(57) Object: To provide a printer ink exchange apparatus which can ① greatly shorten a
wash liquid recovery time, ② dissolve a dilution by the residual wash liquid in the
ink circulation and supply passage so that a lowering of the ink viscosity (density)
can be prevented and ③ dissolve a mixing of the ink of the previous order in the ink
circulation and supply passage so that the ink for a new order is prevented from becoming
turbid, and as a result, can enhance the productivity and the printing quality.
Construction: At the time of washing, the selector valve 26 is switched to the direction
of the ink tank 4, wash liquid is supplied from the wash liquid pipe 16 to the ink
circulation and supply mechanism, same as in the conventional ink exchange apparatus,
the ink circulation and supply mechanism is washed and the waste liquid (wash liquid
after used for washing) is recovered into the waste recovery unit 25, then the ink
tank 4 in which ink for a new order is contained and the ink supply pipe 8 of the
ink circulation and supply mechanism are connected together, the selector valve 26
is switched to the direction of the waste liquid recovery unit 25, ink 3 is supplied
for a certain time, and together with said ink 3, the residual waste liquid (residual
wash liquid) is forcibly discharged into the waste liquid recovery unit 25. In this
state, when a certain time passes, or when the color of returning liquid comes to
a certain deepness, the selector valve 26 is switched to the direction of the ink
tank 4, the ink 3 for a new order is circulated in the ink circulation and supply
mechanism and the ink 3 is supplied between the inking rolls 1, 2 of the printing
unit.
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