Patent ID: 7165494
Filing Date: 2007-01-23
Classification: B41F,B41P

Abstract:
1. An inking and cleaning system for use on a printing press, the system comprising: a fluid circuit having a first operating configuration wherein the fluid circuit is adapted to supply an ink to the printing press, a second operating configuration wherein the fluid circuit is adapted to supply a cleaning solution to the printing press, a first pump operatively coupled to a source of the ink to circulate the ink through the fluid circuit, a second pump operatively coupled to a source of the cleaning solution to circulate the cleaning solution through the fluid circuit, and one or more valves arranged to switch the fluid circuit between the first operating configuration and the second operating configuration; the fluid circuit arranged to supply a selected one of a clean rinse or a used flush through the fluid circuit when the fluid circuit is in the second operating configuration; the fluid circuit further arranged to draw an amount of clean rinse through the fluid circuit and return a resulting volume of used clean rinse into a used flush tank if a desired amount of the used flush is deficient; and a controller operatively coupled to the fluid circuit and adapted to cause the fluid circuit to switch between the first operating configuration and the second operating configuration, the controller further arranged to supply first the used flush and second the clean rinse through the fluid circuit and calculate whether a volume of the used flush tank is available to accept the resulting volume of used clean rinse when the fluid circuit is in the second operating configuration.