Patent ID: 6289811
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: B41F

Abstract:
A method for sampling printing ink for a printing press comprising the steps ofA) providing a printing press comprising a plate cylinder, an impression cylinder, an anilox roll, and an inking system for the anilox roll;B) providing an auxiliary drive for the anilox roll;C) providing a separate subassembly not forming part of the printing press, the separate subassembly comprising a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder for use with the anilox roll of the printing press;D) using the auxiliary drive to rotate the anilox roll and to pick-up ink from the inking system and coat the anilox roll of the printing press, with the anilox roll not engaged with the plate cylinder and impression cylinder of the printing press;E) engaging the anilox roll with the plate cylinder of the separate subassembly, whereby the frictional contact of the rotating anilox roll with the plate cylinder of the separate subassembly causes the plate cylinder of the separate subassembly to rotate;E) providing a substrate to be printed on between the plate cylinder and the impression cylinder of the separate subassembly;G) printing on the substrate via the anilox roll and the plate cylinder and impression cylinder of the separate subassembly;H) inspecting the printed substrate of step G to determine if the print is of acceptable quality;aa) if the quality is acceptable, disengaging the separate subassembly from the anilox roll, then engaging the anilox roll with the plate cylinder of the printing press and printing, orbb) if the quality is not acceptable, adjusting the ink, and repeating steps F-H until the print quality is acceptable.