Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing element for an ink chamber of a rotary printing press, wherein the sealing element has a sealing surface that rests against a roller body during operation of the rotary printing press. In order to reduce wear on the sealing element, the sealing surface has at least one flow outlet opening, at which an overpressure of a fluid may be built up during operation of the rotary printing press, in such a way that the fluid between the sealing surface and roller body forms a sealing flow film.

Abstract: An inking system for use in transferring ink to a gravure printing surface in a gravure printing system includes a gravure cylinder r having a printing zone located between first and second recessed bearing contact zones. A radius of the recessed bearing contact zones is less than a radius of the printing zone by at least 0.100 inches. An ink tray includes a floor and first and second end walls. Bearings are mounted outside of the end walls which engage with the first and second bearing contact zones, respectively, thereby positioning the ink tray assembly in a specified position relative to the gravure cylinder. Upper edges of the end walls extend into the recessed bearing contact zones.

Abstract: A method of controlling the ink feed to a printed substrate in a lithographic printing press is provided which includes providing, for each of a plurality of ink zones, an ink coverage requirement for a printing unit of the lithographic printing press; color scanning a first ink zone of a plurality of ink zones on a printed substrate as it exits the printing unit of the lithographic printing press; calculating, for each one of the plurality of ink zones, a dynamic flow change based on the static flow change for said each one of the plurality of ink zones and the ink coverage requirement for said each one of the plurality of ink zones; and providing a flow setting for each one of the plurality of ink zones based on the dynamic flow change for said each one of the plurality of ink zones.

Abstract: A method for controlling a quantity of medium transferable from a screen roller of a printing machine onto a roller that is in contact with the screen roller includes exerting an influence upon a difference in circumferential speed between the screen roller and the roller in contact therewith, and further includes controlling the difference in the circumferential speed as a function of the printing speed of the printing machine, so that printed medium density remains at least approximately constant at least within a wide printing speed range.

Abstract: An ink duct for a rotary printing press wherein all or some of the surfaces of the ink duct are permanently coated with a substance which has a low surface energy of between 10 and 60 mN/m. As well as enabling the ink duct to be cleaned easily, the blending of the printing ink is improved owing to the reduced frictional resistance of the coated parts, which in turn leads to more uniform use of the ink-metering roller.

Abstract: A sample of printing ink for a printing press is obtained using actual press components. An anilox roll for the press is supplied with ink and is rotated while the anilox roll is either mounted on the press or mounted off-line from the press. A printable substrate is printed with the ink either by pressing the substrate directly against the anilox roll or by pressing a transfer roll against the anilox roll and pressing the substrate against the transfer roll. The ink on the substrate is inspected, and any necessary changes to the ink are made before the press run is started.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for an inking or wetting device of a printing press which quickly adjusts and readjusts a position of a first roller against a second and third roller includes a movable carrier plate on which a bearing assembly holding the first roller is mounted. The carrier plate rests against couplings of quadrilateral mechanisms which are positioned in relation to stops on bearings of the second and third rollers. As the position of the second and third rollers is adjusted for wear, the carrier plate follows the stops via the couplings so that the first roller automatically follows the second and third rollers during operation.

Abstract: An ink feeder comprises a plurality of ink tanks for storing inks and wetting water, disposed in a transverse direction of an ink fountain roller, a vane wheel disposed at the bottom of an ink tank, an ink pump for feeding ink, an ink feed blade for adjusting the quantity of ink supplied from the ink pump to the ink fountain roller to a constant value, and a coupling for transmitting the driving force of a single motor to the vane wheel and the ink pump provided to each ink tank. The ink tanks, the ink pump, the ink feed nozzle, the ink feed pipe and the ink feed blade mechanism may be built into one unit, and this unit can be fitted to and removed from the main body of the printing press. The ink feeder may be equipped with an ink scraper comprising scraped ink separators arranged parallel in the axial direction of the scraping doctor support device.

Abstract: An ink supply unit for a receiving roller of a printing machine. The ink supply unit includes an ink rail mounted in close proximity to the surface of the receiving roller, and a plurality of ink reservoirs mounted one above the other in the ink rail that discharge differently colored inks in accordance with the printing requirements onto the surface of the receiving roller through a valve mechanism. Wiper rollers are mounted adjacent to the surface of the receiving roller to wipe the surface thereof to reduce ink wastage due to misting or the like. The inks are introduced onto the surface of the receiving roller and are mixed to form the required color for printing by the combined action of the wiper rollers and a roller train that links the receiving roller and the print roller in the printing machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing for which turret having a plurality of fountain and doctor blade assembly is translatably, indexably mounted adjacent a transfer roll.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ink supplying apparatus which can drive and rotate a fountain roller at an arbitrary speed independently of the peripheral speed of a roller adjacent to the fountain roller when an ink fountain is fitted to a rotary press, which does not require large-scale maintenance and inspection, which is free from any danger, and which is equipped with an ink fountain having a fountain roller capable of being fitted to and removed from a suitable position corresponding to a maximum printing width.

Abstract: An improved doctor-blade assembly for a flexographic press having an ink metering roller, in which the doctor-blade assembly includes an ink fountain having elastomer seals to improve end sealing of the ink fountain and to improve division of the fountain into discrete sections without cross bleed of different inks, and in which the assembly includes protective guard boots on an actuating mechanism that displaces the ink fountain into operating position with an ink metering roller to prevent crusting of ink in the actuating mechanism, affecting alignment of the assembly in the operating position.

Abstract: An ultrasonic ink seal for use in a printing press having a metering roller (20) having an outer surface (40) and at least first and second devices (60, 62) for applying first and second inks, respectively, to the outer surface (40) of the metering roller (20). The ultrasonic ink seal has a plurality of piezoelectric transducers (91, 92, 93) and a deflecting device (96, 100, 102) for deflecting the ultrasonic sound waves produced by the piezoelectric transducers (91, 92, 93) toward a predetermined area (70) on the surface (40) of the metering roller (20). The ultrasonic sound waves cause the first and second inks to be forced away from the predetermined area (70) thereby providing a separation of the first and second inks. In a preferred embodiment the deflecting device (96, 100, 102) has a horn (96) having a curvature approximately equal to a curvature of the outer surface (40), of the metering roller (20), the horn (96) having at least first and second deflecting surfaces (97, 98).

Abstract: A sealing assembly for a liquid fountain such as is employed in flexographic printing and which is especially adapted for the split color printing wherein a foam layer separates the various ink compartments and is equipped with a liquid flow slot in the portion facing the liquid metering roll so as to provide limited axial flow of a slot liquid which is compatible with the ink in the various compartments.

Abstract: Ink duct with an ink metering device for an offset printing or letterpress machine, the ink metering device being in cooperative engagement with a duct roller, includes an ink-duct side part pivotable about the axis of the duct roller and displaceable both perpendicularly and parallel to the duct roller, the ink-duct side part having an end face directed toward the duct roller and being in contact with the outer cylindrical surface of the duct roller, and the ink-duct side part having a lateral surface directed towards the interior of the ink duct and being in contact with a ductor knife in order to prevent ink from escaping from the ink-duct, and means for exerting a force on the ink-duct side part in order to maintain contact between the ink-duct side part and the duct roller.

Abstract: To permit separating a flexograph ink trough, and flexograph ductor or trough roller into axial zones for respectively differently colored inks, a separating plate is located beneath the doctor blade which has a sealing element (7) attached thereto, resiliently engaging the underside of two doctor blades (2, 3), facing the ductor or trough roller (1) from different directions to permit operation of the ductor or trough roller (1) in either direction of rotation. A low-friction surface is applied to the edge which faces the ductor or trough roller, the sealing element spanning the space between the doctor blades and being matched to the circumference of the ductor or trough roller. The doctor blades extend axially beyond the sealing elements. The separating plates and sealing elements can be mounted on units which are axially positionable along an ink trough, and hence the ductor or trough roller, at selected positions, as required by the axial extent of differently colored inking zones.

Abstract: An inking system for a rotary printing press, such as a flexographic printing press, including a pair of axially spaced doctor bars each having a pair of doctor blades to define ink chambers between the doctor bars and an inking roller. An ink separator plate is positioned between and in contact with the innermost ends of the doctor bars and includes a curved concave end face for intimate surface contact with the inking roller, to prevent intermixing of the separate ink colors that are provided to the respective ink chambers. The ink separator plate extends at right angles to the axis of the inking roller, and is pivoted on a pin that has an axis that is parallel to the axis of the inking roller to permit the plate to be urged by gravity into surface contact with the outer periphery of the inking roller.

Abstract: An ink dividing assembly for an inking roller in an ink fountain of a rotary printing press is disclosed. One or more inking bars are positioned adjacent the ink roller and carry doctor blades. Thin ink dividing plates are slideably carried in guide depressions formed by guide plates attached to the ends of the inking bars. A front surface of each ink divider plate is curved and sealingly engages the peripheral surface of the inking roller. The ink dividing plates may be spring biased in the guide depressions into contact with the ink roller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for washing elements of a printing press. In accordance with the method, the press and the ink supply pump are operated during the washing operation. Wash liquid is delivered to the press fountain and passed through the press in a cocurrent ink flow direction while effecting washing of those elements of the press normally contacted with ink. Wash liquid is also passed in a countercurrent ink flow direction through the ink supply line, and an ink filter if present, and introduced into the ink pump through its discharge line while it is being operated in order to wash the internal surfaces of the pump and ink supply line as well as the filter, if present. Wash liquid is also applied to the external surfaces of the pump. In all cases, the wash liquid is discharged after a single washing contact without recirculation.

Abstract: A rotary printing machine has a plate cylinder and a liquid supply apparatus comprising an inker and a damper. The liquid supply apparatus includes rollers and an endless band guided over two deflection rollers. The band, which has a surface that accepts ink and damping fluid and extends over the width of the rollers, is provided with guide elements cooperating with counterpart guide elements attached to the machine. The guide elements and counterpart guide elements are embodied such that the band is displaceable at right angles to the axes of two rollers and is additionally pivotable at least about one of the axes of a deflection roller. Positioning means supported firmly on the machine are also provided for fixing the band in at least two different operating positions, in which the band is in contact with one or two rollers of the liquid supply apparatus.

Abstract: An ink fountain dividing key for use in an ink fountain of a rotary printing machine is disclosed. The ink fountain dividing key has a front face that is spaced from the peripheral surface of the ink fountain roller and which is curved with a radius of curvature the same as the radius of the ink fountain roller. A groove is formed on this curved front face of the key with the groove being supplied with compressed air at a pressure suitable to prevent ink flow from one side of the key to the other through the space between the key and the peripheral surface of the ink fountain roller.

Abstract: To permit efficient re-transport of ink-water emulsion from a plate cylinder to the ink trough, and permit formation of ink accumulation and ink pools, particularly when mixed with wetting water, a cage-like holder is provided in which a plurality of roller elements, for example balls or elongated pins or cylindrical rollers, all with ink-accepting surfaces, are in surface-frictional engagement with a pair of rollers which project from the cage-like container.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method of metering to a printing plate (P). An applicator roller (312), which receives ink from a pick-up roller (310), is positioned in pressure indented relation with a metering roller (12). The surface speed of metering roller (12) is varied to meter the ink to roller apparatus which supplies the ink to printing plate (P).

Abstract: In a printing press, at least two inking arrangements are disposed relative to a plate cylinder so that one of the inking arrangements is moved toward the plate cylinder for application of ink onto the plate cylinder while the other is in a rest position.

Abstract: In a rotary press wherein ink nozzles apply different colored inks to different sections of an inking cylinder along the length thereof, and wherein excess inks run off of the inking cylinder into a compartmented inking pan, an anilox cylinder, by which ink is transferred from the inking cylinder to a plate cylinder, rotates on an axis that is fixed relative to a stationary frame for the press. The ink pan and its dividers are also stationarily secured to said frame. The plate cylinder and an impression cylinder that cooperates with it for imprinting a web are rotatably supported on sliders that carry those cylinders for bodily motion towards and from the anilox cylinder and one another.

Abstract: To increase the surface area of ink in an ink train between an ink supply (4, 4') and the plate cylinder (2, 2') of an offset printing machine, a cage-like holder (16, 16') retain two elongated ink transferring rollers (13, 13'; 14, 14') therein and a plurality of roller elements (15, 15'), for example balls, rolling pins, or the like, the ink transferring rollers being in surface engagement with ink distribution rollers (8, 9; 8', 11') of the ink train and transferring ink between the respective ink distribution rollers. The cage-like holder is ventilated and, together with the ink transferring rollers and the roller elements therein is seated on the respective ink distribution rollers by its own weight, including the weight of its content.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns a modification to printing apparatus utilizing flexographic process inks. To insure an adequate supply of ink to the anilox roll, a barrier, preferably in the form of an idler roll, is provided to reduce the rate at which ink is recirculated back to the supply.

Abstract: A printing press ink fountain has means for applying different colored inks to different sections of a circumferentially grooved fountain roll for subsequent transfer to an anilox roll, printing cylinder, and moving web. Ink dams or dividers, each having a hole through which the fountain roll extends, divide the ink fountain into separate ink compartments and cooperate with the fountain and anilox rolls to prevent ink transfer between adjacent sections on each roll. Each divider has a circumferential edge around its hole which extends into a fountain roll groove. Each divider also has a grooved edge which rides against the anilox roll. Air ports are provided along these edges and compressed air is expelled therethrough to provide air seals to prevent ink transfer along the rolls.

Abstract: A printing press, comprises a plate cylinder, over which material to be printed is passed. An inking mechanism support member is located adjacent the plate member and a plurality of separate inking mechanisms are mounted on the support member and each includes an ink fountain, a fountain roller cooperatively associated with the ink fountain for picking up ink therefrom, a spreader roller cooperatively engageable with the fountain roller to pick up the ink therefrom, and an application roller positioned between the spreader roller and the plate cylinder for applying ink from the spreader roller to the material passed over the said plate cylinder. The individual ink mechanisms may be selectively positioned in an operative position with its application roller in cooperative engagement with the plate cylinder.

Abstract: In a printing press, a remote control apparatus for adjusting ink keys to control ink film thickness at various lateral portions of the ink fountain has an inspection table for supporting paper printed with an image by the press and a plurality of switches mounted at the leading edge of the paper on the table. Each switch is aligned with a respective portion of the printed image corresponding to a respective ink key wich can be adjusted by the switch. A display such as a cathode ray tube simultaneously displaying the settings of all of the ink keys is combined with the inspection table and switch arrangement, with the setting of each ink key being displayed in a different horizontal location, arranged in the same horizontal order as the switches that control them. A respective portion of the display image is vertically deflected for each respective key position, with increasing deflection corresponding to increasing ink film thickness, to create an image of the shape of the ink film distribution.

Abstract: The circumferential speed of driven ink application rollers is controlled to be less than the circumferential speed of the plate cylinders to which the ink application rollers supply ink and with which it is in friction-transmission connection. Preferably, the speed difference is adjustable, and so arranged that the circumferential speed of the driven ink application roller is less than the plate cylinder, any other driven rollers in the ink train being intermediate between the slowest ink application roller and the plate cylinder and, further, that, in case of sequentially arranged plate cylinders, the relative speeds of the ink application rollers associated with sequential plate cylinders become less, in the direction of web transport, to place frictional loading on the plate cylinders and thus provide for positive engagement of all drive gearing to overcome play therein and improve registration of sequentially printed data.

Abstract: A method for controlling a quantity of medium transferable from a screen roller of a printing machine onto a roller that is in contact with the screen roller includes exerting an influence upon a difference in circumferential speed between the screen roller and the roller in contact therewith, and further includes controlling the difference in the circumferential speed as a function of the printing speed of the printing machine, so that printed medium density remains at least approximately constant at least within a wide printing speed range.