Apparatus For Regulating A Color Dosing Device In Relation To A Color Doctor Roller

Abstract

Apparatus for controlling a color dosing device in relation to a color doctor roller wherein the entire color dosing device, under retention of the support line between the color knife and the color profile lever is pivotable about a fulcrum point for the purpose of setting the color slot, characterized in that for the purpose of changing the blade angle or clearance the entire color dosing device is pivoted about the fulcrum point without changing the color slot and the fulcrum point is shifted a distance corresponding to the change in the color slot whereby the individual color profile levers which act on the edge of a color knife are separately pivoted for setting the color profile and all of the color profile levers are jointing pivoted for parallel setting of the color knife and color profile storage.

Description

This invention relates to an apparatus for regulating a color dosing device in relation to a color doctor roller wherein the positioning of the flexible color knife with respect to the doctor roller and the color profile setting are brought about through interconnecting color zone screws and levers.

A color dosing device is known in which the color profile setting is brought about through zone screws and/or through zone screws and interconnecting levers operating on the color knife. The setting of the color slot takes place in that through a bolting of the color dosing installation about a fulcrum, i.e. through the pivoting thereby made possible the operational angle can also be changed.

In order to set the color slot without any appreciable change of the operational angle, the color knife by means of a color knife carrying adjustment device without any pivoting is displaced with respect to the color doctor roller.

In order to set the operational angle, i.e. bring about a change to a different angular degree, the color dosing device is first tilted or inclined and thereafter the necessary readjustment of the color slot is brought about through a displacement of the color knife.

The disadvantage of the foregoing known construction is that in operating the same, the free end of the color knife is removed from the point of application of the color zone screws, respectively the color profile levers and consequently in the actual printing operation the color knife is forced away from the color doctor roller when the printing involves the use of highly concentrated, viscous colors. As a result a change in the conduction of color by the color dosing device occurs at varying printing speeds.

The color dosing is generally carried out at relatively low machine speeds and consequently the printer, that is the machine operator must adjust, i.e., correct the color dosing to the predetermined actual printing machine speeds. This has to be done by adjusting the color profile by means of the color zone screws and also by adjusting the amount of color for instance by changing in the conventional manner the hub of the doctor roller to correspond to the continuous printing speed. As a result, the setting of the color dosing device is associated with the in connection therewith and with the fact that the operational layout design of the modern color printing machine which operate with doctor lifts of up to 90.degree. cannot be utilized. Similarly, the setting possibility of adjusting the lever strips to their maximal length for forming a film in the color roller arrangement can also not be utilized.

Lastly, there is the disadvantage associated with the known color dosing devices in that they have no facilities for storage of the set color profile. The storage of the set color profile is, however, advantageous in those instances, for example, in which for the control of a new cylinder setting it becomes necessary to print sheets and then the actual production must be completed with the thusly set color profile.

The object of the invention is to improve the setting of color dosing devices to achieve a higher quality printing result and at the same time, to reduce the cost associated with the setting itself.

It is another object of the invention to provide an arrangement for setting the color profile, color slot and the operational angle of a color dosing device under maintenance of the support line between the color knife and color profile levers and at the same time, to provide an arrangement for storage of the color profile.

In accordance with the invention, these and other objects are achieved in that for setting of the color slot, the entire color dosing installation is pivoted around a fulcrum with maintenance of the support line between the color knife and the color profile levers.

For changing the operational angles without changing the color slot, the complete installation is pivoted about a fulcrum point and this point, or the part of the color dosing device carrying the color knife, is shifted a distance corresponding to the change of the color slot. For setting the color profile the individual color profile levers which operate the color knife edge are separately moved and for parallel setting of the color knife -- color profile storate setting -- all of the color profile levers are jointly moved.

In accordance with the invention, the entire color dosing device is pivotally arranged on eccentrics which are movably disposed on a traverse bar and the eccentricity of which in direction and amount is proportional to the change of the color slot when the operational angle is changed.

Furthermore, the color profile levers which act on the color knife edge are provided with stop faces for color zone screws and with stop faces for a movable parallel storage bar which is movable in the color dosing device perpendicular to the stop faces by the storage screws.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the total color dosing installation is pivotable on an adjustable rocker arm and the device for setting the rocker arm is arranged to act in a direction perpendicular to the rocker arm.

In the embodiment of the invention, hereinafter illustrated in FIG. 6, the part of the color dosing device carrying the color knife is displaceably positioned on a part of the color dosing device which in turn is pivotally attached on a shaft.

The color dosing device is provided with a control device abutting with a stop arranged securely in the stand or support of the device, said control device consisting of a rotatable bushing provided in the color dosing device having an inner thread and a knurled collar in which bushing there is disposed a spacing bolt having a fine, that is, a precision thread and a graduated measuring indicator. An angle for preventing the rotational movement of this spacing bolt is pressed against the flattened part of the spacing bolt.

In order to create the contact pressure between the control device of the color dosing device and the stop securely mounted in the support, the center of gravity of the color dosing device is located between the traverse bar and the color doctor roller. In order to increase the contact pressure, a pressure spring is provided on a movably disposed spring rod contained in the color dosing device which spring presses over a removable, i.e., insertable wedge against a stop securely mounted in the structure.

The invention will be further illustrated by actual embodiments thereof described in detail with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the color dosing device in section, showing setting through rotatably arranged eccentrics;

FIG. 2 is a section along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a setting device in accordance with the invention shown in section;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of principle of the setting of the color dosing device showing setting via the movable rocker arm;

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the principle for setting the color dosing device showing setting over an alignable fulcrum point;

FIG. 6 is a schematic showing of the reverse solution of the principle as shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a view of the whole of the printing machine in side elevation.

Each of the setting arrangements, and namely color slot, operating angle, and color profile setting refer to a changing in the position of the color knife of the color dosing device 2 with respect to the color doctor roller 3 under retention of the support line between the color knife 1 and the color profile levers 4.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, the color dosing device 2 is rotatably disposed on eccentrics 5 for carrying out the changes in the color slot and the operational angle. These eccentrics 5 are interconnected and rotatably disposed on a traverse bar 6. The interconnected eccentrics 5 are provided with a setting lever 7 and a setting screw 8 for coupling, that is connecting the eccentrics with the traverse bar.

In order to set the color slot a, the color dosing device 2 is pivoted on eccentrics 5 while the eccentrics 5 are connected with the traverse bar 6. The changes in color slot are made in fractions of 1 mm so that the resultant change of the operational angle is negligible.

In order to set the operational angle of the color dosing device, the eccentrics 5 are locked together with the setting screw 8 on the traverse bar 6. The change in the operational angle which takes place with the change of the color slot is compensated for by the turning of the eccentrics 5 following release of the setting screw 8. The eccentricity e of the eccentrics corresponds in direction and amount to the change of the color slot which occurs with the change in the operational angle.

The setting movements required for the color slot change and the operational angle change are initiated through a control device which is provided in the color dosing device 2.

The control device consists of a bushing 10 which is mounted for rotation in the color dosing device 2 which bushing is provided with an internal thread and a knurled collar 9. The bushing is also provided with a spacing bolt 11 which in turn is provided with a precision thread and a graduated measuring indicator. The spacing bolt 11 has a flat portion 12 against which an angle 13 is pressed, the latter being firmly secured to the color dosing device 2 so that any rotation of the spacing bolt 11 is prevented. There is, thusly provided means whereby a rotation of the bushing 10 results in a shifting of the spacing bolt 11. The spacing bolt of the setting device presses against a stop 14 which is securely mounted in the structure. The point of gravity of the color dosing device is located between the traverse bar 6 and the color doctor roller 3 and, therefore, the spacing bolt 11 is in every possible situation pressed against the stop 14. For supporting the contact force, the color dosing device is provided with a spring 16 which is disposed on a spring rod 15 which is displaceably mounted in the color dosing device. This spring 16 presses via a removably insertable wedge 17 against a stop 18 which is securely arranged in the structure.

In case the complete color dosing device is to be pivoted, as for example, as required for cleaning purposes, the spring 16 must be released by shifting the spring bar 15 and removing the insertable wedge 17.

The setting of the color profile is carried out through a setting of the color knife 1 which takes place via color profile levers 4 operating the color knife edge 19. The color profile levers 4 are mounted for rotation in the color dosing device and have stop faces 20 for the individual color zone screws 21 and also stop faces 22 for a parallel storage bar 23 which is movable perpendicularly to the stop faces in the color dosing device. The movement of the parallel storage bar 23 is controlled through storage screws 24.

The operation of the storage device takes place in the following manner. The color profile required in connection with the individual printing is set by the color zone screws 21, i.e. the color profile levers 4 which are arranged one next to the other over the entire width of the color dosing device exhibit different positions.

For complying with the technical requirements of printing, for instance, controlling of the adjustment, the printer frequently is forced to print individual sheets. In this case, the storage bar 23 is shifted by means of storage screw 24, in other words, all of the color profile levers are brought into the same position and the color knife 1 is set parallel by this action. The color zone screws 21 in this case retain their settings. After withdrawing the storage screws 24, the color profile levers 4 are pressed against the color zone screws 21 through the resilient nature of the color knife 1, which means that the color profile levers 4 are pressed in their original position.

FIGS. 4-6, there are shown in the form of schematic representations, the principles of different possibilities for changing the color slot and the operational angle.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the entire color dosing device 2 is pivotable on an adjustable rocker arm 25. The setting of the rocker arm takes place by means of a setting device 26 which acts on the arm in a substantially perpendicular direction.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the entire color dosing device 2 is pivotally disposed on a movable slide 27 (movable from left to right and vice versa).

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the part 30 of the color dosing device 2 carrying the color knife 1 is slidably positioned on part 29 which in turn is pivotally attached on a shaft 28.

The operation of the printing device incorporating the teachings of the invention is shown in FIG. 7. The sheet fed from feeder drum 31 to printing cylinder 32 is printed in the contact zone between printing cylinder 32 and rubber cylinder 33. Thereafter, the sheet is passed, via a transfer drum 34, to the next printer or the sheet is passed via a delivery drum 35 to the exit point. The color to be transferred to the sheet is contained in a color dosing device 2 and is transferred by means of various color rollers 36 to the plate cylinder 37 carrying the printing form. According to the manner of the making up of the printing form, there then takes place a color transfer onto the rubber cylinder 33. In order that satisfactory printing results be obtained, it is necessary that the color dosing device 2 be provided with a number of possibilities for adjusting the same.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a sheet fed printing press, an automatic control device for controlling color dosing means in relation to a color doctor roller wherein for setting of the color slot the entire color device is mounted for pivoting movement about a fulcrum under retention of the support line between the color knife and color profile levers, said color dosing means being pivotally mounted for pivoting of said entire color dosing means on pivotable eccentrics, said eccentrics being mounted on a traverse, the eccentricity of said eccentrics being proportional in direction and amount to the change of the color slot resulting from any change in operational setting angle, color profile levers being operatively associated with the edge of said color knife, said color profile levers being provided with first impact surfaces, color zone screws adapted for striking said first impact surfaces of said color profile levers, said color profile levers having second impact surfaces, storage bar means mounted for movement perpendicular to said second impact surfaces and storage screws for said storage bar, said storage bar being adapted for movement by said storage screws for striking said second impact surfaces of said color profile levers.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control dosing means are arranged abutting a stop firmly mounted in said control dosing device, said control means comprising a bushing mounted for rotation in said control dosing device, said bushing including internal thread means and a knurled collar, spacing bolt means provided with precision thread means and graduated indicator means being additionally provided in said bushing, said spacing bolt means having a flattened portion, wedge means for inhibiting rotational movement of said spacing bolt being securely mounted for pressing contact with said flattened portion of said spacing bolt in said control dosing means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the center of gravity of said color dosing device is located between said traverse and said color doctor roller, spring means, means for displaceable movement in said color dosing means, said spring means being mounted on spring rod means, insertable wedge means and stop means, said spring means being adapted for abutting contact with said stop means via said insertable wedge means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said color dosing means is pivotally mounted for pivoting of said entire color dosing means on displaceable rocker arm means means for controlling the displacement of said rocker arm means operatively associated with said rocker arm means and being arranged substantially perpendicular to said rocker arm means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein means are provided on said color dosing device for carrying said color knife, said means being arranged for lateral movement on means pivotally mounted on a shaft provided in said color dosing device.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said control dosing means are arranged abutting a stop firmly mounted in said control dosing device, said control means comprising a bushing mounted for rotation in said control dosing device, said bushing including internal thread means and a knurled collar, spacing bolt means provided with precision thread means and graduated indicator means being additionally provided in said bushing, said spacing bolt means having a flattened portion, wedge means for inhibiting rotational movement of said spacing bolt being securely mounted for pressing contact with said flattened portion of said spacing bolt in said control dosing means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the center of gravity of said color dosing device is located between said traverse and said color doctor roller, spring means, means for displaceable movement in said color dosing means, said spring means being mounted on spring rod means, insertable wedge means and stop means, said spring means being adapted for abutting contact with said stop means via said insertable wedge means.