US2368500A - Printing press inking means and mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 30, 1945. Y R ET AL 2,368,500

PRINTING-PRESS INKING MEANS AND MECHANISM Filed May 21, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet} INVENTQRS AUBURN TAYLOR r I ATTORNEY Jan.3,145. TAYL A 2,368,500

PRINTING PRESS INKING MEANS AND MECHANISM Filed ma 21, .1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v I l fi z w v INVENTORS AUBURN T/IYLOI? ATTORNEY of the invention.

invention;

Patented Jan. 30,1945

UNITED STATE s PATENT oF-Fics PRINTING PRESS INKING mums AND MECHANISM Auburn Taylor, Charleston, W. Va., and Emory W. Worthington, Chicago, 111., assignors to The Goss Printing Press Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 21, 1942, Serial No. 443,866

9 Claims. 01.101-350) and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, con-' structions, arrangements, combinations, and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one the description, serve to explain the principles Of the drawings:

Fig; 1- i s .a diagrammatic side view .of an ink fountain, ink. supply, reservoir and circulating means, and portionsof the inking mechanism of a rotary printing press embodying the present Fig.2 is a vertical cross sectional view of a rotary printing press ink fountain embodying the present invention;

. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view-taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a detail cross sectional view taken alongline'44 of Fig. 3.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary printing press with 'an improvedmechanism and means for supplying printin'g'ink to the press. Another object is the provision for such a printing press of an improved ink fountain and ink circulating means for the fountain. Still another object is the provision of an ink fountain for rotary printing presseswhich may be quickly, easily and thoroughly cleaned between operations of the printing press, and which also allows for a like cleaning of other parts of the printing press which are utilized in the inking process and necessarily become .-ink

- covered or stained during operation of the press.

A further object of the invention "is the -provi-' embodiment of the invention, and together with f for circulating ink to and through the ink fountain of a rotary printingpress in desired amounts, for circulating and agitating the printing ink before it is introduced into the ink fountain, and to conveniently remove the ink from storage, condition it for printing use and introduce it into the printing press inking mechanism. A further objectis the provision of an improved ink fountain in which the printing ink may be maintained at desired and variable levelsin order to obtain the desired intensity in the printed product. Another object is the provision of improved ink fountain and ink supply and circulating means for a rotary printing press which is, adapted to the economical and eflicient use of water base inks in the press.

-With these and other objects in view there is provided in an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, in a rotary printing press an ink drum on the-surface of which .the printing ink is to be deposited in a uniform enveloping film preparatory to being vconveyed therefrom to the printing member to be inked. An ink fountain is provided as a source for supplying printing ink to the press and has rotatably mounted therein a fountain roller positioned tolie at least partly submerged in the body of ink in the fountain. A suitable roller which may be helicallyribbed or multiple disk roller is positioned to rotate out of peripheral contact withthe .fountairr roller but in film interference with the ink theteon, and the printing ink is thereby conveyed to a transfer roller positioned to rotate in peripheral contact with the spiral or multiple ink roller and the ink drum. A fountain blade and page cut-off blade are positioned along the length of the-fountain roller and adjacent the periphery thereof, and these blades may be of generally conventibnal construction and for the usual purpose of'adjusting the printing effect at 1 individual columns of the printed product and of sion of an ink fountain for a printing press which may be easily and quickly drained of ink after a printing operation in order to clean the fountain andother parts of the press which are touch'd'by the ink, and may be quickly and easily'ag'ain' filled with ink when printing is to blanking out page widths in the inking mechanism when less than capacity numbers of pages are beingprinted on the press. A refuse col.-

lector 'or' blade is likewise positioned along the fountain roller adjacent the periphery thereof to.

prevent bits of paper and other debris from falling into the ink fountain and the ink therein.

The ink fountain for the inking mechanismis divided into two sections or troughs by the presence of a baflle plate positioned lengthwise of the fountain, the-fountain roller .being located in one of the ink fountain .sections thus formed. The battle plate at its top is provided with means under the control of the printing'press operator for increasing or decreasing the efiective height a: the plate, so that the depth of the ink in the fountain which will overflow the baflle plate may be determined and varied. The outer walls of the ink fountain are sufficiently high so that the reservoir for the printing ink and fluid lines between the reservoir and the fountain. One such line provides for fluid communication between thebottom of the reservoir and the first ink fountain section which contains the fountain roller, and another-interconnects the bottom of the second section of the ink fountain and the reservoir. Thus ink may beintroduced from the reservoir into the first ink fountain section, pumping means .bein placed in the line therebetween, flowing over the baiiieplate when a suflicient ink depth is attained, and thereafter may be returned by gravity flow to the ink reservoir through the second line. Another ink conducting line may connect the top of the ink reservoir. and the flrst ink line above mentioned which connects the bottom of the reservoir and the ink fountain, and the pump referred to is positioned in the first line in its length between the bottom of the reservoir and the connecting point of the ink line back to the top of the reservoir. A two way valve. is positioned at this connection point of these lines, and it is apparent that by setting the valve as required the ink may be pumped out of the bottom of the reservoir and returned to the top of the reservoir, or may be pumped from the bottom of the reservoir into the section of the ink fountain in which the fountain roller is positioned.

A further ink conducting line may intersect the first line in its length between the pump and the bottom of the ink reservoir, and another two way valve is positioned at this intersection. The

other terminus of this last line may be open so that it may be conveniently inserted into the barrels or other containers in which printing ink issuppiied, whereby the ink may be withdrawn from such containers and' umped into the top of the ink reservoiror directly to the ink fountainby suitable adjustment of the two way valves which-havebeen mentioned.

A fluid line from a water or other ink fountain cleansing agent source may also be introduced into the section or trough of the ink fountain in which the fountain roller is positioned, and a suitable draw-off line is lead from the bottom I of the other section of the ink fountain to the sewer or other disposal place. A valve is located in the bottom of the baiiie plate allowing for the flow of fluid-from the section of the ink fountain having the fountain roller to the other section when that is desired for the complete draining of the fountain.

It will be understood that the foregoin general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

in a conventional and well understood manner.

. The inking mechanism for the press is provided with an ink fountain l2 as the ink source, and the interior of the fountain is divided into two sections or troughs, which are lettered A and B in Fig. l, by mean of the bafile plate 13 extending between the lateral walls of the fountain. The fountain roller I4 is mounted for rotation in the larger section or trough A of the ink fountain, and a spiral or multiple disk roller 15 as shown and described in prior U. S. Patent No. 2,154,544 is mounted to rotate with the fountain roller. The printing ink which is thus conveyed from the fountain [2 :by the fountain roller 14 to the spiral roller I5 is transferred to the ink drum 10 by a transfer roller l6 which is mounted to rotate in peripheral contact with the ink drum in and spiral roller l5.

As shown in detail in Fig. 2, an L-shaped supporting member 20 is prouided to overlie a portion of the top of section A of the ink fountain and to support in proximity to the fountain roller M the fountain blade 2| and the page cut-oil blade 22. these blades is conventional and comprises generally a plurality of adjusting rods 23 threaded into support 20 to engage fountain blade 2i at spaced intervals along its length with a desired pressure, the pressure being adjustable. by the pressman by means of the wing nuts 24 which tum rods 25' to drive adjusting rod 23 further into the support 20 or to withdraw it somewhat. The distance of fountainblade 2| from fountain roller 14 determines the thickness of the ink film upon the fountain roller which -is available for transfer by the spiral roller iii. The number of adjusting rods 23 .will correspond to the number of column widths which may be printed on the printing press, one rod being providedfor each adjacent the periphery of fountain roller H or retracted to a distance therefrom by a stop arm 2! engageable with upwardly spring pressed rod 28 connected. to arm 29. Each arm 29 has a rigid connection with a cut-off blade 22, and the blades may be individually adjusted to a position adjacent the periphery of fountain roller I 4 a distance from the periphery less than the distance between the fountain roller [4 and roller IS in order to blank out full page widths in the inking mechanism when th same are not to be .Referring now to the illustrative embodiment a of the present invention shown in the accom printed in the press.

As shown indetail in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings the variable height means are provided at the top of the-baffle plate l3. As illustratively shown, theupper edge of the baffle plate is formed with a plurality of rectangular notches 3| which are to be covered to a greater The construction and operation of I plate ink fountain g tudinally of the baffle plate. The plate 32 has a plurality of inclined cam slots 33 spaced along its length, and cap screws 34 are positioned in these slots and securely threaded into the baffle plate l3. An adjusting screw 36 is threaded through the lateral wall 31 of the ink fountain l2 and engages a'bracket 36 secured to the end of plate 32. Thus, by turning the hand wheel 39 the plate 32 may be made to cover off more or less of the depth of the slots 3|, whereby the effective ink retaining height of the bailleplate may be varied as desired. e

A refuse collector 4|! may be afllxed to the top of the baflle plate |3 by means of a plurality f screws 4|, and this member extends along the width of theyfountain cylinder M to strain the ink througha plurality of relatively small holes 42 in order to trap scraps of paper and other debris which otherwise would be picked up by the inking mechanism. and make its operation imperfect. A cover plate 43 is hinged to the backwall 44 'of the ink fountain to protect the ink from dust and dirt as well as'to prevent splash and evaporation of the ink in the fountain.

A valve 45 is provided at the b ttom of baflie l3 whereby free. fluid communications may be had between the sections A and B of the |2. As illustratively shown -in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings this valve may comprise a cylindrical housing 46 integral with side wall 37 of the ink fountain and 'at the bottom thereof. An opening 35 extends through the houslng for the passage of fluid, and. a tapered valve core 41 is fitted into the housing for rotary movement. Thevalve core 41 has a rectangular recess 46 at its inner end, which may be made to register with the opening 35 in order to open the valve. Th hand control member 50 is provided to open and close the valve as desired, and a threaded cap 5| is afiixed to a projection of the valve casing 46 through side wall 31 to prevent external leakage of the valve, suitable packing 52 being provided for this pur- As shown in Fig. l, a relatively large ink reservoir is provided below the ink fountain |2, and ink communication from the bottom of the reservoir to section A of the ink fountain is allowed through a series of ink lines 6|, 62, 63, 64. Ink line establishes communication between the top of reservoir 66 and the junction of lines 63 and 64, at which point a two way valve 66 is positioned so that ink from line 63 may be directed either through line 64 to the ink fountain orthrough line 65 to the reservoir, as curcumstances require. Another ink line 61 "meets the junction of lines 6| and 62 where another two way valve 63 is fitted, and this line is left open at its other end to pick up printing ink from barrels 68 or other containers in which the printing ink may be supplied to theprinter.

pump IO-is placed between lines 62 and 63, and it is apparent that the pump is adapted to furnish ink to line 63 either from the bottom of the reservoir 66 through line 6| or from the barrels 66 through line 61, dependingupon the setting effected upon two way valves 69.

A hand valve 64' is positioned in line 64 to control the flow of ink to theink fountain I2.

a valve 12 is inserted in the line to control the gravity flow of the ink.

A fluid line 15, having hand valve 16, leads from a source of water or other suitable fountain cleansing agent into section A of ink fountain l2, and a. lead-off line 11, having hand valve 18, from the bottom of section B of the ink fountain leads to the sewer or other place for disposal through the line. It is to be specifically noted that the four outer walls of the ink fountain |2 (the support 20 serving to some extent as a part of the front wall 88 of the fountain) are constructed sufiiciently high so that they extend above the level of the fountain blade 2|, the page cut-off blade 22, the refuse collector 40, the adjustable plate 32, and the ink transfer level between the fountain roller I4 and the spiral roller l5.

When the rotary printing press is to .be put in operation, and at a time when the ink fountain I2 is empty, the printing ink may be withsired to actuate and stir the ink for some period 'of time before printing is begun with it, the

valve 69 may be switched to its other position and.pumping continued, the ink then circulating from the bottom of ink reservoir 60 through lines 6|, 62, 63, 65 and back into the reservoir at the top thereof. The ink is thereby brought to a condition of uniform consistency and is well stirred and agitated.- Thereafter the two way valve 66 may be switched to its other position and the larger section or trough A of the ink fountain l2 filled with the desired amount of ink, the baffle valve 45 of course being closed at this time. The ink may, of course, be supplied directly from the barrels 68 to section A of the ink fountain by pumping through lines 61, 62, 63 and 64, the reservoir 6|! being cut out by adjustment of valves 66 and 69. g

The printing press operation may now be commenced and ink has been provided about the fountain roller l4 for transfer to other parts of the inking mechanism. The ink may be caused to continuously circulate between the reservoir 66 and the ink fountain l2, section A of not.

the ink fountain being sufficiently filled so that ink will flow over baflle I3 and plate 32 into the second section B and through line H and valve.

The ink fountain may be drained after operation of. the press by terminating the introduc- An electrically or otherwise conveniently driven I An ink retumline 1| conducts ink from the bottom of the smaller section or trough B of the ink fountalnback to the reservoir 60,; and

tion of ink into the fountain, and opening baffle.

valve 46, whereupon the ink'in sections A and B will drain into reservoir 66 through line". Thereafter the ink fountain and portions of the inking mechanism may be thoroughly cleaned and flushed. For this purpose the ink supply and circulating system may be cut oif by closing valves 64' and I2, and water or other suitable cleansing agent introduced through line I5. By closing baille valve .45, as well as valve 18 in the waste line 'I'I,the cleansing agent may be made to flll'the ink fountain 'to the top of its the ink fountain back into reservoir 60.

thus continuously circulated during opouter walls, and all parts of the inking mec nism within the fountain and below the level of the cleansing agent will be conveniently and thoroughly flushed. This action'will include, of course, the fountain roller i4 and the lower portion of spiral roller 15, fountain blade 2|; page cut-off blade 22, refuse collector l and the plate 32 adjacent the top of baffle 13. When the ink fountain is thus filled the printing press may be turned over or made to operate at a very slow speed, whereby the cleansing agent may be transferred bythe spiral roller to other parts of the inking mechanism above the ink fountain. The cleansing agent may then be allowed to run oil through line 11, and the cleansing process repeated as often as may be advantageous or desired.

The present invention has been found to be particularly useful when water base inks are to be used in the printing press. This type of ink has a particularly strong tendency to jail or set when it has stood undisturbed for some time, and the circulating, agitating and supplystanding in the reservoir for some time when the press is not in operation.

After the ink is in proper condition for printing it is pumped into section A of the ink fountain l2, flows over baifle I3 and plate 32 when that height is reached, and flows from section B of The eration of the press and the ink is maintained in a properly fluid and uniform condition. Furthermore, by this continuous circulation the ink in section A of the fountain will be maintained at a constant depth about the fountain roller II, the ink used in the printing process being constantly and simultaneously replaced. Variations in the depth to which the fountain roller is immersed in ink are accompanied by variations in the intensity of the color printed on the final product, and this is particularly true in the use of water base inks. The present invention therefore provides a means for maintaining the ink at the desired level to effect color intensity in the printed product without recourse to adjustment of. the fountain blade 2i. The depth of the inkabout fountain roller ll may be conveniently .varied from time to time while the press is in operation by raising or lowering plate 32, by adjusting wheel 39.

- When operation of the press is terminated the fountain maybe drained of ink through baille valve 45 and pipe II to reservoir 60. The ink fountain and inking mechanism may then be flushed and cleaned by the introduction of cleansing fluid through line 75. -When water base inks are used water has been found to be,

aneconomical and eflicient cleansing agent, and the fountain i2 may be filled to capacity therewith. The fountain blade 2l, page cut-oil blade 22, refuse collector 40, baflie l3 and plate 32, the

fountain roller l4 and part of spiral roller i5 are then immersed in water, which will remove deposits of ink from the members and prevent ink fountain and a valve at the bottom of the caking. The press may also be operated slowly so that water will be conveyed by the spiral roller I5 to transfer roller l6 and thence to other portions of the inking mechanism and thus loosen up and clean off hardened bits of ink in theinking mechanism. j

When water base inks are used it has been found desirable to provide non-rusting surfaces for the interior of the ink fountain, and baked enamel, galvanizedzinc, or the Vinylite" base coatings are among the materials suitable for this purpose.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What we claim is:

1. Inking means for a otary printing press comprising, in combination, an ink fountain having an inclined bottom and divided by a, baille plate into two liquid retaining sections, valve means at the bottom of the plate allowing liquid communication between the sections through the plate, adjustable means at the top of the. baffle plate for varying the effective ink retaining height of the haille plate, the maximum ink retaining height of said ballie plate being below the level of the lowest outer wall of the ink fountain, an ink reservoir below the 'ountain, means including a pump for continuously introducing ink from the bottom of the reservoir into the first section of the ink fountain whereby the first section becomes full and the ink overflows the hame plate and into the second section,

' means for continuously returning the ink by the bottom of the fountain, whereby the fountain able means at the top of the baille plate for varygravity flow from the bottom of the second section to the reservoir, and a fountain roller mounted for rotation in the first section, whereby the depth of immersion of the fountain roller in the ink in the first section may bedetermined and varied by said means for varying the oncetivednk retaining height of the baffle plate and said depth remains constant for any particular adjusted position of said means, and both sections may be drained into the ink reservoir, 2. In-an ink fountain for a rotaryprinting press, a b'aiiie plate joining two outer walls and the bottom of the fountain whereby the fountain is divided into two liquid containing sectionathe bottom of the fountain being inclined, valve means at the bottom of the plate allowing liquid communication between the sections through the plate and adjustable means at the top of the baffle plate for varying the effective ink retaining height or the baflle plate, the maximum ink retaining height of the baffle plate being below the level of the lowest outer wall of the fountain.

3. In an ink fountain for a rotary printing press, a baiiie plate joining two outer walls and is divided into two liquid containing sections the bottom of the fountain being inclined, adjusting the effective ink retaining height of the bafile late, the maximum ink retaining height of the bame plate being below the level of the lowest outer wall of the fountain, a port in anouter wall of the ink fountain for the introduction of ink into one section of the ink fountain, another Port in an outer-'wall of the fountain for the withdrawal of ink from the other section of the munication between the way of the ink reservoir and aacauoo' baflle plate openable and closableto permit and restrict liquid communication between the two ink fountain sections.

4. Inking means for a rotary comprising, in combination, an ink fountain divided by a bailie plate into two liquid retaining sections, the top'of the baifie plate beingbelow the level of the lowest outer wall of the ink fountain, an ink reservoir, a first liquid line for liquid communication between the bottom of the ink reservoir and one of said ink fountain sections, a second liquid line for liquid communications bet 'een the bottom of the other ink fountain section and the ink reservoir, a third liquid line for liquid communication between the first line and the top of the ink reservoir, a two way valve at the intersection of the first and third liquid lines, and a pum in the first liquid printing Dress line between the two way valve and the ink reservoir for selectively pumping ink from the bottom of the ink reservoir into the top of the ink reservoir and into the ink fountain.

5. Inking means fora rotary printing press comprising, in combination, an ink fountain divided by a bafiie plate into two liquid retaining sectio adjustable means at the top of the baffie plate for varying the effective ink retaining height of the baiiie plate, the maximum ink retaining height of the baflle plate being below the level of the lowest outer wall of the ink fountain, a fountain roller mounted for rotation in one of the ink fountain sections, an ink reservoir, a first liquid line for-liquid communication between the bottom of the ink reservoir and the ink fountain section having the fountain roller, a second liquid line for liquid communication between the bottom of the other ink fountain section and the ink reservoir, a third liquid line for liquid communication between the first line and thetop of the ink reservoir, 9. two way valve at the intersection of the first and third liquid lines, and a pump in the first liquid line between the two way valve and the ink reservoir for selectively pumping ink from the bottom of the ink reservoir into the topof the ink reservoir and into the section of the fountain roller.

6. Printing ink supply, circulation and agita tion means for a rotary printing pres fountain comprising, in combination, an ink reservoir, a first liquid line for liquid communication between the bottom of the reservoir and the ink fountain, a second liquid line for liquid communication between the bottom of the ink fountain and the ink reservoir, a third liquid line for liquid comtop of the ink reservoir and the first liquid line, a firsttwo way valve at the ink fountain having sections, adjustable means at the top of the heme plate for varying the effective ink retaining height of the bailie plate, the maximum ink retaining height of the bafiie plate being below the level of the lowest outer wall of the ink fountain, a fountain roller mounted for rotation in one ink fountain section, an ink reservoir, a first liquid line for liquid communication between the bottom of the ink reservoir and the ink fountain sec- .tion having the fountain roller, a second liquid line for liquid communication between the ,bottom of the other ink fountain section and the ink reservoir, a third liquid line for liquid communication between the first liquid line and, the top of the ink reservoir, a first two way valve at the intersection of the first and third liquid lines, a fourth liquid line intersecting the first liquid line between the first two way valve and the ink reservoir, a second two way valve at the intersection of the first and fourth liquid lines, the other end of the fourth liquid line being open for insertion into a printing ink supply, and apump in the first liquid line between the first and second two way valves, whereby printing ink may be selectively pumped from a printing ink'supply to the section of. the ink fountain having the fountain roller and the top of the ink reservoir and from the bottom of the ink reservoir to the top of the ink reservoir and to the section of the ink fountain having the fountain roller and the ink may be returned to the ink reservoir from-the other section of the ink fountain.

8. Inking means for a rotary printing press comprising, in combination, an ink fountain, a fountain roller mounted for rotation in the ink fountain, a transfer roller adjacent the fountain I roller to transfer ink therefrom, a fountain blade and a page cut-ofi blade adjacent the periphery of the fountain roller, said blades and the ink transfer level between the fountain roller and the transfer roller being beneath the level of the lowest outer wall of the ink fountain, liquid conducting means for introducing cleansing fluid in the ink fountain and other liquid conducting means for drawing 01f cleansing fiuid from the bottom of the fountain.

9. Inking means for a rotary printing press comprising, in combination, an ink fountain divided by a baflle plate into two liquid retainin sections, adjustable means at the top of the bailie plate for varying the effective ink retaining height the intersection of the first and third liquid lines,

a fourth liquid line intersecting the first liquid line between the first two way valve and the reservoir, a second two way valve at the intersection of the first and fourth liquid lines, the other end of the fourth liquid line being open for insertion into a printing ink supply, anda pumpin the first liquid line between the first and-second two valves, whereby printing ink may be seiectively pumped from a printing ink supply to the ink fountain and the top of the ink reservoir and from the bottom of the ink reservoir to the top from the bottom of the ink reservoir to the ink fountain.

'7. Inklng means for a rotary printing press comprising, in combination, an ink fountain divided by a baffle plate into two liquid retaining of the baille plate, the maximum ink retaining height of the baffle plate being below the level of the lowest outer wall of the ink fountain, a fountain roller mounted for rotation in one ink fountain section, a transfer roller adjacent the fountain roller to receive and transfer ink therefrom, a fountain blade and a page cut-off blade adjacent the periphery of the fountain roller, said blades 'and th ink transfer level between the fountain roller and the transfer roller and the adjustable means at the top of the baffle plate be-' ing beneath the level of the lowest outer wall of the ink fountain, means for introducing ink into the ink fountain section having the fountain roller, means for removing ink from the other ink fountain section, means for introducing cleansing liquid into the ink fountain section having thefountain roller and means for removing said cleansing liquid from the other ink fountain, section.

- AUBURN TAYLOR.

EMORY W. WORTHINGTON.

Images