piston rod actuating end of a fluid pressure cylinder is pivotally coupled to each eccentric bearing for supporting the wiping roller, and the fluid pressure cylinder is supported by an adjusting mechanism for slightly moving in an extendable direction of the piston rod. A doctor blade holding member and a press-side support member are coupled by a plurality of fixing screws. The support member is reciprocally supported relative to the press side in an attachment/detachment direction of the doctor blade. The eccentric bearings and both ends of the support member are coupled by cam mechanisms for interlocking pivotal movement of the eccentric bearings with reciprocal movement of the support member. A doctor blade contact pressure fine-adjusting mechanism reciprocates the holding member with respect to the support member. Belleville springs are inserted between heads of fixing screws and the doctor blade holding member.

Abstract: A reverse doctor blade assembly dispenses and applies a liquid, such as ink or an adhesive, to the surface of a rotating transfer roll. The assembly has a reservoir chamber with a liquid inlet line and a liquid outlet line which are positioned to provide an optimum level of wetting liquid within the reservoir and a constant flow of liquid within the reservoir.The cylindrical surface of the transfer roll is evenly terminated at each end with part of an ellipsoid face, and the doctor blade assembly includes doctor blades consisting of two parallel parts which contact the cylindrical surface and which are connected at each end with semi-elliptical doctor blade parts, each of which contacts one of the corresponding ellipsoid faces of the transfer roll.

Abstract: To permit accurate control of ink being transferred by an ink transfer roller from an ink source (6; 15, 16, 17) to an ink accepting roller (1, 10), the transfer roller (2, 11) has a surface layer (3, 12) which is made of compressible material, the surface layer being formed with shallow cup-like depression in a grid or similar raster pattern. Upon compression and deformation of the depth of the shallow cup-like depressions, the cup-like depressions will change their volume and thus change the quantity of ink being transferred. This also permits direct inking of a forme cylinder (1) by a chamber ink supply arrangement (6) since the hard surface of the forme cylinder will be engaged by the resilient or compressible surface layer (3, 12) of the transfer roller.

Abstract: A printing system incorporating a re-usable ink image transfer surface. A material which forms a thin hydrophobic layer is arranged by various techniques over a substantially hydrophilic transfer surface in a configuration which defines the desired latent image in terms of exposed, contiguous hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas. In some cases, a hydrophilic layer may be in direct contact with the hydrophobic layer. Depending upon the configuration of the layers, either an aqueous or oleo ink may be used to develop and print an image. If desired, the layer configuration may be replaced by a different configuration without substantial interruption to the printing process. No photo-induced chemical reaction or latent image developing steps are required at any time. The ink image transfer surface may be a planographic gravure cylinder or a gravure roll.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying printing ink onto a form roller of a printing machine which includes an enclosed ink fountain mounted adjacent the form roller. The ink fountain has a housing with a chamber formed thereon. A friction roller is rotatably and eccentrically movably mounted within the chamber of the ink fountain housing, wherein the eccentricity distance of the friction roller in relationship to the ink fountain housing and the rotation of direction and speed of the friction roller are independently adjustable. The eccentricity distance of the friction roller relative to the ink fountain housing is adjustable from a concentric position of the friction roller in the chamber of the ink fountain housing to a contact position of the friction roller with the ink fountain housing. The apparatus further includes a pair of doctor blades positioned longitudinally along the form roller for defining an ink space between the ink fountain housing and the form roller.

Abstract: A device for the reciprocating linear drive of a part, especially of a scraper at a calender cylinder, comprises a driver connected to the scraper and having two mutually parallel oppositely disposed abutments and an eccentric disposed between the abutments. The eccentric has an outside diameter which is smaller than the distance between the abutments. The eccentric is designed as a double eccentric with a driven inner eccentric fixed to a rotary drive shaft and with a freely movable outer eccentric floatingly mounted to the inner eccentric via an antifriction bearing.

Abstract: A reverse doctor blade assembly dispenses and applies a liquid such as ink or an adhesive to the surface of a rotating transfer roll. The assembly has a reservoir chamber which is sealed at its ends by resilient end seals which are pressed against corresponding seal support rings held in stationary, sliding relation at the ends of the rotating transfer roll. The reverse doctor blade assembly further includes opposing detachable brackets which support two spaced doctor blades in fixed relation to the reservoir chamber. The brackets may be easily disengaged to replace the doctor blades. The reservoir chamber of the assembly has a longitudinal internal groove which is employed to direct liquid within the reservoir to evenly wet the surface of the rapidly rotating transfer roll. The assembly further includes a liquid inlet line and vertically adjustable liquid outlet lines which are positioned to provide an optimum level of wetting liquid within the reservoir and a constant flow of liquid within the reservoir.

Abstract: An inker for a printing press in which an excess of ink is applied to the surface (45) of a resilient roller and the ink is metered by a metering member (10') to form a film of controlled thickness on the resilient roller surface. The metering member is a long strip including a polished metering surface and a polished support surface (26) which intersect to form a polished metering edge (25), the polished support surface (26) intersecting with a polished trailing surface (28a) to form a polished trailing edge (28b). The metering edge (25) and trailing edge (28b) are closely spaced such that the entire support surface is indented into the resilient roller surface for metering a film (130) of ink and for assuring that the ink will separate cleanly from the metering member at the trailing edge (28b).

Abstract: An arrangement for longitudinally oscillating a doctor blade relative to the form cylinder in a printing press. The arrangement includes a double armed rocker having one arm coupled to the doctor blade and the other arm coupled to a hydraulic cylinder. The rocker is mounted on a central eccentric portion of a pivot shaft through a one way idler bearing and the pivot shaft is rotatably supported in a counteracting one way idler bearing. By oscillating the rocker, through sequential operation of the double acting cylinder, the pivot axis of the rocker is continuously displaced, causing the points of reversal of doctor blade movement to be continuously varied independently of the press operation, while maintaining a uniform stroke. In the illustrated embodiment, a pneumatic control is provided for controlling operation of the hydraulic cylinder, and thus the rocker arm and doctor blade movement.

Abstract: A fountain for applying a foam ink to an engraved cylinder of a rotogravure printing press includes an open ink pan into which the ink is introduced and a rotary brush for applying ink from the ink pan to the cylinder. A pre-doctor blade permits a predetermined amount of ink to pass thereby and is followed by a doctor blade for scraping excess ink from the cylinder.

Abstract: A printing process employing a water-based foamable ink composition comprising the following steps:(a) foaming the ink composition,(b) applying a coating of the foamed ink composition to the surface of a gravure cylinder which has an array of open cells spaced on the surface thereof,(c) doctoring the surface of the cylinder to convert said coating into discrete thin membranes spanning said cells, and(d) transferring the membranes to a web surface, either directly, or indirectly via one or more intermediate transfer rolls.

Abstract: A device for the printing of flexible flat parts such as cuts or single parts of fabrics, wefts, fleeces, leather, furs or the like with pasty substances in the photogravure printing process. The device has a printing roller to be painted with paste, and a counter-print roller with print gap therebetween. In the area of said gap a group of adjacent yarns runs around a part of the periphery of the printing roller, and is then drawn off above a discharge device for the flat parts from the printing roller. This yarn group is moved at a velocity differing from that of the periphery of the printing roller. It can be moved either in the same or opposite direction as the peripheral motion of the rollers in the area of the printing gap. This makes possible an exact deposit of the printed flat parts on the discharge device and also reduces the paste consumption, with the minimum of constructional costs.

Abstract: In a doctor device comprising a doctor blade which is applicable to a plate cylinder of a printing press and is located in a doctor holder, the holder is pivotally connected to a beam parallel thereto by at least one leaf spring. A plurality of piston-cylinder units disposed on the beam in a row have their piston rods applied directly or indirectly by way of pressure bolts to the holder or a part connected thereto. The piston-cylinder units are fed by a pressure medium at an adjustable basic pressure. Each piston-cylinder unit is associated with a separately adjustable fine regulating valve by way of which an additional pressure can be superimposed on the basic pressure by introducing additional pressure medium.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention includes a self aligning applicator/doctor blade assembly having at least two working surfaces adapted to engage an ink carrying conical roll wherein the working surfaces lie along the roll surface. A geometric apex for the cone and the working surfaces are coincident. An inking device circulates ink along a path including a zone adjacent to at least one working surface and the roll.

Abstract: A knife scraper for rotating drums, particularly for the drums of a cylinder mill, which exhibits a knife beam (5) in which the knife (3) is mounted as well as a counterweight (12) for pressing the knife (3) on the associated drum (1, 1'). In order to make it especially simple and quick to adjust the knife (5) while simultaneously keeping the installation costs and manufacturing costs low and to make the knife (3) essentially self-adjusting in normal operation according to the invention, several mechanical tension elements (11-15) are provided along the length of the knife (3) by means of which by slightly elastically bending the knife surface (F) extending beyond the knife beam (5) the cutting edge (4) of the knife (3) can be pressed against the drum (1, 1').

Abstract: A drive for the doctor blade of a gravure type printing press oscillates the doctor blade in a non-repeating motion. A doctor slide is coupled to the doctor blade, and oscillated on the frame by a first piston-cylinder unit. A pneumatic valve slide is driven back and forth on the frame by a second piston cylinder unit, between a first pair of end stops mounted on the doctor slide and between a second pair of end stops mounted on the frame. Upon engagement of the end stops on the doctor slide, the valve slide provides a pressure signal to reverse the direction of motion of the doctor slide. Upon engagement of the end stops on the frame, the valve slide provides a pressure signal to reverse its own direction of motion on the frame.

Abstract: To permit independent adjustability of the working zones of a doctor blade, without interference of adjustment of one zone (10/1) with respect to adjacent zones (10/2, 10/3), the doctor blade (3) is subdivided by grooves (9) located at the upper surface thereof and positioned in pairs, which extend from the working edge (8) towards the clamping zone (4) of the doctor blade and converging towards each other in V-shaped formation to include an acute angle therebetween and define a transition zone (15) therebetween, the region (14) of the doctor blade beneath the grooves forming fulcrum points permitting hinge-like deflection of adjacent portions or zones of the doctor blade with respect to each other, without mutual interference of adjustment. The deformability of the doctor blade results in exactly defined transfer of ink in each inking zone (11/1, 11/2, 11/3) from the duct roller (2) to the inking transfer rollers of the printing system, without mutual influencing of adjacent inking zones.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a doctor blade device adapted for use in an automatic processor for printing plates, comprising at least one doctor blade made of a flexible material and being detachably mounted in a guide bar, and holding means for attaching the doctor blade to two side plates of the printing plate processor, the improvement comprising means connecting the guide bar with a carrier bar each end of which is adapted to be inserted from above into a channel section having an upwardly pointing opening and having two arms spaced by a web; means securing each channel section by its web to a side plate in such a manner that its two arms extend transversely to the transport direction of a printing plate in the direction of the interior of the printing plate processor; and support means at both ends of the upper surface of the carrier bar whereby the carrier bar together with the connected guide bar and the doctor blade rest upon said channel sections.

Abstract: Conductor coding apparatus operable at high speed to code a conductor with distinct identifying markings in one or more colors. The apparatus features simplicity, ease of adjustment and servicing, provision for separately collecting all excess coding fluid and for returning excess fluid to the respective supplies thereof, and simple provision for holding the fluid collecting shrouds detachably about each coding disc.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning the surface of a rotating roller (1). First and second cleaning blades (8, 9) each have an edge extending axially across the surface of the roller and adjacent thereto, the edges being parallel and directed against the direction of rotation of the roller. The edge of the second blade (9) is disposed behind the edge of the first blade (8) relative to the direction of rotation. Means are provided for causing relative movement of the blades to reverse the disposition of the edges and cause the edge of the blade (9) to scrape that surface of the blade (8) which faces towards the roller. During such movement the blade (9) is moved so that its edge contacts the roller to keep a constant cleaning action. The edge of blade (8) scrapes the surface of blade (9) as the blades return to their original disposition.

Abstract: This printing press includes improved mechanism for removing excess ink from the printing plate. The press includes a main frame which supports a plate cylinder, a pressure cylinder vertically above the plate cylinder and a scraper blade which engages one side of the plate cylinder and removes most of the excess ink therefrom. A first auxiliary carriage at said one side of the main frame supports an ink supply mechanism and receptacles for receiving surplus ink removed by the scraper blade. A second auxiliary carriage, at the opposite side of the main frame, supports two wiping webs, their supply and take-up reels, and the driving and control mechanism for the webs and their reels. The wiping webs remove any residue of excess ink on the plate. Each auxiliary carriage is lockable in an operating position abutting the main frame, and is movable to a retracted position spaced from the main frame without disturbing the setting of any adjustable element.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for printing labels in spaced relation on a continuous moving web which apparatus includes a printing roller, a wick supplying ink to the roller and a spring plate member underlying the wick pressing the same against the roller, the improvement herein consisting of the plate member having a multiplicity of spring like fingers at its free end, the individual fingers engage and apply pressure against the underside of the wick for a uniform inking engagement of the wick with the non-uniform printing surface of the printing roller to print uniformly inked labels on the web.

Abstract: A process for the patterned deposition of powdered thermoplastic adhesive materials on the outer surface of a textile or other porous-flexible surface form, wherein there is first insertion raked in a pattern of depressions formed in an engraved component an adhesive powder material and then on this powder a further adhesive powder material is insertion raked in the depressions, so that both the powder layers superposed one on the other are taken up by the surface form which is positioned on the engraved component.

Abstract: A device for imprinting an elongated filament-like member drawn at high speed has a vertically disposed grooved-rim printing wheel that rotates about a horizontal axis. An ink jet and a wiper are arranged below the horizontal diameter of the printing wheel so that the upper edge of the end of the wiper engages the groove between the edges of the printing wheel rim, with the axis of the wiper tilted at an angle of between 3.degree. and 10.degree. with respect to the horizontal. The end face of the wiper is bevelled from the upper edge, the bevelled surface making an included angle of 65.degree. to 85.degree. with the axis of the wiper.

Abstract: A pressurized ink applicator for an intaglio printing press using viscous stiff-bodied ink is provided with an ink-shearing element or heating element within the applicator nozzle to apply energy to the ink thereby to improve its flow properties immediately before its application to the printing plate of the press. A tight seal between the nozzle and the printing plate is provided by spaced blades resiliently mounted in the nozzle. Ink is forced by air pressure from an ink container into the nozzle. A distributing manifold is provided in the flow path from a plurality of ink containers to the nozzle immediately before multiple parallel restrictions in the ink flow path. An optional sliding valve operating transversely in relation to the ink flow path controllably cuts off the flow of ink, as for example when gaps between printing plate edges pass by the nozzle. The sliding valve is controlled by a cam moving with the printing plate.

Abstract: A water fountain control wiper unit of resilient material having a tubular portion on one edge that is slit for fitting over the edge of the fountain tray. The wiper has sufficient width so that a relatively flat surface tangentially adjacent the water fountain roller is biased against the water fountain roller to remove water upon rotation of the water fountain roller. The wiper unit has a length substantially shorter than the length of the water fountain roller so that one or more of the wiper units can be positioned along the length of the fountain roller to provide selective water removal, and the connector on the wiper blade unit allows the wiper blade to be quickly and easily mounted on or removed from the connected position on the edge of the water fountain tray.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for applying fluid to an intaglio roll for subsequent transfer to a soft, absorbent fibrous web passing in contact with the intaglio roll. The fluid is flowed upwardly through a small unpressurized reservoir extending across the width of the intaglio roll, which forms a confining member of the reservoir, and overflows a second confining member of the reservoir spaced from the intaglio roll. The fluid is flowed into the reservoir with uniform flow velocity profile across the width of the reservoir, created preferably by flowing the fluid against an impingement member prior to entering the reservoir. The intaglio roll is rotated upwardly through the reservoir to establish a first layer of fluid adhering to the roll above the reservoir, and the intaglio roll is rotated past a unique pre-wipe member positioned adjacent the intaglio roll above the reservoir.

Abstract: An ink fountain for a printing press in which the fountain blade extends at an angle to the surface of the fountain roller, with adjusting pins engaging the free edge of the blade at spaced points to determine the thickness of the ink film. Each pin has a lever extending transversely of the pin at its outer end, the lever being fulcrumed with respect to the frame and having first and second relatively spaced points of engagement. The first point of engagement presses against the outer end of the pin and the second point of engagement bears against a manually rotatable key which is threaded into the frame, each pin having a return spring for urging the pin outwardly with respect to the frame so that when the key is rotated, the lever rocks about its fulcrum to advance the pin inwardly toward the blade with positive action against the restoring force of the spring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the relative position between a doctor blade and a printing cylinder in a rotogravure printing process in which the thickness of the layer of residual ink which is allowed to pass by the doctor blade is used as a control valve. The thickness of the residual ink is determined by determining the amount of the attenuation caused by the residual ink to a beam of light. In one embodiment a laser beam is impinged upon the residual ink on the printing cylinder and the portion of the laser beam which is reflected, absorbed, and scattered by the residual ink and the printing cylinder is detected. The thus detected light can be compared to a reference value for determining the attenuation due to the residual ink layer and hence determining the thickness of the ink layer. The thickness of the ink layer can in turn be used as a control value for adjusting the position of the doctor blade with respect to the printing cylinder.

Abstract: In a doctor-blade system consisting of a strip of flexible material supported by a blade-holder fitted with resilient means for applying the free marginal portion of the doctor-blade against the screen during printing, at least one internal longitudinal passageway is formed within the blade-holder body and communicates at intervals with the internal blade face and with the resilient means, any trace of ink which may have infiltrated into the system being discharged to the exterior by means of an external supply of fluid under pressure.

Abstract: A squeegee assembly for use on a screen printing machine which includes a squeegee holder and associated squeegee blade having a liquid filled tubular member for exerting a liquid or hydraulic pressure on the squeegee blade in a manner whereby the pressure exerted by the squeegee blade is equalized along the entire length thereof and to provide the squeegee blade with the flexibility necessary to conform to a printing surface. The assembly may also include a piston and cylinder assembly to vary the liquid pressure exerted on the squeegee blade and/or a contour bar through which the liquid pressure is transmitted to the squeegee blade.