Automatic ink cartridge dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016288486-A1
Application number	US-201514675195-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 31, 2015
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of dispensing ink that includes installing a cartridge having an ink-filled chamber into the dispenser of a web fed or a sheet fed offset printing press, with the chamber being defined by a tubular body, a fitment at a dispensing end having an outlet port closed by a valve, and a plunger slidably disposed in the open end of the tubular body opposite the dispensing end. The method includes weighing the cartridge in situ with a weighing device positioned within the ink dispenser to determine an initial weight of the cartridge prior to dispensing ink, dispensing ink from the cartridge throughout the print job, and weighing the cartridge in situ to determine an ending weight of the cartridge prior to removal from the ink dispenser. The ending weight is then subtracted from the initial weight to determine the weight of the ink dispensed during the print job.

First claim

1 . A method of calculating the amount of ink used in a printing press during a print job, the method comprising:
removably installing a cartridge having a chamber containing ink into an ink dispenser of a printing press, the chamber being defined by a tubular body, a fitment at a dispensing end having a least one outlet port closed by a valve, and a plunger slidably disposed in a open end opposite the dispensing end; prior to dispensing ink from the cartridge, weighing the cartridge in situ to determine an initial weight of the cartridge containing a first quantity of ink; dispensing ink from the cartridge during a print job until the print job is complete; prior to removing the cartridge, weighing the cartridge in situ to determine a ending weight of the cartridge containing a second quantity of ink; and subtracting the ending weight from the initial weight to determine the weight of the ink dispensed into the printing press during the print job.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising weighing the cartridge in situ with a load cell.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising weighing the cartridge in situ with a weighing device positioned within a lower end of the ink dispenser.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the weighing device includes an annular shape with a center aperture adapted to align with the outlet port in the fitment.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the valve further comprises a pre-loaded valve configured to seal the chamber against a chamber pressure that is less than a valve release pressure, and wherein dispensing ink further comprises pressing a pusher plate against the plunger through the open end of the cartridge to raise the pressure of the ink within the chamber above the valve release pressure.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the pusher plate is mechanically coupled to and driven by a piston rod extending from a power cylinder.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the power cylinder is pneumatically powered.

8 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising weighing the cartridge in situ to determine the initial weight prior to engaging the pusher plate with the plunger.

9 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising disengaging the pusher plate from the plunger prior to weighing the cartridge to determine the ending weight.

10 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising intermittently dispensing ink from the cartridge by alternatingly activating the power cylinder to increase the chamber pressure above the valve release pressure, and then allowing the chamber pressure to decline back toward the valve release pressure as ink is dispensed until the valve closes.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising weighing the cartridge in situ prior to or after intermittently dispensing ink from the ink cartridge to determine an intermediate combined weight, wherein the intermediate combined weight comprises an intermediate quantity of ink and the dead weight of the pusher plate, the piston and the piston rod.

12 . A system for dispensing ink into the fountain of a printing press, the system comprising:
at least one cartridge having a chamber containing ink, the chamber being defined by a tubular body, a fitment at a dispensing end having a least one outlet port closed by a valve, and a plunger slidably disposed in a open end opposite the dispensing end; and an ink dispenser of a printing press, the ink dispenser including a receptacle having a lower end, an upper end, and being adapted for removably receiving the at least one cartridge, the receptacle including a weighing device at the lower end configured for in situ weighing of the cartridge, and a power cylinder mechanically coupled to a pusher plate at the upper end, wherein the cartridge is received in the receptacle with the dispensing end supported on the weighing device and the pusher plate engaged with the plunger through the open end of the cartridge.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the valve further comprises a pre-loaded valve configured to seal the chamber against a chamber pressure that is less than a valve release pressure.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the weighing device includes an annular shape with a center aperture adapted to align with the outlet port the fitment.

15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the weighting device further comprises a load cell.

16 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising an adapter plate supported on the weighing device and configured to receive the distal end of the cartridge.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the adapter plate is configured to receive cartridges of different size.

18 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the power cylinder is pneumatically powered.

19 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the printing press a web fed or a sheet fed offset printing press.

20 . The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of:
when the print job is complete, removing the cartridge so the ink in the cartridge can be used in a new print job.

21 . The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of:
having the electronic control device notify the operator of the anticipated depletion of the cartridge, thereby providing the operator the option to:
(i) disable the ink dispensing system if the ink currently deposited in the fountain is sufficient to finish the print job;
(ii) allow the system to continuing dispensing ink from the cartridge if the ink in the cartridge and in the fountain is sufficient to finish the print job; or
(iii) activate the electronic control device to manually dispense the remaining ink in the cartridge prior to its normal dispensing time to give the operator time to remove and replace the cartridge if the ink in the cartridge and in the fountain is insufficient to finish the print job.

Assignees

• Sonoco Dev Inc

Inventors

• Gore Clyde B

Classifications

• B41F31/13 Primary

  Means for driving fountain rollers {(B41F13/12 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B41F31/02

  Ducts, containers, supply or metering devices · CPC title

• B41F31/022 Primary

  Ink level control devices · CPC title