Abstract:
The invention relates to an inking device for inking a cylinder or a printing cylinder ( 33 ) of an intaglio printing inking unit. A doctor blade device ( 23 ) is located in the vicinity of the ink level ( 34 ) of the printing ink. By heating the ink duct, the doctor blade device and the cylinder to be inked, it is possible to print solvent-free printing inks at temperatures in the range of 100° C.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention is directed [relates] to an ink application device for a rotary printing press [in accordance with the preamble of claim 1]. The printing ink and at least a portion of the doctor blade arrangement are heated.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A rotogravure inking device has become known from EP 655 328 B1. A[, whose] doctor device is arranged remote from the ink duct and closely in front of the printing zone in order to prevent the premature drying of the solvent-containing printing ink.  
           [0003]    DE 93 10 680 U1 describes an arrangement for setting the temperature of printing ink in the inking device of a printing press. No doctor device resting against a roller is provided there.  
           [0004]    WO 98/50233 A shows a rotogravure inking device. A[, wherein a] doctor blade is arranged below a horizontal line extending through the axis of rotation of the forme cylinder.  
           [0005]    DE 197 36 339 A1 describes a temperature-adjusting device for a screen roller with a doctor blade.  
           [0006]    DE 42 05 713 C2 discloses rotogravure ink, which is used for printing in a warmed state and which dries by cooling.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The object of the present invention is directed to providing [based on creating] an ink application device for a forme cylinder used with rotogravure printing. Printing[, by means of which printing] inks, whose working temperatures lie [temperature lies] above the ambient, temperature can be used for printing.  
           [0008]    In accordance with the present invention, this object is attained by providing printing ink in an ink trough of an ink application device for rotogravure printing on a rotary printing press. The printing ink in the ink trough has a working temperature higher than ambient. At least parts of a doctor blade arrangement in the ink application device are capable of being heated. A contact line of a doctor blade of the doctor blade arrangement is below a horizontal line that extends through the axis of rotation of a forme cylinder in the rotary printing press [the characteristics of claim  1 ].  
           [0009]    The advantages which can be obtained by [means of] the present invention rest, in particular, in that [the] removal of the printing ink from the roller, or from the forme cylinder, by use [means] of a doctor blade, takes place in the immediate vicinity of the ink level of the printing ink in the ink trough. This results in a short distance [height to fall] for the printing ink, removed by [means of] a doctor blade from the roller to be inked, to fall. In this way, faults because of splashes when the removed ink drops into the ink duct, are held to a minimum. An [and an] ink foam, which would otherwise be created, is also prevented, so that soiling of the inking device does not occur.  
           [0010]    Because of the ability to preset the temperature of the printing ink, it is possible to also use so-called hot-tec printing inks for rotogravure printing. In this context, [—] see DE 42 05 713 C2. These printing inks [—which] are applied without solvents at a temperature of approximately 100 to 110° C. to the material to be printed.  
           [0011]    Only a negligible heat loss is noted because of a compact arrangement of the parts of the inking device which come into contact with the hot-tec printing ink. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    A preferred [An exemplary] embodiment of the present invention is represented in the drawings and will be described in greater detail in what follows.  
         [0013]    Shown are in:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1, a cross sectional view [section] through an ink application device in accordance with the present invention in a [the] position of rest, and in  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2, a top plan view of [from above on] the ink application device in accordance with FIG. 1 in a partial representation and without a forme cylinder. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]    An ink application device  01  [for printing ink  02 ] of an ink unit of a rotary printing press consists of an ink trough  03  containing printing ink  02 , which ink trough  03  is fastened at both ends on end plates  04 ,  06 , which end plates  04 ,  06  are fixed in place in lateral frames of a rotary printing press, all as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The ink trough  03  preferably [usefully] consists of a double-walled container, i.e. of an inner and outer container  07 ,  08 , between which is defined a hollow space  09  for receiving a heatable [warmable] fluid, for example warmth-distributing oil[, is provided].  
         [0017]    The inner container  07  is provided with an ink inlet line  11  and with an ink outlet line [ 11 ,]  12 . The[, and the] outer container  08  is provided with a warming fluid inlet line  13 , as well as a warming fluid outlet line [ 13 ,]  14 . The ink level is maintained constant in the ink trough  03  by [means of] the placement of the ink outlet line  12  at a defined height.  
         [0018]    An ink application device, for example an inking roller  16 , is located inside the ink trough  03 , and is supported [seated] at both ends on pivotable inner levers  18 . as seen in FIG. 2. In turn, the pivotable inner levers  18  are each fastened, fixed against relative rotation, on a lever shaft  19  which is passed through the end plates  04 ,  06 . Outside of the end plates  04 ,  06 , each lever [the] shaft  19  is connected, fixed against relative rotation, with a respective outer lever[s]  21 , each of which outer levers  21  can be pivoted into a position of rest, as depicted in [(]FIG. 1 [)], or into an operating position, not specifically represented, by utilization [means] of a work cylinder  22 , as shown in both FIGS. 1 and 2.  
         [0019]    A doctor blade arrangement, shown generally at  23 , is also arranged in the ink trough  03 . Doctor blade arrangement  23 [,] consists, for example, of a cylindrical doctor blade support  24 , which has a clamping strip  27  extending in the tangential direction in respect to a [the] surface area  26  of the doctor blade support  24 , as well as in an axis-parallel direction. A[, in which a] doctor blade  28  made, for example, of spring steel, is maintained in the doctor blade support  24  by the clamping strip  27 . The clamping strip  27  is fixedly arranged on the doctor blade support  24 .  
         [0020]    [By means of its journals  29  conducted through the end plates  04 ,  06 , the] The doctor blade support  24  has journals  29  that extend through the end plates  04 ,  06 . Each such journal  29  is connected outside of the end plates  04 ,  06 , fixed against relative rotation, with a piston rod of a work cylinder  31  by [mean of] a lever arm  30 . When the work cylinder  31  is actuated, the doctor blade support  24  rotates, so that the doctor blade  28  can be placed against a [the] surface area  32  of a roller to be inked, for example the surface area  32  of a forme cylinder  33  for rotogravure printing, or a screen roller which is provided with surface area depressions. The roller, or the forme cylinder  33  is embodied so it can be warmed, at least on its surface area.  
         [0021]    With [In] respect to the roller, or the forme cylinder  33 , the doctor blade arrangement  23  is arranged in such a way that a contact line  46 , defined [created] by a line of contact between a [means of the] working edge  44  of the doctor blade  28 , which is in the working position, and the surface  32  of the roller or cylinder  33  to be inked extends on the surface area  32  [ 26 ] of the forme cylinder  33  below a horizontal line  48  extending through an [the] axis of rotation  47  of the forme cylinder  33 . Contact line  46  is situated within an angular range α of between 40° and 70°, preferably in a range −+α of 50° to 60°, and in particular at an angle α of 55°, in respect to the horizontal line  48 .  
         [0022]    [An ink level  34  in the] The ink trough  03  is dimensioned in such a way that an ink level  34  is maintained in the ink trough  03  so that in their position of rest, the inking roller  16 , as well as the doctor blade arrangement  23 , are almost completely covered by printing ink  03 . The clamping strip  27  is at least partially bathed in printing ink.  
         [0023]    Each of the end plates  04 ,  06  are interlockingly connected with separate toothed racks  36 ,  37 , as seen in FIG. 1. The toothed racks  36 ,  37  are displaceably seated in guide elements  38 ,  39  fixed in place in the lateral frames. Pinion gears are arranged on a driveshaft  41  and are in engagement with the teeth of the toothed racks  36 ,  37 .  
         [0024]    The driveshaft  41  is connected via, a coupling  42 , with a step motor  43 , which is seated, fixed in place, in the lateral frames. A counting device, not specifically represented, is used as the indicator of the actual height setting of the ink trough  03  in relation to the forme cylinder  33 . The roller, or the forme cylinder  33  can be exchanged and can thus have diameters of different sizes.  
         [0025]    In accordance with a [an embodiment] variation of the preferred embodiment, it is possible to heat the doctor blade  28  separately. This [For example, this] can be accomplished, for example, in that the doctor blade holder  27  can be [is] embodied so that it can be heated, for example electrically [heated], near the clamped portion of the doctor blade  28 .  
         [0026]    For the separate heating of the doctor blade  28 , it is also [furthermore] possible to arrange an induction coil located on the rim of the inner container  07  and extending in an axis-parallel direction.  
         [0027]    In the rotogravure printing process, it is possible to arrange a counter-cylinder, which is not specifically represented, and which acts against the forme cylinder  33 . The assumed direction of rotation of the forme cylinder  33  is [runs] counterclockwise, as depicted in FIG. 1. The rotation direction can also be [in a] clockwise [direction]. However, for this direction of rotation it would be necessary to exchange the lateral arrangement of the inking roller  16 , as well as of the doctor blade arrangement.  
         [0028]    The ink application device in accordance with the present invention operates as follows: the ink trough  03  is vertically displaced [by actuating means  36  to  39  and  43 ] in the direction toward the forme cylinder  33  and is matched to the diameter of the latter. This displacement of the ink trough  03  is accomplished by actuation of the step motor  43 , the pinion gears and the toothed racks  36  and  37 , as discussed above. Preheated printing ink  02 , in the approximate temperature range between 60° C. to 180° C., and preferably between 100° C. and 110° C., is filled into the inner container  07  of ink trough  03 . The hollow space  09  located between the inner and outer containers  07 ,  08  is filled with heated [warmed] warming oil of a similar [an analog] temperature.  
         [0029]    The warming oil can be heated or warmed outside of, as well as inside of the hollow space  09 .  
         [0030]    The inking roller  16 , as well as the doctor blade  28 , can now be placed against the surface area  32  of the forme cylinder  33  while in the working position.  
         [0031]    Following the termination of the printing process the printing ink  02  remains warmed until the start of the next printing process.  
         [0032]    It is, of course, also possible to work with solvent-containing printing ink.  
         [0033]    While a preferred embodiment of an inking device in accordance with the present invention has been set forth fully and completely hereinabove, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that various changes in, for example the drive for the forme cylinder, the source of heat for the ink warming fluid and the like could be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention which is to be limited only by the following claims.  
       [LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS  
       [0034]    [0034] 01  Ink application device  
         [0035]    [0035] 02  Printing ink  
         [0036]    [0036] 03  Ink trough  
         [0037]    [0037] 04  End plate ( 01 )  
         [0038]    [0038] 05 — 
         [0039]    [0039] 06  End plate ( 01 )  
         [0040]    [0040] 07  Container, inner ( 03 )  
         [0041]    [0041] 08  Container, outer ( 03 )  
         [0042]    [0042] 09  Hollow space ( 07 ,  08 )  
         [0043]    [0043] 10 — 
         [0044]    [0044] 11  Ink inlet line  
         [0045]    [0045] 12  Ink outlet line  
         [0046]    [0046] 13  Warming fluid inlet line  
         [0047]    [0047] 14  Warming fluid outlet line  
         [0048]    [0048] 15 —] 
         [0049]    [ 16  Inking roller  
         [0050]    [0050] 17  Journal ( 16 )  
         [0051]    [0051] 18  Lever( 16 )  
         [0052]    [0052] 19  Shaft ( 04 ,  06 )  
         [0053]    [0053] 20 — 
         [0054]    [0054] 21  Lever ( 16 )  
         [0055]    [0055] 22  Work cylinder ( 16 )  
         [0056]    [0056] 23  Doctor blade arrangement  
         [0057]    [0057] 24  Doctor blade support ( 23 )  
         [0058]    [0058] 25 — 
         [0059]    [0059] 26  Surface area ( 24 )  
         [0060]    [0060] 27  Clamping strip ( 28 )  
         [0061]    [0061] 28  Doctor blade ( 23 )  
         [0062]    [0062] 29  Journal ( 24 )  
         [0063]    [0063] 30  Lever arm ( 29 )  
         [0064]    [0064] 31  Work cylinder ( 23 )] 
         [0065]    [ 32  Surface area ( 33 )  
         [0066]    [0066] 33  Forme cylinder, roller  
         [0067]    [0067] 34  Ink level ( 02 )  
         [0068]    [0068] 35 — 
         [0069]    [0069] 36  Toothed rack  
         [0070]    [0070] 37  Toothed rack  
         [0071]    [0071] 38  Guide element ( 36 )  
         [0072]    [0072] 39  Guide element ( 37 )  
         [0073]    [0073] 40 — 
         [0074]    [0074] 41  Driveshaft  
         [0075]    [0075] 42  Coupling  
         [0076]    [0076] 43  Step motor  
         [0077]    [0077] 44  Working edge ( 28 )  
         [0078]    [0078] 45 — 
         [0079]    [0079] 46  Contact line ( 44 ,  33 )  
         [0080]    [0080] 47  Axis of rotation] 
         [0081]    [ 48  Horizontal line ( 47 )  
         [0082]    +α angle ( 48 ,  47 )  
         [0083]    −α angle ( 48 ,  47 )]