Printing – Inkers – Roller
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-18
2001-08-28
Colilla, Daniel J. (Department: 2854)
Printing
Inkers
Roller
C101S366000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279475
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES
This application claims the priority of German patent application Serial No. 198 47 767.8 filed Oct. 16, 1998. The disclosure of the German patent application, as well as that of each US and foreign patent and patent application mentioned in the specification of the present application, is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to improvements in apparatus for supplying flowable printing ink to a printer for webs or strips of flexible sheet material, such as cigarette paper. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in apparatus for supplying a flowable mixture of printing ink and a compressed gas to the inlet portion of a printer the outlet portion of which applies printing ink to the running strip.
A cigarette rod making machine employs a maker of a continuous rod-like filler of smokable material, such as natural, artificial and/or reconstituted tobacco, and an envelope which is a converted web or strip of cigarette paper draped around the rod-like filler in such a way that the marginal portions of the strip overlie each other and form a tubular wrapper with a seam extending longitudinally of the thus obtained continuous cigarette rod. The leader of the cigarette rod is thereupon severed at regular intervals so that the cigarette rod yields a file of discrete plain cigarettes of unit length or multiple unit length ready to be admitted into storage, into the magazine of a packing machine, or directly into a filter tipping machine wherein the plain cigarettes are united with filter mouthpieces to form therewith filter cigarettes of unit length or multiple unit length.
As a rule, the web of cigarette paper is provided with printed matter prior to entering the wrapping station. For example, the running web or strip of cigarette paper is normally provided with so-called stamped matter or imprint which can represent the trademark or the trade name of the manufacturer and/or distributor of cigarettes and/or other information. In order to ensure that the printed matter applied to short or long series of discrete plain or filter cigarettes (and more particularly to a practically endless length of cigarette paper ahead of the wrapping station) will satisfy the most exacting requirements, not only the quality of each imprint must be considered with great care, but it is equally important to many smokers to ensure that the shade and/or other characteristics of printed matter on each of a practically infinite number of successively turned out plain or filter cigarettes be selected and maintained with an utmost degree of accuracy. In many or most instances, the degree of accuracy depends upon the rate at which printing ink is being released or discharged from a source, e.g., a cartridge. Such cartridge is often installed to discharge printing ink onto so-called feeding rollers which, in turn, transfer ink onto a roller having a profiled peripheral surface coming into actual ink-applying contact with selected portions of one side of the running strip. Reference may be had, for example, to published German patent application Serial No. A1 196 48 567.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which can supply ink to a profiled printing roller with a much higher degree of reliability, accuracy and reproducibility than heretofore known apparatus.
Another object of the invention is to provide the apparatus with novel and improved means for supplying flowable printing ink to the printer.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved arrangement for continuously monitoring the quality of the printing action.
An additional object of the instant invention is to provide a novel and improved method of regulating the delivery of flowable printing ink in an apparatus which serves to apply printed matter to a running strip or web, such as a strip of cigarette paper or a material which is used to make envelopes or wrappers for rod-like fillers of filter mouthpieces.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved combination of ink storing means, ink atomizing means and ink applying means for use in an apparatus of the above outlined character, particularly in a printer which can be put to use in a cigarette rod making machine.
A further object of the invention is to provide rod-shaped smokers' products which are provided with printed matter in the apparatus and in accordance with the method of the present invention.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which renders it possible to achieve considerable savings in printing ink.
An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which reduces the likelihood of undue accumulations of printing ink on those portions of a printing roller which are not in use to transfer ink onto a running strip or web of paper or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus of the present invention is constructed and assembled to apply a flowable mixture of a printing ink and a compressed gas (such as air) to a printer for the application of printing ink to a running elongated strip of imprintable material (such as cigarette paper) in the form of a pattern the imprinting of which necessitates the application of printing ink at a predetermined rate. The improved apparatus comprises a nozzle having a mixture-receiving inlet and an outlet for directing the mixture against the printer, and means for supplying the mixture to the inlet in quantities which vary as a function of the predetermined rate.
The apparatus further comprises means (e.g., one or more driven rotary components) for moving the strip lengthwise and, in accordance with an important and highly advantageous feature of the invention, means for moving the nozzle relative to the strip and more particularly relative to the printer.
The means for moving the nozzle can comprise means for reciprocating the nozzle and the means for reciprocating preferably comprises an adjustable prime mover and means for adjusting the prime mover as a function of the aforementioned predetermined rate. The prime mover can include an adjustable electric motor, and the adjusting means then preferably comprises means for transmitting to the electric motor electric signals; such electric signals exhibit or can exhibit characteristics which are dependent upon the aforementioned predetermined rate.
The electric motor or other selected adjusting means can be designed and mounted to reciprocate the nozzle at least substantially transversely of the moving strip. For example, the means for reciprocating the nozzle at least substantially transversely of the moving strip can comprise a variable-speed electric motor and means for transmitting to such motor electric signals to regulate the speed of the motor as a function of the predetermined rate.
The predetermined rate can be stored in a memory in the form of information which is addressed to operate the moving means; such information can be in the form of a so-called reference-print image, and the means for transmitting to the motor electric signals can comprise means for photoelectronically scanning the image and for generating signals for transmission to the moving means.
The printer can comprise a mobile (such as rotary) printing ink applicator which is arranged to contact and to transfer printing ink onto the running strip, and means for transferring ink from the outlet to the applicator including two rotary transfer members defining a nip arranged to receive a mixture of ink and compressed gas from the outlet.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and the method of utilizing the same, together with numerous additional important and advantageous features and attributes thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain presently preferred specific embodiments with reference
Colilla Daniel J.
Decoufle s.a.r.l.
Kinberg Robert
Venable
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