Patent ID: 8955437
Filing Date: 2015-02-17
Classification: B41F

Abstract:
1. A printing machine comprising: an ink fountain member having a fountain-forming face forming an ink fountain; an ink fountain roller for applying an ink to an outer peripheral surface through an ink channel between the ink fountain roller and the ink fountain member; a plurality of rollers for supplying the ink applied to the outer peripheral surface of the ink fountain roller to a printing portion; a frame of the printing machine that supports the ink fountain roller and the plurality of rollers; a plurality of ink containers, accommodating different types of ink, a container storage unit for storing the plurality of ink containers, the container storage unit being disposed on the frame and having a raising/lowering device; and an ink supply device for holding the desired ink container and supplying the ink therein to the ink fountain, the ink supply device comprising a first moving body that moves in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the ink fountain roller and a second moving body that moves above the ink fountain in a direction parallel to the ink fountain roller, wherein the second moving body moves in the direction parallel to the ink fountain roller at the time of supply of the ink whereby the ink supply device supplies ink in the ink container to the ink fountain, and the first moving body moves in the direction orthogonal to the ink fountain roller at the time of replacement procedure whereby the ink supply device replaces a used ink container with a new ink container stored in the container storage unit, wherein each ink container comprises a container main body having a bellows shape compressible in the vertical direction and having a lower wall with a circular hole and a bottom plate of a thin circular disc shape disposed at the end of the container main body, an aperture that is normally closed is formed at a bottom wall of the container, the aperture being at least one slit in the bottom plate and at least a portion of the slit of the aperture is opened by pressure when the upper portion of the ink container is pressed downward while holding the bottom of the ink container so that the ink in the ink container passes through the opened aperture portion and drops downward, wherein the ink supply device further comprises, a pair of container holding members disposed on the second moving body and moved symmetrically in the direction parallel to the ink fountain roller to open and close, thereby automatically holding and releasing a portion including the bottom of the ink container and releasing the portion including the bottom of the ink container so that the ink container can move in a vertical direction, a pressing member disposed on the second moving body for pushing downward the upper portion of the ink container held by the container holding members, each of the container holding members being provided with a bottom holding part for sandwiching the bottom of the ink container and supporting the outer periphery part of the bottom surface of the ink container from below, a middle holding part for sandwiching and holding a middle part of the ink container, and wherein the container storage unit comprises a support member extending in the direction parallel to the ink fountain roller, and the supporting member is supported by the raising/lowering device for vertical motion so that by movement of the first and second moving bodies, the ink supply device can return and remove ink containers from the ink container storage unit, a plurality of container holders are disposed in the direction parallel to the ink fountain roller on the supporting member, and each container holder comprises a bottom receiving part for receiving the bottom of the ink container from below.