Ink feed systems and method for feeding printing ink to an inking unit of an intaglio printing unit, as well as intaglio printing unit and method for operating an ink feed system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023271411-A1
Application number	US-202118028061-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 16, 2021
Priority date	Feb 18, 2021
Publication date	Aug 31, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

In some examples, an ink feed system for providing and feeding printing ink to an inking unit of an intaglio printing unit includes an inking device in the inking unit for inking a first inking unit cylinder. A provision device includes a storage receptacle with an ink reservoir of printing ink that is fed via an outlet and a line to the inking device. Furthermore, a wall of the storage receptacle encompassing the outlet can be heated and/or a metering device may be provided in the line path to support and/or effectuate delivery of the printing ink from the storage receptacle. On an output side, the metering device may provide a mass flow or volume flow that correlates with a working speed of the metering device via a defined relationship, and the metering device may be connected to a control device to control the working speed of the metering device.

First claim

1 - 30 . (canceled)

31 . An ink feed system for providing and feeding printing ink ( 21 ) to an inking unit ( 07 ) of an intaglio printing unit ( 06 ), comprising an inking device ( 16 ), which is provided in the inking unit ( 07 ), and comprising a provision device ( 26 ), by which printing ink ( 21 ) can be fed to the inking device ( 16 ) via at least one line ( 34 ); the provision device ( 26 ) comprising a storage receptacle ( 38 ) in which an ink reservoir ( 25 ) of printing ink ( 21 ) can be kept available and which has an outlet ( 46 ), through which the printing ink ( 21 ) can be transferred from the storage receptacle ( 38 ) into the line path leading to the inking device ( 16 ); and the provision device ( 26 ) comprising at least one delivery device ( 37 ), which supports and/or effectuates the delivery of the printing ink ( 21 ) from the storage receptacle ( 38 ), characterized in that a metering device ( 27 ) is provided in the line path arranged downstream from the at least one delivery device ( 37 ) and the outlet ( 46 ), which is driven by a drive means ( 28 ) and, on the output side, can provide a mass flow or volume flow that correlates with the working speed of the metering device ( 27 ) via a defined relationship, that the metering device ( 27 ) is in a signal connection with a control device ( 36 ) comprising control means that control by open-loop or closed-loop control the working speed of the metering device ( 27 ), that the control device and/or the control means controlling by open-loop or closed-loop control the working speed of the metering device ( 27 ) are connected, in terms of signaling, to a source supplying the information about the current machine speed, and that a functional or tabular relationship between a target value (n S ) of a correcting variable (n) determining the working speed of the metering device ( 27 ) and a variable representing a machine speed (ω) is stored in the control means, which, when used by the control means, allows the target value (n S ) to be varied, as a function of a variable that can be supplied or is supplied to the control means on the input side and represents a machine speed (ω).

32 . The ink feed system according to claim 31 , characterized in that a wall ( 39 ; 47 ), encompassing the outlet ( 46 ), of the part structure delimiting the space for the ink reservoir ( 25 ) in the storage receptacle ( 38 ) comprises a heating device ( 38 ), by which the wall ( 39 ; 47 ) on at least the side facing the ink reservoir ( 25 ) can be heated and/or temperature-controlled.

33 . An ink feed system for providing and feeding printing ink ( 21 ) to an inking unit ( 07 ) of an intaglio printing unit ( 06 ), comprising an inking device ( 16 ), which is provided in the inking unit ( 07 ), and comprising a provision device ( 26 ), by which printing ink ( 21 ) can be fed to the inking device ( 16 ) via at least one line ( 34 ); the provision device ( 26 ) comprising a storage receptacle ( 38 ) in which an ink reservoir ( 25 ) of printing ink ( 21 ) can be kept available and which has an outlet ( 46 ) in a wall ( 39 ; 47 ) of the part structure delimiting the space for the ink reservoir ( 25 ) in the storage receptacle ( 38 ), through which the printing ink ( 21 ) can be transferred from the ink reservoir ( 25 ) into the line path leading to the inking device ( 16 ); and the provision device ( 26 ) comprising a metering device ( 27 ) that is controllable with respect to the working speed and/or a delivery device ( 37 ), which supports and/or effectuates the delivery of the printing ink ( 21 ) from the storage receptacle ( 38 ), characterized in that the wall ( 39 ; 47 ), encompassing the outlet ( 46 ), of the storage receptacle ( 38 ) comprises a heating device ( 38 ), by which the wall ( 39 ; 47 ) on at least the side facing the ink reservoir ( 25 ) can be heated and/or temperature-controlled.

34 . The ink feed system according to claim 33 , characterized in that the metering device ( 27 ) is in a signal connection with a control device ( 36 ) comprising control means that control by open-loop or closed-loop control the working speed of the metering device ( 27 ).

35 . The ink feed system according to claim 31 , characterized in that the ink feed system comprises a sensor system having a signal connection to the control means and including at least one sensor ( 15 ), which is arranged in an ink supply comprised by the inking unit ( 07 ) of the inking unit ( 07 ) to be supplied, so as to provide signals representing information about a fill level (L), and that the sensor system and the control means are designed and configured to maintain the fill level (L) in an ink supply chamber comprised by the inking device ( 16 ) in a permitted range between an upper and a lower limit or threshold value (L 1 ; L max ; L 2 ; L 0 ) or at a desired target fill level (L S ) by varying the working speed of the metering device ( 27 ), using signals provided by the sensor system.

36 . The ink feed system according to claim 32 , characterized in that a sensor ( 49 ) for ascertaining the temperature present at the relevant measuring location is provided in or on the wall ( 39 ; 47 ) encompassing the outlet ( 46 ).

37 . The ink feed system according to claim 31 , characterized in that the metering device ( 27 ) comprises a volumetrically and/or rotatably operating delivery mechanism ( 29 ), which is driven by the drive means ( 28 ), and/or the metering device ( 27 ) is configured as an eccentric pump ( 29 ).

38 . The ink feed system according to claim 31 , characterized in that the delivery device ( 27 ; 37 ), which supports and/or effectuates the delivery of the printing ink ( 21 ) from the storage receptacle ( 38 ), is configured to apply a force, which is definable and/or effectuates or at least supports the delivery of the ink, to the printing ink ( 21 ) present in the ink reservoir ( 25 ) via a drive means ( 41 ).

39 . The ink feed system according to claim 31 , characterized in that the delivery device ( 27 ; 37 ), which supports and/or effectuates the delivery of the printing ink ( 21 ) from the storage receptacle ( 38 ), comprises a displacement member ( 39 ), to which a force can be applied via one or more drive means ( 41 ) and by which, during the application of the force, a higher pressure compared to the ambient pressure can be applied to the printing ink ( 21 ) accommodated in the storage receptacle ( 38 ).

40 . The ink feed system according to claim 39 , characterized in that the displacement member ( 39 ) is configured in the manner of a piston, a ram ( 39 ) that is lowered into the interior of the storage receptacle ( 38 ), the ram ( 39 ) acting on the ink reservoir ( 25 ) and the portion of the storage receptacle ( 38 ) additionally delimiting the reserve volume being movable relative to one another for varying the reserve volume and/or that the displacement member ( 39 ) can be acted upon by the force that acts on the printing ink ( 21 ) indirectly by one or more pressure medium-actuated actuators ( 41 ), or directly by the application of pressure to a space located in the storage receptacle ( 38 ) on its side facing away from the ink reservoir ( 25 ).

41 . An intaglio printing unit ( 06 ), comprising a forme cylinder ( 11 ) and an inking unit ( 07 ), which comprises an inking device ( 16 ) containing an ink supply chamber, by which a first inking unit cylinder ( 17 ) can be inked, on its outer cylindrical surface ( 23 ), with printing ink ( 21 ) provided in the ink supply chamber, characterized by an ink feed system according to claim 31 comprising a provision device ( 26 ) assigned or allocated to the printing unit ( 06 ).

4

Assignees

• Koenig & Bauer Ag

Inventors

• Chassot Daniel
• Stierman Robert

Classifications

• B41F9/063 Primary

  Using inking rollers · CPC title

• B41F31/027

  Ink rail devices for inking ink rollers · CPC title

• B41F31/06

  Troughs or like reservoirs with immersed or partly immersed, rollers or cylinders · CPC title

• B41F31/002

  Heating or cooling of ink or ink rollers · CPC title

• B41F9/021 Primary

  Sheet printing presses · CPC title