Device for adjusting an operating parameter of ink for a printing process of a rotary printing press as well as method therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9731499-B2
Application number	US-201314398234-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2013
Priority date	May 2, 2012
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

A device for setting at least one operating parameter of ink for a printing process of a rotary printing press having an inking system which has a doctor blade device with a doctor blade chamber containing the ink for the printing process, and an ink reservoir from which ink can be supplied to the doctor blade chamber, includes a supply system which allows ink to be supplied inside the inking system. The supply system can be switched to a setting mode (I) or to a production mode (II), the operating parameter being automatically set in the setting mode (I) and no ink being supplied to the doctor blade chamber, and the supply system supplying ink to the doctor blade chamber in the production mode (II).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for adjusting an operating parameter of an ink for a printing process of a rotary printing press, comprising:
a color system, which includes a doctor device with a doctor chamber in which the ink is contained for the printing process, an ink container from which the ink is conveyed into the doctor chamber, and a conveyance system, which allows conveyance of the ink within the color system,
the conveyance system including a primary supply line and a primary drainage line, a flow pump in the primary supply line and a return flow pump in the primary drainage line, a bypass line connecting the primary supply line to the primary drainage line, the bypass line being arranged between the flow pump and the doctor chamber, and between the doctor chamber and the return flow pump, and an ink tempering element arranged in the primary drainage line,
the conveyance system providing an adjustment circuit for an adjustment mode (I) and a production circuit for a production mode (II), and being configured for switching into the adjustment mode (I) and the production mode (II), with, in the adjustment mode (I), the conveyance of the ink into the doctor chamber being prevented via use of the bypass line and an automatic adjustment of the operating parameter being performed,
in the production mode (II), the conveyance system conveying the ink into the doctor chamber,
the color system including a monitoring element to monitor the operating parameter in the adjustment mode (I) and in the production mode (II), with the monitoring element being arranged in the primary supply line, and measuring and/or determining a viscosity of the ink and/or a temperature of the ink, and
the conveyance system including a supply station via which an operating modifier is introduced into the adjustment circuit in order to adjust and/or change the operating parameter.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein in the production mode (II), the bypass line is blocked and in the adjustment mode (I), the bypass line is opened.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the monitoring element is at least one of an ultrasound sensor and a temperature sensor.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the operating modifier is a solvent.

5. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of valves, including a first valve positioned in the primary supply line between the bypass line and the doctor chamber, a second valve positioned in the bypass line, and a third valve positioned in the primary drainage line between the doctor chamber and the bypass line.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the ink tempering element is a heat exchanger.

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the heat exchanger includes a water supply line and a water return line.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the water supply line and the primary drainage line are configured to provide for countercurrent flow of water from the water supply line and ink from the primary drainage line.

9. A method of adjusting an operating parameter of an ink for a printing process of a rotary printing press having a color system, which includes a doctor device with a doctor chamber in which the ink is contained for the printing process, an ink reservoir, from which the ink is conveyed into the doctor chamber, and a conveyance system for conveying the ink within the color system, the conveyance system including a primary supply line and a primary drainage line, a flow pump in the primary supply line and a return flow pump in the primary drainage line, a bypass line connecting the primary supply line to the primary drainage line, the bypass line being arranged between the flow pump and the doctor chamber, and between the doctor chamber and the return flow pump, and an ink tempering element arranged in the primary drainage line,
the conveyance system providing an adjustment circuit for an adjustment mode (I) and a production circuit for a production mode (II), and being configured for switching into the adjustment mode (I) and the production mode (II), with, in the adjustment mode (I), the conveyance of the ink into the doctor chamber being prevented via use of the bypass line and an automatic adjustment of the operating parameter being performed, and in the production mode (II), the conveyance system conveying the ink into the doctor chamber,
the color system including a monitoring element to monitor the operating parameter in the adjustment mode (I) and in the production mode (II), with the monitoring element being arranged in the primary supply line, and
the conveyance system including an operating modifier supply station, said method comprising the steps of:
switching the conveyance system from the production mode (II) to the adjustment mode (I), and from the adjustment mode (I) to the production mode (II),
including, in the adjustment mode (I), based on the automatic adjustment of the operating parameter, blocking via use of the bypass line, an influx of the ink into the doctor chamber, and
in the production mode (II), conveying the ink into the doctor chamber;
monitoring the operating parameter with the monitoring element that measures and/or determines a viscosity of the ink and/or a temperature of the ink, with the monitoring being performed in the adjustment mode (I) and in the production mode (II); and
introducing an operating modifier into the adjustment circuit in order to adjust and/or change the monitored operating parameter.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the production circuit and the adjustment circuit are operable separately from each other.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the operating parameter is the viscosity of the ink, which is adjusted in the adjustment mode (I).

12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the operating modifier is introduced into the adjustment circuit when a target value of the operating parameter is not detected by the monitoring element.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the operating modifier is supplied to the primary drainage line, and a mixing of the operating modifier with the ink is performed in the ink reservoir.

14. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising a step of introducing a cleaning solution for cleaning the color system into the conveyance system via a cleaning device.

15. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the step of switching the conveyance system is effected with a plurality of valves, including a first valve positioned in the primary supply line between the bypass line and the doctor chamber, a second valve positioned in the bypass line, and a third valve positioned in the primary drainage line between the doctor chamber and the bypass line.

Assignees

• Windmoeller & Hoelscher

Inventors

• Telljohann Lutz
• Hasselmann Frank
• Ihme Andreas

Classifications

• B41P2233/11

  Pre-inking · CPC title

• B41F31/08

  with ink ejecting means, e.g. pumps, nozzles · CPC title

• B41F31/027

  Ink rail devices for inking ink rollers · CPC title

• B41F31/005 Primary

  Ink viscosity control means · CPC title

• B41F31/06 Primary

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