(19)
(11) EP 1 260 367 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
11.12.2002 Bulletin 2002/50

(43) Date of publication A2:
27.11.2002 Bulletin 2002/48

(21) Application number: 02017933.9

(22) Date of filing: 19.04.1999
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B41F 31/08
(84) Designated Contracting States:
ES FR IT SE

(30) Priority: 17.04.1998 JP 10800098

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
99107301.6 / 0950521

(71) Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA ISOWA
Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Ishigure, Masaaki
    Inuyama-shi, Aichi-ken (JP)
  • Shoji, Morimasa
    Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken (JP)

(74) Representative: Müller-Boré & Partner Patentanwälte 
Grafinger Strasse 2
81671 München
81671 München (DE)

   


(54) Apparatus and method for preventing ink from getting dry


(57) An apparatus for printing sheets includes a plate cylinder (14) with a printing die (13) mounted thereon and an impression cylinder (15) disposed to oppose said plate cylinder. In the apparatus, sheets are passed through a clearance between the plate cylinder and the impression cylinder to carry out printing on the sheets. The apparatus further includes an ink transfer roll (17) and means for regulating an amount of the ink transferred, so that when printing is carried out, the ink is transferred to the printing die, while at the same time the ink transferred is regulated as the ink transfer roll rotates in contact with the printing die of the plate cylinder while the regulating means contacts a surface of the ink transfer roll. The apparatus further includes an ink fountain (A) provided between the ink transfer roll and the ink regulating means along an axial direction thereof, and an ink reservoir (36) for reserving the ink which is disposed above and adjacent to the ink fountain. At least one tube body (47) is provided between the ink reservoir and the ink fountain in such a way that one open end (47b) of the tube body communicates with the ink reservoir and another open end thereof opens into the ink fountain. The apparatus further includes means (46) for transferring the ink between the ink fountain and the ink reservoir through the tube body and means (32) for reciprocally moving the ink reservoir, the tube body, and the ink transfer means unitarily along the axial direction of the ink fountain.






Search report