Printing – Press part or attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-11
2001-09-18
Asher, Kimberly L. (Department: 2854)
Printing
Press part or attachment
C101S479000, C101S207000, C101S211000, C101S350200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289811
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to measuring and adjusting ink for a printing press. More particularly, the invention permits ink color to be inspected and adjusted using actual press components before the press run is started.
Various physical properties of printing ink, such as balance, density, and hue, are contributing factors to the success of the printed product. Obtaining proper physical properties for a particular press run is usually a time-consuming process. The printing industry needs the ability to rapidly, scientifically, and correctly obtain the proper color match.
The process of measuring and adjusting ink is conventionally performed within an ink mixing department at a location off of the press and without actual press components. At the start of the job run, additional measurements and adjustments must be made on the press. This is costly in terms of the time the press remains idle while the measurements are performed and ink adjustments are made.
One prior art device is available for sampling ink and for printing the ink on a piece of paper. However, the ink is not sampled from the actual anilox roll which will be used on the press. Instead a pseudo anilox roll is used. The pseudo anilox roll is a small roll with surface characteristics which are similar to those of an actual anilox roll. The pseudo roll is nipped with a rubber roll to meter the ink and does not use the doctor blade metering system of a real anilox roll. The device is typically used to roll a sample of ink onto a piece of paper rather than the actual substrate which is printed in the press.
Since the ink sample is obtained and printed without using actual press components, the ink sample will not necessarily be an accurate representation of the ink which will be printed by the press. Accordingly, additional measurements and adjustments must be made on the press during the start-up of the actual print run.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention permits the press operator or ink technician to achieve correct ink balance, density, hue, etc. within a press deck or of off the press rather than in the mixing department. The anilox roll assembly for the next press run can be prepared off-press, for example, in a staging area if the press includes a staging area. The anilox roll assembly includes the actual anilox roll and doctor blade metering system which will be used on the press within a particular press run. A conventional Sunday drive or auxiliary drive rotates the anilox roll to maintain the anilox roll wetted with ink.
A hand-held ink sampling device includes a frame, a handle, and an impression roll and a transfer roll which are rotatably mounted in the frame. A sample of the actual substrate which will be printed on the press is cut from the substrate and taped to the removable impression roll. The transfer roll is pressed against the rotating anilox roll and is caused to rotate by the anilox roll. Rotation of the transfer roll causes the impression roll to rotate and feeds the substrate between the two rotating rolls. Ink is transferred from the anilox roll to the transfer roll and then to the substrate. The ink which is printed on the substrate can be inspected for hue, density, etc., and any desired changes to the ink can be made off-press before the anilox roll assembly is transferred to the press
The device can also be used with presses which are not equipped with a staging structure and carriages. On this type of press the inks can be checked in the press before starting production.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4199289 (1980-04-01), Segbert
patent: 4462311 (1984-07-01), Armelin
patent: 5010813 (1991-04-01), Buffo
patent: 5060569 (1991-10-01), Gladow
patent: 5072525 (1991-12-01), Philpot et al.
patent: 5099759 (1992-03-01), Sonobe et al.
patent: 5570633 (1996-11-01), Schultz
patent: 6038972 (2000-02-01), Delwiche et al.
patent: 6038977 (2000-03-01), Haney et al.
patent: 0325445 (1989-01-01), None
patent: 0498012A1 (1991-02-01), None
patent: 0464309 B1 (1991-03-01), None
Catalog page for Star Linear Module.
9/97 Advertisement for Ink-Master Device.
Asher Kimberly L.
Paper Converting Machine Co.
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for sampling and inspecting ink for a... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for sampling and inspecting ink for a..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for sampling and inspecting ink for a... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2529507