Apparatus for servicing printing press

Improved apparatus for servicing the inking assembly of a printing press. The apparatus minimizes the likelihood that supplies of different colored inks will be contaminated during the servicing of the inking assembly of a printing press and permits a pressman to completely service the inking assembly without having to leave the site of the printing press.

This invention relates to apparatus for servicing a printing press. 
More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus for maintenancing the 
ink fountain, indoctrination roller and other components of the inking 
assembly of a printing press. 
In another respect, the invention relates to printing press inking assembly 
maintenance apparatus which, after a press has been utilized to print with 
an ink of one color, facilitates cleaning of the inking assembly when the 
press is being prepared to print utilizing fresh ink of another color. 
In a further respect, the invention relates to printing press inking 
assembly maintenance apparatus which minimizes the likelihood of 
contamination of ink being removed from or placed into the ink fountain of 
a printing press. 
In still another respect, the invention relates to printing press inking 
assembly maintenance apparatus which permits the tools used to service the 
inking assembly to be cleaned on site such that the tools which are used 
to clean ink of one color from the printing press inking assembly may also 
be safely utilized to prime the press with fresh ink of another color. 
In yet a further respect, the invention pertains to printing press 
maintenancing apparatus which is portable and contains all requisite tools 
and supplies for servicing the inking assembly of a printing press. 
In yet still another respect, the invention pertains to apparatus for 
maintenancing a printing press of the type including indoctrination 
rollers, transfer rollers, oscillating rollers and form rollers; the 
maintenancing apparatus including ink accumulation trays shaped and 
dimensioned to be positioned adjacent an oscillating roller such that ink 
on the surface of the roller is scraped from the roller into the tray when 
the roller is turning during operation of the printing press. 
In another important respect, the invention pertains to printing press 
inking assembly maintenance apparatus which includes water-tight 
compartments adapted to store and clean ink accumulation trays and other 
tools used in preparing the inking assembly for color printing. 
Servicing the inking assembly of large commercial printing presses utilized 
by newspaper and magazine publishers is a time consuming, exacting 
process. The inking assemblies of such printing presses typically include 
an ink fountain roller, an indoctrination roller, transfer rollers, 
oscillating rollers and form rollers. These inking assembly rollers form 
an interconnected "chain" in which the surface of each of the rollers 
contacts and rolls over the surface of at least one of the other rollers 
during operation of the printing press. A panel shaped member called an 
ink fountain is positioned adjacent and together with the ink fountain 
roller defines a storage compartment which is filled with fresh ink before 
the printing press is utilized. During the operation of the press, ink 
from the fountain is distributed over and adheres to the cylindrical 
surface of the ink fountain roller. Ink on the surface of the ink fountain 
roller is transferred from one roller surface to another through the 
inking assembly roller chain until the ink reaches the surface of the form 
rollers. The form rollers contact and transfer ink to a plate or a 
cylindrical printing plate. 
When the inking assembly of a printing press is being cleaned, residual ink 
must be carefully removed from the ink fountain and each roller in the 
roller chain. It is particularly critical that the inking assembly of a 
printing press be thoroughly cleaned when the press is, after being used 
to print in black ink, being adapted for color printing. Even small traces 
of black ink remaining in the inking assembly will travel through the 
roller chain along with fresh color ink being utilized in the press and 
will flaw the printing on paper sheets traveling through the press. 
The conventional procedure for servicing the ink of a printing press is a 
time consuming process. During this process, a pressman obtains a 
partially emptied container of black ink and an "ink" knife. An ink knife 
is similar in contour to a putty knife, and includes a wide flat blade. 
The pressman uses the ink knife to scrape residual ink from the fountain 
into the ink container. After the majority of residual ink is scraped from 
the fountain, the fountain is thoroughly washed with clean rags and a 
solution of ink solvent. 
Since on many printing presses the ink fountain is six or seven feet above 
the floor, the pressman must obtain and utilize a ladder when cleaning the 
fountain. Black ink scraped from the fountain into the ink container can 
be reused if the ink is not contaminated by dirt, by ink solvent fluid 
used to clean the fountain, or by colored ink subsequently utilized to 
prime the printing press. Since the pressman cleaning the fountain often 
does not wish to take the time to step down from the ladder and place the 
container of residual black ink from the fountain in a sheltered position 
away from the printing press, ink solvent, dirt and colored ink sometimes 
fall into and contaminate the container of black ink. 
Before a tool utilized to clean black ink from the inking assembly of a 
printing press can be used to prime the press with colored ink, the tool 
must be carefully cleaned with "blanket" wash or some other ink solvent. 
Sinks and other cleaning facilities normally are not located adjacent a 
printing press. This means the pressman must either leave the pressroom 
and walk to another area to clean his tools before using them with colored 
ink, or, must be equipped with two sets of tools, one set for working with 
black ink and another set for handling red ink, green ink or other colored 
inks. 
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide apparatus which would 
permit the ready maintenance of the inking assembly of a printing press 
while minimizing the likelihood that containers of ink will be 
contaminated during servicing of the inking assembly. 
It would also be highly desirable to provide inking assembly maintenance 
apparatus which would permit a pressman to utilize a single set of inking 
tools when cleaning black ink from an inking assembly of a printing press 
and priming the assembly with fresh colored ink and, which would provide 
all necessary supplies and tools for servicing the inking assembly of a 
printing press such that the pressman would not, after beginning to 
service the press, have to leave the site of the press to perform other 
functions necessary for completion of the servicing of the printing press. 
Therefore, it is a principle object of the invention to provide improved 
apparatus for servicing the inking assembly of a printing press. 
Another object of the invention is to provide improved inking assembly 
maintenancing apparatus which minimizes the likelihood that supplies of 
black or colored ink will be contaminated during the servicing of the 
inking assembly of a printing press. 
A further object of the invention is to provide improved printing press 
inking assembly maintenance apparatus which only requires the use of a 
single set of inking tools to clean ink of one color from a printing press 
and prepare the press to print using ink of another color. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide improved printing press 
inking assembly maintenance apparatus which permits a pressman to 
completely service the inking assembly of a printing press without leaving 
the site of the press. 
Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide improved printing 
press inking assembly maintenance apparatus which can readily be utilized 
to service the inking assemblies of printing presses having ink fountains 
or other ink dispensing units positioned at varying heights from the 
ground.

Briefly, in accordance with my invention, I provide an improved apparatus 
for servicing the inking assembly of a printing press. The inking assembly 
includes operatively associated rollers for transferring and dispensing 
ink to be applied to sheet material passing through the printing press and 
includes an ink fountain for storing and dispensing to the rollers a 
supply of printing ink. The inking assembly maintenancing apparatus 
includes a frame; at least one ink accumulation tray shaped and 
dimensioned to be positioned adjacent and scrape ink from one of the 
printing press ink assembly rollers; means for removably carrying and 
storing the ink accumulation tray on the frame; an ink knife having a 
handle and blade; means for carrying and storing the ink knife on the 
frame, the ink knife storage means including a reservoir of cleaning fluid 
contacting at least a portion of the blade when the ink knife is carried 
on the frame by the ink knife storage means; a container of ink solvent 
fluid; a fluid-tight cleaning sink carried on the frame; a container 
carried on the frame for receiving and storing black ink; and, a container 
carried on the frame for receiving and storing a colored ink. 
Turning now to the drawings, which depict the presently preferred 
embodiments and best mode of the invention for the purpose of illustrating 
the practice thereof and not by way of limitation of the scope of the 
invention and in which like reference characters represent corresponding 
elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1-4 illustrate printing press 
inking assembly maintenance apparatus constructed in accordance with the 
principles of the invention and generally identified by reference 
character 10. The frame of apparatus 10 includes vertically oriented side 
panels 11 and 12; horizontally oriented bottom panel 13; horizontally 
oriented intermediate panels 14-17 and, vertical panels 18 and 19. Lid 20 
is connected to panel 19 by hinge 21 which permits lid 20 to be opened as 
indicated by arrow A in FIG. 2. Steps 23, 24 are attached to front panel 
25 by hinges 26, 27 respectively. Vertical elongate rod 28 is pivotally 
connected to steps 23, 24 at points 30 and 31. Rod 29 is similarly 
pivotally connected to steps 23, 24. Steps 23, 24 are shown in their 
extended operative position in FIG. 1 and fold up to the storage position 
shown in FIG. 2. 
Containers 110 of ink solvent fluid are stored on shelf 16 behind towel 
rack 32. Rags are discarded in removable bin 33 positioned on shelf 15. 
Colored ink is stored in container 34 on shelf 14, while black ink is 
stored in container 35 on shelf 17. Apertures formed in the handles of ink 
knives slide outwardly projecting pegs 37 so the blades of ink knives 38 
extend downwardly into the trough of storage unit 39. The trough of unit 
39 is preferably filled with ink solvent fluid. 
Apertures 40 formed along outwardly extending panel 41 are shaped and 
dimensioned to receive various tools 42 utilized to service the inking 
assembly of a printing press. Casters 44-47 are attached at the corners of 
bottom panel 13 of apparatus 10. 
As is illustrated in FIG. 3, the inking assembly of a printing press 60 can 
include panel-shaped ink fountain 61 which is positioned adjacent the ink 
fountain roller 62. Ink fountain 61 can, as indicated by arrow B and 
dashed lines 63, be pivoted downwardly to facilitate cleaning of the 
fountain. Ink fountain roller 62 is operatively associated with an 
interconnecting chain of rollers including indoctrination roller 102, 
transfer rollers 64 and 65, oscillating rollers 66 and 67, and form 
rollers 68 and 69. Form rollers 68, 69 are operatively associated with 
plate cylinder 103. A strip of paper 104 passes between blanket cylinders 
105, 106. When the inking assembly is being cleaned, ink accumulation tray 
50 is positioned with leading edge 51 against the surface of oscillating 
roller 67. When roller 67 rotates in the clockwise direction indicated by 
arrow C, ink is scraped from roller 51 into tray 50 in the direction of 
arrow D. Hook 52 engages peg 53 secured to press 60 and maintains tray 50 
in the position shown in FIG. 3 when oscillating roller 67 turns in the 
direction of arrow C. 
Apparatus 10 includes container door 70 for storing and cleaning ink 
accumulation trays 50. Container 70 includes a floor panel 73 and side 
panels 74, 75, 76, 77 attached to and outwardly projecting from panel 73. 
Top panel 90 is attached to panels 74-76. In FIG. 1 member 70 is shown in 
the closed position. When member 70 is in the closed position, elongate 
member 74 and floor member 73 are vertically oriented. Member 70 is opened 
in the direction indicated by arrows E in FIGS. 1 and 2. When member 70 is 
fully opened, elongate member 74 and bottom panel member 73 are nearly 
horizontally disposed, with member 77 being slightly higher than panel 
member 76. The slight slope of bottom member 73 when member 70 is fully 
opened in the direction of arrow E causes fluid poured into container 70 
to flow down the upper surface of member 73 toward panel 76. The fluid 
accumulates against end panel 76. Grate 80 is attached to bottom panel 73 
of member 70. Panel 101 is attached to vertical wall 108. Ink accumulation 
trays 50 are stored between panel 101 and wall 108. 
As illustrated in FIG. 4, grate 80 includes spaced apart members 81 
interconnected by elongate panel strip 82. 
In FIG. 3 the height of lid 20 above the ground is slightly less than or 
generally equal to the height of ink fountain 61 above the ground. This 
feature of the apparatus facilitates cleaning of the fountain 61 because 
ink can be scraped directly from fountain 61 into bucket 35. 
In use, a pressman positions apparatus 10 adjacent a printing press 60 as 
shown in FIG. 3 and lowers steps 23, 24 to the operative position of FIG. 
1. He then obtains a clean ink knife 38, raises lid 20, and scrapes excess 
ink from fountain 63 into bucket 35. After the majority of ink is scraped 
from fountain 61 into bucket 35, the pressman closes lid 20 and places 
knife 38 in storage unit 39 as shown in FIG. 1. Lid 20 prevents dirt and 
other contaminants from falling into bucket 35 during subsequent servicing 
of press 60. After lid 20 is closed, the pressman lowers ink fountain 61 
to the position indicated by dashed lines 63 and uses blanket wash 110 and 
clean rags (not shown) carried on cross bar 32 to carefully remove all 
residual ink from fountain 61. Dirty, ink stained rags are discarded in 
removable bin 33. An ink accumulation tray 50 is positioned in the manner 
depicted in FIG. 3 and the printing press operated. As the printing press 
operates and oscillating roller 67 turns in the direction of arrow C, edge 
51 scrapes ink from roller 67 into tray 50. While the printing press 
continues to operate all ink on rollers 62-66, 68, 69, 102 is transferred 
through the roller chain to roller 67, consequently, tray 50 gradually 
removes substantially all residual ink from the roller chain. The ink 
scraped from roller 67 into pan 50 can be discarded into a waste container 
carried in apparatus 10 or, if the ink is reusable, it may be scraped into 
bucket 35. After container 70 is opened so that member 74 is generally 
horizontally disposed in the manner earlier described, towels and blanket 
wash are utilized to clean ink accumulation pan 50 on grating 80. Excess 
blanket wash falls through grating 80 on to panel 73 and flows toward and 
is apart of panel 76. After pan 50 and other tools have been cleaned, 
member 70 can be raised to the storage position of FIG. 1. Unless an 
excessive amount of cleaning fluid was utilized, the reservoir formed by 
panels 90 and 73-76 at the bottom of member 70 will retain the fluid when 
member 70 is raised to the storage position of FIG. 1. The fluid trapped 
in the reservoir in the bottom of member 70 can, after apparatus 10 is 
rolled to a convenient location, be drained by removing plug 91 inserted 
in end wall 76. 
Steps 23, 24 of apparatus 10 enable a pressman to readily reach and service 
the ink fountain on presses in which the inking assembly is positioned an 
appreciable distance above the ground. If the printing press to be 
serviced by apparatus 10 has an ink fountain located only three to four 
feet above the ground, steps 23, 24 do not have to be included with 
apparatus 10. 
During cleaning of fountain 61 and the roller chain of the inking assembly, 
a variety of auxiliary tools 42 may be required to adjust the inking 
assembly and press or to remove ink from the corners of the ink fountain 
and from other difficult to reach locations in the ink assembly. Such 
auxiliary tools 42 are stored in rack 41. A rack (not shown) is also 
provided on the apparatus for storage of ink dividers. The ink divider 
rack would include a fluid storage trough similar to trough 39 and would 
include pegs similar to pegs 37 which would support the ink dividers and 
permit a portion of the dividers to extend down into fluid carried in 
trough 39. 
After ink fountain 61 and the roller chain have been carefully cleaned, 
bucket 34 is placed on lid 20 and a clean ink knife 38 is utilized to 
scoop fresh colored ink from bucket 34 into fountain 61. After fountain 61 
has been charged with fresh ink, the inking assembly is ready for 
operation. During removal of old ink from fountain 61 and from the roller 
chain, bucket 34 is maintained on floor 14 inside apparatus 10 to prevent 
various contaminants from falling into bucket 34. 
As indicated in FIG. 2, apparatus 10 may be constructed to include tool 
drawer 92 or other optional storage facilities. 
Container 70 can be attached to apparatus 10 so it may be readily detached 
from the apparatus and tipped over to permit fluid trapped in container 70 
to flow from the container onto the ground. 
Shelf 17 can be adjustably mounted in apparatus 10 so that the vertical 
elevation of panel 17 above the ground can be varied to adjust the height 
of bucket 35 above the ground. Other portions of the frame of apparatus 10 
can be constructed so that the vertical distance from the ground to shelf 
17 can be reduced or increased to facilitate positioning the top edge of 
bucket 35 at approximately the same height as fountain 61 when fountain 61 
is folded down 63 for cleaning.