Inking system for printing presses

Nov. 21, 1967 j. w. koyak 3,353,484

INKING SYSTEM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed June 2, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 1

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j. w. koyak 3,353,484

INKING SYSTEM FOR PRINTING PRESSES

Sheets-Sheet 3

Nov. 21, 1967

Filed June. 3, 1965

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ATTORNEYS

Nov. 21, 1967 j. w. koyak 3,353,484

INKING SYSTEM FOR PRINTING PRESSES

Filed June Z, 1965 θ Sheets-Sheet 3

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ATTORNEYS

Nov. 21, 1967

J. W. KOYAK

3,353,484

INKING SYSTEM FOR PRINTING PRESSES

Filed June Z, 1965

Sheets-Sheet 4

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Nov. 21, 1967

J. W. KOYAK

3,353,484

INKING SYSTEM FOR PRINTING PRESSES

Filed June 3, 1965

Sheets-Sheet s

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INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS

Nov. 21, 1967

J. W. KOYAK

3,353,484

INKING SYSTEM FOR PRINTING PRESSES

Filed June 2, 1965

Sheets-Sheet 6

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3,353,484

Patented Nov. 21, 1967

United States Patent Office

3,353,484

INKING SYSTEM FOR PRINTING PRESSES

Joseph W. Koyak, Libertyville, Ill., assignor to Vandereook &amp; Sons, Inc., Chicago, III., a corporation of Delaware

Filed June 2, 1965, Ser. No. 460,775

Claims. (Cl. 101—350)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A printing press including an ink monitoring system for controlling the ink profile on the ink roll. A plurality of ink thickness control devices are spaced along the length of the ink roll. A light source and a photoelectric cell are situated on opposite sides of a transparent ink monitoring roll which engages the ink roll. The light source and photoelectric cell traverse the ink roll and provide an electric signal which varies in accordance with variations in the thickness of ink along the length of the ink roll. An electro-mechanical actuator also traverses the ink roll to actuate the control devices in accordance with the signal provided by the photoelectric cell.

This invention relates generally to printing presses and more particularly to an inking system for measuring and for controlling the thickness of a layer of ink applied to the ink rollers of a press.

An important factor involved in the production of quality printed matter is the quantity or thickness of the layer of ink on the printing plate or form which, in most instances, is a function of the thickness of a layer of ink on the ink roll which traverses and actually inks the form.

For any given set of parameters, such as the composition of the paper or other matter to be printed, the characteristics and composition of the ink used, the type of press and printing forms utilized, the size and composition of the ink roll which inks the printing plate, etc., there is generally an optimum thickness of the ink layer which ought to be on the form to provide high quality printing. Once this optimum thickness is attained it should be maintained in order to produce a quantity of printed matter.

In some instances, however, best results are obtained by inking some portions of the ink roll or rolls along the lengths thereof more than other portions, depending upon the particular kind of printing and the particular form involved. In other words in order to provide best results the preferred thickness of the ink across the width of the form is not uniform, but varies in accordance with variations in the form itself.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide means for measuring and for controlling the thickness of the layer of ink on an ink roll of a printing press along the length of the roll, whereby the thickness of the layer of ink on different portions of the roll can be controlled independent of other portions to accommodate differing inking requirements of the particular form involved across the width thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide traverse sensing means movable along the length of an ink roll for determining the quantity of ink on various portions of the roll and to provide means associated with the traverse sensing means in order to control the quantity or thickness of the ink along the ink roll in cooperation with the sensing means.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a sensing or monitoring means movable back and forth across an ink roll to provide a signal which varies in accordance with the thickness of the ink on the roll, and means for indicating variations in such signal whereby the thickness of the ink across the length of the roll can be controlled.

A further object of the invention is to provide means automatically maintaining a predetermined ink profile across the face of an ink roll.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for indicating the optimum ink profile of an ink roll once said optimum profile is determined, and means for maintaining such profile while the press is in operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for regulating a plurality of rotatable ink profile adjustment devices on a printing press through the utilization of a driver mechanism which traverses the press across said devices into adjustment, but which avoids the necessity of a rotatably power driven actuator to rotate the devices.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which preferred structural embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example only.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a complete printing press incorporating the principles of the present invention with portions thereof cut away for clarity;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the press of FIGURE 1 including an ink roll and a sensing device responsive to the thickness of the layer of ink on the roll;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the structure of FIGURE 2 with portions thereof shown in section to illustrate the relative disposition of parts;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the sensing device shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 and including ink supply apparatus associated therewith;

FIGURE 5 is one form of an electric wiring diagram useful in the practice of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the press of FIGURE 1 with certain parts removed for clarity and incorporating therein one embodiment of the ink control system of the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a wiring diagram of the sensing device or monitor head shown in the arrangement of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is similar to FIGURE 6 but is illustrative of another embodiment of the ink control system of the invention;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged front elevational view of certain parts of the embodiment of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a schematic wiring diagram applicable to the emb odiment of FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged view of a movable contact of FIGURE 10.

As shown in the drawings:

Although the principles of the present invention are of utility in any printing press a particularly useful application is made to a letter press and an illustrative embodiment herein shown incorporating the principles of the present invention consist of a proof press indicated generally in FIGURE 1 at reference numeral 10.

In general, the press 10 comprises ‘a horizontal bed 11 supported on a plurality of spaced uprights 12. At one end of the bed, which may be conveniently referred to as the loading or carriage end and which is illustrated as the leftward end of the press in FIGURE 1, a lever 13 is provided for controlling the operation of the press, and a feed table 14 from which the sheets of paper or the like are fed into the press overlies a loading platform 16 upon which may be stacked a supply of sheets to be printed.

Carried on the bed 11 is a printing plate or form 17 which carries the impression to be transferred to the

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sheets, and a carriage indicated generally at 18 is also mounted on the bed for reciprocable movement longitudinally therealong.

The carriage 18 comprises a housing having a pair of end walls 19 and 20 joined by a top wall 21. A pair of track or guide means indicated at 22 are formed on opposite sides of the bed 11 for guiding the carriage 18 reciprocally on the bed and each receive a plurality of rollers as at 23 and 24 rotatably mounted on the end walls 19 and 20 of the carriage 18 at the lowermost end portions thereof.

The carriage 18 also carries a group of ink rolls which deposit or coat a layer of ink on the form 17 as the carriage is moved back and forth across the bed, and in the illustrated embodiment this group of rolls comprises a pair of spaced rubber-covered form rolls 26 and 27 and an intermediate roll 28 which engages both rolls 26 and 27. An impression cylinder 30, about which is wrapped the sheet or material to be printed is also carried on the carriage 18 above the bed 11.

The lower peripheral surfaces of the impression cylinder 30 and the form rolls 26 and 27 reside in a plane common to the top surface of the form 17. In operation a sheet is first fed to and clamped on the impression cylinder 30. Then the carirage 18 is moved forwardly along the bed 11 on the rollers 23 and 24 and as the form rolls 26 and 27 traverse the form 17 a layer of ink is deposited on the impression surface thereof, after which the sheet carried on the impression cylinder 30 is pressed onto the impression surace of the form 17 to receive the image formed thereon.

The carriage 18 is then returned to the loading end of the bed 11 where the printed sheet is removed from the cylinder 30 and a fresh sheet is fed thereto.

When the carriage 18 is situated at the loading end of the bed 11, that is, in the position thereof illustrated in FIGURE 1, the form roll 26 engages an enlarged diameter ink drum 31 mounted for rotation on the bed 11 by means of a shaft 32 journalled in a pair of pillow blocks as at 33.

The peripheral surface of the ink drum 31 is of sufficient size to store a quantity of ink thereon. In the inking position of the rolls as illustrated in FIGURE 1, the ink drum 31, the form roll 26, the intermediate roll 28 and the form roll 27 are all frictionally rotatably engaged with one another and driven by the ink drum 31, which is powered by suitable turning means such as a hand crank or an electric motor. After the ink drum 31 and the other rolls have been corotatably driven for a period of time, the ink profiles on each of the various rolls, that is, the thickness of the ink along the length of each of the rolls, becomes substantially uniform with respect to one another.

The ink is supplied to the ink drum 31 by means of an inking mechanism indicated generally at 34 which comprises a housing 36 which extends along the entire length of the ink drum. A fountain roll 37 is rotatably mounted in the housing 36 and engages a transfer roll 38 interposed between the fountain roll 37 and the ink drum 31.

In the inking of the various rolls, the ink is first applied to the fountain roll 37, and for this purpose a wiper blade 39 is fixedly connected at one end 39α thereof to the upper end of a back wall 40 of the housing 36 and extends downwardly and forwardly toward the fountain roll 37.

In the illustrated embodiment the wiper blade 39 is constructed of flexible, resilient sheet form material and extends between a pair of end walls 41 and 41α of the housing 36. The blade is held only at its upper end 39α so that an opposite distal end 39b thereof can be moved toward and away from the periphery of the fountain roll 37.

The supply of ink, which is generally in the form of a paste, is loaded in the housing 36 from an open top end thereof into a zone 45 defined by the closed end walls and 41α at the sides thereof, and by the fountain roll 37 and the wiper blade 39 at the front and back thereof.

As the fountain roll 37 is rotated (counterclockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 1), a layer of ink is deposited thereon, 5 (and consequently to the other rolls in engagement therewith). The thickness of the layer of ink deposited on the fountain rolls, which ultimately determines the thicknesses of the layers of ink on the ink rolls, is determined by the spaced relation between the wiper blade 39 and the periphery of the fountain roll 37.

As noted, it is often desirable, depending upon the particular form being used, for the thickness of the layer of ink on the form to vary across the width thereof. In other words, in order to obtain quality printing with a 15 particular form it might be necessary that some portions of the form be inked to a greater degree than other portions. Such variations in the thickness of the layer of ink across the width of the form (hereinafter referred to as the ink profile) can be effected by applying a corres2o ponding ink profile to the fountain roll and accordingly the ink rolls.

In order to provide the proper ink profile it is necessary that the spaced relation between the wiper blade 39 and the periphery of the fountain roll 37 be arranged in a 25 corresponding “profile” along the length of the fountain roll.

In order to segmentally vary the spaced relation between adjacent portions of the wiper blade and corresponding portions of the fountain roll, the present invention contem30 plates the utilization of a plurality of devices spaced across the length of the wiper blade 39 and operative to selectively adjust the ink profile of the fountain roll.

For example, referring to FIGURES 1, 4 and 6, a plurality of adjustable devices or elongated threaded studs 35 42a-42e are mounted for rotation on the press 10 at the carriage or loading end thereof and extend in spaced parallel relation in a direction along the length of the bed of the press.

One end 43 of each of the studs 42a-42e extends 40 through the back wall 40 of the ink supply housing 36 and is received in a complementarily threaded block 44 affixed to the back wall 40. A forward tip 46 of each of the studs abuts the back side of the wiper blade 39 for urging a correspondingly situated part of the flexible, resilient wiper 45 blade toward the fountain roll 37 upon rotation of the respective studs in one direction of rotation.

Thus, as each of the studs 42a-42e is turned in one direction a corresponding part of the wiper blade is urged toward the fountain roll to reduce the spaced relation be50 tween such corresponding part and the periphery of the fountain roll 37. Because of the resiliency of the wiper blade, rotation of the respective studs in an opposite direction has the effect of withdrawing the corresponding part of the wiper blade away from the fountain roll. As a con55 sequence, the thickness of the layer of ink across the length of the fountain roll, that is, the ink profile of the fountain roll, can be adjustably controlled.

If desired, each of the tips 46 of the respective studs 42a-42e can be connected in fixed rotatable assembly with eo the wiper blade by means of a ball and socket joint or similarly suitable connection to provide a more positive movement of the various portions of the wiper blade away from the fountain roll.

An opposite end 47 of each of the studs 42a-42e ex05 tends through and terminates outwardly of a front wall 48 of the press 10 and has formed thereon an enlarged head 47α which may be knurled at the periphery thereof to facilitate rotation thereof by the operator of the press.

In order to establish the optimum ink profile for a 70 particular form, means are provided for monitoring or sensing the ink profile along the entire length of the fountain roll. Generally, the monitoring system comprises a monitor head 49 which includes a monitoring roll 50 rotatably mounted thereon and frictionally rotatably engage75 able with the transfer roll 38, the ink profile of which is

3,353,484 proportional to the ink profile of the fountain roll 37 as well as the other ink rolls. Since the layer of ink on any of the engaged rolls is proportional to the layer of ink on each of the other rolls, the thickness of the layer of ink on the monitor roll 50 is also proportional to the thickness of the layer of ink on that axially extending portion of the transfer roll with which it is rotatably engaged.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 2 and 3, the monitor head 49 is more particularly characterized as comprising a pair of end flanges 51 and 52 connected in fixed assembly to a frame member 53 by means of suitable fasteners such as a plurality of threaded screws as at 54 and associated alignment pins as at 56.

The monitoring roll 56 is mounted for rotation on the flange 51 by means of a fixed shaft 57 having an axis extending parallel to the axis of the transfer roll 38 and having mounted thereon a pair of antifriction bearings 58 and 59.

The monitor roll 50 more particularly comprises a hub portion 60 for receiving the outer race of the bearing members 58 and 59, and a hollow cylindrical wall member 61 having an outer peripheral surface 62 which engages the peripheral surface of the transfer roll 38.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the thickness of the layer of ink on the monitor roll 50 is sensed or monitored by means of directing radiant energy waves therethrough, the intensity of which waves after they have passed through the ink layer being proportional to the thickness of the ink layer. Means are thereupon provided for measuring the intensity of the waves after they have passed through the layer of ink.

Accordingly, a source of radiant energy waves as indicated at 63 is located adjacent the wall 61 of the monitor roll 56 and is operative to direct energy waves toward said wall 61. Also situated adjacent the wall member 61 is a device 64 for receiving the waves and for providing a signal proportional to the intensity of the waves so received. The device 64 is situated with respect to the source 63 and the wall member 61 such that the waves which emanate from the source 63 must pass through the layer of ink deposited on the wall 61 before being received by the device 64.

Although a variety of radiant energy waves may be advantageously utilized, the source 63 in the illustrated embodiment is of the type which emits waves having a wave length lying in a spectrum between and including the wave lengths of infrared ultraviolet waves and may more preferably be within the visible spectrum.

Correspondingly, the illustrated sensing device 64 comprises a photoelectric cell of the type which is responsive to wave lengths lying within the wave length spectrum between and including infrared and ultraviolet.

In addition, the material of which the wall 61 of the monitor roll 50 is constituted may vary in accordance with the particular source of radiant energy waves and sensing device utilized as well as the relative disposition of these parts. For example, both the source of the radiant energy waves and the sensing device may be situated on one side of the wall 61 with the peripheral surface of the wall coated with suitable reflective material such as chromium to receive the layer of ink and to reflect and transmit the radiant energy waves directed thereon through the ink layer to the sensing device.

Alternatively, the source 63 and the sensing device 64 may be situated on opposite sides of the monitor roll wall 61. Referring to the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, the source 63 comprises an electric light or lamp situated exteriorly of the monitor roll 5® and disposed such as to direct visible light waves toward the wall 61. The sensing device 64 constitutes a conventional photoelectric cell situated interiorly of the monitor roll 5® in a cylindrical cavity 66 formed therein.

The wall 61 comprises a translucent or transparent material such as glass with an external peripheral surface 62 thereof, as well as an interior surface 67 thereof, highly polished to ensure consistency in the thickness of the wall member 61 and to ensure accuracy in measurement.

In order to measure the intensity of the light waves transmitted through the wall 61 and the layer of ink deposited thereon, suitable indicating means may be connected to the photoelectric cell 64 which, in the embodiment illustrated, comprises a microamp meter as shown at 68 in FIGURE 6 and includes a pivotally mounted pointer 69 which is arranged to pivot across a back plate 7® having suitable indicia such as a graduated scale marked thereon as at 71. The meter 68 is arranged such that the pointer 69 is pivoted toward the low end of the scale when the photoelectric cell 64 is subjected to waves of relatively low intensity as a result of a relatively thick layer of ink deposited on the wall member 61, and pivoted toward the high end of the scale when the photoelectric cell is subjected to waves of relatively high intensity as a result of a relatively thin layer of ink on the wall member 61.

Referring to FIGURE 7, a lamp 63 is connected to a pair of electrical contacts Lj and L₃ adapted for connection to a suitable source of electric power. Interposed between the contacts L_x and L₂ and the lamp 63 is a constant voltage transformer 65 and a variable resistor 65'. The constant voltage transformer 65 serves to maintain the voltage applied to the lamp 63 at a constant value regardless of minor changes in the line voltage applied to terminals L_x and L₂. The movable contact of the variable resistor 65' is connected to a manually operated control knob 65a which can be utilized to adjust the light intensity of the lamp 63.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, 3 and 6 and in order to carry the monitor head 49 on the press 10, a shaft 72 is mounted on the carriage 18 in spaced parallel relation to the transfer roll 38 and is journalled for rotation at opposite ends thereof on the end walls 19 and 20 of the carriage 18. The shaft 72 is threaded and is received in a complementarity threaded bore 73 formed in a base section 74 of the monitor head 49.

Thus, upon rotation of the shaft 72 alternately in opposite directions thereof the monitor head 49 will move slowly back and forth from one end of the transfer roll 38 to the other, and the thickness of the ink on the monitor roll 50 will vary as it sweeps or scans the transfer roll in accordance with variations in the layer of ink on the transfer roll from one end thereof to the other. Such variation in ink thickness, that is, the “ink profile” of the transfer roll 38, will be indicated accordingly on the meter 68.

In order to turn the shaft 72 in opposite directions of rotation, a sprocket 76 is mounted at one end 77 thereof and has trained therearound a chain 78 which is also trained around another sprocket 79 mounted at one end 80 of another shaft 81 also journalled for rotation on the end walls 19 and 20 of the carriage 18 and extending in spaced parallel relation to the shaft 72. A reversible electric motor 82 is drivingly connected to the shaft 81 for rotating the shafts 72 and 81 alternately in opposite directions, although it will be understood that other drive means such as a hand crank would also be suitable.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the control circuit for the motor 82 and in the illustrated embodiment the drive motor 82 is of the series type having an armature 82_a and a field winding 82_b. One end of the armature 82_a is connected to a power receptacle 85 through a conductor 85_a, while the other end of the armature 82_a is connected to a movable contactor 82_O. The contactor 82_c is mechanically ganged together with two other movable contactors 82_O' and 82_c, and the contactors 82_c, 82_c' and 82_c are actuated simultaneously by the energization of a relay coil 82_d.

The field winding 82_b has one end thereof connected to a stationary contact 82_e which is engageable with the contactor 82_c, and to a stationary contactor 82_f which is engageable with the contactors 82_c'.

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Similarly, the other end of the field winding 82_b is connected to a stationary contact 82_g which is engageable with the movable contactor 82_c, and to a stationary contact 82_h which is engageable with the movable contactor 82_c'. As is apparent, the movable contactors 82_cand 82_c' are engaged with the stationary contacts 82_e and 82_h, respectively, during one period of operation (when the relay coil 82_d is deenergized) and are engaged with the stationary contacts 82_g and 82_{, respectively, during another period of operation (when the relay coil 82_d is energized).

Power from the power plug 85 is delivered through an on-off switch 85_b to a conductor 85_c and therefrom to the motor 82, and closing of switch 85_b causes the motor to be energized, for example, in a forward direction, until a normally open reversing switch 85_c! is momentarily actuated closed. This energizes the relay coil 82_d and actuates the movable contactors 82_c, 82_c' and 82_c. The contactor 82_c serves to hold the relay coil 82, energized for as long as the motor is to be energized in a reverse direction. The motor 82 will continue to be energized in the reverse direction until a normally closed switch 85_e is momentarily actuated open. This will cause the relay coil 82_d to be deenergized and to deactuate the movable contactors 82_c, 82_c' and 82_c, which will return to their normal positions as seen in FIGURE 5, and the motor 82 will again be energized in the forward direction thereof. It can be seen, therefore, that by energizing and deenergizing the relay coil 82_d by alternately actuating the switches 85_d and 85_e, respectively, the motor 82 will be alternately energized in forward and reverse directions.

Referring again to FIGURE 1 it will be apparent that the monitoring system 34 is mounted within the press and generally will not be observable to the press operator. In order to determine the particular axial portion of the transfer roll 38 that is being monitored at any given time, the second shaft 81 extends across and adjacent to the heads 47 of the adjustment studs 42. The shaft 81 is also threaded and has mounted thereon a pointer block 83 having a complementary threaded bore 84 which receives the shaft 81. A pointer 86 is formed on a front wall 87 of the pointer block 83, and the spacing of the adjustment studs 42 and the pitches of the threads on the shafts 72 and 81 are such that the pointer 86 is maintained in relative alignment with the monitor head 49 such that it points to the particular adjustment stud 42 which corresponds to that portion of the transfer roll being monitored at any given time.

In order to avoid inaccuracies in measurement which may result from differences in pressure between the monitor roll 50 and the transfer roll 38 as the shaft 72 is rotated in opposite directions (due to frictional forces between the shaft and the monitor head) a smooth rod 88 is situated adjacent the shaft 72 in spaced parallel relation thereto and extends through a complementarity dimensioned bore 89 formed in the monitor head base section 74. The provision of the rod 88 avoids pivoting or tilting of the monitor head 49 regardless of the direction of rotation of the shaft 72 and maintains a substantially constant pressure between the transfer roll 38 and the monitor roll 50.

Likewise, in order to avoid pivoting of the pointer block 83, a similar rod 90 is provided adjacent the shaft 81 and extends through a complemental bore 91 formed in the pointer block 83.

In operation, a supply of ink is loaded into the inking mechanism 34 as indicated at reference character S and the driver for the inking drum 31 is actuated, thereby rotating all of the engaged ink rolls. After all the rolls have a supply of ink thereon, a sheet of paper is wrapped about the impression cylinder 30, whereupon the carriage 18 is moved forwardly over the form 17. During such forward movement, the form is inked by the ink rolls 26 and 27 and the sheet on the impression cylinder 30 is printed.

The carriage 18 is then moved backwardly to the loading or carriage end of the machine and the sheet is removed from the impression cylinder and examined for quality.

The printed sheet is examined for quality and if the ink profile is improper the studs 42 are adjusted accordingly and then another sheet is printed. The adjustment of the studs 42 is continued after each sheet is printed and examined until the optimum ink profile is attained on the ink roll for the particular form being used.

After the studs 42 have been thus initially adjusted, the motor 82 is energized whereby the monitor head 49 is slowly moved across the transfer roll 38, and in synchronism therewith the pointer block 83 is moved correspondingly across the various adjustment studs 42.

Associated with each of the studs 42 is a pointer 92 rotatably mounted on a plate 93 provided with indicia in the form of a plurality of scales 94 which are similar to the scale 71 of the meter 68. The pointers 92 are provided with suitable friction means for retention thereof in a set position until moved manually to a new position.

As the monitor head 49 traverses the transfer roll 38 and the pointer block 83 moves across the studs 42 in synchronism, the pointers 92 are each independently positioned in accordance with the reading on the meter 68. As a result, the pointers 92 are thereby positioned in accordance with the optimum ink profile for the particular form being used, and printing of the required quantity of sheets is commenced.

During the quantity printing operation the ink profile may deviate from the optimum as a result of inconsistencies in absorption qualities of the individual sheets of paper, slight inconsistencies in the ink, etc. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, however, the inking system can be re-adjusted to maintain the proper ink profile. Thus, the press operator may observe the reading of the meter 68 as the pointer block 83 moves past and points to the various studs 42, and if the reading of the meter is different from the predetermined setting of the corresponding pointers 92, the studs 42 can be individually re-adjusted until the proper ink profile again obtains.

It is apparent that in the embodiment of the invention as illustrated, for example, in FIGURES 1 and 6 of the drawings, the adjustment of the various studs 42 is made manually by the press operator.

Also contemplated in this invention is an automatic arrangement as shown in the embodiment illustrated, for example, in FIGURES 8 and 9, whereby a predetermined optimum ink profile is automatically maintained during the course of the printing operation.

In FIGURES 8 and 9, wherein parts similar to those previously described are given like reference characters raised by the number 100, the scale 171 of the meter 168 is modified so as to leave a zero center reading. The pointer 169 therefore moves to the right or to the left of center depending upon whether the thickness on that portion of the transfer roll 38 being monitored is greater or less than a predetermined thickness.

In this embodiment a driver mechanism 96, which is mounted on the threaded shaft 181, is substituted for the pointer block 83 and moves in synchronism transversely across the width of the press with the monitor block 149, similarly to the synchronous movement of the pointer block 83 and the monitor head 49 of FIGURE 6.

Referring to FIGURES 10 and 11 along with FIGURES 8 and 9, it will be noted that the driver mechanism 96 is more particularly characterized as comprising means for automatically adjusting the individual adjustable devices or studs 142a-142e as it moves past the respective studs.

Thus, the driver mechanism 96 comprises a base member 97 having a bore 98 formed therein and threaded to receive the threaded shaft 181. A smooth bore 99 is also formed in the base 97 to receive the rod 190.

Fixedly mounted on the base 97 are a pair of clutch mechanisms indicated at 100 and 101 each of which com3,353,484 prises a rotatable shaft 102 which extends parallel to the adjustment studs 42a-42e'. A gear 103 is formed on each of the shafts 102 and the gears 103, 103 are situated respectively above and below a plane common to the axes of the studs 142a-142e so as to be in meshing relation with complemental gear teeth 104 formed on each of the stud heads 147.

The clutch mechanisms 100 and 101 are of the electromagnetic type, and connected to the clutches is a DC power supply indicated at reference numeral 200 which consists primarily of a bridge rectifier 201. The power supply 200 may be provided with other components such as resistors and capacitors as deemed necessary to provide the proper output voltage to the clutches 100 and 101. AC power is delivered to the power supply 200 through a receptacle 202.

Connected to the clutch 100 is an anode electrode 203 of an electron tube 204. A grid electrode 206 of tube 284 is connected to ground through a variable resistor 207. A circuit point 208 disposed between the variable resistor 207 and the grid electrode 206 is connected to an output terminal 209 of the meter 168 by a conductor 210.

Connected to the clutch 101 is an anode electrode of an electron tube 211. A grid electrode 212 of the tube 211 is connected to ground through a variable resistor 213. A circuit point 214 which is disposed between the variable resistor 213 and the grid electrode 212 is connected to an output terminal 216 of the meter 168 by a conductor 217.

The electron tubes 204 and 211 are normally nonconductive with no signal applied to the grid electrodes. As noted, the meter 168 is preferably of the type which gives a zero reading when the pointer 169 is positioned in the middle of the scale 171. That is, the pointer moves from the center position to the left or right thereof to produce output signals of opposite polarity.

By way of example, when the pointer 169 is deflected to the right of center (as seen in FIGURE 10), the output terminal 209 is rendered positive. On the other hand, when the pointer is deflected to the left of center, the output terminal 216 is rendered positive.

The photoelectric cell 164 of the monitor head 149 is connected to a pair of input terminals 218 and 219 of the meter 168. One lead of the lamp 163 is connected to a variable resistor 165' while the other lead is connected to a contact 220 fixedly connected to the base section 174 of the monitor head 149.

A plurality of stationary contacts 221 through 225 are connected together to form a contact bar 226 which extends in spaced parallel relation to the threaded shaft 172 and the rod 188. Interposed between each of the contacts 221-225 are a plurality of insulators as at 227, the axial extent of each of which is preferably less than the axial extent of a contact portion 220α of the contact 220 which engageably traverses the contact bar 226. However, this is not to be construed in a limiting sense as the contact portion 220α may have an axial extent equal to or less than the corresponding axial extent of the insulators 227.

Connected to the contacts 221-225 are a plurality of potentiometers 228 through 232 having adjustment knobs 228α through 232α mounted on a plate 193 in alignment with their corresponding studs 142a-152e. The potentiometers 228-232 have a common lead connected together and to ground potential as indicated at 233. The lamp power supply 165 has one lead therefrom connected to ground potential as indicated at 234 and the other lead therefrom connected to the variable resistor 165' of the monitor head 149. Therefore, current flow from the power supply 165 passes though the variable resistor 165', the lamp 163, the movable contact 220, and one of the stationary contacts 221-225 and one of the potentiometers 228-231, depending upon the position of the monitor head 149 with respect to the threaded shaft 172. As a result, the light intensity from the lamp 163 will have a given value depending upon the setting of potentiometer 228 when the movable contact 220 is engaged with the stationary contact 221, and may have a different light intensity determined by the setting of potentiometer 229 when the movable contact 220 is engaged with the stationary contact 222, and so forth.

The variable resistor 165' is provided with a master control knob 165α which is manually operable to vary the light intensity of the lamp 163 regardless of the position of the movable contact 220. When the knob 165α is operated to change the value of the resistor 165', the light intensity of the lamp 163 is correspondingly changed, thereby changing the level of the signal developed by the photoelectric cell 164, which, as explained hereinafter, has the effect of adjusting the studs 142a-142e and thereby changing the ink profile on the ink rolls.

In operation, the monitor head 149 and the driver mechanism 96 which includes the electromagnetic clutches 100 and 101, move back and forth in synchronism on the threaded shafts 72 and 81 with the movable contact 220 engaging sequentially the respective stationary contacts 221-225. As the gears 103 of the clutches 100 and 101 move into meshing engagement with the gear teeth 104 of the stud heads 147, it will be appreciated that if one of the clutches is locked and the other is unlocked, the particular stud head in engagement with the gears 103 will be turned slightly clockwise or counterclockwise, depending upon whether clutch 180 or 101 is in the locked position.

The potentiometers 228-231 are initially adjusted such that when the optimum ink profile on the ink rolls obtains, the meter 168 indicates a zero reading across the entire length of the ink rolls. Thereafter, should the layer of ink on the monitor roll 159 become greater than the predetermined value at any point along the transfer roll 138, the light intensity applied to the photoelectric 164 is decreased thereby giving a corresponding indication on the meter 168. On the other hand, if the layer of ink becomes thinner than desired, the light intensity from the lamp 163 as applied to the photoelectric cell 164 will increase, thereby producing a corresponding indication on the meter 168.

By way of example, and not by way of limitation, when the quantity of ink on the monitor roll 150 is greater than desired, the meter 168 will give a negative reading and the pointer 169 thereof will move to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 10. This will cause the output terminal 209 to become negative and the output terminal 216 to become positive. Since the tube 204 is normally non-conductive the negative signal applied to the grid electrode 206 thereof, through the line 210, will not effect the tube 204 whereby the tube will remain non-conductive. However, the positive signal from the line 217 is sensed by the grid electrode 212 of the tube 211, thereby rendering tube 211 conductive. The conduction of tube 211 will cause the clutch 101 to be energized and locked, and the gear 103 thereof will effectively turn the stud head 147 with which it is engaged in meshing relation. The turning of the stud heads 147, of course, has the effect of moving the wiper blade 39 (FIGURE 4) toward or away from the periphery of the fountain roll 37, thereby changing the thickness of the layer of ink on that axial portion of the fountain roll.

When the quantity of ink on the monitor roll 150 is less than desired, the meter 168 will give a positive reading and the pointer 169 thereof will move to the right. This will cause the conductor 210 to become positive and the conductor 217 to become negative. Since the tube 211 is normally nonconductive, the negative signal applied to the grid electrode 212 thereof will not effect the tube, and will remain nonconductive. However, the positive signal from line 210 is sensed by the grid electrode 206 of the tube 204, rendering tube 204 conductive. The conductivity of tube 204 will cause the clutch 180 to be energized and locked, again turning the stud head 147 with which it is

3,353,484 engaged, but in a direction opposite to the direction in which the stud head is turned when clutch 101 is locked.

The ink profile can be changed by the press operator, or any incremental axial extent thereof, by readjusting one or more of the potentiometers 228-231.

For example, if it is desired to increase the quantity of ink on the ink rolls at an axial position corresponding to the axial position of the contact 221, the operator merely adjusts the potentiometer 228 after the clutch mechanism 97 is in meshing engagement with the stud 142a. Adjustment of the potentiometer 228 has the effect of increasing or decreasing the light intensity from the lamp 163. The photoelectric veil 164 will sense the change of light intensity and produce a corresponding change in the output of the meter 168 to energize one or the other of the clutches 100 and 101 which, in turn, will automatically change the quantity of ink applied to the incremental axial extent of the ink rolls corresponding to the axial extent of the contact 221.

It will be appreciated that a greater or lesser number of adjustment studs, stationary contacts, potentiometers, etc. can be utilized rather than the numbers shown, which is merely exemplary. The number of adjustment studs may often be determined in accordance with the length of the ink rolls and the sophistication of the ink profile required.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably come within the scope of my contribution to the art.