CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/122,765
filed on March 3, 1999.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The field of the invention is printing presses, and more particularly, inking systems
for printing presses.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An offset printing press typically includes a plate cylinder carrying a printing
plate. The printing plate has oleophilic surfaces defining an image area, and hydrophilic
surfaces defining a non-image area. An inker applies ink to the printing plate which
collects on the oleophilic surfaces to form an image which can be transferred to a
blanket cylinder which transfers the image to media. By transferring the image from
the printing plate onto a blanket roller, and then onto the media, the printing plate
does not directly print the image on the media, hence the term offset printing.
[0005] The inker applies ink carried on one or more form rollers to the printing plate.
When the form roller in the inker engages the printing plate, the ink film on the
form roller contacting image areas on the printing plate is split such that approximately
one-half of the thickness of the ink film is applied to the image area of the printing
plate leaving approximately one-half the ink on the form roller causing a condition
referred to as starvation. The ink film on the form roller contacting non-image areas
on the printing plate remains on the form roller causing a condition called accumulation,
with no ink being transferred to the non-image area of the printing plate.
[0006] This combination of accumulation and starvation results in undesirable "ghosted"
image being formed on the final printed product. In order to minimize this problem,
conventional inkers include a plurality of form rollers which applies a small amount
of ink each. However, a single form roller inker is less complicated, and can provide
a superior final printed product because of the new uniform application of ink with
each revolution of the printing plate.
[0007] The printed product is monitored to determine when ink color has degraded beyond
an acceptable level. In order to control the quality of the printing, conventional
printer inkers also include a plurality of adjustable keys to control the amount of
ink being applied to the form roller. These keys require constant adjustment to maintain
the quality of the printed product.
[0008] One attempt to provide a keyless inker incorporated a reverse roller in pressure
indentation contact with a main form roller to meter the ink and erase the previous
image on the form roller. This prior art inker provided an even film of ink on the
printing plate, and prevented the accumulation and starvation of ink on the form roller.
This reverse roller imposed a counter rotating force to the main form roller which
increased the power requirements for operating the printing press. In addition the
friction caused by the counterrotating roller generated a tremendous amount of heat
that had to be "taken away," resulting in more horse power and satellite refrigeration
equipment at each printing assembly.
[0009] In U.S. Patent No. 4,453,463, an inker is disclosed for a lithographic printing press
in which dampening fluid is applied to a resilient form roller. A blade is mounted
to remove the dampening fluid and excess ink directly from the resilient form roller
surface. The form roller is rotated into the leading edge of the doctor blade, which
is pressure indented to the form roller, and increases the power requirements for
rotating the form roller. Furthermore, the blade has a tendency to damage the form
roller resilient surface.
[0010] U.S. Patent No. 4,527,479 discloses a method and apparatus for continuously using
ink and dampening fluid in a printing system which includes removing ink and dampening
fluid from a form roller after the form roller engages the printing plate. Unused
printing ink and dampening fluid is removed from the form roller by an idler roller,
and a scraping off means scrapes the mixture directly from the idler roller. The mixture
is then returned to the reservoir. The ink and dampening fluid removed from the form
roller are blended in the reservoir with fresh ink, and recirculated to a distributor
line for application to the form roller. This concept works well for a printing press
using a low viscosity news print ink which does not dry quickly onto a continuous
media. However, for high quality multi colored sheet fed products, the circulation
of ink and wash up requirements is prohibitive.
[0011] Another attempt to solve the problem of ghosting is disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
5,315,930 entitled "KEYLESS INKING SYSTEM FOR A PRINTING PRESS." This patent discloses
an inking system for a printing press having an ink injector for supplying ink under
pressure, and a device for pumping and metering the ink flow in the injector. The
ink injector supplies ink to a fountain roller having an outer brush surface. The
fountain roller applies the ink to a pick up roller which transfers the ink through
a series of rollers to an applicator roller. The applicator roller has a resilient
surface, and applies the ink to two form rollers. A scraper roller engages the applicator
roller to remove excess ink therefrom. A scraper blade scrapes ink from the scraper
roller. Ink scraped from the scraper roller is transported to an ink reservoir, and
is then recirculated using a pump to the ink injector. The inking system in U.S. Patent
No. 5,315,930 has multiple form rollers, and does not provide any means for removing
excess ink from the form rollers. In addition, the inking system requires ink recirculation
which requires a lengthy wash up time.
[0012] All of the patents referred to above have sought to solve "ghosting," starvation,
and accumulation problems in inking systems. However, the solutions have complicated
the printing press assemblies, require circulating the ink which complicates washing
the inker for a color change, and can cause damage to the single form roller.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0013] The invention disclosed herein provides a printing press having a keyless inking
system. The inking system includes a single form roller for applying ink to a printing
plate, and a transfer roller adjacent the form roller for removing excess ink from
the form roller. A subtractive roller adjacent the transfer roller removes excess
ink from the transfer roller, and a scraper blade adjacent the subtractive roller
scrapes excess ink from said subtractive roller. An ink reservoir adjacent the scraper
blade receives ink scraped from the subtractive roller, and supplies ink for application
onto the form roller. An applicator roller adjacent the ink reservoir receives ink
from the ink reservoir, and applies the ink to the form roller.
[0014] The scraper blade and doctor blade are preferably mounted in a common blade holder
which is movable for simultaneously positioning the scraper blade in engagement with
the smooth-surfaced ink subtractive roller and the doctor blade in engagement with
the surface of the applicator roller. Space between the scraper blade and the doctor
blade forms an ink fountain which receives ink from the subtractive roller and applies
ink to the applicator roller. The inking system using a single form roller is capable
of removing accumulated ink and applying a fresh film of ink on the form roller to
provide a keyless inker which eliminates ghosting, accumulation, and starvation.
[0015] A general objective of the present invention is to provide a keyless inking system.
This objective is accomplished by providing an inker having a single form roller for
applying a uniform film of ink on a printing plate.
[0016] Another objective of the present invention is to provide an inker that does not require
circulation to simplify washup when changing ink colors. This objective is accomplished
by providing an inker which has an ink reservoir interposed between a subtractive
roller which deposits excess ink from the form roller therein, and an applicator roller
which receives ink from the ink reservoir for application onto the form roller.
[0017] The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from
the following description. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings which form a part hereof, and in which there is shown by way of illustration
a preferred embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention are annexed hereto so that the
invention may be better and more fully understood, in which:
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a printing press having the keyless inker mounted
thereon;
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the inker of a printing assembly
of Fig. 1 in a dry offset printing mode;
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the inker of a printing assembly
of Fig. 1 in a wet offset printing mode;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top view of the inker of Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the subtractive roller in engagement with the oscillator
roller of Fig. 2;
Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the ink reservoir of Fig. 1;
Fig. 7 is a detailed view of the end dam assembly of the ink reservoir of Fig. 6;
and
Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of a wash up blade and tray assembly for use with
the ink reservoir of Fig. 6.
[0019] Numeral references are employed to designate like parts throughout the various figures
of the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates an offset
printing press having a plurality of printing assemblies 11 for sequentially applying
a different color ink to media 13, such as paper, plastic, and the like, to produce
a multi-colored printed product. The ink is conventional ink, such as a solution of
water and chemicals known in the industry, and as referred to herein can also include
a mixture of conventional ink and dampening fluid.
[0021] Each printing assembly 11 includes a plate cylinder 12 carrying a printing plate
14 containing an image for printing on the media. The image is formed by image areas
on the plate 14 which receive ink from a single form roller 15. Ink is applied to
the printing plate 14 by an inker 21 to form a transferable inked image thereon corresponding
to the image areas on the printing plate 14. The plate cylinder 12 is rotated to engage
the printing plate 14 with a rotatably mounted blanket cylinder 16, and transfer the
inked image onto the blanket cylinder 16. The blanket cylinder 16 then transfers the
inked image to the media which is pinched between the blanket cylinder 16 and an impression
cylinder 19. A transfer cylinder 23 adjacent the impression cylinder 19 facilitates
the transfer of the media 13 to an adjacent printing assembly 11 for applying a different
color image to the media 13.
[0022] Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the inker 21 includes a single form roller 15 which applies
a film of the ink to the image areas on the printing plate 14. An ink reservoir 50
supplies ink for application to the form roller 15. Additional rotatably mounted rollers
described herein apply the ink to the form roller 15, or remove excess ink from the
form roller 15 to minimize ink accumulation and starvation which causes ghosting.
Advantageously, the excess ink removed from the form roller 15 is deposited directly
back into the ink reservoir 50 for application onto the form roller 15 without recirculating
the ink.
[0023] The single form roller 15 has a resilient surface, and is mounted in rolling engagement
with the printing plate 14. Ink on the form roller 15 corresponding to image areas
on the printing plate 14 is applied to the printing plate 14, while ink on the form
roller 15 corresponding to non-image areas on the printing plate 14 remains on the
form roller 15. Preferably, the circumference of the form roller 15 is not equal to
the circumference of the printing plate cylinder 12 such that a particular point on
the form roller 15 will not repeatedly engage the same point on the printing plate
14.
[0024] A rotatably mounted applicator roller adjacent the form roller 15 receives ink from
the ink reservoir 50, and applies it to the form roller 15. Preferably, the applicator
roller is an analox roller 40 having a smooth hard durable surface, such as provided
by a ceramic coating, with reservoirs formed therein for carrying ink to the surface
of form roller 15. Ink in the ink reservoir 50 flows onto the surface of the analox
roller 40, and is metered by a doctor blade 42 such that a precisely controlled volume
of ink is carried by the analox roller 40 to the form roller 15. Preferably, as shown
in Fig. 6, the analox roller 40 is rotatably driven in the same direction as the form
roller 15 by a variable speed motor to provide slippage between the analox roller
40 surface and the form roller 15 surface to control the rate at which ink carried
in the analox roller 40 reservoirs is applied to the form roller 15.
[0025] Referring back to Figs. 2 and 3, oscillating rollers 18, 35 are positioned around
the form roller 15 for smoothing the ink film on the form roller 15. Oscillator rollers
18 and 35 preferably have a resilient surface, and rotate in the same direction as
the form roller 15, so as not to increase the power requirements for rotating the
form roller 15 or damage the form roller 15. The surfaces of form roller 15 and oscillator
rollers 18 and 35 are preferably approximately 35 Shore A durometer such that, when
the surfaces of oscillating rollers 18 and 35 are urged into pressure indented relation
with the surface of form roller 15, the nip 18a and the nip 35a will be flat nips
which generally result in a film split such that half of the ink film is carried by
each roller surface moving out of the nip.
[0026] Resilient covered oscillator roller 18 and resilient covered oscillator roller 35
oscillate longitudinally in opposite directions for smoothing the image carried on
the surface of form roller 15. It should be readily apparent that, if oscillator roller
35 is moving at a surface speed greater than the surface speed of the form roller
15, it will act as a transfer roller, and carry more ink out of the flat nip 35a than
is carried out of the nip on the surface of form roller 15. Preferably, the surface
speed of roller 35 is adjustable for controlling the rate at which ink is removed
from the surface of form roller 15. A gear 33 mounted at one end of the oscillator
roller 35 rotatably drives the adjacent subtractive roller 30.
[0027] Oscillator roller 35 removes excess ink from the surface of the form roller 15 to
prevent ink accumulation, and transfers it to the smooth surface of a subtractive
roller 30. Preferably, as shown in Fig. 6, the subtractive roller 30 rotates in the
same direction as the oscillator roller 35 to minimize the power requirements required
to rotate the rollers 30, 35. The subtractive roller 30 has a smooth surface which
is harder than the oscillator roller 35 surface, such as provided by a ceramic coating,
to facilitate the ink transfer. Ink on the subtractive roller 30 is scraped directly
into the ink reservoir 50 by a scraper blade 32 which forms a part of the ink reservoir.
[0028] Preferably, subtractive roller 30 is rotatably driven by a gear 34, shown in Fig.
5, which is mounted on one end of roller 30. The gear 34 engages gear 37 on roller
35 to rotatably drive the subtractive roller 30. Roller 35 is preferably driven by
a variable speed motor (not shown) such that the rate at which ink is removed from
the form roller 15 can be controlled. Although, a single motor driving roller 35 and
roller 30 is preferred, each roller 30 and 35 can be individually motor driven without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0029] The oscillating roller 35, subtractive roller 30, and analox roller 40 are preferably
rotatably driven at surface speeds different from the surface speed of the form roller
15. The oscillating roller 35 is preferably driven in a range between about 2% and
5% faster than the surface speed of form roller 15 for removing more than one-half
of the ink film from the surface of form roller 15. Thus, the oscillating transfer
roller 35 is capable of efficiently removing ink from the surface of form roller 15
to prevent accumulation of excess ink on the form roller 15 surface.
[0030] As shown in Fig. 6, the ink reservoir 50 supplies ink to the analox roller 40 for
application to the form roller 15, and receives excess ink from the subtractive roller
30. The ink reservoir 50 is positioned between the subtractive roller 30 and the analox
roller 40, such that ink removed from the subtractive roller 30 is deposited directly
into the ink reservoir 50, and ink in the reservoir is applied directly to the analox
roller 40. Additional ink is also supplied to the ink reservoir to ensure the ink
level in the reservoir 50 is sufficient for continuously feeding the analox roller
40. Advantageously, by positioning the ink reservoir between the subtractive roller
and the metering roller, recirculation of the ink is not required. Furthermore, by
individually metering the ink onto the form roller 15, and removing the ink from the
form roller 15, the film on the form roller 15 can be controlled more precisely than
the prior art without increasing the power requirements for rotating the form roller
15.
[0031] The ink reservoir 50 includes an adjustable blade holder 34 having a doctor blade
42 and a scraper blade 32 mounted thereto. The blades 32, 42 form a trough extending
past the length of the analox roller 40 and the subtractive roller 30. The trough
holds a mass of the ink, commonly referred to as an ink fountain.
[0032] The blade holder 34 is adjustable relative to each of the rollers 30 and 40 to position
the trough therebetween. Blade holder 34 is adjustable vertically in a slide block
(not shown) for positioning scraper blade 32 and doctor blade 42 in engagement with
the subtractive roller 30 and the analox roller 40, respectively. Blade holder 34
preferably is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the slide block for
adjusting pressure of scraper blade 32 relative to the pressure of doctor blade 42.
[0033] The blade holder 34 comprises a base 52 having a pair of projections 33 and 43 extending
outwardly from opposite sides thereof with a relieved area 54 forming shoulders 32a
and 42a adjacent opposite ends thereof for positioning scraper blade 32 and doctor
blade 42. A blade clamp 44 is configured to be received in the base relieved area
54, and has projections 33a and 43a adjacent opposite sides thereof. A bolt 45 extends
through blade clamp 44, and is received in a threaded aperture in base 52 for grippingly
engaging scraper blade 32 and doctor blade 42 between the blade clamp 44 and base
54.
[0034] When clamped on the blade holder 34, the scraper blade 32 extends away from one side
of the blade holder 34, and engages the subtractive roller 30 to scrape excess ink
therefrom. The doctor blade 42 extends away from the opposite side of the blade holder
34 toward the analox roller 40 to meter the application of ink thereon. Preferably,
the scraper blade 32 and doctor blade 42 scrape and meter the respective rollers 30
and 40 above a line extending through longitudinal axes of the rollers 30, 40, and
are preferably formed of fiber glass material.
[0035] End dams 46 are positioned adjacent opposite ends of blade holder 34, scraper blade
32, and doctor blade 42 for capping each end of the trough. A cavity is formed in
an inwardly directed face of each end dam 46 to receive the blade holder 34 and blades
32, 42, and sealingly cap the ends of the trough. The volume of ink extends above
upper ends of scraper blade 32 and doctor blade 42 to assure that ink is always present
to provide lubrication between the scraper blade 32 and the surface of subtractive
roller 30, and to provide sufficient ink between the doctor blade 42 and the surface
of the analox roller 40 for application to the surface of the form roller 15.
[0036] As best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7, the end dams 46 are preferably mounted on slidable
bearers 48, and sealingly engage ends of the subtractive roller 30 and the analox
roller 40. The inwardly facing end dam surfaces engaging the rollers 30, 40, as well
as the ends of the rollers 30 and 40, are provided with a coating which forms smooth
selflubricating surfaces to allow rotation of the rollers 30, 40 when engaging the
end dams 46. The bearers 48 do not rotate and are preferably spring 49 biased to urge
the end dams 46 against the roller ends to prevent the ink from leaking out of the
trough.
[0037] As shown in Fig. 2, when printing in a dry offset mode, a chill roller 60 which is
internally cooled and has an outer surface which is a good thermal conductor can be
provided. The chill roller 60 cools the ink to a specific temperature for printing
in the dry offset mode. If the inking system hereinbefore described is used in a printing
press printing in a dry offset printing mode, chill roller 60 will be urged into pressure
indented relation with the surface of form roller 15, and chill water will be circulated
through roller 60. The chill roller 60 maintains ink moving out of the nip between
the surface of form roller 15 and chill roller 60 within a predetermined temperature
range of, for example, about 67° to 72° F.
[0038] As shown in Fig. 3, if the inking system is used in a printing press printing in
a wet offset printing mode, such as in lithographic printing, chill roller 60 is not
necessary. A dampening system, for example of the type commercially available from
Epic Products International Corporation, Arlington, Texas, can be provided for applying
a precisely metered film of dampening fluid to the surface of ink carried on form
roller 15. Such a dampener generally comprises a pan for dampening fluid and a resilient
covered roller D2 moving through dampening fluid in the pan. The roller D2 forms a
flooded nip between a hydrophilic chrome roller D 1 and the resilient covered pan
roller D2. A thin film of ink dampening fluid carried by the hydrophilic chrome roller
D1 is applied to the film of ink on form roller 15. An air knife 18B is mounted to
evaporate dampening fluid from the surface of oscillator roller 18 which is positioned
to remove dampening fluid from the surface 13 of form roller 15.
[0039] Preferably, the blade clamp 44, scraper blade 32, and doctor blade 42 are assembled
as a single removable unit from blade holder base 52, such as by attaching the blades
32, 42 to the blade clamp 44 using methods known in the art, such as bolting, welding,
and the like, to simplify the color change procedure in the printing assembly 11.
The removable unit is removed from the inker 21 during color change for inker wash
up purposes, and replaced with a wash up assembly 70, shown in Fig. 8. The wash up
assembly 70 is installed in the removable unit location to collect ink cleaned out
of the printing assembly 11.
[0040] As shown in Fig. 8, the wash up assembly 70 includes a wash up blade 72 contacting
the subtractive roller 30 for scraping ink and wash up solution off of the subtractive
roller 30, and a blade clamp 74. The wash up blade 72 is clamped to the blade holder
base 52 by the blade clamp 74, and in combination with the blade clamp 74 and end
dams 76, forms a trough for collecting the ink and wash up solution from the inker
21 during a color change. Preferably, the wash up blade 72 and blade clamp 74 are
assembled as a single removable unit to simplify installation and removal of the assembly
70 from the inker 21, such as by attaching the wash up blade 72 to the blade clamp
74 using methods known in the art, such as bolting, welding and the like.
[0041] The blade clamp 74 includes a flange 78 which wraps around the blade holder base
projection 43 adjacent the applicator roller 40 to lock the blade clamp 74 onto the
blade holder base 52. The flange 78 locks onto the base projection 43 when the rotating
subtractive roller 30 exerts a downward force on the wash up blade 72 attached to
the blade clamp 74, thus eliminating the need to secure the blade clamp 74 to the
base 52 with a bolt, or the like. The blade clamp 74 can, however, be secured to the
base 52 using methods known in the art, such as a bolt, without departing from the
scope of the present invention. A lip 80 extending upwardly from a side of the blade
clamp 74 opposite the wash up blade 72 forms the trough in cooperation with the wash
up blade 72. Handles 82 attached to ends of the blade clamp 74 allow a user to grasp
the assembly 70 when installing or removing the assembly 70 from the inker 21.
[0042] A spray bar 84 adjacent the applicator roller 40 sprays wash up solution on to the
surface of the applicator roller 40 which applies the solution to the form roller
15. The wash up solution flushes ink from the rollers in the inker 21, and is collected
in the wash up assembly 70 trough. When the wash up process is complete, the wash
up assembly 70 is removed, and a clean blade clamp, scraper, blade, and doctor blade
are installed. The collected ink and wash up solution in the wash up assembly 70 trough
are discarded.
[0043] While there has been shown and described what are at present considered the preferred
embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various
changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of
the invention.
Preferred Features of the Invention
[0044]
1. An inking system comprising:
a single form roller for applying ink to a printing plate;
a transfer roller adjacent said form roller for removing excess ink from said form
roller;
a subtractive roller adjacent said transfer roller for receiving excess ink from said
transfer roller;
a scraper blade adjacent said subtractive roller for scraping excess ink from said
subtractive roller;
an ink reservoir adjacent said scraper blade for receiving ink scraped from said subtractive
roller, and supplying ink for application onto said form roller;
an applicator roller interposed between said ink reservoir and said form roller, wherein
ink from said ink reservoir is applied to said form roller by said applicator roller.
2. A preferred inking system of clause 1, is where said scraper blade forms part of
an ink reservoir which supplies ink to said form roller.
3. A preferred inking system of clause 1, includes a doctor blade forming a part of
said ink reservoir, wherein said doctor blade meters ink from said ink reservoir onto
said applicator roller.
4. A preferred inking system of clause 1, in which said transfer roller includes a
resilient surface in contact with a surface of said form roller.
5. A preferred inking system of clause 1, in which said subtractive roller includes
a surface in contact with a surface of said transfer roller, and said subtractive
roller surface is harder than said transfer roller surface.
6. A preferred inking system of clause 5, in which said subtractive roller surface
is formed from ceramic.
7. A preferred keyless inking system comprising:
a first roller for applying ink to a form roller;
a second roller for receiving excess ink transferred from said form roller; and
an ink reservoir interposed between said first and second rollers,
wherein excess ink from said second roller is deposited directly into said ink reservoir,
and ink from said ink reservoir is deposited directly onto said first roller for applying
to the form roller.
8. A preferred inking system of clause 7, includes a doctor blade having one end adjacent
said first roller for applying ink from said ink reservoir onto said first roller.
9. A preferred inking system of clause 7, includes a scraper blade having one end
adjacent said second roller for scraping excess ink from said second roller and guiding
the ink into said ink reservoir.
10. A preferred inking system of clause 7 in which said ink reservoir includes a blade
holder, first and second blades extending outwardly from said blade holder forming
a trough therebetween, and end dams adjacent opposite ends of the trough to hold the
ink therein.
11. A preferred inking system of clause 10, in which said first blade is a doctor
blade having one end adjacent said first roller for applying ink from said ink reservoir
onto said first roller.
12. A preferred inking system of clause 11, in which said second blade is a scraper
blade having one end adjacent said second roller for scraping excess ink from said
second roller and guiding the ink into said ink reservoir.
13. A preferred inking system of clause 7, includes a third roller for removing excess
ink from the form roller, and transferring the ink to said second roller.
14. A preferred inking system of clause 13, in which said third roller includes a
resilient surface in contact with a surface of the form roller.
15. A preferred inking system of clause 14, in which said second roller includes a
surface in contact with said third roller surface, and said second roller surface
is harder than said third roller surface.
16. A preferred inking system of clause 14, in which said second roller surface is
formed from ceramic.
17. A preferred ink reservoir for use in an inking system having a first roller for
applying ink to a form roller, and a second roller for receiving excess ink from the
form roller, said ink reservoir comprising:
a blade holder;
a first blade extending outwardly from said blade holder;
a second blade extending outwardly from said blade holder, and
forming a trough between said first and second blades; and
end dams adjacent opposite ends of the trough to hold ink deposited in the trough.
18. A preferred ink reservoir of clause 17, in which said first blade is a doctor
blade having one end for applying ink from the trough onto the first roller.
19. A preferred ink reservoir of clause 17, in which said second blade is a scraper
blade having one end for scraping excess ink from the second roller and guiding the
ink into the trough.
20. A preferred method for inking a form roller comprising the steps of:
applying ink directly onto a form roller from a first roller; transferring excess
ink from the form roller onto a second roller; transferring excess ink from the second
roller onto a third roller; scraping excess ink from the third roller directly into
an ink reservoir; applying ink onto said first roller directly from said ink reservoir.
21. A preferred printing press comprising an inking system of clause 1.
22. A preferred printing press comprising an inking system of clause 8.
23. A preferred kit for use with an inking system having a first roller for applying
ink to a form roller, a second roller for receiving ink transferred from said form
roller, and a blade holder base interposed between said first and second rollers,
said kit comprising:
an ink reservoir formed from a blade clamp clamping a scraper blade and a doctor blade
to the blade holder when the inking system is inking the form roller, wherein said
ink reservoir receives ink from the second roller, and supplies ink to the first roller;
and
a wash up assembly formed from a blade clamp clamping a scraper blade to the blade
holder when the inking system is removing ink from the form roller during wash up,
wherein said wash up assembly receives ink and wash up fluid from the second roller.
24. A preferred wash up assembly for use in an inking system having a first roller
for applying ink to a form roller, and a second roller for receiving excess ink from
the form roller, said wash up assembly comprising:
a blade holder;
a lip extending outwardly from said blade holder;
a blade extending outwardly from said blade holder for scraping fluid from the second
roller, and forming a trough between said lip and said blade;
and end dams adjacent opposite ends of the trough to hold ink deposited in the trough.
25. A preferred wash up assembly of clause 24, in which said blade is a scraper blade
having one end for scraping excess ink from the second roller and guiding the ink
into the trough.
26. A preferred wash up assembly of clause 24, in which said blade holder includes
a base and a removable blade clamp mounted to said base, and said blade is clamped
between said blade clamp and said base.
27. A preferred wash up assembly of clause 26, in which said blade clamp includes
a flange which locks onto to base.
28. A preferred wash up assembly of clause 26, including handles mounted to said blade
clamp for grasping by a user.
1. A keyless inking system comprising:
a first roller for transferring ink for application to a form roller;
a second roller for receiving excess ink transferred from said form roller; and
an ink reservoir interposed between said first and second rollers, wherein excess
ink from second roller is deposited directly into said ink reservoir, and ink from
said ink reservoir is deposited directly onto said first roller for transferring to
the form roller.
2. The inking system according to claim 1, including a doctor blade having one end adjacent
said first roller for applying ink from said ink reservoir onto said first roller.
3. The inking system according to claim 1 or claim 2, including a scraper blade having
one end adjacent said second roller for scraping excess ink from said second roller
and guiding the ink into said ink reservoir.
4. The inking system according to claim 1, in which said ink reservoir includes a blade
holder, first and second blades extending outwardly from said blade holder forming
a trough therebetween, and end dams adjacent opposite ends of the trough to hold the
ink therein.
5. The inking system according to claim 4, which said first blade is a doctor blade having
one end adjacent said first roller for applying ink from said ink reservoir onto said
first roller.
6. The inking system according to claim 4 or claim 5, in which said second blade is a
scraper blade having one end adjacent said second roller for scraping excess ink from
said second roller and guiding the ink into said ink reservoir.
7. The inking system according to any preceding claim, including a third roller for removing
excess ink from the form roller, and transferring the ink to said second roller.
8. The inking system according to claim 7, in which said third roller includes a resilient
surface in contact with a surface of the form roller.
9. The inking system according to claim 7 or claim 8, in which said second roller includes
a surface in contact with said third roller surface, and said second roller surface
is harder than said third roller surface.
10. The inking system according to claim 8, in which said second roller surface is formed
from ceramic.
11. An ink reservoir for use in an inking system having a first roller for applying ink
to a form roller and a second roller for receiving excess ink from the form roller,
said ink reservoir comprising:
a blade holder;
a first blade extending outwardly from said blade holder;
a second blade extending outwardly from said blade holder, and forming a trough between
said first and second blades; and
end dams adjacent opposite ends of the trough to hold ink deposited in the trough.
12. The ink reservoir according to claim 11, in which said first blade is a doctor blade
having one end for applying ink from the trough onto the first roller.
13. The ink reservoir according to claim 11 or claim 12, in which said second blade is
a scraper blade having one end for scraping excess ink from the second roller and
guiding the ink into the trough.
14. A method for inking a form roller comprising the steps of:
applying ink directly onto a form roller from a first roller;
transferring excess ink from the form roller onto a second roller;
transferring excess ink from the second roller onto a third roller;
scraping excess ink from the third roller directly into an ink reservoir;
applying ink onto said first roller directly from said ink reservoir.
15. A printing press comprising an inking system as defined in any one of claims 1 to
10.
16. A kit for use with an inking system having a first roller for applying ink to a form
roller, a second roller for receiving ink transferred from said form roller, and a
blade holder base interposed between said first and second rollers, said kit comprising:
an ink reservoir formed from a blade clamp clamping a scraper blade and a doctor blade
to the blade holder when the inking system is inking the form roller, wherein said
ink reservoir receives ink from the second roller, and supplies ink to the first roller;
and
a wash up assembly formed from a blade clamp clamping a scraper blade to the blade
holder when the inking system is removing ink from the form roller during wash up,
wherein said wash up assembly receives ink and wash up fluid from the second roller.
17. A process in which ink is applied to a form roller from an ink reservoir utilizing
a first, applicator roller, ink on the form roller is applied to a printing plate
and excess ink is removed from the form roller by a second, subtractive roller and
wherein excess ink from the second roller is deposited in said ink reservoir and ink
from said ink reservoir is deposited on the said first roller for applying to the
form roller.