Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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6~ 9s6 l :
The present patent application relates to a
pressurized stiff-bodied ink applicator for an intaglio
printing press.
Background of the Invention
Intaglio printing using stiff-bodied inks for the `~ ;
printing of artistic works and securities differs sub-
stantially from other common printing techniques (letterpress,
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rotogravure and offset) in a number of fundamental ways. -~
Hereinafter such intaglio printing using stiff-bodied inks ~i
will be referred to as "intaglio security printing", with
the understanding that the term applies also to the printlng ` `
of artistic works by means of the same technique. Tonal ;;
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effects are created in intaglio security printing by varying
the spacing, area and depth of engraved ink-receiving
recesses on the printing plate. FrequentIy the engraving
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is done by hand by skilled artisans who use line lengths, ~ i
line thicknesses, line spacings and the angles between lines -
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d~ etc., to achieve a tonal effect on the printed document. - ;~ ;
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The resulting product is characterized by a distinct embos-
~20 sment of the printed surface, readily sensed by touch, and
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~ characterized by absolute registration of the printing with ~
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the embossing. The intaglio security printing technique
requires a substantial range of widths and depths of engraved
recesses, and thus requires a stiff-bodied ink and very high ~ ~
printing pressures in order to obtain the desired results. ~. -
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;~ Conventionally, the stiff-bodied inks used have thixotropic
properties.
For the foregoing reasons, and for the additional
reason that intaglio security printing requires the very
j 30 highest quality and consistency of quality, intaglio security
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printing has for many decades relied upon the individual
skills of engravers and printers to achieve the desired
results.
Intaglio security printing can be accomplished
using a die stamp press or a rolling contact press. The
rotary press is more common in industrial intaglio printing
applications and therefore in most of the following discussion,
a rotary press context is assumed, although the discussion
can be applied mutatis mutandis to other rolling contact
presses and to die stamp presses. ~-
Conventionally a rotary intaglio press includes an
engraved cylinder having a continuous or interrupted printing
surface, or a plate cylinder carrying at least one printing
plate as a printing surface, on which is engraved the image -
desired to be printed. (In this discussion, the more common
term "plate cylinder" will be used although it will be under-
stood that the discussion can be applied mutatis mutandis
~, .
~ to engraved cylinders. The "engraved areas" of the plate
,` cylinder mean those areas occupied by the engraved recesses,
1 20 and the "non-engraved areas" mean those areas of the~plate
`~ ~ cylinder not so occupied, including the areas between
. :
adjacent recesses. The term "non-image areas" is used herein
to refer to the macroscopic continuous non-engraved areas
between leading and trailing boundaries of the image or
~; images engraved on the plate cylinder.) An impression roller
forms a nip with the plate cylinder through which the paper `~
to be printed passes. The ink image is transferred to the
paper as it passes through the nip. Ink is applied to the
plate cylinder from an ink fountain (which is usually at least ;
partially open to the atmosphere, thereby permitting evapora-
i tion of solvents and atmospheric contamination of the ink,
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1062956
thus leading to deterioration of desired ink qualities) via
a number of ink transfer rollers the final one of which, the :
form roller, makes direct contact with the plate cylinder. ;
The transfer rollers are provided to shear the thixotropic
ink thereby to enable it to flow more smoothly, it being
understood that the viscosity of a thixotropic ink is lowered
as a result of mechanical shearing. Because in intaglio `
security printing the engraved recesses can be relatively
deep (as much as .010 inch), the form roller must carry a
heavy ink load. The result is that the ink is deposited
indiscriminately on both engraved and non-engraved areas
of the plate, at least partially filling the engraved
recesses but also being deposited on the non-engraved surface
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of the plate cylinder on which no ink whatever is desired.
In order to remove the ink from these non-engraved surface
areas and in order to direct ink into the engraved recesses
or remove surplus ink from the recesses so that they are
:
filled to the desired level, a series of wiping stages are ` ~
:,:
provided following the application of ink to the plate -
cylinder. Wiping paper or burlap or a similar material is
passed over a contacting wiper pressure element which presses
the wiping material against the plate cylinder so that at ~ ;
least some of the ink on the surface of the plate cylinder
will be rubbed by the wiper off the non-engraved areas of
the plate and into the engraved recesses, while at the same
9 ' .
time at least some of the ink will be removed from recesses
which have been over-filled. A substantial quantity of ink
is moved about on the contact of the first wiper with the
plate cylinder. This first wipe is followed by at least one
further polishing wipe to ensure that the non-engraved areas
of the plate are clean. Intermediate wiping stages may be
provided as desired.
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10629S6
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The foregoing conventional process results in
substantial waste of ink, since a lot of ink is removed
from the plate by the wiping material. To circumvent this
problem, a number of previous proposals for ink-saving
devices have been made. Among these are friction-driven
rollers in contact with the plate cylinder and located between
the ink applicator rollers and the first wiper. Another
technique is the use of a counter-rotating belt in contact
with the plate cylinder and again located between the ink
transfer rollers and the first wiper. Still other proposals
include the use of scraper blades, gear-driven rollers, etc.
.
making contact with the plate cylinder between the ink
transfer rollers and the first wiper. Various techniques
are employed to remove the ink from the contacting element
and return it to the ink fountain. While these procedures
! do result in a certain ink saving, they also involve exposure
of the ink to the atmosphere over an appreciable path of travel,
`i thereby permitting unwanted evaporation of solvents. This
means that the ink returned to the fountain is usually not
t 20 of the desired characteristics, and adjustments have to be
continually made to achieve satisfactory printing quality.
Further, these ink savers do nothing to control the quantity
;~ of ink deposited in the engraved recesses - the ink is caused
~,~ to flow into the recesses thoroughly to the desired levels
~;~ in the wiper stages, which continue to be wasteful of ink.
The conventional processes with or without ink savers remain
highly dependent upon the individual skills of the printer.
~i, Summary of the Invention
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It would be economical to apply to the engraved
printing plate only enough ink to fill the engraved recesses ;
without depositing any appreciable quantity of ink on the
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l~iZ956
non-engraved areas. The present invention provides a
pressurlzed ink applicator which tends to minimize the
application of ink to the non-engraved areas while sub-
stantially completely filling the engraved recesses.
Because the applicator operates under substantially constant
pressure (as distinguished from constant displacement -
systems found for example in newspaper presses), uniformity
of ink deposit without substantial ink waste is achieved.
The ink is applied by the applicator to the ~-
printing surface between two or more transversely extending
blades biased towards engagement with the printing surface.
; The applicator nozzle thereby sealingly contacts the printing
surface, and the trailing blade serves to doctor applied
ink from the non-engraved areas of the printing surface.
A resilient pad or the like permits the blades to deflect ~ -
slightly to accommodate surface variations of the printing
surface.
` While pressurized applicators of one kind or ;~
another have been known in other printing arts, it has been
,,
the conventional wisdom in the intaglio security printing
art that transfer rollers must be used to apply the ink, ~;
because the transfer rollers shear the thixotropic ink as
it passes over the rollers, thereby imparting to the ink the
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- desired low viscosity as it passes from the form roller onto
the printing plate.
In the design of the ink applicator according-to
the present invention, it has been recognized that such
1 applicator must be capable of applying a viscous thixotropic
ink to the printing plate. According to the present invention,
energy transfer means are provided in the ink applicator to
transfer energy to the ink, for improving the flow character-
istics of the ink immediately prior to the application of the
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ink to the plate cylinder. Such means may be either
mechanical means for shearing the ink, or means for the
, . . .
application of heat to the ink, or a combination of both.
Such means imparts energy to the ink e.g. by direct conduction
of heat or by forcing the ink through a perforated plate,
sieve or the like. Tha impartiny of energy to a thixotropic
ink reduces its viscosity and thus improves its flow
characteristics.
Dilatant inks are not commonly used in intaglio
printing. These inks become more viscous as they are
mechanically worked. Since the pressurized ink applicator
.
of the invention can impart a controlled amount of mechanical
- energy to the ink flowing from an ink reservoir through the
` nozzle to the printing plate, it may perhaps be possible
to use dilatent inks in intaglio printing, by using the
applicator of the present invention.
Again because of the viscous character of thixotropic
nks, it is desirable to design the nozzle of the applicator
i so that the ink has an opportunity to flow completely into --
l1~ 20 all of the engraved recesses; the nozzle of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention makes use of two design
features to achieve this objective. The first of these is
the provision of accumulating chambers at strategically-
chosen locations in the ink applicator which are placed in
.~ :
the ink flow path to enable the ink to occupy relatively
large volumes at such locations so that there is a tendency
~, to eliminate gas or vapor bubbles (or conceivably evacuated
spaces) in the ink flow path. The second of these design
features is the use of the principle of redundancy; in one
embodiment at least two nozzle apertures are provided to
enable ink to be applied to the engraved channels through
at least two ink-depositing regions. If by any chance there
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is a flow failure in one of the apertures, then the other
aperture or apertures will be able to supply the ink to
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the engraved channels. In this type of embodiment, the
central blade may be wedge-shaped and the hydraulic load on
the wedge surfaces of the central blade may be utilized to
force the blade into contact with the printing surface.
In one embodiment, the blades are chosen to be of
a plastic material optionally carrying an imbedded lubricant,
which material is capable of some degree of transverse flexing
~ 10 to accommodate variations in the surface of the plate, so
5-- as to provide the required tight seal of the nozzle against
~ the plate whilst at the same time avoiding undue wearing of
: the printing plate by the nozzle.
In one embodiment, the trailing blade is provided
with a sloping surface inclined outwardly away from the
nozzle exit tawards the printing surface. This tends to
facilitate complete filling of the engraved recesses.
' In another embodiment, the trailing blade is a
thin comb-shaped metal blade capable of flexore to accom-
~;~ 20 modate variations of or irregularities on the printing surface
and supported by thicker blade support elements which
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stabilize the blade for doctoring purposes.
. ~ .
A further optional feature of a preferred embodi- ~
: :. .
~; ment of the ink applicator according to the invention is the
use of a valve to shut off the flow of ink to the plate
r,,,,,,l (e.g. in a rotary press, where there are large gaps between
imaged areas of the cylinder; or in a die stamp press, during
!:''j the return stroke of the reciprocating assembly). This avoids
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~ flow of ink except onto the imaged areas of the plate. The
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~; 30 valve is conveniently cam-controlled. In a rotary press,
the cam may be fixed to and may rotate wlth the cylinder.
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106Z956 :
As a further feature of the valve arrangement, the
preferred embodiment provides a sliding valve element
working between two stationary gates and adapted to slide ;~;
at right angles to the general direction of ink flow. The 5 `
ink flow path through the valve is arranged so that the ~-
sliding element itself is not subjected to the force load
caused by ink pressure; this force is instead borne by the
two stationary gates. This is accomplished in the preferred `
embodiment by arranging corresponding openings on the two
gates to be transversely offset from one another relative
to the general direction of ink flow. These features of
the invention permit the valve to be opened and closed
relatively rapidly without having to bear the very high loads
in the general direction of ink flow imposed by the pressurized ;~
source of ink; the valve is not appreciably loaded except by
the ink drag (i.e. the force of friction resulting from the
viscosity of the lnk).
The use of a pressurized ink applicator according Z
to the invention, with the elimination of the conventional
ink fountain and transfer rollers, minimizes ink exposure ;
to the air - the only exposure occurs when the applicator
valve shuts off the flow of ink. (In the case of a die ~ ;
stamp press, the ink shut-off would occur on the return motion ~`
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of the reciprocating plate). The use of constant pressure
and optionally, multiple ink application regions, tends to
assure a complete deposit of ink into the engraved recesses
on the printing plate. The use of heating or ink shearing -
elements in the applicator enables satisfactory ink flow to be
achieved. Ink consumption will be reduced because of the
absence of any appreciable ink deposit on the non-engraved
portions of the plate. Since in the embodiments described ~;
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the amount of ink on non-engraved areas is minimal, a
smaller quantity of wiping material is needed, which
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enables cost savings to be made. More uniform printing
quality should be obtainable, with consequent reduction of
losses due to printing spoilage. ';~
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The use of the ink applicator may also increase
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the number of options available to printers with respect to
choice of inks, since consistency of ink quality can be
reasonably assured with the absence of exposure of the ink ~ ~
to the air. Faster drying inks, cheaper inks and conceivably ` -
dllatant inks may possibly be used in some applications. ,
The relative absence of ink exposure to the atmosphere also '
implies that very little evaporation of solvents will occur, -
thereby improving the working environment of operating
:.
personnel.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now ,
be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Summary of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an end
view of an intaglio cylindrical printing press wherein the ,~
nozzle portion of a preferred embodiment of the ink applica- ;;~
tor according to the present invention is shown schematically *
in section.
Figure 2 is a schematlc end view of an intaglio
printing press showing schematically in section a preferred
embodiment of the ink applicator according to the invention. ~ `
Figure 3 is a plan view showing an ink applicator
including a plurality of ink containers such as that illus-
' trated in Figure 2 mounted in position adjacent the plate
cylinder roller of an intaglio printing press. -
Figure 4 is a detailed end elevation section view
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1~62~56
of the nozzle of an ink applicator such as that illustrated
in Figure 2. -' -
Figure 5 is a broken plan section view of the
nozzle portion of an ink applicator such as that shown in ~ i
Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a broken front elevation schematic
view of the end of the nozzle of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is an elevation fragment view of a mechanical
ink shearing element for use in the ink applicator illustrated
in Flgure 5. ~;~
Figure 8a is an end view and Figure 8b is a side
elevation view of a cam for use in controlling the val~e
illustrated in the ink applicator of Figure 5. ;~
Figure 9 is an end elevation view of an alternative,
split cam, arrangement for use as a valve control cam for ; ~
the valve of Figure 5. ~ ;
Figure 10 is an end elevation view, partially
. . . .
broken and partially in section, illustrating a locking bar i~ ;
arrangement for use in fixing the pressurized ink nozzle ~
carriage to the press frame in conjunction with a preferred ~-
embodiment of the present invention. ;~ ~ -
"~
Figure lOA is a detail view taken along line lOA~
lOA of Figure 10 showing the locking bar of Figure 10 ln
section and the slot which it engages so as to lock the
carriage in place.
Figures 11 and 12 are schematic flow diagrams-for
alternative air pressure and ink supply systems for providing
air under pressure and ink to ink containers for use in a ;~
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 13 is a side elevation section view of
an alternative embodiment of a nozzle for an ink applicator
in accordance with the invention. ~;
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~61 62~!56 :
Figure 14 is a side elevation section view of
a further alternative embodiment of a nozzle for an ink
applicator in accordance with the invention. `,
Figure 15 is a fragmentary front elevation view
. . .
of the nozzle exit of Figure 14.
Figure 16 is a side elevation section view of ``
a further alternative embodiment of a nozzle for an ink
applicator in accordance with the invention. ~`
Figure 17 is a fragmentary detail view, in section
10- of blade and blade support elements for use in the embodi-
ment depicted in Figure 16.
Figure 18 is a fragmentary detail plan view of a '-
blade for use in the embodiment depicted in Figure 16.
Figure 19 is a side elevation section view of
a further alternative embodiment of a nozzle for an ink ~ `
applicator in accordance with the invention. ~ r .
Figure 20 is a side elevation section view of ~-
... . . .
a further alternative embodiment of a nozzle for an ink
applicator in accordance with the invention.
Figure 21 is a fragmentary detail side elevation ~ -
view of the ends of the blades of the embodiment of Figure 20. ' ~ ;
Figure 22 is a fragmentary detail side elevation `
view of an alternative version of a trailing blade for use
in the embodiment of Figure 20.
Detailed Description with Reference to Drawings ~
Figure 1 portrays schematically a conventional ~;
plate cylinder 35 of an intaglio printing press forming a
nip 51 with an impression roller 36 into which nip a sheet
or web of paper 52 adapted to receive an ink image is fed.
In the drawing, cylinder 35 is shown as rotating counter~
clockwise. As the paper 52 passes through the nip 51, the
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62956
ink image deposited in engraved recesses (not shown) on
the printing plate of the plate cylinder 35 is transferred
to the paper 52. Prior to the rotation of the image-bearing s
portion of the plate cylinder to the nip, the image areas ~of the plate have been inked, wiped and polished. In ;
conventional intaglio printing presses, ink is applied
liberally prior to the rotation of the plate under the wiper
or wipers. A conventional wiper 31 is shown over which ~;
wiping paper, burlap or other suitable material 32 is passed
to contact and wipe the plate. The plate ls thereafter
polished by a conventional polisher 33 over which polisher ~ -
paper or other suitable material 34 is passed. The wiper 31
performs a plurality of functions,viz. wiping ink both into
and out of the engraved recesses of the plate so as to leave ;the recesses filled to a desired level, and wiping most of
the ink off the non-engraved areas of the plate. The polisher
33 removes any ink remnant from the non-engraved areas. In ;~
.;~ .
a conventional press, in order to remove some of the ink prior -
to the wiping action, an ink saving device (not shown) may be `~
positioned clockwise of the wiper 31 relative to the plate
cylinder so as to remove and save some of the ink applied `prior to the wiping operation.
According to the present inventionj the conventional
applicator rollers for applying ink from a fountain to the
plate cylinder are eliminated, and instead a pressurized ink
applicator is provided for the application of ink to the -
plate cylinder prior to its passage under the wiper 31. In
this discussion, the use of a thixotropic ink will be assumed.
In Figure 1, the nozzle 3 of an embodiment of an ink appli- -
cator according to the invention is schematically illustrated
in section. The ink flows out of the nozzle 3 via exit
.
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106Z956
channels or conduits 53 into ink deposit regions 73 formed .~ :
between a series of blades 1 transversely spaced relative j :.
to the plate (i.e. circumferentially spaced relative to a .
cylindrical plate) and resiliently mounted in the end of ~:
the nozzle 3 so as to bear against the cylindrical surface
of the cylinder 35. . . `
,;' .: .
It will be seen that since two exit regions 73
are provided, a temporary flow failure in one region will not `:
cause the total failure of flow of ink to the engraved
recesses on the plate cylinder, because the chance that a :
gas or vapor bubble (or conceivably an evacuated space) will
occur simultaneously in both regions is relativeIy low. If ~:
necessary, however, the number of exit regions could be '~
.~i ' ~: '. '
increased to three or more, (simply by increasing the ~ .
number of ink flow paths and blades) so as to decrease the ~ ~
chance that any concurrent failure of flow in all regions ",r, ~ .
would result in failure to fill any engraved areas of the .
- - ;
plate cylinder. . :
The end structure of the nozzle 3 can best be
seen from an inspection of Figures 5 and 6. Figure 6 shows
: blades 1 spaced from one another in fixed relationship, the
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seal with the plate being maintained by blade end seals 38. .
Between the three blades are located the ink channels 53 . ::
separated from one another by spaced bars 76. The ink 5~ .
channels 53 and ink deposit regions 73 should preferably be ~. ~
large enough so that if there is a temporary interruption of ; ;.
flow at one of the ink deposit regions, there will still be ~ :
enough flow at the other to fill the engraved recesses ;`. .
completely. However, the channels 53 should be small enough
so that ink drag against the walls defining the channels
53 causes some shearing of the ink, thereby tending to
maintain the low viscosity of the ink (which has been imparted .
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thereto by means to be described below).
In order that the contact of the blades with the
plate cylinder be a pressure contact and yet a resilient
contact, mounting pads 2 (Figure 4) of rubber or other
suitable deformable elastic material may be provided in
the grooves 77 within the nozzle 3 in which the blades 1 are
mounted, so that variations or irregularities in the
cylindrical surface 35 may be accommodated by the compression
of the resilient material 2~and the flexing (in the radial
direction) across the width of the plate cylinder of the
blades 1, which follow the contour of the plate. The
blades 1 are made of a suitable high-impact-strength, low-
friction, long-wearing material which is chemically resistant
to the ink and soft enough not to cause appreciable damage
to the printing plate, yet should be resistant to the abrasion
of the plate cylinder. Plastic materials containing an
imbedded lubricant such as high density polyethylene or poly-
urethane containing molybdenum disulphide, teflon, graphite l;
or the like are suitable. The blades for example may be
1/8" thick, separated by small gaps, say 1/16". The blades
should bear against the printing plate with enough force to
prevent an excess quantity of ink from flowing under the
blades and being deposited on non-engraved areas. ~-
Although some heat will necessarily be developed by -~
the rubbing contact between blades 1 and plate cylinder 35,
the heat will generally be found to improve the flow
,
characteristics of the ink. The total heat developed by
the arrangement of Figure 1 will in most cases be found to ' -
be lower than the total heat developed by conventional inking -
systems, in which the transfer rollers, especially the form
roller, generate substantial heat in operation.
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1062956
Figure 2 shows in schematic section an elevation
view of a preferred embodiment of the ink applicator under
discussion. The applicator, generally identified by reference
numeral 54, is mounted on a carriage 18 which can be moved
towards and away from the plate cylinder 35 so that the
nozzle 3 can be moved in and out of contact with the surface
of plate cylinder 35. The carriage 18 is provided with
rotatably mounted toothed pinions 22 (see Figure 3) which
engage gear racks 21 mounted on the frame of the press, ,:
thereby permitting movement of the applicator relative to the
plate cylinder 35. This is accomplished by manual rotation ,:
of hand wheel 23 (see Figure 3) fixed to shaft 24 journalled .:'' '.'
for rotation in the carriage 18. The shaft 24 also carries ,''. : .
. ,
~, pinions 22 fixed to the shaft, so that rotation of wheel 23
. moves the carriage 18 towards and away from the plate cylinder , .,~
35. The carriage 18 is provided with a locking bar 19
; which engages a slo,t in the press frame (not shown) thereby ~',: . '
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j9, to enable the carriage to be fixed in position with the ,'
,~ nozzle 3 in contacting relationship with the plate cylinder .' ;
20 35. '~
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., The operation of the locking bar arrangement can ',.'~
~ be more readily perceived by referring to Figures 10 and lOA. ''-~
;. When the carriage is fixed in place relative to the frame, ~ ~''',
bar 19 engages a slot 145 in carrier support bars 103 which :
~i~, are fixed to the press side frame elements 101. The locking ,:
, . . ..
. bar 19 is shown in this position in Figures 10 and lOA. , ~ : ,
'; If it is desired to free the carriage for movement, the ' ,
, bar 19 is pressed inwardly (to the left as seen in Figure 10). ,; '
.'i Cam followers 105 fixed to and projecting horizont`ally from ~ , '
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~-~ 30 the locking bar 19 ride on cammed support blocks 107.
"' Blocks 107 are bolted'by machine bolts 108 to the carriage
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11[)629S6
frame 106. As the bar 19 is pushed to the left as seen
i in Figure 10, the cam followers 105 move upwardly along
.: inclined surfaces 109 of blocks 107, thereby causing the
bar 19 to lift out of the slot in carrier support bar 103,
;
.:,. thereby .~reeing the carriage for travel.
Fine adjustment of the position of the nozzle 3
.~ and of the mechanical contact pressure to be applied by the
nozzle 3 against the plate cylinder 35 is obtained by rotating
nozzle adjusting screw 15 (Fiyure 2) which is threadedly ~ .
mounted in block 55 fixed to carriage 18, the screw being
provided with a bearing plate 56 which engages the end 57 . : 'i
of ink cylinder support plate 58 to which ink applicator 54 . . .
is fixed, thereby to adjust the pressure with which the
nozzle 3 bears against cylinder 35 and to make fine position .
J adjustment to compensate for wear of the blades 1. A
. mechanical contact pressure of the blades 1 against the
.~ cylinder 35 of the order of 15 psi is expected to be satis-
, factory. A compromise must be drawn between raising the
j~ pressure to improve doctoring of the applied ink and lowerlng
; 20 the pressure to mlnlmize plate cylinder and blade wear.
J;~ ~ In Figure 2, the nozzle 3 is shown in working
position. The nozzle 3 is fixed to pivotally-connected arm
` ~60, which is adapted to pivot about a pin 61 fixed to the
carriage 18. This enables the entire nozzle assembly 25
to be pivoted (clockwise as seen in Figure 2) away from ink : .:
containers 59 when the carriage is moved away from plate ~ .:
~; cylinder 35, thereby facilitating replacement, cleaning or
maintenance of the nozzle 3 (which is normally locked in
place to nozzle mounting plate 11).
The ink applicator 54 includes a plurality of ink
containers 59 (four being illustrated in Figure 3). Each
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container 59 is mounted to the rear (to the left in
Figures 2 and 4) of a nozzle mounting plate 11.
The ink containers can be designed in any one of
several different ways. Two different designs are illus-
trated in part in Figure 5. In the left-hand variant,
container 59 contains a vacuum-packaged disposable, plastic
or cardboard tube 10 (see Figure 4) filled with printing ink.
A piston 12 (see Figure 2) is located in the rear portion
of the container 59 and is adapted to slide within the tube
10 to exert pressure against the ink in the tube 10. Air
pressure at say, 50 psi is applied to piston 12 via a
compressed air inlet 13 located in closure cap dl which
engages the end of the container 59 in a press fit. As
ink is ejected from nozzle 3, the air pressure causes the
forward motion of the piston 12 to occupy the space vacated
by the ejected ink.
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Mechanical pressure is applied to the closure cap
81 by means of a pressure block 63 rotatably mounted on the
. .
end of a screw 82 which threadedly engages a removable
! 20 cylindrical clamping device 62 mounted on support plate 58.
' Screw 82 may be rotated by a handwheel or knob 14 fixed `
i,, . . :
~ thereto.
. ~ , .
In the right-hand variant of the ink container of
Figure 5, the ink container 59 is provided with an inlet ~ ;
, port 138 to which a supply pipe 136 is connected. The supply
pipe is connected to a source of ink (not shown in Figure 5)
~ from which ink may continually be supplied to maintain the
; volume of ink within container 59 substantially constant or
within present limits. (Air pressure will still be maintained
on a piston (not shown in Figure 5) to govern the force
applied to the ink to eject it from the applicator.)
. ..
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1062956
; The forward edges of the sidewalls~of the ink
.,l containér 59 (or disposable cartridge) fit into a cylindrical
', end cap 39. An o-ring 9 maintains a seal between the end
cap and the container sidewalls.
', The air pressure systems:for the ink containers
i~ can be best understood by referring to Figures 11 and 12. . 'i
` First referring to Figure 11, air pressure is supplied from ,: . -
:~ :
'~ a main line 111 through shut-off valve 113 and pressure ,
.~ regulator 115 (which may include an air filter and gauge) ~ '.
to a manual control valve 117. From the manual control valve : ,
,, 117, the air passes along a trunk feeder line 119 to ',
individual ink :containers 59, which may be connected to trunk . '
line 119 by self-storing air hoses 123~and quick disconnecting
couplings,125. If cartridge-type ink containers are used,
the ink containers will include a fixed quantity of ink which
1 will eventually be exhausted through the nozzle 3.
:l If, however, a more permanent ink-containing
arrangement is desired, that of Figure 12 may be suitable. '~ ~
'i In the arrangement of Figure 12, an ink reservoir 127 con- -, ; ,
` ~20 taining a relatively large quantity of ink is provided. ~ ;
¦ Ink is pumped out of the reservoir intermittently'~y a .,, '~
constant volume displacement pump 129. The pump is connected
i to the individual ink containers 59 via a trunk feeder line ',~: :
`¦ 131, individual ink shut-off valves 133, and individual ink
, ,
input supply lines 135. By this arrangement the quantity of '~
ink is maintained within predetermined limits in the ink
containers 59. Air pressure is applied to the ink in the
~ same way as described above with reference to Figure 11
`~ The flow of ink from each container 59 through to
the nozzle 3 and into contact with plate cylinder 35 can be !`.j,
perceived in greater detail by referring to Figures 4 and 5. '
~: - 1 9 -
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~, , ,,.:.
,.
. , . . - . : : . : .;
1062956 . - -
A central channel 64 is provided in end cap 39, the ink
flowing from left to right as seen in Figure 4 past orifice .. :
,. bar 40 into a first accumulating chamber 65. An energy ~-:
transfer device viz. a heating element 4, may be provided . .
adjacent each orifice in the bar 40 to impart energy to the ..
ink thereby to improve the flow characteristics of the ink
as it flows into the accumulating chamber 65. The ink ~ .. .-.
then passes through a further energy transfer device, viz.
mechanical shearing element 86, the structure of which is
shown in end elevation view in Figure 7, and which can be
seen in that drawing to comprise a flat p].ate having spaced
along its length a series of perforate arrays 87 separated
by solid plate portions 88. The ink acquires energy as a ~ : .
result of its being forced under pressure through the sieve~
, like perforations. . :
~, A slotted bar 42, as can best be seen by referring .
to Figure 5, is provided with a series of regularly spaced ;~ .
vertical slots 66 separated.by solid plate portions 67. .: ~
~ Bar 42 and plate 86 are mounted so that perforate arrays 87 ..
.j , ' . ' .
are next to slots 66, whilst solid areas 88 are next to solid ~ ;
areas 67. The bar 42 acts as one of two gate elements be- ~
,
:: tween which a sliding valve 7 reciprocates, the other gate -~-
. .
element being valve back-up bar 41 which is likewise provided :: .
with a plurality of vertical regularly spaced slots 68 . ~ -
separated by solid plate portions 69. It can be seen that
,
slots 66 are horizontally off-set from slots 68. The valve ~. .
7 is provided with vertical gaps 70 wider than the gaps 68 '~ .,
and 66 located in the plates 41 and 42 and between which are
located solid valve portions 71. The sliding action of the .~.`:
valve 7 will be further explained below; for the present it ',
. .
; is sufficient to observe that when valve 7 is in the position
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62956
shown in Figure 5, ink can flow from chamber 65 throuyh
element 86, slots 66, valve openings 70, and slots 68 into
an accumulating chamber 72. From chamber 72 the ink flows
through channels 53 as described previously with reference
to Figure 1. The spacing between blades 1 is chosen to be
wider than each channel 53 so that spaces 73 -formed between
the blades 1 function as final accumulating chambers in the
region immediately adjacent the surface of plate cylinder 35,
thus tending to ensure the filling of the engraved channels
on the printing plate. Further heating elements 74 (Figure 4)
may be provided adjacent channels 53 in the nozzle 3 in order
to maintain a satisfactorily low viscosity of,the ink as it
flows through channels 53.
The mechanism for actuating valve 7 will now be
desoribed.
Affixed to the plate cylinder 35 is a cam element ~ '
16 (see Figures 5, 8a and 8b) against which spaced~cam
followers 17, fixed to valve actuator slide 45, bear. Cam ;~
followers 17 engage opposite sides of camming rib 93 of cam
element 16. In the position of the valve shown in Figure 5,
the camming rib 93 is shown as being in the extreme right
position. As the cam 16 rotates with the cylinder ~5,
however, the camming rib 93 will at the appropriate time `~
move to the left (as seen in Figure 5). As the rib 93 moves
,~ .
to the left, cam followers 17 follow, forcing valve actuator
~'~ slide 45 and vaIve actuator pin 46 mounted in the slide 45
also to the left. The pin 46, which passes through sliding
` valve element 7, forces element 7 also to move to the left.
As a result, the solid portions 71 of the valve element 7
will assume a blocking position between gaps 68 and 66 to
prevent flow of ink from accumulating chamber 65 into chamber 72.
. .
~ - 21
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. . - . ~ . . . . .
. . . . .
106Z956 : ~ ~
The arcuate portion of the cam 16 occupied by the "right ;.
: hand position" of the cam is chosen to coincide more or
less with that portion of the plate cylinder whi¢h bears --~
.
. the image, whilst the "left hand portion" of :the cam is
. . .
:, chosen to coincide more or less with a non-image area of ;.: .
the plate cylinder so that ink will flow only at the times ..
that an image appears beneath the nozzle 3. Since there
is a certain amount of inertia and drag in the ink flow
from accumulating chamber 65 to the accumulating chambers 73,
the initial and terminating positions of the cam relative `.
to the plate cylinder can be slightly offset from the image
areas so that valve action is set to precede the actual
. appearance of image or non-image areas under the nozzle 3.
~i If desired, the cam 16 can be split into two or .
~. more segments so as to permit adjustment of the position at .:
;; which the sliding valve operates. Figure 9 illustrates this .
.', possibility, showing separate cam segments 95 fixed to the .:
~` plate cylinder 35. At least one of the segments is provided .. ::
with circumferentially extending slots 97 through which bolts ~ :
dj 20 99 engaging threaded bores in cylinder 35 pass, the bolts
~i furnishing capability for circumferential adjus.tm-ent-:of the . .
cam segments 95.
:i Figure 9 also illustrates in greater detail the .l ~ '
most common version of rotary intaglio printing cylinder, ~.:~ ."
viz. a plate cylinder upon which a printing plate 141 is -: :
mounted by means of clamping elements 147. This type of
printing cylinder requires that there be a substantial gap
, or non-image area.143 in the vicinity of the clamped ends of
. the plate 141, and for this arrangement the use of a valve ~ . :
~ .
arrangement to cut off ink flow while the non-image area is .~ .
underneath the ink applicator is especially useful. :; : ;
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` 1062956
It will be noted f~om the above discussion that
accumulating chambers are provided to minimize the possibility
of occurrence of gas or vapor bubbles in the ink flow path.
These accumulating chambers are, with one exception mentioned
below, located immediately before constrictions in the ink
flow path. Chamber 65 for example, is provided immediately
before ink-shearing element 86 and the gate and valve openings
adjacent thereto. Accumulating chamber 72 is provided inter-
mediate the passage of ink from the exit gate 41 into nozzle
conduits 53. Finally, the exception is the provision of the r-
ink deposit regions 73 formed beiween blades 1 when the
blades are in contact with the plate cylinder 35. These final
ink accumulating regions 73 tend to ensure that enough ink
j is available between the blades to fill the engraved recesses
on the printing plate.
Figure 13 illustrates a side~elevation section view
of an alternative nozzle structure for use in accordance with
the teachings of this invention. The nozzle structure,
generally indicated as 151, is provided with only a single
'' 20 ink channel 53 leading from accumulating region 72 to the
nozzle exit 73 located between two transversely extending
i ,
blades 153, 155. The nozzle 151 can be mounted in the assembly
illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 by means of the removable bolts
174 and associated clamping elements 176 shown in those Figures.
i The lower b~ade 155 is retained in a snug fit in
recess 157 at the inner extremity of which is located a
resilient elastomeric pad 159. The blade 155 is provided at
i its free end with a downwardly outwardly sloping surface 161.
The outermost flat tip 163 of the blade 155 sealingly contacts
the printing surface when the nozzle 151 is operationally
mounted in theprinting press. The sloping surface 161 facili-
tates an accumulation of ink on the printing surface and thus
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~ 1062~56 ~ ~:
complete fill of the engraved recesses prior to the doctoring : . :.
- of the ink from the printing surface by the trailing blade 155. -
- The upper leading blade 153 is mounted against a .
: sloping surface 165 of the nozzle body 152 by means of a clamp .
;~ 167 and a plurality of clamping bolts 169 ~threadedly engaging :
~ . .
the body 152. In opera~ion, the free end 171 of the blade 173 :
preferably makes a light pressure contact with the printing : .
surface for the purpose of sealing the nozzle exit region 73. .
If the speed of movement of the printing surface past the
10 nozzle 151 is sufficiently rapid, it is possible that the free
~ end 171 of blade 153 could be separated from the printing
~ surface by a very slight clearance, because the combined effect
of the rapid relative motion and the very small clearance :
between the blade 153 and the printing surface might prevent
the flow of ink around the free end 171 of the blade 153.
However, to be on the safe side, an actual sealing contact
.1 of the blade 153 with the printing surface is preferred.
Each of the blades 153, 155 may be made of a hard .
strong plastic materlal for long life and minimum wearing
of the printing surface, and can suitably be about an 1/8 in.
thick and can be separated from one another by about .030 to
.060 in. The slope of the surface 161 of blade 155 can be
at about 20 to the vertical (it being assumed that the ~. :
tangent to the printing surace:is vertical). The mechanical `~
force with which the lower trailing blade 155 engages the : :
printing surface should be fairly high (see the discussion - :
" ~ . .
above with reference to the nozzle described in Figures 4,
5 and 6) in order to minimize ink scum on the printing
surface and to ensure that the ink at nozzle ex~it 73 is
30 . maintained under sufficient pressure to fill completely the ~:
e~graved recesses of the printing surface. However, as :: .
, . . .
~ - 24 - `
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lO~;Z956
indicated above, the upper blade 153 may contact the printing
surface with a lighter force, the engagement of the blade 153
with the printing surface merely being sufficient to prevent
ink from oozing out between the free end 171 of blade 153
~ - ,
and the printing surface.
Figure 14 illustrates, in side elevation section
view, a modified version 181 of the nozzle of Figure 13. In
this case, the nozzle configuration is the same except that
the inclined blade 153 is replaced by two spaced plastic
blades 183, 185 which provide twoink exit regions 73A, 73B
for the nozzle 181. The uppermost blade 183 is provided
with a resilient elastomeric pad 159 located in the slotted
recess 187 into which the blade 183 snugly fits. The centre~
most blade 185 is preferably wedge-shaped, with the broad
face of the wedge at the exit and the converging surfaces
projecting inwardly into the ink channel 53. The wedge ~-~
surfaces enable the hydraulic load of the ink flow through
the ink channel 53 to e~ert oùtward pressure on the blade
185 tending to maintain it in contact with the printing
surface. The blade 185 is maintaine/d in accurate vertical
spacing relative to blades 183 and i55 by means of spacer
elements 189 (see also Figure 15). The three-blade configura-
tion enables the principle of~redundancy to be applied to
ensure that the ink-receiving engraved recesses of the
printing surface are completely filled.
Although the plastic blade configurations heretofore
described are satisfactory for the purposes inlicated, never-
.
theless in order to reduce the amount of ink scum on the
j printing surface, a metal doctor blade serving as the trailing
blade may be substituted for the plastic trailing blade. A
nozzle configuration otherwise identical to that of Figure 13
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6;~956
but in which a matal doctor blade 195 ls substituted for the -
plastic doctor blade 155 is illustrated in Figure 16. The
metal blade 195, as more clearly illustrated in Figure 18, is
preferably of comb-like steel or beryllium-copper alloy
structure havingaprinting-surface-contacting face 194 and
a plurality of spaced supporting strips 192 separated by
spaces 198. The blade 195 is mounted between two blade support
elements 193, also preferably made of steel. The innermost
end 196 of the blade 195 and the innermost endsofthe blade
support elements 193 contact a spring steel plate 197 which
in turn bears against elastomeric pad 159. The elements ~ ,
193 and 195 together snugly fit in nozzle body slot 157.
The blade 195 can preferably be about .020 in.
, thick. The contacting face 194 of blade 195 should project
outwardly beyond the outermost ends of blade support
elements 193 by about .010 in. but preferably not appreciably
s more than this amount. The comb-like structure and thin
section of the blade 195 enable it to accommodate surface
irregularities in the printing surface so as to tend to
minimize wear of the printing surface by t~ebl~de contact.
On the other hand, the effective stiffness ofthe blade 195
for doctoring purposes is maintained by the blade support -
elements 193.
Figure 19 illustrates in side elevational sectional ;
view a nozzle 201 substantially ~identical to the nozzle 181
` of Figure 14 with the exception that the lower blade 1-55 is
replaced by a blade 195 and blade support elements 193 as ~ -
described with reference to Figure 16. The Figure 19 variation
permits the principle of ink exit redundancy to be used to
~, :
ensure complete filling of the engraved recesses of the ; ~ -
printing surface. o ~
, '''~' ' ' .
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~" -. / , ., . . . . . . , , , . ~ . . . . . .
1062956
Figure 20 illustrates in side elevation section
: . .
view a further nozzle embodiment 203 in which two nozzle
:
blades 205, 207 are shown mounted at an angle to the vertical
(it being assumed that the tangent to the printing surface
is vertical). The upper blade 205 may be made of spring steel
of .020 in. thickness and is clamped in place by clamping
~` element 167 and-bolt 169 in the same manner as discussed
`~ previously with réference to Figure 13. The lower blade 207
,
may be of essentially the same dimensions as the blade 205
and of the same material and is clamped by a similar clamping
element 209 and associated bolt 211., Resilient elastomeric
pads 211, 213 are provided against which the blades 205, 207
may deflect to a limited amount to accommodate irregularities
in the printing surface. The blades 205 and 207, as more
clearly illustrated in Figure 2L are separated from one
another by a small gap of the order of .040-.060 in. and
the contacting edges of the blades are preferably rounded,
as indicated by rèférence numeral 208, to minimize wear of
the printing surface. It wlll be appreciated that over a -
period of time the rounded edges will tend to be flattened off,
but in any event the curvature tends to facilitate the deflec- ,~
tion of the blades 205, 207 against the resilient force exerted
,. .
~ by pads 211 and 213 whenever a surface irregularity strikes
'~` either of the blades. Indeed, it may be preferable to generate
an initial flattening of at least the lower blade 207, as
indicated by flattened area 210 in Figure 22, in order to
1~ preven~ the possibility of ink flow around the end of blade
i' 207 when the-blade 207 is engaging a transversely oriented
! engraved recess. The flattened portion 210 over distance S
should thus be wider than the widest transverse engraved
recess to be expected on the printing surface. ~-,
,, '
j - 27 -
~6Z956 ::
It will be apparent that a centrally located wedge-
shaped third blade located between blades 205, 207 could
optionally be provided if desired, along the general lines
of the teachings given above with reference to Figures 14
and 19.
It will be observed that the structures of Figures
13 to 20 enable relatively easy blade replacement, and in
some cases the blades can be re-used merely by reversing the
blades in their nozzle positions to present a fresh edge to
the printing surface.
Variants in the elements of the ink applicators `
described above will readily occur to those skilled in the
art. For example, the blades 1 could be spring-loaded
instead of mounted against a resilient elastomeric material.
A valve arrangement other than the sliding valve described
could be chosen although any valve which must bear the ink
flow pressure should preferably not be chosen. A suitable
valve should not, when operated càuse any significant
movement of ink along its flow path. Rotating-type valves,
..
~ 20 however, could be chosen which would not be subjected directIy
,: ~ ~.. -
to the ink load. Other variants may occur to those persons
w1shing to practise the invention without detracting from
;.. . ..
the general principles of the invention.
'1: '~ '
-.
,.:
~ - .
~, .
~ - 28 -
