U.S. patent number 3,901,150 [Application Number 05/411,283] was granted by the patent office on 1975-08-26 for ink fountain and supply system for a printing press.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Raymond L. Kirby, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,901,150 |
Kirby, Jr. |
August 26, 1975 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Ink fountain and supply system for a printing press
Abstract
A printing plate is mounted on a driven print cylinder, and ink
is applied to the face of the plate by an ink applying roll which
forms a nip with an ink distributing roll positioned below and
horizontally offset from the ink applying roll. The rolls are
driven in timed relation by a set of connecting gears and are
adjustable as a unit independently on opposite ends for selecting
precision uniform contact of the ink applying roll with the
printing plate. In addition, the ink distributing roll is
adjustable on opposite ends independently relative to the ink
applying roll for precisely adjusting the nip between the rolls
without changing the drive relationship. The ink is supplied to the
rolls by an ink recirculating pump actuated by a cam driven by the
same motor which drives the print cylinder, the ink rolls and an
optional web cut-off unit. The ink recirculating pump includes a
reciprocating plunger-type ink supply tube disposed concentrically
within an ink return tube, and the concentric tubes depend from a
manifold and cap assembly into an ink supply container. A set of
molded plastic check valve bodies snap-fit onto the lower end
portions of the concentric tubes, and reciprocation of the inner
valve body within the outer valve body produces a flow of ink
upwardly through the ink supply tube while excess ink returns
between the inner and outer tubes.
Inventors: |
Kirby, Jr.; Raymond L.
(Vandalia, OH) |
Assignee: |
Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
(Dayton, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
23628314 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/411,283 |
Filed: |
October 31, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
101/351.1;
101/226; 101/363; 101/366; 417/547 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41F
31/004 (20130101); B41F 31/08 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B41F
31/00 (20060101); B41F 31/08 (20060101); B41f
031/08 (); B41f 031/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;101/351,352,366,350,357,358,361,362,247,363,226 ;417/547 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Crowder; Clifford D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Jacox & Meckstroth
Claims
The invention having thus been described, the following is
claimed:
1. In a printing press including a housing having generally
parallel spaced sidewalls supporting a rotary horizontal print
cylinder, an improved system for precisely applying ink to a
printing plate mounted on said print cylinder, comprising a
generally horizontally disposed support member, a set of spaced
brackets depending from said support member, a horizontal ink
applying roll supported by a set of bearings retained by said
brackets and positioned to engage the printing plate on said print
cylinder, a horizontal ink distributing roll positioned to form a
nip with said ink applying roll, means for supplying ink to said
ink distributing roll, a set of plates mounted on said brackets and
supporting said ink distributing roll, first adjustment means on
said support member for moving said plates and said ink
distributing roll relative to said ink applying roll for precisely
controlling the transfer of ink from said ink distributing roll to
said ink applying roll, said support member including means forming
a cover for said ink applying and distributing rolls, a container
connected to said support member and extending under said ink
applying and distributing rolls, said support member, said brackets
and plates, said ink applying and distributing rolls and said
container forming an ink applying unit positioned between said
sidewalls of said housing, and second adjustment means for moving
said ink applying unit generally vertically between said sidewalls
for precisely controlling the transfer of ink from said ink
applying roll to the printing plate.
2. A printing press and inking system as defined in claim 1 wherein
said ink applying unit is removable as a sub-assembly from said
housing of said printing press.
3. A printing press and inking system as defined in claim 1 wherein
said support member and said container cooperate to define a
generally rectangular opening adjacent said print cylinder, and
said ink applying roll projects through said opening for engaging
the printing plate.
4. A printing press and inking system as defined in claim 1
including a set of gears secured to corresponding ends of said ink
distributing and applying rolls, a set of transfer gears supported
for rotation by one of said plates and connecting said gear on said
ink applying roll to said gear on said ink distributing roll, and
said transfer gears are movable with said plates.
5. A printing press and inking system as defined in claim 1 wherein
said plates and said ink distributing roll are supported by said
brackets for movement in a slightly inclined linear direction
relative to a vertical plane extending through the axis of said ink
applying roll.
6. A printing press and inking system as defined in claim 1 wherein
said first adjustment means comprise a set of screws threadably
connected to said brackets and engaging said support member, and
said screws are accessible for adjustment from above said support
member.
7. A printing press and inking system as defined in claim 1 wherein
said second adjustment means comprise a set of generally vertical
adjustment screws connecting said support member to said side walls
of said housing, and said screws are accessible for adjustment from
above said support member.
8. A printing press and inking system as defined in claim 1 wherein
said means for supplying ink to said ink distributing roll, include
an ink supply tube projecting downwardly from said support member
and having a lower end adjacent said nip.
9. In a printing press including a housing having generally
parallel spaced sidewalls supporting a rotary horizontal print
cylinder. an improved system for precisely applying ink to a
printing plate mounted on said print cylinder, comprising a
generally horizontally disposed support member, a set of spaced
brackets depending from said support member, a horizontal ink
applying roll supported by a set of bearings retained by said
brackets and positioned to engage the printing plate on said print
cylinder, a horizontal ink distributing roll positioned generally
below said ink applying roll and forming a nip therewith, means for
supplying ink to said ink distributing roll, a set of plates
mounted on said brackets and supporting said ink distributing roll,
first adjustment means connected to said support member and
accessible from the top thereof for moving said plates and said ink
distributing roll generally vertically relative to said ink
applying roll for precisely controlling the transfer of ink from
said ink distributing roll to said ink applying roll, said support
member including means forming a cover for said ink applying and
distributing rolls, a container connected to said support member
and extending under said ink applying and distributing rolls, said
support member, said brackets and plates, said ink applying and
distributing rolls and said container forming an ink applying unit
positioned between said sidewalls of said housing, and second
adjustment means also acccessible from the top of said support
member for moving said ink applying unit generally vertically
between said sidewalls for precisely controlling the transfer of
ink from said ink applying roll to the printing plate.
10. In a printing press including a housing having generally
parallel spaced sidewalls supporting a rotary horizontal print
cylinder, an improved system for precisely applying ink to printing
plate mounted on said print cylinder, comprising a generally
horizontally disposed support member, a set of spaced brackets
depending from said support member, a horizontal ink applying roll
supported by a set of bearings retained by said brackets and
positioned to engage the printing plate on said print cylinder, a
horizontal ink distributing roll positioned to form a nip with said
ink applying roll, means for supplying ink to said ink distributing
roll, a set of plates mounted on said brackets and supporting said
ink distributing roll, first adjustment means on said support
member for moving said plates and said ink distributing roll
relative to said ink applying roll for precisely controlling the
transfer of ink from said ink distributing roll to said ink
applying roll, said support member including means forming a cover
for said ink applying and distributing rolls, a container connected
to said support member and extending under said ink applying and
distributing rolls, said support member, said brackets and plates,
said ink applying and distributing rolls and said container forming
an ink applying unit positioned between said sidewalls of said
housing, second adjustment means for moving said ink applying unit
generally vertically between said sidewalls for precisely
controlling the transfer of ink from said ink applying roll to the
printing plate, and said ink supplying means include a set of
elongated inner and outer tubes adapted to depend into an ink
supply, and said tubes define an axially extending passage
therebetween.
11. A printing press and inking system as defined in claim 10
wherein said inner and outer tubes form part of an ink
recirculating pump and are supported for relative reciprocating
movement, a set of check valves connected to the lower end portions
of said tubes, the ink being pumped from the supply through one of
said tubes in response to said reciprocating movement of said tubes
and said check valves, the excess ink being returned from said unit
to the supply through the other of said tubes, and means for
producing said relative reciprocating movement of said tubes.
12. A printing press and inking system as defined in claim 11
wherein said means for supporting said concentric tubes comprise a
manifold having a passage for receiving the ink returned from said
ink distributing roll, a cap member connected to said manifold, and
a container releasably connected to said cap member for supporting
the ink supply.
13. A printing press and inking system as defined in claim 12
wherein said container comprises a bottle of molded plastics
material and includes a threaded neck portion for engaging said cap
member.
14. A printing press and inking system as defined in claim 11
wherein the inner said tube is supported for reciprocating movement
within the outer said tube, a pivotal lever connected to
reciprocate the inner said tube, and drive means connected to pivot
said lever and to rotate said ink distributing and applying
rolls.
15. A printing press and inking system as defined in claim 11
wherein at least one of said tubes has a recess within its outer
surface, and the corresponding said check valve includes a valve
body having a portion which snap-fits into said recess.
16. A printing press and inking system as defined in claim 11
wherein the inner said tube reciprocates within the outer said
tube, means for directing the returning ink into said passage, and
the outer said tube includes means defining an opening for
directing the returning ink from said passage to the ink
supply.
17. A printing press and inking system as defined in claim 16
wherein the outer said tube further includes means defining an air
vent opening positioned above the ink supply, and an enclosed
container for receiving the ink supply.
18. A printing press and inking system as defined in claim 11
including a knife cutting unit adapted to cut a continuous strip of
articles being printed by the printing member, and said means for
producing said relative reciprocating movement of said tubes
comprise a drive mechanism which is also connected to drive said
ink applying roll and said knife cutting unit.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In equipment or presses for printing articles such as a continuous
supply of tickets, tags and labels, for example, as disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 3,742,851 which issued to the assignee of the present
invention, it has been found highly desirable to provide for
precisely controlling the application of ink to the face of the
printing plate mounted on the print cylinder so that precision
lines or art work may be printed on the articles. For example, in
recent years, a system has been developed for optically reading
coded information printed on labels adapted to be attached to
various products. Preferably, the machine readable coded
information consists of a series of closely spaced parallel bars
some of which are wide and the others of which are narrow. These
bars must be precisely printed at a high speed, requiring a precise
control over the amount of ink which is applied to the raised
printing face of the printing plate. It is also important to supply
the ink applying roll with a continuous supply of ink and to
provide for recirculating the overflow or excess ink to the ink
supply reservoir or container.
Various systems and mechanisms have been proposed or used for
adjusting the position of an ink applying roll relative to a print
cylinder which carries a printing plate. For example, U.S. Pat.
Nos. 2,703,525 and 3,645,202 disclose two different types of such
mechanisms. Furthermore, various systems and mechanisms have been
proposed or used for supplying ink to the ink applying roll of a
printing press and for returning excess or overflow ink to the ink
supply reservoir or container. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos.
2,253,122, 2,869,460 and above U.S. Pat. No. 3,742,851 disclose
different types of ink recirculating systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an improved system for
applying ink to the face of a printing plate on a printing machine
and which provides, as one important feature, an improved means for
precisely controlling the amount of ink which is applied to the
printing plate. In addition, the present invention provides an
improved system for recirculating ink to the ink applying means. In
accordance with the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the
ink applying system incorporates a lower ink distributing roll
which is positioned adjacent an upper ink applying roll in
horizontally offset relation to define a nip zone for receiving a
supply of ink. The rolls are driven in timed relation by a set of
gears positioned at corresponding ends of the rolls, and the rolls
are supported as a unit for precision adjustment at opposite ends
relative to the print cylinder. The lower ink distributing roll is
also adjustable relative to the ink applying roll to control
precisely the film of ink carried by the ink applying roll to the
face of the printing plate.
The ink distributing and applying rolls are positioned within a
substantially enclosed ink fountain housing which receives a supply
of ink from a recirculating reciprocating plunger-type pump system
actuated by the same drive motor which rotates the print cylinder
and the ink distributing and applying rolls. In the illustrated
embodiments, the recirculating pump system includes a manifold and
cap assembly which is adapted to receive a molded plastic ink
bottle or container and which also supports a set of concentric ink
supply and return tubes depending into the container. The lower end
portions of the tubes support a set of corresponding concentrically
disposed molded plastic check valve bodies which snap-fit onto the
tubes.
In addition to the precision control of the application of the ink
to the printing plate, the construction of the ink supplying and
applying system provides for dependable service during high speed
operation of the printing press. Furthermore, other features and
advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following
description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printing press adapted for
printing a continuous supply of labels and which incorporates an
ink application system constructed in accordance with the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section taken generally on the line 2--2 of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a section taken generally on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an end elevational view taken generally on the line 4--4
of FIG. 3 and with a portion broken away;
FIG. 5 is a section taken generally on the line 5--5 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a section taken generally on the line 6--6 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section taken generally on the line 7--7 of
FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and showing a modification of
the invention;
FIG. 9 is an elevational view, in part section, of the ink
recirculating pump system shown in FIG. 1, with a portion of the
ink supply container broken away; and
FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the pump
mechanism used in the ink recirculating pump system shown in FIGS.
1 and 9.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates a printing press 15 which is adapted to receive
a roll 16 of a web or strip S of paper material and to print on the
strip S a succession of tags or labels L such as, for example, the
labels mentioned above having machine readable coded data or
information represented by a series of closely spaced precision
lines 18. In general, the printing press 15 includes a housing 20
which supports a cross shaft 21 driven by an electric motor (not
shown) enclosed within the housing 20. The strip S is advanced by a
feed wheel 22 mounted on the shaft 21, and a type drum or print
cylinder 24 (FIG. 2) is positioned forwardly of the feed wheel 22
and is also driven by the motor. The cylinder 24 is adapted to
receive a suitable printing plate (not shown) which is attached to
the outer surface of the print cylinder, for example, by pressure
sensitive adhesive.
An ink fountain assembly of unit 25 is positioned between a set of
parallel spaced side wall extensions 26 forming part of the housing
20, generally in front of the feed wheel 22 and the print cylinder
24. As the strip S is repetitively printed to produce the
successive labels L, the strip S is directed under the fountain
unit 25 and is either rewound into a roll or fed through an
optional knife cut-off unit 30 (FIG. 1). The cut-off unit 30 is
supported by the housing 20 between the side wall extensions 26 and
includes a lower stationary knife member 31 and an upper knife
member 32. The upper knife member 32 is reciprocated vertically in
response to actuation of an eccentric mechanism within the unit 25.
The mechanism is driven by a shaft 34 which extends horizontally
from a right angle gear box 36 (FIG. 1) connected to a projecting
end portion of the cross shaft 22.
In accordance with the present invention, the ink fountain assembly
or unit 25 includes a cover member 42 (FIG. 2) which is secured by
a set of screws 43 to a cross support member 44 having an inverted
L-shaped configuration. The opposite end portions of the support
member 44 are received within correspondingly shaped notches or
recesses 47 formed within the side walls of the housing 20, and are
secured to the side walls by a set of lock screws 48. Another set
of adjusting jack screws 49 extend through threaded holes within
opposite end portions of the support member 44 and the ends of the
jack screws 49 contact the bottoms of the recesses 47 to provide
for precise upward and downward adjustment of the fountain unit 25
when the lock screws 48 are released, as will be explained
later.
A set of cast metal end brackets 52 and 54 (FIG. 3) depend from
opposite ends of the cover member 42, and the brackets 52 and 54
support a set of aligned antifriction bearings 56 which support the
end journals 58 and 59 of an ink applying roll 60. The ink applying
roll 60 includes a resilient outer coating or covering 62 (FIG. 2)
which has a smooth cylindrical outer surface for applying ink to
the printing face of the printing plate mounted on the print
cylinder 24. A gear 64 (FIG. 3) is mounted on the journal 58 of the
ink applying roll 60 and is driven by a gear (not shown) secured to
the corresponding journal of the print cylinder 24. As mentioned
above, the print cylinder 24 is driven by an electric motor
enclosed within the housing 20.
Another gear 67 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is mounted on the opposite journal
59 of the ink applying roll 60 and is located within a recess 68
formed within the outer surface of the support bracket 54. A set of
channel-like grooves or recesses 71 (FIG. 6) are formed within the
inner surfaces of the depending support brackets 52 and 54 and
slidably support a corresponding pair of support plates 72 (FIGS. 6
and 7). Antifriction bearings 76 (FIGS. 5 and 7) are retained by
the lower end portions of the support plates 72 and support the end
journals 78 (FIGS. 5 and 7) of an ink distributing roll 80 which
has a precisionally ground hard outer surface. As best shown in
FIG. 6, the support plates 72 are positioned on a slight inclined
angle relative to a vertical plane and support the distributing
roll 80 in a position below and slightly forward (FIG. 2) of the
ink applying roll 60 so that movement of the support plates 72
controls the minute gap of a nip 82 (FIG. 2) formed between the
rolls 60 and 80.
A gear 84 (FIGS. 4 and 7) is mounted on one of the end journals 78
of the ink distributing roll 80 within part of the recess or cavity
68 formed within the corresponding support bracket 54, and a set of
idle or transfer gears 88 connect the gear 84 to the gear 67
mounted on the journal 59 of the ink applying roll 60. The transfer
gears 88 are mounted on corresponding shafts 89 which are supported
by the adjacent support plate 72, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. Each
of the depending support brackets 52 and 54 also supports a
resilient rubber-like wiper member 92 (FIG. 6) which engages the
corresponding end surfaces of the rolls 60 and 80 adjacent the nip
82 for limiting an axial flow of ink from the nip.
Referring to FIG. 7, each of the support plates 72 includes an
inwardly projecting flange 94 which has a threaded hole for
receiving an adjusting screw 96 positioned to engage the
corresponding top end surface of the cover member 42. Thus each end
portion of the ink distributing roll 80 may be precisely adjusted
independently relative to the corresponding end portion of the ink
applying roll 60 by adjusting the corresponding screw 96 after a
lock nut 97 (FIG. 7) is released. As shown in FIGS. 2-7, a
generally rectangular pan-like container 100 encloses the ink
distributing roll 80 and the end support brackets 52 and 54. The
container 100 has an upper edge portion which is secured to the
cover member 42 by a series of peripherally spaced screws 103
(FIGS. 2 and 7). The container 100 is provided with a tubular
fitting 104 (FIG. 3) which projects from a lower corner of the
container and defines an ink return outlet for the container.
As shown in FIG. 2, ink is supplied to the rolls 60 and 80 in the
area of the nip 82 through a tubular fitting 110 which projects
downwardly and rearwardly to substantially the center of the nip
82. The tubular fitting 110 projects through a hole formed within
the center of the cover member 42 and is secured to the cover
member by a nut 111. A flexible supply tube 112 connects the
fitting 110 to an ink recirculating pump system 115 (FIG. 1) which
is supported by a formed sheet metal bracket or cover housing 116
secured to the adjacent side wall of the press 15. The pump system
115 is capable of supplying ink to the tube 112 at a rate greater
than the rate at which the ink is applied to the printing plate,
and the ink which overflows from the ink distributing roll 80, is
collected within the container 100 and returned to the pump system
115 by a flexible ink return tube 117 which has one end connected
to the tubular outlet fitting 104.
Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the ink recirculating pump system 115
includes a rigid vertical ink supply tube 118 having an upper end
portion which receives the opposite end of the ink supply tube 112.
The flexible ink supply tube 112 extends through a resilient
grommet 121 seated within a hole formed within the upper wall of
the housing 116, and the rigid ink supply tube 118 projects
downwardly through a hole 123 (FIG. 10) formed within an L-shaped
bracket 124 secured to the cover housing 116. A flexible
bellows-like diaphragm or seal 125 is mounted on the tube 118 and
has an outer peripheral portion clamped to the bracket 124 by an
annular manifold 126 secured to the bracket 124 by a set of screws
127 and the threaded lower end portion of a stud 128. The manifold
126 defines a center chamber 129 and has a radially extending
passage 131 which connects the chamber 129 with the ink return tube
117. The seal 125 permits the tube 118 to move axially while
forming an air-tight closure for the chamber 129.
A circular cap member 132 is secured to the lower portion of the
manifold 126 by an annular collar 133 (FIG. 10) and a set of screws
134. An O-ring 122 forms a fluid-tight seal between the cap member
132 and the manifold 126. The collar 133 supports the upper flanged
end portion of a vertical outer ink return tube 135 which
concentrically surrounds the tube 118 and defines an elongated
vertical annular passage 136. A molded plastic check valve housing
or body 137 includes an upper cylindrical portion 138 which
receives the lower end portion of the outer tube 135 and includes
an inner peripheral bead 139 which snap-fits into a circumferential
groove formed within the lower end portion of the outer tube 135.
The check valve body 137 also includes a reduced cylindrical
intermediate portion 140 which integrally connects the upper
cylindrical portion 138 to a tapered or frustoconical lower end
portion 141 defining an inlet or opening 142. A spherical valve
member or ball 143 normally seats within the lower end portion 141
of the body 137 for normally closing the inlet 142.
A piston member 144 is also formed of a molded plastics material
and includes a cylindrical upper portion 146 which receives the
lower end portion of the tube 118. The cylindrical portion 146 has
an internal peripheral bead 147 which snap-fits into a
circumferential groove 149 formed within the lower end portion of
the tube 118. The piston member 144 also includes a lower
frusto-conical end portion 152 having a center opening 153 and is
surrounded by an annular skirt portion 154. The skirt portion 154
fits closely within the cylindrical portion 140 of the housing 137
for sliding reciprocating movement. Another spherical valve member
or ball 156 normally seats on the inner surface of the
frusto-conical portion 152 of the piston member 144, normally
closing the opening 153. A set of holes 158 (FIG. 10) are formed
within the lower end portion of the outer tube 135, and a vent hole
or opening 159 is formed within the upper end portion of the tube
135.
Referring to FIG. 9, an actuating member or lever 162 includes a
clearance hole for receiving the upper end portion of the tube 118.
The lever 162 has a downwardly projecting curved portion 163 which
seats on a retaining ring 164 secured to the tube 118. A
compression spring 166 surrounds the tube 118 and abuts the
retaining ring 164 and the bracket 124. The inner end portion of
the actuating lever member 162 has a hole for receiving the upper
externally threaded end portion of the stud 128, and a tubular nut
167 is adjustably mounted on the stud 128 to form a fulcrum for the
lever member 162.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the shaft 34 extends through or under the
cover housing 116, and a cylindrical cam member 168 is
eccentrically mounted on the shaft 34 above the actuating lever
162. Thus rotation of the cam member 168 is effective to pivot the
lever 162 and reciprocate the inner tube 118 and piston member 144
within the surrounding corresponding outer tube 135 and valve body
137. The concentric tubes 118 and 135 project downwardly or depend
into a generally cylindrical bottle or container 175 which holds a
supply of ink. Preferably, the container 175 is molded of a
plastics material and has an integral upper neck portion 176 which
threads into the cap member 132 secured to the manifold 126. The
container 175 is also supported by an inverted L-shaped support
strap 178 having an upper leg portion secured to the bracket 124
and a lower end portion clamped to the container 175 by an
adjustable hose-type band clamp 181.
The ink supply system described above, operates in the following
manner. A supply of ink is pumped to the fountain assembly or unit
25 through the tube 112 in response to the continuous rotation of
the shaft 34 and cam member 168 (FIG. 9) which reciprocates the
tube 118 within the tube 135 by a preselected amplitude as
determined by the adjustment of the tubular nut 167. The
reciprocation of the piston member 144 within the valve body 137
produces a continuous pulsating flow of ink from the container 175
through the openings 142 and 153 and upwardly through the ink
supply tube 118.
As the ink is supplied through the tube 112 (FIG. 2), it forms a
pool of ink ahead of the nip 82 and along the length of the rolls
60 and 80. A film of ink is carried through the nip 82 by the roll
60 and is applied to the face of the printing plate secured to the
print cylinder 24. The ink which flows over the ink distributing
roll 80 collects within the container 100 and is directed back to
the recirculating pump system 115 through the tube 117. The return
ink flows downwardly through the annular passage 136 and out
through the openings 158 within the lower end portion of the tube
135. The vent opening 159 enables air to enter the container 175
above the ink supply and thereby prevent a partial vacuum from
forming within the container 175.
As mentioned above in connection with FIGS. 2-7, the application of
the ink onto the printing plate by the roll 60 may be precisely
controlled by selectively adjusting the screws 49 and 96 for the
opposite end portions of the rolls 60 and 80. That is, by precisely
adjusting each screw 49, the corresponding end portion of the
entire fountain assembly or unit 25 is adjusted generally
vertically to control the pressure exerted by the roll 60 on the
face of the printing plate and to obtain a uniform application
pressure. In addition, each end portion of the ink distributing
roll 80 may be precisely and independently positioned by adjusting
the corresponding screw 96. This adjustment feature provides for
precisely positioning the ink distributing roll 80 relative to the
ink applying roll 60 to control the film of ink carried by the roll
60 through the nip 82 and to assure that the film is precisely
uniform along the entire length of the rolls 60 and 80. As best
illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, the slightly inclined adjustable
support plates 72 are positioned so that the transfer gear 88
engaging the gear 67, moves in a direction substantially tangential
to the gear 67 when the corresponding plate 72 is adjusted by the
screw 96. Thus the drive engagement between the gears is not
effected by adjustment of the corresponding end portion of the roll
80 relative to the roll 60.
Referring to the modification shown in FIG. 8, in some ink
application systems, it is desirable for the ink distributing roll
80 to rotate at a speed substantially slower than the speed of the
ink applying roll 60. To obtain this differential speed between the
rolls 60 and 80, a gear 67' is mounted on the journal 59 of the
roll 60, and a substantially larger diameter gear 84' is mounted on
the corresponding journal 78 of the roll 80. A set of transfer
gears 88' are supported by shafts 89' and connect the gear 67' to
the gear 84' to provide the lower speed rotation of the
distributing roll 80 relative to the ink applying roll 60. In a
manner similar to that described above in connection with FIG. 4,
the gear 84' and transfer gears 88' are supported by the adjacent
plate 72' for linear adjustment within the channel 71 formed within
the bracket 54'. The opposite end portions of the roll 60 and 80
are supported in the same manner as described above in connection
with the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 2-7.
As illustrated in the drawings and described above, the ink
applying roll 60 is precisely positioned to apply a uniform coating
of ink to a printing plate mounted on the print cylinder 24.
However, it is to be understood that the roll 60 may also be used
for applying ink to an intermediate ink transfer roll or roller
such as, for example, the traveling inking roller shown in above
mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,742,851. Furthermore, while the forms of
ink supplying and applying apparatus herein described constitute
preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that
the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus,
and that changes may be made therein without departing from the
scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended
claims.
* * * * *