JPS622991B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a liquid thin film forming apparatus. A generally commercially available device for applying ink to the stamp surface consists of two to four
Consists of a book ink roller. Usually, each ink applicator roller is supplied with ink via a large number of rollers having different diameters arranged in a pyramid shape.
Rotating contact with one or more vibrating rollers. Ink is supplied to the roller array via a doctor roller. The doctor roller swings into and out of engagement with the ink film formed by the flexible doctor blade which is biased by various ink keys into engagement with the hard surface of the ink reservoir roller. .

The thin ink film formed on the ink reservoir roller is too thick and too uneven to be directly applied to a plate for high quality printing. These inking devices have a large number of rollers, and these rollers are used to thin the ink film and apply it to the printing plate with a uniform thickness. However, since the thin film of ink on each ink applicator roller was not completely reapplied each time the roller rotated, misaligned prints and ink chips were inevitable.

Dual roll inking machines require complex drives and are relatively expensive to initially purchase and subsequently maintain.

In order to eliminate the high cost and disadvantages of dual roll inking machines, a new thin film of ink is applied in a controlled manner on the inking rollers which are pressed into pressure contact with the printing plate, eliminating the row of rollers and improving the printing process. Many attempts have recently been made to develop inking systems that eliminate shear and, therefore, ink chipping.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,283,712 describes an inking device designed to eliminate misalignment. This device consists of two rollers of approximately equal diameter pressed against each other to form a nip. Near the nip, the two surfaces of the roller move to opposite sides. One roller is wiped by a pair of doctor blades, and both rollers are wiped so that the local pressure at a selected point along the line of contact or nip is greater than the critical pressure limit, and theoretically One of the rollers conveys a thin film of ink of constant thickness over the entire length of the roller to be supplied directly to the printing plate without contacting the homogenizing roller.
They were biased in opposite directions.

The operating principle described in the aforementioned patent specification takes into account the viscosity, surface tension, adhesion of the ink molecules, and the fact that the adhesion of the ink molecules to the roller surface molecules is completely related to the ink temperature. is forgotten. Therefore, since the adjacent surfaces of the rollers at the nip move in opposite directions and the pressure is not uniform along the entire length of the nip, the temperature developed on the adjacent surfaces moving in opposite directions varies greatly along the length of the rollers. As a result, the temperature of the ink supported by the rollers could change.

In addition to the irregular temperature distribution along the length of the roller, the inking device constructed according to the technique of the above patent requires a large amount of power to rotate the roller, and The adjustment of the thickness of the ink film, which is adjusted by the method, was completely unreliable. This is because even if there is a slight change in the surface speed of the roller that has completed ink supply, a drastic change will occur in the ink film supported by the other rollers.

Resilient roller surfaces tend to vibrate as they pass through the nip, and as they come into pressure contact with other roller surfaces moving in the opposite direction, they are subjected to large forces, which result in lateral movement of the sheet through the press. It has also been observed that streaks extending over the area end up being printed. Experiments have also shown that conventional viscous inks cannot be used with this inking device.

The inking device disclosed in said patent does not appear to be commercially available. This is because it is not possible to adjust and apply a thin film of uniform thickness suitable for application to the printing plate, and too much power is required to move adjacent surfaces away from each other and away from each other. This is because it is necessary.

If it is a fixed adjustment device that does not require a drive device other than the one that drives one ink form roller,
It is believed that the drawbacks of the above-mentioned inking device can be overcome. Attempts have been made to use a doctor blade as an ink conditioning device, but such attempts have been universally unsuccessful. Although it is acceptable to use a doctor blade as an ink spreading device for distributing and smoothing ink in an inking device with a row of rollers, such a blade can be used as a separate ink conditioning device for elastic surface inking rollers. It has been found that it is not suitable for use as a

Generally, printing ink is an oil-based viscous substance,
This material is highly staining and sticky to ensure proper adhesion to the image areas of the printing plate. When the image area of the printing plate transfers ink directly to the paper or passes to the blanket cylinder and then transfers the ink to the paper, small paper fibers, lint, and fragments of the coated material adhere to the printing cylinder. Sometimes. The plate deposits foreign matter on the surface of the ink supply roller. If the surface of the ink supply roller goes directly into the tank and is wiped by a conventional doctor blade, foreign matter can collect on the edge of the doctor blade and create irregularities in the ink film on the roller surface. Become. For this reason, due to the irregular fluctuations of the surface of the elastic roller in the operating state, it is necessary to support a doctor blade that forms a uniform ink film directly on the surface of the elastic roller that is in rotating contact with the printing plate. No inking device was invented that could do this.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,298,305 discloses an inking device having an edge that is fixed and held in a position that significantly indents the surface of an elastic roller. In this device, a thin, uniform film of ink is delivered from a slot in the inking device and supplied to the roller surface by a thin film forming portion of the inking device. The edges are described as being fixed in a position where they cannot be lifted by the ink film on the roller so as not to adversely affect the hydrodynamics.

It has been found that in operating conditions there is no uniform pressure between the fixed edge and the surface of the elastic roller. This is because the apparent elastic modulus of the elastic surface of the roller increases as the ratio of repeated loads increases. When repeated loads are applied to the elastic surface, the elastic material remains in its original state and does not immediately return to its original size even after the pressure is removed, so the specifications of the elastic ink roller also change in the operating state. Furthermore, if there are large depressions on the surface, vibrations will occur on the surface of the elastic roller. This is because the elastic cover curls up on one side of the fixed rigid edge due to the compressive load and is in tension on the other side of the edge. caused by the movement of the surface of the roller that moves in and out of the gap of the plate cylinder.
Vibrations to the roller axis with respect to the fixed rigid edge are
It is not easy to prevent this from being transmitted to fixedly supported edges.

Furthermore, the apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,298,305 wipes ink with a fixed support edge, which does not efficiently produce an effectively thin, uniform film. Additionally, rigid devices have difficulty flexing with the surface vibrations of the rollers and, as a result, cannot produce a uniform ink film within the desired thickness range.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,682 discloses that a very thin doctor blade is installed at a swept angle relative to the ink, and when the roller and doctor blade move relative to each other, it dispenses a desired thickness of ink onto the roller. A method is disclosed for applying ink to an inking roller having a resilient surface adapted to be dispensed. Although the doctor blade is described as being flexible, the thickness of a blade made of Swedish steel, for example, is 0.2 mm.
(0.008 inch), another example is 0.38 mm (0.015 inch).

U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,682 teaches that when a highly viscous ink is used and the relative rate of motion between the roller surface and the blade edge is large, a sharp blade will float along the ink surface, but when a viscous ink is used, a sharp blade will float along the ink surface; It has been found that when using ink, the leading edge of the doctor blade must be cylindrical with a radius of curvature equal to one-half the thickness of the blade. This involves interacting the speed of the roller surface relative to the doctor blade with the viscosity of the ink, the geometry of the blade, and the downward force on the blade that forces the ink into the nip between the blade and the roller surface. It is explained that the viscous drag against the shear force exerts an upward force that causes the doctor blade to levitate over the ink film created by the device. The surface speed of the roller is varied to vary the thickness of the ink film formed on the roller. This explanation states that rotating the ink roller at 1.73 m/s (68 inches) produces a uniform film of ink 5 microns thick, and then increasing the rotation speed of the ink roller to 4.37 m/s (172 inches). It is stated that at times an ink layer of 12 microns thick is formed.

As described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,682, a wedge-shaped lead-in surface on a very thin flexible doctor blade that is lightly pressed against the roller surface causes the flexible blade to be It has been found that the thickness of the ink film varies with press speed, resulting in uneven color depth on printed sheets. Additionally, very large blade curvatures create areas where small paper fibers or lint, commonly referred to as "hickeys", collect, resulting in an uneven ink film on the roller surface.

Furthermore, the cylindrical end of the doctor blade disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,682 is not shaped to bias the roller surface away from the lower surface of the doctor blade, so that As the ink supported by the blade runs down the underside of the doctor blade, the ink accumulates on the surface of the doctor blade and drips, destroying the uniformity of the ink film formed by the blade.

The invention described herein forms a thin film of printing ink of uniform thickness on the surface of an elastic roller and moves the thin film of ink into engagement with the image area on the printing plate. In this case, the inking device should be free of roller rows, so that it would not be necessary to consume excessive power to prepare a thin, uniform ink film, and the problem of eliminating the disadvantage of collecting foreign matter would be addressed. To provide an adjustment member that does not transmit vibrations to the surface of an elastic roller and press it to damage the surface of the elastic roller, and to form a thin film of uniform thickness regardless of printing speed. It provides members.

The improved inking device of this application includes a pressurizing indentation of the plate surface in combination with an improved liquid conditioning device configured to form a thin, uniform film of ink on the surface of the elastic roller. The ink film thickness is independent of the surface velocity of the resilient roller.

The surface of the roller that moves out of engagement with the plate moves past the ink reservoir so that excess ink lands on the surface of the roller. The adjustment member is arranged to form an orifice with the resilient surface of the roller, through which a thin, uniform film of ink is extruded, which film adheres to the roller surface.

The adjustment member is elastically mounted, with a polished flexible edge that moves relative to the axis of the elastic-covered roller and is pressed against the elastic surface of the roller, extending over the entire length of the roller and around its entire circumference. It is adapted to maintain a substantially constant pressure on the roller surface over the entire length of the roller.

The polished flexible edge of the adjustment member is fixedly supported generally tangentially to the roller surface and is shaped and arranged to deform the resilient roller surface. As a result, the surface of the adjusting member located downstream of the polished edge is not wetted extensively, and the ink is separated from the adjusting member near the polished edge. The shape and/or arrangement of the lower surface of the adjustment member is such that the ink on the indented resilient roller surface does not leave the roller surface and that the flexible polished edge of the adjustment member passes therethrough. It does not seem to remain attached to the lower surface of the adjustment member when it is restored from its compressed state.

Due to the structure of the adjustment member near the ink reservoir, the flow of ink within the tank towards the adjustment member is turbulent. Thus, foreign objects such as lint are generally repelled from the high pressure area immediately adjacent to the distal edge of the adjustment member. This foreign material, such as lint, remains within the tank, thereby reducing the retention of particles on the adjustment member edges. The pressure of the ink stream carried by the movement of the elastic roller surface towards the polished edge of the conditioning member increases rapidly, and the flow quickly becomes laminar near the polished edge. The velocity of the ink increases as it passes through the orifice between the resilient surface of the roller and the polished edge of the conditioning member. Immediately downstream from the orifice, the ink leaves the polished surface but remains on the resilient surface of the roller.

The polished edge of the metering element weighs 179g to 1.07Kg (1-6 lb/in) per cm of linear edge length.
is pressed against the elastic surface of the feed roller with a static force in the range of . This force is sufficient to indent the roller surface over its entire length and varies depending on the modulus of elasticity of the elastic roller, the thickness of the coating, the viscosity of the ink, and other properties. The polished edges of the adjusting element can be used, for example, with a coating thickness of approx.
For a 0.8 cm 40 shore A durometer roller, slightly dent the elastic roller by 0.76 mm (0.03 inch). As the roller rotates, the polished edge of the adjustment member moves parallel to the roller axis to maintain equilibrium. In this case, the edge forms an orifice that automatically moves radially parallel to the roller axis, creating a uniform thin film on the surface of the entire length of the roller. This is despite the fact that the roller surface is not perfectly round and is slightly wavy.

The main object of this invention is to provide an ink system for printing presses that allows for continuous and precise control of the ink film applied to the printing plate, in order to prevent multiple printed images and consequent discoloration. The purpose is to provide equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient inking device capable of forming a thin continuous ink film of uniform thickness all along the length of the surface of a moving elastic roller. The device always operates without generating excessive heat or consuming excessive energy to drive the device.

Another aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for forming a uniform ink film on the surface of a resilient roller, which comprises a flexible abrasive film pressed toward the surface of the resilient roller. The ink is metered by an orifice formed between the edge and the orifice, which automatically moves in the radial direction of the roller.
The thickness of the ink film is independent of the surface speed of the rollers, so that it does not vary substantially as the speed of the printing press changes.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for forming a uniform ink film on the surface of a resilient roller using cantilevered edges. , this edge is
A large force is applied to the edge, which moves so as to press against the thin film of ink on the surface of the roller as it passes through the starting point where the edge begins to thin to a substantially uniform thickness.

Another object of this invention is that during adjustment, ink passing under the member does not peel off, but instead accumulates on the lower surface of the adjustment member and is pulled back onto the adjusted thin film, ruining its uniformity. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inking device in which a non-rotation adjustment member is arranged and configured so as to prevent the rotation from occurring.

Another object of the invention is that the polished edge of the adjusting member is elastically biased to indent the surface of the elastic roller, so that vibrations of the printing press are not transmitted through the polished edge, and the ink It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved inking device which does not create streaks in the ink film formed by the device.

Another purpose is that the polished edges of the conditioning surface are pressed to indent the elastic roller surface.
An inking device is provided, wherein the angle of the adjusting surface is adjustable with respect to the radius of the roller, making it possible to adjust the thickness of the film supported by the roller surface passing through the abrasive edge. It is to be.

Other objects will become apparent upon reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 designates an inking device having spaced frames 2. In FIG. This frame 2 is movably attached to a side frame 3 of the printing press. Inside the printing machine,
A conventional forme cylinder P, a blanket cylinder B and an impression cylinder I are installed for printing on a web W or sheet.

Adjustment member 10 is fixedly adjustable so as to be located between the side frames 2 and is associated with a supply roller 40 covered with an elastic material.
A support member 5 for positioning the 0 is provided. The ends of the feed roller 40 are fixed to the side frame 2 so as to be rotatable in suitable bearings, and the feed roller 40 is driven by suitable means such as a chain 4. This chain 4
connects the sprocket of the plate cylinder P to a sprocket at the end of the supply roller 40 which is provided with a clutch (not shown). Supply roller 4
The surface speed of 0 is equal to the surface speed of the plate cylinder P. However, it is also possible to make the surface speed of the supply roller 40 approximately 10% faster or slower than the surface speed of the plate cylinder P to facilitate wiping of the non-image areas of the plate P. be.

The end dam 6 is fixed to the support device 5 and is pressed against both ends of the supply roller 40 and the member 10 in a leaktight manner, thereby creating a reservoir R. Ink is supplied from this reservoir R onto the surface of the roller 40 in a controlled manner. 1
The vibrating roller 8 described above is arranged so as to be rotationally engaged with the ink on the surface of the supply roller 40. This is to smooth out surface irregularities appearing on the ink thin film before the ink thin film is carried toward the surface of the plate P' on the plate cylinder P by the surface of the roller 40. . The vibrating roller 8 rotatably engages the ink on the surface of the supply roller 40 and not only smooths out surface irregularities, but also prepares and supplies a thin film of ink to the print cylinder for proper printing. For,
Changes the finish of the ink that has just been adjusted to a smooth matte finish.

It is clear that when the surface of the supply roller 40 moves away from the surface of the plate P', the surface is immersed in ink and excess ink is supplied at the tank R position.

When using this inking device for lithographic printing,
A humidifying fluid is applied to the surface of the plate P' on the plate cylinder P. In this case, means is provided to evaporate the humidifying fluid from the surface of the roller 40 to prevent excess humidifying fluid from accumulating in the tank R. As shown in FIG. 1, a hollow perforated tube 9 extends laterally between the side frames 2, and dried air is discharged through the holes formed in the tube 9, and the dry air flows. is directed toward the surface of roller 40. The end of the tube 9 is connected to an air compressor (not shown) via a hose.

Furthermore, when using a humidifying fluid in the inking device of the present invention, a larger proportion of alcohol than usual is added to water so that the humidifying fluid remaining on the supply roller is quickly evaporated when the supply roller leaves the plate surface. It's summery. In practice, the humidifying fluid contains more alcohol than the usual 5-25% in order to quickly evaporate the humidifying fluid from the supply roller during its travel between the printing plate and the ink conditioning member.

As will be explained in more detail later, in order to precisely control the viscosity of the ink in the reservoir R and to change the viscosity of the ink in the reservoir R, a fluid such as water is supplied at a predetermined flow rate while controlling the temperature. A flexible tube 7 is connected for feeding into one end of the passage 5' in the support member 5 and out the other end of the passage 5'.

In order to print on the web at high speed, the adjustment member 10
The physical properties of the ink film 130 formed between the ink film 130 and the elastic coating 44 of the roller 40 can be controlled by controlling the temperature of the fluid passing through the vibration device 8 and the passage in the core 42 of the roller 40. . When the flow rate is large, there is only a small temperature change along the length of the roller, and by monitoring and controlling the product temperature, heat can be dissipated and the temperature of the ink can be controlled. It has also been found that the physical properties of thin films that have been developed remain approximately constant during operation.

Therefore, by cooling or heating the fluid passing through the device 5 and the roller core 42, the ink viscosity at the nip portion is controlled and a constant ink film desired for proper application to the plate surface P is obtained. is now being maintained.

Two embodiments of the ink adjustment member 10 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In FIGS.

With particular reference to FIG. 3, an ink conditioning member, designated generally by the numeral 10, includes surfaces 12,
It has smooth, polished, precision edges 15 formed at the joints.

Edge 15 is 25.4 cm to 254 cm in the vertical direction.
cm (10-100 inches) and is defined by polished portions 14,16 on surfaces 12,18. The polished portions 14, 16 are approximately
They are articulated to form a wedge with an edge bevel angle "a" of 90 degrees. Part 14, 16
Although a 90 degree angle in between is best for forming precision edges 15, angles less than 120 degrees and greater than 60 degrees may be used to form the polished portion.

Although the edge 15 is formed of a relatively hard material,
Usually metal is used. The hardness of the material is preferably in the range of C10 to C60 on the Rockwell scale, preferably C50.

The adjustment member 10 has a weight of 0.11 to 2.11×10 ⁶ Kg/cm ² (1.5
~30× ¹⁰⁶ psi), preferably about 2.04× ¹⁰⁶ Kg/ ^cm2
It is preferable to use an elastic metal material having an elastic modulus of (29×10 ⁶ psi).

The adjustment member 10 is commercially available from Uddeholm and is made of UHB.
Good results can be obtained from stainless steel strip, such as that used in compressor valves, classified as stainless steel 716. Stainless steel strip thickness is 0.79mm
(0.031 inch) and the width is 8.89 cm (3.5 inch). The material strip has a bright, very well polished surface finish with no edge burrs and is extremely flat and straight. The stainless steel material strip is hardened and tempered so that it is corrosion resistant to most dilute organic acids, air, and water at room temperature.

Stainless steel strips were selected for their hardness, flatness, elasticity, and surface finish for greater water resistance and good fatigue properties.

Before polishing, the edge 15 located at the junction of surfaces 12, 18 was a notched line with an irregular profile. In order to form a precise straight edge across the adjustment member 10, several strips of material are held together to create a straight line and the surface 12 is
are ground at the same time, and then sharpened with a fine grindstone. This is the first step in forming polished edges 15.

The pair of materials forming the adjustment member 10 are sandwiched with a spacer between them so that the surfaces 12 of each piece lie in a common plane and can be applied with an abrasive block. The surface 12 of each strip is sequentially leveled with 320, 400, and 600 grit sandpaper and polished with a crocus cloth.

A pair of stainless steel strips are placed in a horizontal plane so that each surface 12 is close to the other surface 12, the surface 19 of each strip is supported on a spacer, and the edges 12 are inclined approximately 0.2 degrees from the vertical. This is the third stage. Part 1 of each surface 18
6. Flatten it using a sand vaporizer with sand sizes of 320, 400, and 600, and polish it with a cloth.

If, while grinding and polishing portions 14, 16 of surfaces 12, 18, thin, brittle edges are formed,
This must be removed. Removal of thin edges or wire-like irregular burrs creates a slight curvature in the edges. Thus, while polishing or sharpening edge 15, the sharpness of the edge changes somewhat, creating a non-cutting edge, ie, an edge that does not dig into the film. This process produces a sharp, continuous, smooth, straight, polished edge 15 with extremely small surface irregularities. Surface 1 polished as completely as possible to ensure superior quality.
The edges 15 formed by the polished portions 14, 16 of 2, 18 are very sharp.

The edge 15 has a surface finish similar to that of a razor blade. However, it is clear that the angle formed by the polished portions 14, 16 of the surfaces 12, 18 is much greater than the bevel angle a' of the razor, thus producing a sharp, non-cutting, non-biting edge. . Surface 14 merges with surface 16 via edge 15 to form a continuous, polished surface-contacting edge 15 .

The material forming the edge 15 must be hard and flexible along the length of the edge 15, as well as provide a sharp, finely ground, and unbreakable edge. Actually, Edge 1
5, when the elastic surface of the supply roller 40 is pressed into a concave state by pressure, the edge 15 can be bent under the influence of the surface of the roller 40, and the edge 15 and the surface of the roller 40 are bent. able to adapt,
It must be flexible in the longitudinal direction so that a uniform concave surface can be formed along the longitudinal direction of the roller 40. More fully described, the surface of roller 40 is approximately 0.25 inches thick and has a resiliency of approximately 40 Shore. edges 15 to conform with respect to the surface of roller 40;
This flexibility does not create extreme depressions in the roller surface during static conditions.

The edge 15 of the adjustment member 10 is mounted in such a way that the edge 15 is elastically pressed towards the surface of the feed roller 40 and is radially movable relative to the feed roller 40. Furthermore, Edge 15
is fixedly supported substantially tangentially to the supply roller surface.

The ideal support for edge 15 is a flexible cantilever beam that supports edge 15 and has the desired deflection and stiffness. Although the edge 15 is part of a separate component attached to the cantilever beam, it is preferred to form the edge 15 into the beam such that the two components are an integral part. To achieve this, the beam must be made of the required material at the edge 15 and in two directions: along the length of the edge and along the width of the strip member or the length of the cantilever beam. It must be flexible.

The ink conditioning member shown in FIG. 3 in which an edge 15 is formed at the free end of the cantilever beam is
1 , 12 , 18 and 19 of substantially rectangular cross section. Surface 12 lies in a plane 12' that intersects plane 18' in which surface 18 lies when the cantilever beam is in an unflexed state. Planes 12' and 18' intersect at apex "A" which is a right angle.

For example, a cantilever beam with edge 15 is 0.079 cm (0.031 inch) thick and wide, as described above.
Constructed from a thin flexible elongated stainless steel strip member measuring 3.5 inches (8.89 cm). Preferably, the width of the beam or length of the strip member is within the range of 10 inches to 100 inches. The beam is flexibly supported along the length of edge 15 and along the length of the cantilever beam. The elastic modulus E of the beam is, for example, 2.04×10 ⁶ Kg/cm ² (29×10 ⁶ psi), which is the stiffness or deformation resistance of the material.
When multiplied by the moment of inertia 1, the EI coefficient indicates the stiffness of the cantilever beam.

Specific dimensions and characteristics of adjustment member 10 are as described, and such dimensions, characteristics and mounting may be varied to accommodate particular conditions. As a result, preferred ranges are given here.

A second embodiment, designated generally by the number 10', includes:
It is shown in FIG.

The ink conditioning member 10' finally has a fine polished detailed edge 25 formed at the intersection of the polished surfaces 24 and 26, the method of which is described above. 10
A method of forming edges 15 is used.

Adjustment member 10' differs from adjustment member 10 in that a groove or relief surface 27 is formed in the lower surface 28 of the strip member and adjustment member 10' is made from the strip member.

The strip member from which the adjustment member 10' is made is
Approximately 0.127cm (0.05 inch) thick and 8.89cm wide
(3.5 inches) or high carbon stiffness is preferred.

The portion of the strip member that is polished to form the polished edge 25 is covered, yet the metallic material near the edge 25 does not release or create stresses that would cause the strip member to bend. removed by chemical polishing to remove the metal parts.

The surface 28a forming the support surface has a rough surface to approximately
Smooth by sanding to remove 0.003 inch (0.0076 cm) depth. The surface forming the relief surface 27 is electropolished to obtain a very smooth surface finish. These surfaces are prepared by making the member 10' an anode and by submerging the member 10' in an electrolyte containing phosphoric acid and butyl alcohol such that the higher portions of the surface are dissolved in the electrolyte. Electrolytically polished.

If the distance and thickness between surfaces 28 and 29 of the strip member is 0.127 cm (0.05 inch), then the depth of relief surface 27 will be the same as the thickness of the member between surfaces 28' and 29. It is preferably about 0.051 cm (0.02 inch), so that it is about 0.076 cm (0.03 inch).

Surface 28a intersects polished surface 26 at an angle A' ranging from 30 DEG to 90 DEG as shown.

The top of surface 24 of adjustment member 10' is beveled at an angle of about 30 DEG to form surface 22.

In the illustrated embodiment of adjustment member 10', polished surface 24 has a length approximately equal to the depth of relief surface 27 or approximately 0.051 cm across surface 22.
(0.02 inch) polished edge 25
extends upward from. It is clear that the polished surface 26 supports the polished edges 25. If surfaces 24 and 28a are parallel, then
The surface 26 can be refinished without changing the bearing characteristics of the polished edge portion 25 of the adjustment member 10'.

However, if it is considered advantageous for polished portion 24 and surface 22 to be in a common plane, then surface 22
It is clear that it should be formed to extend through 5.

The relief angle A' is set so that the surface 26
or sufficient to cause the ink film carried by the surface of roller 40 to be removed from surface 26 without accumulating on surface 28a. In addition, surface 2
6 and surface 28a form a rear edge 25'.

The feed roller 40 consists of a hollow, rigid tubular metal core 42 to which is secured a cover 44 made of a resilient impermeable material, the cover 44 having an outer surface 45 that is uniformly smooth and resilient. .
The cover 44 of the supply roller 40 has elasticity,
For example, it is relatively hard in the range of 30 to 90 Shore hardness.

The cover 44 of the supply roller 40 has a metal core 4
Preferably, it is made of urethane, polyurethane or rubber-like material with elasticity attached to it.

The cover 44 of the supply roller 40 has high tensile strength, high abrasion and tear resistance, and high oil, solvent and chemical resistance. Additionally, the cover has low compressive strain, good recovery properties and uniform ink receptivity. A suitable cover is made using a resin sold under the registered trademark "Solisan" by Tekool Chemical Corporation of New Jersey using a suitable plasticizer to form an elastic cover with a hardness of about 40 Shore. can be made.

After the resilient cover 44 is formed, the roller has a smooth polished outer sheet or layer over the surface removed by sanding. After polishing, the plastic surface forms a uniform roughness over the surface 45 of the elastic cover 44.
Sanded with 180 grit sandpaper. The microscopic reservoir of ink ensures that a continuous thin film of ink is retained on the surface 45 of the supply roller 40. The final finish using various sandpapers up to 400 grit yields a tactile smooth surface without "orange surfaces" or other irregularities. As will be explained more fully below, the adhesion between the ink particles and the particles on the surface 45 of the cover 44 creates a thin film to form a controlled thin film of ink on the surface 45 of the supply roller 40. The bonding force must be greater than the bonding force of ink fine particles that can be sheared.

It is understood that it is physically practical to configure the roller 40 so that the surface 45 is perfectly circular in the circumferential direction, perfectly straight in the longitudinal direction, and exactly concentric with the axis of the core 42. I want to be It is economically inexpensive to maintain the straightness of the surface 45 of the roller 40 within a tolerance of about 0.002 inches along the length of the roller 40, with a radial eccentricity of about 0.0038 cm. (0.0015 inch) is economically inexpensive to hold within a tolerance range of (0.0015 inch).

The Shore hardness test is commonly used to indicate the hardness of an elastic roller cover by measuring the penetration resistance at a constant temperature of about 24.4°C (76°C) when the cover is at rest. The apparent hardness of an elastic surface subjected to dynamic conditions is fundamentally different from the hardness shown by hardness tests under static conditions. Furthermore, the spring constant of the elastic material increases slightly as the deformation increases.

As the frequency of loading of the elastic member increases, the dynamic or static modulus of elasticity increases such that the cover appears to be a relatively stiff, rigid material.
However, cyclic loading of the elastic member generates internal heat, and the increase in temperature reduces the hardness and elastic modulus of the elastic cover.

Furthermore, since the surface 45 of the cover 44 of the roller 40 is concave under pressure with respect to the surface of the plate cylinder, the plate cylinder has a longitudinally extending gap, and this cyclic load is applied over the irregular circumference of the surface 45. generate heat. This temperature difference on surface 45 varies appropriately in radial distance from the axis of roller 40 to a point on surface 45 and is due to the elastic material used to form the elastic roller cover. This is because the coefficient of thermal expansion is several times that of steel.

As shown, conditioning member 10 creates a continuous ribbon of ink regardless of previous printing and regardless of thermal changes within roller cover 44.
The roller 40 has a different diameter than the plate cylinder P without impairing the adjustment of the membrane 130.

Referring to FIG. 1, a cantilever type adjustment member 1
The support device 5 for supporting 0 has a surface 54 polished on one side and arranged at an angle on the flat surface 52 forming a precise flat surface 52 and a shoulder 55 extending in the longitudinal direction of the support bar 50. It consists of an elongated rigid support bar 50 having a structure. The journal 56 extends outwardly from opposite ends of the support bar 50 and is rotatably secured to a self-aligning bushing 57 of a bearing block 60 having outwardly extending projections 58 near each side.

Each projection 58 has an elongated slot through which an anchor bolt 52 passes to secure the bearing block 60 to the inker side frame 2.

The four lifting screws 64 are as shown in FIG.
The bearing block 60 is threaded into a threaded passage in the protrusion 58 and engages a surface 65 on the inker side frame 2 to move the support bar 50 in the vertical direction.

The side adjustment screw 66 is attached to the side frame 2 of the ink device.
is threaded into the internally threaded portion of the outwardly extending lug 68 and engages the end surface 66' of the projection 58.

From the above, the position of bearing block 60 can be adjusted vertically and horizontally to move support bar 50 with respect to axis C of roller 40, as shown in FIG.

The arm 70 is fixed to the end of the journal 56 of the support bar 50 with a bolt or the like, and the arm 70 is engaged with the end of a set screw 74 screwed into an arm 75 which is fixed to the bearing block 60 with a bolt or the like. It is pressed by the piston rod 71 of the hydraulically operated cylinder 72 so that It is clear that the support bar 50 is rotatable relative to the bearing block 60 by adjusting the predetermined position of the end of the set screw 74 relative to the arm 75.

The pressure regulating device R' is arranged so that the arm 7 can form a recess by the edge 15 in the surface 45 of the cover 44.
is provided to establish sufficient inlet pressure in the cylinder 72 to hold the 0 firmly against the screw 74.

The adjustment member 10 is secured to the flat surface 52 of the support bar by bolts 76 that pass through spaced apertures in the clamp member 78. Oversized spaced apertures pass through the cantilever near rear edge 11. The bolt 76 is screwed into a female thread formed in the support bar 50. Bolt 76 and clamp 78
In this case, the adjustment member 10 is attached to the support bar 50 with the edge 15 having a uniform spring rate along its longitudinal direction.
cooperating so as to be uniformly attached or supported by the

In the embodiment of the device shown in FIG.
It is remotely controlled by a DC driven motor 80 fixed to 5. If desired, a reducer is disposed between motor 80 and screw 74 to control the rotational speed of screw 74. Spline coupling ring 76 is coupled between screw 74 and the output shaft of motor 80 . Motor 80 is manufactured by Tay, Ohio.
R Double's Globe Industrial
Sold by Division.

Wires 82 and 84 extend between motor 80 and motor position controller 85. The motor position control device 85 has a conventional structure and consists of a DC power source and a three-position switch.

Motor position control 85 includes a rotating potentiometer (not shown) at the end of set screw 74 that engages arm 70 to provide an apparent indication of the position of support 50 for adjustment member 10 or adjustment member 10'. It has a digital readout indicator 86 to indicate the location of the . The motor position control device 85 is fixed to the side frame 3 of the printing press in the embodiment shown in FIG. However, the auxiliary motor position control device 85 is preferably located adjacent to the unwinding end of the printing press, so that the position of the adjustment member 10 is adjusted according to the ink color and color requirements of the printed web. Color) remotely controlled to inspect to adjust density.

The inking unit side frames 2 are pivoted by shafts 90 to the printing press side frames 3 adjacent to both sides of the printing press. The fluid pressure actuated printing cylinder 92 has a piston rod 9 which is pivotally attached to a lug 93 fixed to the side frame 3 of the printing press and also to a lug 95 which is fixed by welding or the like to the side frame 2 of the inking unit.
It has 4. The on-stop adjustment screw 96 is threaded onto a lug fixed to the printing press side frame 3 and is connected to the inking device when the pressure between the surface 45 of the feed roller 42 and the printing plate P' is properly established. It is arranged so as to engage with the side frame 2. The off-stop adjustment screw 98 is adapted to engage the side frame 2 of the inking unit when the piston rod 94 of the impression cylinder 92 extends to separate the surface 45 on the supply roller 40 from the surface of the printing plate P'. It is screwed into a lug fixed to the side frame 3 of the printing press by welding or the like.

As previously mentioned, the end dams 6 are pressed sealingly against both ends of the supply roller 40 and form both ends of the reservoir R. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ink retaining member 100 is attached to the surface 45 of the supply roller 40.
It has both ends which are arranged in a sealed manner and fixed to the end dam 6. Preferably, the ink retaining member 100 is spaced slightly from the surface 1 of the ink conditioning member 10, such as approximately 0.025 inches.

The ink holding member 100 forms the inlet side of the storage tank R.

The outlet side of the reservoir R is formed by a member 105 fixed to the support bar 50 by bolts 106. The lower seal 108 adjacent member 105 is
It is positioned adjacent to the upper surface 19 of the conditioning member 10 so that the ink does not flow out of the reservoir on the upper surface 19 of the conditioning member 10 to form a stagnation area that stops the flow of ink. Because the ink is thixotropic, the viscosity of the ink decreases when the ink is in motion compared to the viscosity of a stationary ink.

As shown in FIG.
Fixed to 00.

The ink stirrer 110 is of conventional construction and is available from Baldwin-Gegenheimer of Connecticut.

The ink agitator 110 consists of a rack pinion extending longitudinally above the reservoir R and supporting a mixing head driven by a chain driven by a constant speed motor. As the mixing head approaches the end dam 6 near one end of the feed roller 40, the mixing head reverses direction and moves to the outer end of the reservoir. The stirrer rotates within the ink to stir or cut the ink laterally to prevent viscosity irregularities along the reservoir.

Regarding the action, The operation and function of the device described above will now be described.

The adjustment member 10 is attached to the support bar 5 by a bolt 76.
0 plane 52. The fixing bolt 52 is loosened so that the bearing block 60 can be moved relative to the inking unit side frame 2.

A lateral adjustment screw 66 is used to move the bearing block 60 relative to the feed roller 40 to align the edge 15 on the adjustment member 10 with respect to the surface 45 on the resilient cover 44 of the feed roller 40.

The lift screw 64 is used to adjust the angular relationship between the surfaces 12 of the adjustment roller 10 with respect to the radius of the feed roller 40.

The edge 15 of the adjustment member 10 is aligned with the surface of the supply roller 40 and the surface 12 and the supply roller 40 are aligned.
After the angular relationship between the bearing block 60 and the radially extending line has been established, the fixing bolt 52 is tightened to firmly fix the bearing block 60 with respect to the side frame 2. Edge 15 is surface 4 on supply roller 40
5 and placed in "light contact". Ink in an amount exceeding the amount necessary to apply ink to the plate P' on the plate cylinder P is transferred from the storage tank R to the adjustment member 10.
The surface of the feed roller approaching the upper conditioning surface 12 is fed.

After the edge 15 is in light contact with the surface 45, the set screw 74 is rotated to rotate the support bar 50 from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG.

This results in a cantilever deflection and the flexible polished edge 15 is forced into a concave state with pressure into alignment with the resilient surface of the feed roller 40. The rotational movement of the roller 40 transfers the ink from the reservoir to the edge 1.
5 and conditioning surface 12 and thus cut into a predetermined thickness of ink on surface 45 into film 130 which is varied in thickness as described below.

Assuming that the edge 15 is attached to a cantilever beam fixedly supported at one end, the formula for the elastic curve is Y=F( ^2L3-3Lx ₊ ^X3 )÷6EI.

In the master mold, the distance between the shoulder 55 and the adjustment surface 12 of the adjustment member 10, which is the free end of the cantilever beam, is
4.13 cm (1.625 inch) and surfaces 18 and 19
The distance between is 0.079cm (0.031 inch) and
A static load of 0.714 Kg/cm (4 lb/in) per width was applied to Edge 15. The modulus of elasticity E of the adjustment member 10 was 1.9×10 ⁶ Kg/cm ² (27×10 ⁶ psi).

The moment of inertia 1 of a rectangular area is equal to bh ³ ÷12. b is equal to the width of the base of the rectangular area, h
is equal to the height of the rectangular area.

The moment of inertia 1 of the adjustment member 10 having a thickness of 0.079 cm (0.031 inch) was measured to be 9.47 x 10 ^-7 /cm (2.4 x ^{10 -6} /inch) for the width of the cantilever beam.

At the free end of the cantilever beam, X is equal to 0 and the deflection is equal to FL ³ ÷3EI. Therefore, for width, the deflection of the free end of the cantilever beam is measured to be approximately 0.22 cm (0.088 in) when a load of 0.714 Kg/cm (4 lb/in) is applied to edge 15. Ta. Therefore, the spring constant of the cantilever beam is 0.45Kg of the force applied to edge 15.
(0.056 cm (0.022 inch) of deflection per 1 pound (1 pound) or 8.03 Kg/cm (45
(pounds per inch).

Of course, it is understood that the above elastic curve formula is approximately equivalent to measuring the deflection of the edge 15 since the adjustment member 10 is not fixedly supported or tightened by the shoulder 55 on the support bar 50. I want to be
However, it is clear that the edge 15 was elastically pressed in the radial direction of the feed roller 40.

In the above embodiment, the edge 1 of the adjusting member 10
The deflection or distance moved by 5 is 0.714
An average static force of 4 pounds per inch (Kg/cm) was measured to be 0.2 inches when applied to edge 15. Due to the deflection of the adjustment member 10
Obtaining a force of 0.714 Kg/cm (4 lb/in) indicates that the spring constant of the adjustment member 10 is low and has a deflection of 3.57 Kg/cm (20 lb/in). The spring constant measured from the net deflection of the elastic member 10 is different from the approximate spring constant measured above. However, the difference between the approximately measured and net measured spring constants was expected.

As will be explained more fully later, the sum of the deflection distance of the edge 15 and the distance that the edge 15 is recessed into the roller surface is the distance between a point on the roller surface 45 and the edge when the surface and edge are pressed into light contact. 15
is substantially larger than the maximum space between. For example, irregularities or manufacturing imperfections in the roller surface 45 and slight undulations in the edge 15 can result in a maximum deviation of 0.002 inches such that surface 45 and edge 15 are not aligned when they first come into contact. If Edge 15 is 0.508cm (0.2 inch)
If the deflection is to recess surface 45 by 0.03 inches, the initial deflection of 0.002 inches is about 1% of the total distance of 0.23 inches. Because the edges 15 and cover 44 are resilient, the edges and surfaces can flex and conform to each other.
When so accommodated, the pressure along the normal section is substantially constant, and the effects of small differences are insignificant.

The total distance of the deflection and depression is preferably at least 10 times the initial deflection, so that after the edge 15 and the surface 45 are pressed into the depression state by pressure, the maximum error is less than 10%, and the color density is It is possible to print to an ink film thickness of what is considered by the printer as acceptable uniformity. However, what must be considered a "very strict" control is that the color density must not vary by more than 5% over the surface of the sheet.

As shown in FIG. 3, the edge 1 of the adjustment member 10
5 is pressed into a concave state by pressure with the surface of the feed roller 40, so that the elastic material is deposited upstream from the surface 12 forming the ridges or undulations 120 of the cover 44, and the grooves or channels 125 are formed downstream from the edges 15. Formed on the cover of. This forms an orifice through which the ink is forced out, which orifice is bounded on one side by a portion of surface 12 and edge 15 and on the other side by a portion of surface 45, and is bounded on the other side by a portion of surface 45. and the portion of surface 45 adjacent polished edge 15. The orifice automatically moves radially with respect to the axis C of the feed roller 40 as the cantilever beam allows the flexible edge 15 to follow the contour of the feed roller. a flexible biased edge 1 with an orifice facing the resilient surface 45 of the feed roller;
5, this movement is favorable if a constant pressure relationship is maintained with the ink exiting the orifice. The surface of the feed roller 40 continually changes in profile as the roller rotates due to elastic memory, temperature changes, and dynamic modulus changes as described above.
As a result, it is important that the edges 15 automatically move radially and deflect longitudinally in accordance with this changing profile.

It will be appreciated that the ink supported by the surface 45 of the feed roller 40 encounters the conditioning surface 12 which creates areas of turbulence adjacent the peaks of the ridges 120 on the resilient roller surface. In this way, the third
Although the edge 15 is elastically pressed downward as shown, the adjustment surface 12 is formed to prevent the edge 15 from rising due to the hydrodynamic force exerted on the adjustment member 10 by the ink. and placed. This condition is such that the polished edge 15 is closer to the central axis C of the supply roller 40 than any other point on the adjusting member 10.
This is achieved by placing 5. Preferably, the blunt, ground edges 15 deform the resilient cover 44 on the feed roller 40, thus forming a control orifice for forming an ink film of precisely controlled thickness.

Edge 1 where surface 18 of adjustment member 10 is polished
5, so that only the edge 15 is in contact with the adjusting member 10, and the ink thin film 130 is in contact with the adjusting member 10.
and thus prevent ink from dragging along the surface 18 resulting in ink build-up, preventing dripping and thus erratic flow that would destroy the uniformity of the thin film 130. .

In the embodiment of adjustment member 10 shown in FIG. 4, the lower surface of adjustment member 10' includes surface 28a at the heel of polished surface 26 and interface relief surface 2
7 is arranged at an angle with respect to the direction of movement of the ink film 130, and the roller surface 44
It is not again restricted to the position where 0 contacts surface 28'.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the adjustment member is configured to remove the ink film 1 before its surface returns to a relaxed, unrecessed position.
30 is formed or arranged so as to separate it directly from the adjustment member.

During testing of the device described above, as the force pressing the edge 15 into a concave state with respect to the surface 45 first increases, the thickness of the membrane 130 decreases to a minimum thickness and then as the force increases. It has been disclosed that the thin film 130 begins to increase in thickness by increasing.

With reference to FIG. 5, it will be appreciated that this surprising phenomenon occurs as the force pushing the edge 15 of the cantilever beam adjustment member 10 toward the surface of the roller 40 increases. The load is applied and uniform around the circumference of the surface 45 of the roller 40 when a small force about the longitudinal linear length of the edge 15 is used to press the edge 15 into pressure relation with the surface 45. As shown, the color density decreased. However, under this light load, the color density was not uniform across the longitudinal direction of the roller 40. As the force increased, the ink film thickness on the roller was reduced until a somewhat heavier load was reached, about the length of the width of the edge 15. The ink film thickness increases as the force pressing against the polished edge 15 in the direction of the central axis C of the roller 40 increases. In other words, as the force increases, the film thickness decreases and then begins to increase as the load is applied. However, the load is 0.714Kg/cm (4 lbs/inch) for Edge 15.
When approaching the static average force of roller 40, the color density
becomes extremely uniform across the longitudinal direction.

This phenomenon occurs when the thickness of the ink film stops rapidly decreasing at the critical pressure, and begins to increase as the force of the edge 15 becomes relatively high. Observed when constructing the lower front edge of the adjustment member. Figures 3 and 4 show the roller 4 in a position such that the edge deflection load, pressure and recess, and therefore ink film thickness (a factor determining color), are substantially constant.
The adjustment members 10 and 10', respectively, are shown with the 0 surface 45 recessed.

Referring to FIG. 5, it can be seen that the thickness of the ink film 130 varies as a function of the indentation of the polished edge 15 into the resilient surface 44 of the supply roller 40. As mentioned above, as the depression increases, the thickness of the ink film 130 decreases rapidly to a minimum value and then begins to increase. Irregular or imperfect conditions of the surfaces on the adjusting member 10 and the supply roller 40 are such that the change in deflection of the edge along the length of the edge 15 is small with respect to the overall deflection, e.g.
% or less is easily seen in the adjusted ink film 130 until the edge 15 of the disposed condition is concave. At this point, the ink film becomes more regular and uniform and remains substantially uniform as the polished edges 15 are further deflected and depressed into the surface of the feed roller 40.

It is observed that the minimum thickness of the ink droplet is controlled by the predetermined angle of the conditioning surface 12 with respect to the radius of the roller 40, as shown at the bottom of the curve in FIG.

With reference to FIG.
When the adjusting surface 12 is pivoted clockwise around the ground edge 15 as shown in FIG. 3 until the adjustment surface 12 passes through the radially extending line of the roller, the minimum The film thickness of is varied. In this manner, by adjusting the predetermined angle between the adjustment surface 12 and the radius of the roller, a series of curves such as that shown in FIG. 5 is produced as shown in FIG.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the thickness of the ink film 130 is increased by rotating the conditioning surface 12 around the polished edge 15 or by indenting the polished edge 15 into the resilient surface 44 of the supply roller 40. It is clearly seen that this is regulated by

It is observed that the film 130 thickness is varied by changing the viscosity of the ink in reservoir R. In this way, by adjusting the temperature of a suitable liquid, such as water, passing through the passage 5' of the support bar 50 and the tube 7, the viscosity of the ink in the reservoir R is adjusted.

As a result of adjusting the angular relationship between conditioning surface 12 and the radius of roller 40, the minimum film thickness obtained is determined by completely removing ink from the surface of roller 40 to the point where the film thickness begins to increase. I know it will be achieved. In this way, roller 4
To prevent damage to the surface of the ink film, the ink film thickness can be adjusted while observing. thin film 1
When 30 becomes too thin, feed roller 40 is stopped and the force pressing the polished edge 15 into a concave state is increased. After the force has been increased enough to pass through the beginning of the minimum film thickness, the roller is rotated without fear of loss of wetting agent in the film 130.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates the above-mentioned phenomenon, which occurs as the force of elastically pressing the edge 15 into a concave state with the surface 45 of the roller 40 increases as the printed sheet Uniformly increases the color density of ink on paper.

As previously described with reference to FIG. 10, the color density of the ink printed on the sheet was measured at points on the surface of the sheet. Maximum and minimum color density readings were recorded. The sheet is selected and the adjustment member 10
were printed with different loads applied to the edges 15 of the paper.

As shown by the lengths of lines D ₁ , D ₂ , D ₃ and D ⁴ in FIG. force bar 44
It can be seen that as the force pressing the polished edge 15 into the concave state increases, the force decreases.

When the force pressing the edge 15 into the concave state due to pressure with the surface 45 increases, the adjustment member 10, which is a cantilever beam, flexes and the elastic force bar 4 on the roller 40 flexes.
4 is deflected or concave, and the edge 15 is slightly deformed along its length, and even if the edge and roller surface are not perfectly aligned when placed in light contact, the edge 15 and Surface 4 of roller 40 adjacent edge 15
5 is matched. In this way, the adjustment member 1
0 deflection, edge 1 along the longitudinal direction of edge 15
The deflections at 5 and the recesses in cover 44 serve to obtain proper ink film thickness and color density uniformity on the surface of the printed sheet.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 7, it can be seen that the ink film thickness decreases to a minimum value and then begins to increase as the force pressing the edge 15 into the concave state of the roller surface 45 increases. Ru. In this way, the same ink film thickness is achieved at two different points on the curve. However, as shown by the difference in length between lines D ₂ and D ₄ in FIG. 7, the change in color density is different at two points on the curve.

Referring to FIG. 8, a dial indicator is attached to support bar 50 and positioned in engagement with upper surface 19 adjacent adjustment surface 12 of adjustment member 10. Referring to FIG. When the supply roller 40 rotates,
All dial indicators read 0.0015cm
(0.0006 inch). This means that the radial protrusion of the surface of roller 40 is 0.00076 cm (0.0003 inch), and the edge 15 of adjustment member 10 moves about 0.0015 cm (0.0006 inch) with each rotational movement of roller 40. As the surface speed of roller 40 increases, the magnitude of the motion of edge 15 increases as roller 40
were virtually the same at different surface velocities. However, the total deflection of the adjustment member 10 is
increased somewhat as the surface velocity of
In this manner, the polished edge 15 of the adjustment member 10 automatically moves relative to the axis C of the feed roller 40 during each rotational movement of the feed roller 40 and in response to changes in feed roller 40 speed.

Referring to FIG. 9, it can be seen that the ink film thickness remains substantially constant over a wide range of speeds and is therefore substantially independent of the surface speed of the feed roller 40.

As previously mentioned, the edges 15 of the adjustment member 10 automatically move radially as the feed roller rotates. However, the adjustment member 10 has an adjustment surface 12
The polished edge 15 is arranged so as to be fixedly supported in the tangential direction. Ink adjusted surface 1
The force transmitted to the conditioning surface as a result of impingement on the supply roller 40 is directed approximately tangentially to the supply roller 40, and the adjustment member 10 is angularly oriented such that it is very stiff approximately tangentially to the supply roller 40. It can be seen that it is placed.

Although the adjustment member 10 needs to be arranged to resiliently press against the edge 15 in the radial direction, the adjustment member 10 has sufficient thickness to form the adjustment surface 12 and the polished edge 15. must be maintained. Adjustment member 10 should not be made too thin. This is because when compressive forces act in the plane of the thin plate, the adjustment member 10 bends and distorts in a manner similar to a long, thin and axially loaded column.

The color density of the ink printed on the sheet is measured using an "SOS40" digital reflection densitometer available from Conser Corporation of Texas. The color density reading of the yellow treatment in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the printed sheet is shown in FIG. It can be seen that the lateral color adjustment is within the "very tight" range and the longitudinal color adjustment is within the "very tight" range. Other process colors were measured, namely magenta, blue and black, with uniform and good color control.

The data shown schematically in FIG.
indicates that it is adjusted by

It can be seen that the power required to drive a printing press with the above described inking device attached to the printing press is not much different from the power required to drive a printing press with a conventional inking device. However, as mentioned above, the ghost image on the surface of the supply roller 40 moving from the plate P' in the direction of the inlet side of the reservoir R is completely erased, and the new thin film of ink is removed by each rotational movement of the supply roller 40. sometimes printing plate
adjusted to P′. In this way, the ghost image is erased. Furthermore, the adjustment members 10 and 10' constructed and supported as described above are sufficiently thin and sufficiently uniform to ink the printing plate so as to provide very high quality multicolor printing. The thin film can be adjusted. Color density can be changed instantly by simply adjusting the position of a remotely controlled set screw 74.

The adjustment edge 15 of the adjustment member 10, when properly formed, is capable of removing foreign matter such as lint in the ink from the orifice formed between the adjustment member 10 and the surface of the supply roller 40. To accomplish this function, the leading or conditioning surface 12 nudges the critical roll in the direction that the roller surface 45 is moving. Conditioning surface 12 forms a barrier above edge 15 against which excess ink on supply roller 40 creates a turbulent region as described above. Since an area of high pressure is created prior to moving the ink past the polished edge 15, foreign matter such as lint may be removed from this area of high pressure if a low pressure passage is provided to the reservoir. Preferably, the storage tank R is at atmospheric pressure.

Foreign material such as lint needs to be collected adjacent to the polished edge 15 as long as the conditioning surface 12 is maintained within approximately 30 degrees on either side of the radius of the roller 40 passing through the polished edge 15. There isn't. However, the foreign matter to collect near the edge 15 is increased as the conditioning surface 22 is moved towards the crest of the ridge 120, so that the conditioning surface 12 creates a turbulent flow into the reservoir adjacent thereto. Maintained at proper angle to maintain area. Further, forming the generally radial, abrupt surface 12 causes the fluid to raise the abrasive edge 12 and cause the thickness of the ink film 130 to vary as the surface speed of the roller 40 changes. It has been found that the generation of hydrodynamic or hydrodynamic forces that cause pressure wedges can be prevented. Edge 15 is therefore hydrostatically supported by the ink supported by roller surface 45.

From the foregoing, it is clear that the objects of the invention can be achieved when ink conditioning member 10 and ink conditioning member 10' are associated with supply roller 40.

It is to be understood that other embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the basic principles of the invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the printing press, Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view showing the relationship of the adjustment member to the elastic-covered roller, and Fig. 3 shows the relationship between a portion of the elastic surface of the supply roller and the adjustment member during operation. FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the adjustment member; FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the adjustment member; FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram similar to FIG. 5 showing the types of curvature; FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the variation in color density across the corresponding printing sheet; FIG. 9
Figure 10 is a diagram showing that the thickness of the ink film is independent of printing speed, and Figure 10 is a diagram showing the density of color on the printed sheet. Reference numbers indicate the same parts throughout each figure. It is used in B... Blanket cylinder, I... Impression cylinder, P... Plate cylinder, R... Ink storage tank, 1... Inking device, 5...
...Adjustment member support device, 8... Vibration roller, 10...
...Ink adjustment member, 40... Supply roller.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a liquid thin film forming apparatus that directly supplies liquid from a liquid storage tank to a single supply roller in order to form a liquid thin film of uniform thickness on the supply roller, there is provided the following: (A) elasticity; rotatable supply roller 4 having a surface 45;
0; (B) a hard adjustment member 10' elastically supported in the radial direction with respect to the supply roller 40 and rigidly supported in the tangential direction with respect to the supply roller 40; The adjusting member 10' is arranged between a first surface 24 disposed at a slight inclination with respect to the radial direction of the supply roller 40 and a first surface 24 disposed substantially tangentially to the supply roller 40. a second surface 26 forming a hard adjustment edge 25;
and substantially parallel to first surface 24 and second surface 2
(D) said adjustment member 10' has a third surface 28a forming a hard rear edge 25' between said adjustment edge 25';
and the rear edge 25' are attached so as to recess the elastic surface 45 of the supply roller 40, and (E) the angle formed by the first surface 24 and the second surface 26 is greater than 90 degrees. Liquid thin film forming device.