Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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DISPOSABLE CUP INSERT FOR PAD PRINTING AND
DECORATING
INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to liquid supply assemblies for
printers. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a disposable cup insert as a
temporary reservoir
designed to hold a liquid (e.g., a liquid mixture of ink and thinner) used in
a pad printing and
decorating process.
[0003] Automated printing systems are in widespread use in a host of
industries. The
number of types of printing systems is almost as great as the number of
industries in which these
systems are used.
[0004] One type of printing system that operates in a fully automatic or
near fully
automatic mode is a pad printing system. These systems are used to apply high
quality print (e.g.,
indicia) on flat as well as non-flat surfaces. For example, pad printing
systems can be used to
print logos and the like on cellular telephone covers, game balls (e.g., golf
balls) and the like. It
will be appreciated that such printing must be carried out, not only on a
spherical surface, but on
a surface that is formed with dimples as well.
[0005] Conventional pad printing systems use a deformable pad which
receives ink,
transferred as an image, from a flat cliché plate. The plate has an engraving
or etching of the
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indicia formed therein. ink is transferred from a liquid supply assembly to
the cliche plate, and
fills into the etched areas. The defonnable pad is then pressed onto the plate
and ink within the
liquid is picked up by the pad. The image is then transfer ed to the curved
surface which is to be
printed.
[00061 To re-ink the pad, in a commonly used arrangement, an inverted cup
containing a
quantity of printing ink is used to apply the ink to the cliché plate. To
apply a new coating of ink
to the cliché plate, the cup and cliche plate are moved relative to each other
following each ink
transfer operation. A doctor blade is fitted to the cup to traverse along the
cliche plate and "wipe"
excess ink from the cliché plate. This assures that ink is left behind in the
etching but does not
build up on the plate, inside or outside of the etched areas.
100071 Currently, the cup is typically cleaned after each use of the cup
in applying a new
coating of ink to the cliche plate. Such cleaning can be costly in terms of
time, labor and
materials. Accordingly, there is a need for a liquid supply assembly for a
printing system that
minimizes, if not eliminates, a cleaning requirement of the reusable cup after
each of use of the
cup in applying a new coating of ink to the cliché plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
100081 The present invention provides a new and unique liquid supply
assembly
employing a reusable cup including a reusable liquid reservoir, a disposable
cup insert including
a temporary liquid reservoir for holding a liquid within the reusable liquid
reservoir, and a
scraping element including a conduit in liquid communication with the
temporary liquid
reservoir of the disposable cup insert. This liquid assembly is designed to be
used by a printing
system of the type in which the reusable cup is secured by the printer system
whereby the liquid
held by the temporary liquid reservoir of the disposable cup insert can be
deposited by the
conduit in a receiving region on a plate and any excess Of the liquid in the
receiving region can
be scraped from the plate by the Scraping element.
100091 The disposable cup insert includes a hollow reservoir body having
an open outlet
and a closed base defining the temporary liquid reservoir.
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. ,
100101 In a first form of the disposable cup insert, the closed
base has a flexible material
composition to facilitate an expansion of the temporary liquid reservoir in
response to an
increase in a gas pressure exerted by the liquid on the temporary liquid
reservoir.
[0011] In a second form of the disposable cup insert, the open
outlet includes a seal
enclosing the conduit of the scraping element.
[0012] In a third form of the disposable cup insert, the open
outlet includes a hinge
facilitating movement of the scraping element relative to the disposable cup
insert.
[0012a] In a broad aspect, a liquid supply assembly for a printing
system is provided. The
liquid supply assembly includes a disposable cup insert that defines a liquid
reservoir for holding
ink. The disposable cup insert has a closed base and an opposite open outlet
that is positioned at
a first end of the disposable cup insert. The first end of the disposable cup
insert includes a
channeled seat extending around the open outlet. There is a scraping element
shaped to be
positioned inside the channeled seat of the first end of the disposable cup
insert. The scraping
element defines a conduit through which the ink flows from the liquid
reservoir of the disposable
cup insert to a cliché plate for applying the ink to one or more objects via
the cliché plate. There
is a sealing material bonded to and positioned between the disposable cup
insert and the scraping
element. The sealing material is a flexible body that is bonded to the
disposable cup insert and
the scraping element when the scraping element is at least partially
positioned in the sealing
material when the sealing material is in a fluid state and the sealing
material cures around the
scraping element. The channeled seat of the disposable cup insert is defined
by three sides of the
disposable cup insert at the first end of the disposable cup insert, and the
sealing material is
disposed between the scraping element and each of the three sides of the
disposable cup insert.
[001214 In another aspect, the invention pertains to a method that
includes loading a fluid
sealing material into a channeled seat in a first end of a disposable cup
insert of a liquid supply
assembly for a printing system. The disposable cup insert defines a liquid
reservoir for holding
ink used for printing with the printing system. The disposable cup insert has
a closed base and
an opposite open outlet that is positioned at the first end of the disposable
cup insert. A scraping
element is placed in the channeled seat of the disposable cup insert and at
least partially into the
fluid sealing material. The scraping element defines a conduit through which
the ink flows from
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the liquid reservoir of the disposable cup insert to a cliché plate for
applying the ink to one or
more objects via the cliché plate. The fluid sealing material is bonded to the
disposable cup
insert and the scraping element within the channeled seat of the disposable
cup insert. The
sealing material forms a seal between the scraping element and the disposable
cup insert in the
channeled seat of the disposable cup insert that prevents passage of the ink
between the scraping
element and the disposable cup insert in the channeled seat. The bonding of
the fluid sealing
material to the disposable cup insert and the scraping element includes curing
the fluid sealing
material. The channeled seat of the disposable cup insert is defined by three
sides of the
disposable cup insert at the first end of the disposable cup insert, and the
scraping element is
placed into the channeled seat of the disposable cup insert such that the
sealing material is
disposed between the scraping element and each of the three sides of the
disposable cup insert.
[0013] These and other features and advantages of the present invention
will be readily
apparent from the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become
more readily
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the
following detailed
description and accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a liquid
supply assembly in
accordance with the present invention as employed in a pad printing system
further employing a
printing pad and a cliché plate as known in the art;
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded side view of the liquid supply
assembly illustrated
in FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the liquid supply
assembly illustrated
in FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a first
embodiment of a sealing
configuration of the liquid supply assembly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 in
accordance with the
present invention;
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100191 FIG, 5 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a 'Second
embodiment of a
sealing configuration of the liquid supply assembly illustrated in FIGS., 2
and 3 in accordance
with the present invention;
100201 FIG. 6 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a third
embodiment Of a Sealing
configuration of the liquid supply assembly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 in
accordance with the
present mvention;
10021] FIG. 7 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a fourth
embodiment of a
sealing configuration of the liquid supply assembly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and
3 in accordance
with the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 8 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a fifth
embodiment of a sealing
configuration of the liquid supply assembly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 in
accordance with the
present invention;
[0023] Fla 9 illustrates a patliAl cross-sectional view Of 'a Sixth
embodiment of a sealing
configuration of the liquid supply assembly illustrated in FIGS, 2 and 3 in
accordance with the
present i nv en don;
[00241 FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary use of a pair of disposable cup
inserts in
accordance with the present invention
[00251 FIG, 11 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of another
embodiment of a
sealing configuration of the liquid supply assembly illustrated in FIGS. .2
and 3 in accordance
with the present invention;
10026.1 FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional View of another embodiment of
a seating
configuration of the liquid assembly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;
100271 FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the
seating
configuration shown in FIG. .12; and
100281 FIG. 14 illustrates a flowchart of one embodiment. of a method for
providing a
seal between a disposable cup insert and a scraping element.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various
forms, there
Is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described, as presently
preferred embodiments
with the understanding that the presently preferred embodiments are to be
considered an
exemplification of the present invention and are not intended to limit -the
present invention to the
specific embodiments illustrated,
100301 It should be understood that the title of this section of this
specification, namely,
"Detailed Description", relates to a requirement of' the United States Patent
Office, and does not
imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein.
[0031] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. I illustrates a portion of an
exemplary pad
printer 10 including a frame 11 having a reciprocating printing pad 12 mounted
thereto. Printing
pad 1.2 is a dethrmable pad onto which ink is transferred, and from which the
ink is further
transferred to the object to be imprinted. A typical printing pad 12. is
formed from a resilient, low
permeability material such as silicone rubber or the like.
[00321 Also shown are a cliché plate 20, which has the artwork in the form
of an
engraving or etching, and a liquid supply assembly 30, which is :secured by a
cup gripping
mechanism ("CGM") 13 of pad printer 10 whereby cliche plate 20 and liquid
supply assembly
30 can be reciprocated relative to one another to supply a liquid held by the
liquid supply
assembly 30 to cliche plate 20 (e.g., ink from an ink/thinner liquid mixture).
To this end, liquid
supply assembly 30 includes a reusable cup 40, a. disposable cup insert 50
inserted within
reusable cup 40, and a scraping element in the form of a doctor ring 60, In
operation, cup
gripping mechanism 13 secures reusable cup 40 as would be appreciated by-
those having
ordinary skill in the art Whereby, as the liquid supply assembly 30 and/or
cliche plate 2.0 are
being translated in a horizontal direction, liquid held by disposable cup
insert 50 can be
deposited in a receiving region on cliché plate 20 and any excess of the
liquid can be scraped
from cliche plate 20 by doctor ring 60 to thereby leave liquid in the
receiving region only of
cliche plate 20.
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100331 FIG. 2 illustrates an unassembled view of liquid supply assent* 30
arid FIG. 3
illustrates an .assembled view, of liquid supply assembly 30 -as placed on
cliché plate. 20. As
shown in FIG. 2, reusable cup 40 includes a. hollow reservoir body 41 having
an open flanged
outlet 42 and a closed base 43 defining a reusable liquid reservoir 44. As
shown in FIG. 3,
reusable liquid reservoir 44 has a size and shape for receiving disposable cup
insert 50 therein.
[0034] As shown in Fla 2,..dispoSable cup insert 50 includes a hollow
reservoir body '51.
having an open flanged outlet 5.2 and.a closed base 53 defining a temporary
liquid reservoir 54
.for holding a liquid within reusable liquid reservoir 54 (e.g., an
ink/thinner mixture), and doctor
ring 60 includes a 'hollow conduit body 61 having an open inlet 62 and an open
outlet 63 defining
a conduit 64. As shown in FIG. 3, reservoir 54 and conduit 64 are sized and
shaped to facilitate a
flow of liquid held by liquid reservoir 54 through conduit 64 when disposable
cup insert 50 and
doctor ring 60 are physically aligned.
100351 Referring to FIG. 3, reusable cup 40, disposable cup insert 50 and
doctor ring 60
can have any material composition suitable for holding and supplying liquid
(e,g,, ink) to cliche
plate 20 as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art. In
one embodiment,
closed base 53 (FI.G. 2) of disposable cup insert 50 has a flexible material
composition (e.g.,
derbrmable plastic that is recyclable) that theilitates an expansion of liquid
reservoir 54 as
indicated by the dashed outline of disposable cup insert 50 in response to an
increase in a gas
pressure exerted by the liquid on liquid reservoir 54, such as, for example,
an increase in the gas
pressure by an ink/thinner liquid mixture on liquid reservoir 54 in view of an
evaporation of the
thinner from the ink/thinner 'liquid mixture 'held by 'liquid reservoir 54.
In. this embodiment., other
portions of 'hollow reservoir body 51, such as open flanged outlet 52, can
also have a flexible
material composition.
100361 Referring to FIG. 2, a seal between the open flanged outlet 42 of
reusable cup 40,
open flanged outlet 52 of disposable cup insert 50, and/or doctor ring 60 may
be provided to
thereby prevent side leakage of the liquid held by temporary reservoir 54. The
present invention
does not impose any limitations or any restrictions as to the structural
configttrations of open
flanged outlet 42 of reusable cup 40 and open flanged outlet 52 of disposable
cup insert 50 .for
purposing- of facilitating such a seal. Thus, the following exemplary
embodiments of a sealing
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configuration does not limit nor restrict the scope of structural
configurations of open flanged
outlet 42 of reusable cup 40 and open .flanged outlet 52 of disposable cup
insert 50 for purposing
of facilitating a seal between the open flanged outlet 42 of reusable cup 40,
open flanged outlet
52 of disposable cup insert 50, and doctor ring 60.
[0037] In a first sealing configuration embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4,
the flange of
open outlet 42 is in the form of a seat 45 and the flange of open outlet 54 is
in the form of a seat
55. As assembled, seat 45 supports seat 55, which in turn supports conduit
body 61 to thereby
physically align liquid reservoir 54 with conduit 64. In this embodiment, a
seal between seat 45
and conduit body 61 is formed by a press-fit technique.
100381 In second sealing configuration embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the
flange of
open outlet 42 is again in the form of seat 45 and the flange of open outlet
54 is again in the form
of seat 55. As assembled, seat 45 supports seat 55, which in turn supports an
0-ring 70 adjacent
conduit 64 to thereby physically align liquid reservoir 54 with conduit 64. In
this embodiment,
0-ring 70 serves as the sole or primary seal.
[0039] In a third sealing configuration embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6,
the flange of
open outlet 42 is again in the form of seat 45 and the flange of open outlet
54 is again in the form
of seat 55. As assembled, seat 45 supports seat 55, which in turn supports an
0-ring 71 adjacent
an outer surface of conduit body 61 to thereby physically align liquid
reservoir 54 with conduit
64. In this embodiment, 0-ring 71 serves as the sole or primary seal.
100401 In a tburth sealing configuration emtlodiment, as shown in FIG. 7,
the flange of
open outlet 42 is again in the form of seat 45 and the flange of open outlet
54 is again in the form
of seat 55. As assembled, seat 45 supports seat 55, which in turn supports an
0-ring 73 adjacent
conduit 64 and the outer surface of conduit body 61 to thereby physically
align liquid reservoir
54 with conduit 64. In this embodiment, 0-ring 73 serves as the sole or
primary seal
[0041] In a fifth sealing configuration embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8,
the flange of
open outlet 42 is in the form of a channeled seat 46 and the flange of open
outlet 54 is in the
form of a seal 56. As assembled, channeled seat 46 supports seal 56, which in
turn encloses
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conduit 64 of conduit body 01 to thereby physically align liquid. reservoir 54
with conduit 64. In
this embodiment, seal 56 serves as the sole or primary !eat
[0042] In a sixth sealing configuration embodiment, .as shown in FIG. 9.
the flange of
open outlet 42 isagain in the form of channeled seat 46 and the flange of open
outlet 54 is in the
form of seal 56 and a hinge 57. .As assembled, channeled seat 46 supports seal
56, which in turn
encloses conduit 64 of conduit body 61 to thereby physically align liquid
reservoir 54 with
conduit 64. Hinge 57 has a flexible material composition to facilitate an
expansion of liquid
reservoir 54 and more importantly., to facilitate a movement of conduit body:
61 relative: to
disposable cup insert 50 due to imperfections in the surface contact between
cliché plate 20 and
conduit body 61 and to the pressurized environment within liquid reservoir 54.
In this
embodiment, seal 56 again serves as the sole or primary seal.
[0043] In a seventh sealing configuration embodiment, as shown in FIG, 11,
the flange of
open outlet 42 is again in the form of channeled seat 46 and the flange of
open .ain let 54 is in the
form of seal 56. In contrast to the fifth sealing configuration, the seventh
sealing configuration
includes an inner bottom portion. 70 of seal 56 substantially collinear with
an Miter lower portion
71 of Channeled seat 46. Additional stability is provided whereby seal 56
extends adjacent outer
lower portion 71 of channeled. seat 46. As assembled, channeled seat 46
supports Seal 56, which
in turn encloses conduit 64 of conduit body 51 to thereby ph-ysically align
liquid. reservoir 54
with conduit 64. in this embodiment, seal 56 serves as the sole or primary
seal. An orientation of
the elements in such a fashion allows ink to flow substantially unimpeded to
the edge of a
scraping element, and allows better ink coverage of the image. In one
embodiment, the :reservoir
body 5.1 includes an inner bottom portion 70 and an outer lower portion 7.1
separated by a
recessed portion, such that the recessed portion is configured to mate with a
conduit body, and
the inner bottom portion 70 and an outer lower portion 71 are substantially
collinear in another
embodiment, the reservoir body 51 includes an inner bottom portion 70 and an
outer lower
portion 71 separated by a recessed portion, such that the recessed portion is
configured to mate
with a conduit body, and the inner bottom portion 70 and an outer lower
portion 71 are not
substantially collinear. In another embodiment, the channeled seat includes a
recessed portion
separating an inner portion and an outer portion such that a lower surface of
the inner portion is
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not Collinear with a lower surface of the outer portion and each of the inner
portion, recessed
portion, and outer porti Oil is configured_ to mate with a reservoir body
holding ink.
[0044] In an eighth sealinp, configuration embodiment, as shown in FIGS.
12 and 13, the
flange Of the open outlet 42 is again in the form of the channeled seat 46 of
the disposable cup
insert 50. A sealing material 1200 is loaded into the channeled seat 46. The
disposable cup
insert 50 extends between a closed base or end 1202 and an opposite first end
1204 haying the
open outlet 42 through which ink held in the reservoir of the disposable cup
insert 50 is
dispensed. This sealing material 1200 can be loaded into the channeled seat 46
prior to placing
the scraping element or doctor blade 60 into the channeled seat 46.
Alternatively, the scraping
element 60 can be positioned into the channeled seat 46 and the sealing
material 1200 can be
loaded into the channeled seat 46 afterward (e.g., at least partially around
the scraping element
60).
[00451 The sealing material 1200 can be a fluid material or compound when
the sealing
material 1200 is placed into the channeled seat 46, in one aspect, the sealing
material 1200 may
be a liquid or gel material when loaded into the channeled seat 46. For
example, the sealing
material 1200 may be a fluid (e.g., uncured) silicone material, a caulk
material, or another
material that is capable of flowing at room temperature (e.g., 20 degrees
Celsius). The scraping
element 60 may then be at least partially placed into the fluid sealing
material 1200. The fluid
sealing material 1200 may then cure into a flexible material that forms a seal
between the
scraping element 60 and the disposable cup insert 50 in the channeled seat 46.
Alternatively, the
fluid sealing material 1200 may cure into a rigid or semi-rigid material that
forms a seal between
the scraping element 60 and the disposable cup insert 50 in the channeled seat
46, as shown in
FIG. 13.
100461 The disposable cup insert 50 may then be positioned in the reusable
cup 40 with
the sealing material 1200 and the scraping element 60 in the channeled seat 46
of the disposable
cup insert 50. Depending on how much sealing material 1200 is placed into the
channeled seat
60, where the scraping element 60 is positioned in the channeled seat 46 :reh-
Ove to the sealipg
material 1200 in the channeled seat 60, the width of the channeled seat 46,
the width of the
scraping element 60, and the like, the sealing material 1200 may extend
between the scraping
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element 60 and the disposable cup insert 50 along all three sides 1202, 1204,
1206 of the
disposable cup insert 50 in the channeled seat 46 (in the perspective of
'FIGS. 1.2 and 13).
Alternatively, the sealing material 1200 may extend between the scraping
element 60 and the
disposable cup insert 50 along fewer than all three sides of the disposable
cup insert 50 within
the Channeled seat 46. For example, from the perspective of FIGS. 12 and 13,
the sealing
material 1200 may only be disposed beneath the scraping element 60, to the
right of the scraping
element 60, to the left of the scraping element 60, or a combination of two of
these locations
(e.g., beneath and to the left of the scraping element 60, beneath and to the
right of the scraping
element 60, or to the right and left of the scraping element 60).
100471 Placing the sealing material 1200 in the channeled seat 46 can
provide an.
improved seal between the scraping element 60 and the disposable cup insert
50. The sealing
material 1200 can physically and/or chemically bond with the disposable cup
insert 50 and/or the
scraping element 60 to improve the seal therebetween. Additionally, use of a
sealing material
1200 that is flexible after curing can prevent cracking or tearing of the
disposable cup insert 50.
Extended use of the disposable cup insert 50 can result in the scraping
element 60 tearing or
cracking the disposable cup insert 50 in or near the channeled seat 46. The
flexible cured sealing
material 1200 can prevent this tearing or cracking for an extended period of
time relative to the
scraping element 60 being placed into the channeled seat 46 without the
sealing material 1200,
thereby extending the time period over which the disposable cup insert 50 can
be used.
100481 In another embodiment, the sealing material 1200 may be positioned
between
other components. For example, the sealing material 1200 may be positioned
between two or
more of the reusable hollow body, the disposable cup insert, and/or the
scraping element
described herein.
100491 FIG. 14 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method 1400 for
sealing a scraping
element to a disposable cup insert. The method 1400 may be used to seal the
scraping element
60 with the disposable cup insert 50. At 1402, a sealing material is placed
into a channeled seat
of the disposable cup insert. For example, the sealing material 1200 may be
placed into the
channeled seat 46 of the disposable cup insert 50 while the sealing material
1200 is in a fluid
state. At 1404, the scraping element is placed into the channeled seat of the
disposable cup
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insert. For example, the scraping element 60 may be placed into the channeled
seat 46 of the
disposable cup insert 50 and at least partially into the sealing material
1200. Alternatively, the
scraping element 60 may be placed into contact with, but not into, the sealing
material 1200. At
1406, the sealing material forms a seal between the scraping element and the
disposable cup
insert within the channeled seat of the disposable cup insert. For example,
the sealing material
1200 may cure and bond (e.g., chemically and/or physically bond) with the
disposable cup insert
50 and/or the scraping element 60 to form a flexible, semi-rigid, or rigid
body that forms a seal
between the scraping element 60 and the disposable cup insert 50 in the
channeled seat 46 of the
disposable cup insert 50.
100501 The previously disclosed flange embodiments of open outlet. 52 of
disposable cup
insert 50 can also have a flexible material composition to facilitate an
expansion of liquid
reservoir 54 as indicated by the dashed outline of reservoir body 51.
Furthermore, disposable cup
insert 50 may be supported by reusable cup 40 by any other technique (e.g.,
friction and snaps).
0051.1 Referring to FIGS. 1-13, the embodiments described herein provide
many
advantages of the liquid, supply assembly including, but not limited to, a
disposable cup insert
nesting in a reusable cup to thereby hold liquid away from the reusable cup
while permitting the
normal use of the reusable cup by a pad printing system. The result is a
significant reduction in
labor, material and costs associated with a cleaning of the reusable cup.
100521 Furthermore, for the sealing configuration embodiment shown in FIG.
9, a
suitable compressive engagement between cliché plate 20 and doctor blade 60
can be maintained
over the circumference of doctor blade 60 irrespective of imperfections in the
surface contact
between cliche plate 20 and doctor blade 60 and irrespective of the
pressurized environment
within liquid reservoir 54.
100531 Additional sealing configurations are possible with in the scope of
the invention as
modifications or combinations of the presently illustrated embodiments,
100541 FIG. 10 illustrates a further advantage of the present invention.
Specifically, a
black liquid supply assembly 30A includes a disposable cup insert 50.A
inserted into reusable
liquid reservoir 44 of reusable cup 40 with its temporary liquid reservoir 54A
holding a black
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41k/thinner liquid mixture 89 within reusable liquid resemon 44. As such,
black ink held by
temporary liquid reservoir 54A can be deposited in a receiving region of
cliche plate 20A and
any excess of the black ink in the receiving region can be scraped from cliche
plate 20A by
doctor ring 60,
[00551 Upon a conclusion of a printing use of the black ink deposited in
the receiving
region of cliche plate 20A, another batch of the black ink/thinner liquid
mixture 80 can be held
by temporary liquid reservoir 54A within reusable liquid reservoir 44 for
purposes of depositing
more black ink in the receiving region of cliché plate 20A to thereby use the
new hatch of black
ink in another printing process. Alternatively, black liquid supply assembly
30A can be
disassembled with a removal of disposable cup insert 50A from reusable liquid
reservoir 44, and
a red liquid supply assembly 30B can be assembled with a disposable cup insert
508 being
inserted into reusable liquid reservoir 44 of reusable cup 40 with its
temporary liquid reservoir
548 bolding a red inkftlinmer liquid mixture 81 within reusable liquid
reservoir 44. As such, red
ink held by temporary liquid reservoir 548 can be deposited in a receiving
region of cliche plate
208 and any excess of the red ink in the receiving region can be scraped from
cliché plate 208
by doctor ring 60.
10056] Upon a conclusion of a printing use of the red ink deposited in the
receiving;
region of cliche plate 2013, another batch of the red ink/thinner liquid
mixture 81 'can be held by
temporary liquid reservoir 54/3 within reusable liquid reservoir 44 for
purposes of depositing
more red ink in the receiving region of cliché plate 208 to thereby use the
new batch of red ink,
in another printing process. Alternatively, red liquid supply assembly 3013
can be disassembled
with a removal of disposable cup insert 50B from reusable liquid reservoir 44,
and another liquid
supply assembly can be assembled with reusable cup 40 as taught herein.
10057] In the disclosure, the words "a" or "an" are to be taken to include
both the
singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall,
where appropriate,
include the singular.
[0058] From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modification
and variations
can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the
novel concepts of the
present invention, It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to
the specific
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embodnnetits illustrated is intended Or Should be interred. The disclosure is
intended to cover by
the appended claims all such modifications as 11d1 within the. scope of the
claims.
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