INKING DEVICE

Abstract: In order to apply colouring matter (4) to a printing pad (5) capable of depositing the colouring matter at the place where printing is desired, an inking device must be used which consists of one or more baths (2), each bath having a delivery slot (9) for the colouring matter and being concave in shape in the manner of a cylinder with a diameter which corresponds to a roller (3) capable of turning freely around its longitudinal axis. Colouring matter is thus applied to the surface, and the amount of colouring matter is determined by the distance between the roller and the printing pad, in that this distance is adjustable. By allowing the printing pad to pass while in contact with the roller, the roller is turned and colouring matter is deposited on the printing pad. In this manner, a thin and uniform layer of colouring matter is applied to the printing pad, thus enabling printing to be carried out with a hitherto-unknown small amount of colouring matter, which is particularly expedient when applying colouring matter, for example to acryl plates, for purposes of decoration.

Description: INKING DEVICE The invention relates to an inking device for the ap¬ plication of colouring matter to a printing pad which moves past the point at which the colouring matter is applied, and which is thereafter brought into contact with the surface of the article to be coloured. Hitherto known inking devices of this kind are usual- ly designed as a part of the actual printing pad, which is normally supplied with liquid colouring mat¬ ter via a tube. In another embodiment the colouring matter is contained in an inner reservoir in the printing pad itself. These units do not, however, function satisfactorily, the reason being that it is extremely difficult to control the dosing of the col¬ ouring matter, particularly when there is use for only a thin layer of colouring matter, and also be¬ cause it is almost impossible to achieve a uniformly even inking of the pad. The object of the invention is to overcome the dis¬ advantages of the known inking devices, and this is achieved when the inking device comprises one or more baths filled with liquid colouring matter, the bottom of said baths being provided with a slot for the del¬ ivery of colouring matter, and a cylindrical roller which can rotate around its longitudinal axis and lie up against said slot. With extremely simple means there is thus achieved a surprising possibility of completely uniform application of colouring matter to a printing pad, in that during its movement past the inking roller, the pad absorbs the necessary amount of colouring matter in a completely uniform and even layer. In this manner, fields can be printed, for ex¬ ample on acryl plates, with a uniform and thin layer of colouring matter, which has not hitherto been pos¬ sible. By forming the bath as a concave part which can more or less lie up against the inking roller, as presen¬ ted in claim 2, a suitable distribution of the col¬ ouring matter can take place which, particularly with colouring matter having a high viscosity, results in a very even application and distribution of colouring matter on the roller. Finally, it is expedient, as presented in claim 3, for the distance between the bath and the roller to be capable of being varied, in that this provides the possibility of dosing the application of colour¬ ing matter. in the following the invention will be described in closer detail with reference to the drawing, where fig. 1 shows a sectional view of a printing device comprising an inking device and a rotatable printing pad, fig. 2 illustrates the actual printing shown in in three phases, fig. 3 shows the inking device seen in perspec¬ tive, and fig. 4 shows a sectional view hereof seen in the direction IV-IV in fig. 3. The printing method itself is illustrated in figs. 1 and 2. The printing pad 5 is formed as a part of the revolving cylinder which turns around its axis of ro¬ tation 6. This rotation is effected by means of co - monly-known turning arrangements (not shown) . Above this rotatable printing pad is arranged an ink¬ ing device 1. This comprises a freely-mounted roller 3 which can turn around its longitudinal axis. The roller is supplied with colouring matter when it turns past a slot in the bottom of the bath 2 which is mounted above the roller. With colouring matter in the bath, colouring matter is supplied to the surf¬ ace of the roller when the roller is turned, which occurs when the printing pad moves in under the roller, thus creating mutual contact between said pad and said roller, from the position shown by con- tunuous lines in fig. 1 to the position shown by stippled lines to the right of the roller. The print- ing pad is then turned back again, whereby the roller is once more made to rotate, but now in the opposite direction. The printing pad swings down to the posi¬ tion shown by the dot-and-dash lines, where the one edge of the printing pad makes contact with the sur- face of the article 7 to which colouring matter is to be applied. The actual printing is illustrated in fig. 2. The printing pad 5 shown with fully-drawn lines corres- ponds to the pad shown by dot-and-dash lines in fig. 1. The article 7 lies firmly while the axis of rota¬ tion 6 of the printing pad is moved towards the left - to the position shown by stippled lines, with the printing pad resting on its opposite edge, in that it " B U E U _ O PI λ W1PO has rolled across the surface and has applied a layer 8 of colouring matter to the article. The printing pad is then swung up again, as shown by the dot-and -dash lines, and is again supplied with colouring matter from the inking device 1. Meanwhile, the ar¬ ticle 7 is moved so that the next application of col¬ ouring matter is effected at the place desired. The actual inking device is shown in figs. 3 and 4. It comprises one or more baths 2 , each provided with an inner reservoir for liquid colouring matter 4. In the bottom of the baths there is a narrow slot 9. This slot can be some millimetres wide and can extend in length to whatever degree demanded by the inking of the roller. The bottom of the baths is cylindrical in shape, so that the inking roller can turn under the slot 9, see particularly fig. 4, whereby a suitable layer of col- ouring matter is applied to its surface. The distance between the concave bottom surface of the bath and the roller can, moreover, be varied, thus allowing the thickness of the layer of colouring matter to be adjusted. In the example shown, a number of baths are placed in a row, whereby printing with several colours side by side can be effected. If desired, it can be sufficient for the printing pad 5 to make contact with the roller during its movement in the one direction only, in that the inking device can be lifted and lowered, hereby providing the pos- sibility of printing with very thin layers of col¬ ouring matter. The inking device is particularly suitable for the printing of acryl plates, where one can thus imitate coloured glass by applying colouring matter of the desired colours in fields. "BliRtl OΛ.PT « 5i -wu-o

Claims: C L A I M S 1. Inking device for the application of colouring matter to a printing pad which is moved past the point at which colouring matter is applied, and which is then brought into contact with the surface of the article to be coloured, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the device comprises one or more baths (2) which are filled with liquid colouring matter (4) , the bottom of said baths being provided with a slot (9) for the delivery of colouring matter, and a cylindri- cal roller (3) which can turn around its longitudinal axis and lie up against the slot (9) . 2. Inking device according to claim 1, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i z e d in that the bath (2) around the slot (9) is formed as a part of a cylinder corres¬ ponding substantially to the roller (3) . 3. Inking device according to claims 1 and 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the distance be- tween the bath (2) and the roller (3) can be varied.

Inventors: KJUL PER, TOPHUS BERNHARD, KJUL, PER, TOPHUS, BERNHARD
Applicants: TOPWIKO PRODUKTION A S, TOPWIKO PRODUKTION A/S
Application year: 1983
Main classification: B41F31
IPC codes: B41F31