Patent ID: 8635955
Filing Date: 2014-01-28
Classification: B41F,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for continuously regulating an overall concentration of alcohol and additives and/or concentrations of alcohol and additive components other than alcohol in a printing process liquid in a printing machine comprising a printing press liquid tank and a sample chamber disposed within the printing press liquid tank, the sample chamber monitoring the concentration of components of additives in a printing press liquid, the printing machine comprising: a carrier element having an outer surface, a single inlet bore opening to the outer surface, a single outlet bore opening to the same outer surface, and an inner surface on an opposite side of the carrier element from the outer surface; a covering element having an outer surface, and an inner surface on an opposite side of the covering element from the outer surface; an intermediate element having first and second outer surfaces, and a measuring chamber open to both the first and, second outer surfaces the intermediate element being disposed between the carrier element and the covering element such that the inner surface of the carrier element is proximate the second outer surface of the intermediate element and the inner surface of the covering element is proximate the first outer surface of the intermediate element, wherein the covering element further comprises an optical guide bore passing through the covering element such that an optical guide component passes therethrough from the covering element to the measuring chamber in the intermediate element, wherein the carrying element further comprises an optical guide bore passing through the carrying element such that another optical guide component passes therethrough from the carrying element to the measuring chamber in the intermediate element, and first and second connecting elements, the first connecting element being operatively fluidly coupled to the carrier element and providing a process liquid to the measuring chamber through the inlet bore, the second connecting element being operatively fluidly coupled to the carrier element to discharge the process liquid provided into the measuring chamber through the outlet bore, wherein the measuring chamber is configured such that the only inflow to the measuring chamber is process liquid that flows through the inlet bore of the carrying element and the only outflow from the measuring chamber is discharge of the process liquid through the outlet bore of the carrying element, wherein a flow channel is formed by the measuring chamber in the intermediate element, the inner surface of the carrying element and the inner surface of the covering element, the thickness of the flow channel defines an optical path length and the flow channel has in a downstream direction within a place of the intermediate element an initial converging part, leading to an increase of flow velocity of process liquid provided therethrough, and thereby preventing deposits of particles and dirt within the flow channel, the method comprising the steps of: providing the printing process liquid through the flow channel, taking spectroscopic measurements of the printing process liquid with one of a grating spectrometer and a prism spectrometer to continuously determine actual concentrations of the additive components other than alcohol, and individually redosing each of measured components other than alcohol, based on the determined actual concentration of the respective component, to obtain a predetermined target concentration for each of the components, wherein due to the spectroscopic measurements, electromagnetic radiation penetrates the printing process liquid and moves in an orthogonal direction with respect to a surface of the printing process fluid, whereby the flow channel, is formed by the intermediate element the thickness of which defines an optical path length and that the flow channel in a downstream direction within a plane of the intermediate element has an initial converging part, leading to an increase of the flow velocity and thereby preventing deposits of particles and dirt within the flow channel, and wherein the additive components other than alcohol are detected via the spectroscopic measurements in a specified ultraviolet range from 190 nm to 390 nm, wherein the step of taking spectroscopic measurements of the printing process liquid comprises: providing the printing process liquid to the sample chamber, illuminating the sample chamber from one side thereof with ultraviolet radiation, a first portion of which encounters the printing process liquid and traverses through the sample chamber, illuminating an optical configuration, which comprises a structure defining a slit, with the first portion of ultraviolet radiation that traverses through the sample chamber, a second portion of the ultraviolet radiation passing through the slit, providing the second portion of the ultraviolet radiation upon one of an optical grating or prism which transmits a third portion of the ultraviolet radiation to a receiver configuration which determines the component concentration of the printing process liquid based upon the received third portion of the ultraviolet radiation, continuously measuring a concentration of alcohol in the printing process liquid independent of the taking of spectroscopic measurements of the printing process liquid to continuously determine actual concentrations of the components other than alcohol, and redosing consumed alcohol from an alcohol reservoir into the printing process liquid, based on the measured concentration of alcohol, to obtain a predetermined target concentration of alcohol in the printing process liquid, whereby, only the concentration of the components other than alcohol is obtained via spectroscopic measurement using ultraviolet radiation.