Patent GB-655845-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to inking apparatus for printing presses
IPC: B41F31/10
Filed: 1948-02-04
Abstract: 655,845. Printing-machines. GOSS PRINTING PRESS CO., Ltd. Feb. 4, 1948, No. 3295. Convention date, July 22, 1947. [Class 100 (ii)] Inking-apparatus.-An inking device for a printing press comprises a relatively slowly rotating fountain roller, a fountain blade for regulating the ink film on said roller, a relatively faster rotating ink transfer roller movable between a backed-off position and an operative position wherein it is in wiping contact with the fountain roller, ratchet means for imparting a predetermined rotational movement to the fountain roller, clamping means for pressing the blade against the fountain roller for cutting off the passage of ink and means for sequentially releasing the clamping means, causing relative bodily movement of the transfer roller into operative position and actuation of the ratchet means as an incident to starting up the press, including moving either the plate cylinder or the ink fountain back to operative position. A fountain roller 32, Fig. 2, supplies ink from an ink fountain formed by a wall 36 to a transfer roller 34. The wall 36 is clamped in position by bolts 38 on a supporting assembly 31 which includes a sub-frame 35, which bolts may also clamp a flexible blade 39 extending horizontally along the lower portion of the ink fountain. The blade 39 is initially adjustable horizontally towards the fountain roller 32 by screws 40, the adjustment being maintained by tightening the bolts 38. More accurate adjustment is provided by adjusting screws 41 actuated by keys 42. The fountain roller is rotated at a low peripheral speed, a film of ink being transferred to the roller 34 which has a raised helical ridge and preferably rotates at the same speed as the press. The ink transferred to the roller 34 is passed to a rubber roller 45 and thence to a train of inking rollers leading to a plate cylinder. Clamping pins 46 axially slidable in the subframe 35, are moved into contact with the underside of the blade 39 to shut off the ink supply, by a longitudinal cam which contacts the lower end 48 of the pins. The cam is formed by a flat 50 on a shaft 49. Leakage between the blade and end-plates is prevented by rubber sealing strips 53. The supporting assembly 31 is mounted for rotation about an axis 54 coinciding with the axis of the shaft 49 and parallel to the axis 33a of the roller 32, and also lying substantially in the plane defined by the axis 33a and the edge 39a of the blade 39. The fountain may be cleaned when the assembly is swung away from the roller 32. In order to locate the assembly when it is swung back into position lugs 58 having machined surfaces 58a are provided, clamping bolts screwed into the machine frame being provided to maintain the assembly in operating position. The shaft 60a of the transfer roller 34 is mounted for rotation in an eccentric sleeve 60 journalled in the frame. In order to separate the rollers 32 and 34 when the machine is idle the sleeve 60 is rotated by a gear segment 61 on the end of the shaft 49 by a segment 62 in mesh therewith and formed integrally with the sleeve 60, stopping of the press causing a hydraulic piston to operate the shaft 49 and rotate the sleeve 60 to separate the rollers 32 and 34. Rotation of the shaft 49 also causes the pins 46 to press the blade 39 against the roller and thus shut off the supply of ink. Rotation of the shaft 49 by the piston when the press is started allows the clamping pins to move downwardly on to the flat 50, while the sleeve 60 is rotated so as to move the rollers 32 and 34 together and the roller 32 is given a rotational movement by means of a ratchet-wheel 64 engaged by a pawl 65 on a pawl arm 66, the arm 66 being rotated in a clockwise direction by gear segments 69 and 68. The rotation given to the roller 32 is sufficient to bring a fresh film of ink from opposite the edge of the blade 39a to the area of contact of the two rollers. A plate 70 disposed below the pawl 65 ensures that the fountain roller is only rotated after the clamping pins have released the blade 39. The fountain roller is driven through a worm gear and a clutch which may be of the ratchet type. In a modification, the shaft 49 may be rotated directly by a push-rod which engages an abutment on the machine frame when the inking carriage is advanced into operating position. Alternatively, the push-rod may engage a lug on an eccentric sleeve associated with the plate cylinder.