Patent Publication Number: US-8968581-B2

Title: Square ink filter vessel for a printing press

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/235,804 filed Aug. 21, 2009, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/859,797 filed Aug. 20, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,608,962. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention relates to an ink filter vessel for a printing press, namely, a square ink filter vessel for a printing press, like a rotogravure printing press or a flexographic printing press. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Printing presses require the ink to be filtered before entering the printing operations. Typically, an ink filter vessel is positioned somewhere in each ink line to filter each ink used in the printing process. These ink filter vessels are typically cylindrically shaped or torpedo shaped (see  FIG. 1  of the prior art). This cylindrical or torpedo shape requires the ink filter vessel to have a height of at least 18 inches in order to provide adequate filtering surface area. This height requires a large volume of ink to be pumped into the vessel. In addition, printing presses are very complex and intricate machines with very little open space. As such, mounting these tall or long filtering vessels is rather difficult and sometimes impossible. As such, there is a need for a ink filter vessel for a printing press, like a rotogravure printing press, a flexographic printing press, or other printing presses, with a smaller profile that can be more easily installed in a printing press. 
     Furthermore, these torpedo-shaped ink filter vessels have lids that are attached on opposite sides by tightening a nut to the lid on both sides. This is very difficult and time consuming. As such, there is a need for an ink filter vessel for a printing press that includes a lid that is easily and quickly attached to the ink filter vessel. 
     The instant invention is designed to provide an ink filter vessel for a printing press that addresses all the problems mentioned above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention includes a square ink filter vessel for a printing press, like a rotogravure printing press, a flexographic printing press, or other similar printing presses. The square ink filter vessel includes: a container, a lid, a hinge, a lid compression device, and a containment basket. The container has a substantially rectangular shaped cross-section with an open top, an outlet port on one side approximate the bottom of the container, a sloped bottom, where the sloped bottom being toward the outlet port, an inlet port on one side approximate the top of the container, and an internal ledge. The lid is adapted to close the open top of the container. The hinge couples the lid to the container, where the lid is hinged to the container on one side. The lid compression device is adapted to compress the lid to the container. The containment basket is adapted to fit inside the container, and has a plurality of holes on all sides and a lip adapted to rest on the internal ledge of the container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form that is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the torpedo shaped ink filter vessel according to the prior art. 
         FIG. 2  shows a front perspective view of one embodiment of the square ink filter vessel for a printing press according to the instant invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a back perspective view of the embodiment of the square ink filter vessel for a printing press shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a left side view of the embodiment of the square ink filter vessel for a printing press shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a right side view of the embodiment of the square ink filter vessel for a printing press shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a rear view of the embodiment of the square ink filter vessel for a printing press shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a front view of the embodiment of the square ink filter vessel for a printing press shown in  FIG. 2   
         FIG. 8  shows a top view of the embodiment of the square ink filter vessel for a printing press shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 9  shows a bottom view of the embodiment of the square ink filter vessel for a printing press shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 10  shows a front perspective view of the embodiment of the square ink filter vessel for a printing press shown in  FIG. 2  partially disassembled with the lid removed and the containment basket inside. 
         FIG. 11  shows a front perspective view of the embodiment of the square ink filter vessel for a printing press shown in  FIG. 2  partially disassembled with the lid removed and the containment basket outside. 
         FIG. 12  shows a perspective view of the embodiment of the square ink filter vessel for a printing press shown in  FIG. 2  with the lid hinged in an open position. 
         FIG. 13  shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the filter bag of the instant invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , wherein like numerals indicate like elements, the prior art design of a torpedo shaped or cylindrical shaped ink filter vessel  1  for a rotogravure printing press or flexographic printing press is generally shown. The current torpedo shaped or cylindrical shaped ink filter vessel  1  includes a torpedo body  2  with a cylindrical containment tube  6  that fits inside of the torpedo body  2  for housing a cylindrical filter bag  7 . This torpedo shaped or cylindrical shape to the body  2  requires the ink filter vessel  1  to have a certain height  8 . The height  8  of the prior art vessel  1  has to be at least 18 inches in order to provide adequate filter surface area. This height of the torpedo shaped vessels limits the positions and places prior art vessel  1  may be installed on or around the printing press. This height also makes the installation of this vessel  1  difficult, if not impossible, on certain areas of a rotogravure printing press, a flexographic printing press, or other like printing presses. In addition, a lid  3  closes the open top of the torpedo body  2 . The lid  3  requires two nuts, a first nut  4  and a second nut  5 , for securing the lid  3  onto the torpedo body. Thus, the removal and attachment of lid  3  requires the turning of two nuts which can be time consuming and complicated. 
     Referring now to the remaining drawings,  FIGS. 2-13 , wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in the Figures an embodiment of a square ink filter vessel  10  for a printing press, like a rotogravure printing press, a flexographic printing press, or other similar printing presses. Square ink filter vessel  10  may be a filter for each ink of a printing press. Although, square ink filter vessel  10  may be designed for a rotogravure printing press and/or a flexographic printing press, it should be understood, that square ink filter vessel  10  may be for filtering ink for other type printing presses, or other ink and printing devices. One key feature to square ink filter vessel  10  may be its height  52 . As discussed above, current ink filter vessels for rotogravure and flexographic printing presses, like the torpedo shaped ink filter vessel  1  of  FIG. 1 , require the height of the ink filter vessel to be at least 18 inches in order to provide enough filtering surface area. With the square shape of vessel  10  of the instant invention, the height  52  may be less than 10 inches. This relatively small height of vessel  10 , compared to the current torpedo shaped vessels, may allow it to be more easily installed in and around the printing press, including in smaller locations. In one embodiment, height  52  may be between approximately 3 inches and approximately 8 inches. In another embodiment, height  52  may be approximately 6 inches. Square ink filter vessel  10  may generally include a container  12 , a lid  24 , a hinge  26 , a lid compression device  28 , and a containment basket  38 . 
     Container  12  may be included in square ink filter vessel  10 . See  FIGS. 2-12 . Container  12  may be for providing a reservoir for housing the ink to be filtered by vessel  10 . Container  12  may be any container capable of housing the ink to be filtered by vessel  10 . Container  12  may have a substantially rectangular shaped cross-section. In one embodiment, container  12  may have a substantially square shaped cross-section. Container  12  may also have an open top  14 . Open top  14  may be for allowing containment basket  38  and filter bag  58  to be inserted into and removed from square ink filter vessel  10 . Open top  14  may also be for allowing a user to inspect and clean the inside of container  12 . Container  12  may have a width  54  and a length  56 . Container  12  may have any thickness, including, but not limited to, 0.5 inches. 
     An outlet port  16  may be included on container  12  of square ink filter vessel  10 . See  FIGS. 3 ,  5 - 7  and  9 . Outlet port  16  may be for moving ink out of container  12 . Outlet port  16  may be any port capable of removing ink from container  12  and may be positioned anywhere on container  12 . In one embodiment, outlet port  16  may be positioned approximate to the bottom of container  12 . This position of outlet port  16  may allow for container  12  to be drained. Outlet port  16  may be positioned at the bottom of container  12  at the center of one of its sides. To facilitate draining through outlet port  16 , container  12  may include a sloped bottom  18 . See  FIGS. 9 and 12 . Sloped bottom  18  may be for draining liquid out of outlet port  16 . Sloped bottom  18  may be sloped toward outlet port  16 . Sloped bottom  18  may be any degree of slope, including, but not limited to having a rise of approximately 0.5 inches or approximately 0.3125 inches. 
     An inlet port  20  may be included on container  12  of square ink filter vessel  10 . See  FIGS. 2 ,  4 ,  6 ,  8 - 12 . Inlet port  20  may be for moving ink into container  12 . Inlet port  20  may be any port capable of moving ink into container  12  and may be positioned anywhere on container  12 . In one embodiment, inlet port  20  may be positioned approximate the top of container  12 . This may allow for ink to be pumped into the top of container  12  and into a filter bag  58 . 
     An internal ledge  22  may be included in container  12  of square ink filter vessel  10 . See  FIGS. 10-12 . Internal ledge  22  may be for providing a surface for the lip  42  of containment basket  38  to rest on inside container  12 . Internal ledge  22  may be any type of surface capable of providing a place for lip  42  to rest on inside container  12 . In one embodiment, internal ledge  22  may be an internal ledge completely around the inside of rectangular container  12 . Internal ledge  22  may be positioned a distance below the open top  14  to allow ink to be pumped into filter bag  58 . This distance may be any distance, including, but not limited to, a distance between approximately 1.5 inches and 2 inches from the top of container  12 . Internal ledge  22  may also have any width, including, but not limited to, having a width of approximately 0.5 inches. 
     Lid  24  may be included with square ink filter vessel  10 . See  FIGS. 2-5 ,  8 ,  10 - 12 . Lid  24  may be adapted to close the top of open top  14  of container  12 . Lid  24  may be any device capable of closing the top of open top  14  of container  12 . In one embodiment, lid  24  may be shaped to fit the cross-section of the open top  14  of container  12 . In another embodiment, lid  24  may include a handle  44  for lifting lid  24 . Handle  44  may be any device adapted for lifting lid  24 . Handle  44  may be integrally built onto lid  24  or may be connected to lid  24 . In one embodiment, handle  44  may be a protruding portion of lid  24  that protrudes beyond the edge of container  12  for allowing a user to lift lid  24 . Handle  44  may be positioned anywhere on lid  24 , including, but not limited to, on the front side of square ink filter vessel  10  for allowing easy access to open lid  24 . 
     A hinge  26  may be included with square ink filter vessel  10 . See  FIGS. 2-8 ,  10 - 12 . Hinge  26  may be for coupling lid  24  to container  12  where lid  24  may open off of container  12 . Hinge  26  may be any hinge capable of coupling lid  24  to container  12  where lid  24  may open off of container  12 . Hinge  26  may be positioned anywhere on container  12  and lid  24 . Hinge  26  may be a single hinge, where lid  24  is coupled to container  12  on only one side. In one embodiment, hinge  26  may be positioned on the back side of container  12  and lid  24 , where hinge  26  may be on the opposite side of handle  44 . In one embodiment, hinge  26  may include a hinge lock  64 . Hinge lock  64  may be adapted for holding lid  24  in an open position. This hinge lock feature of hinge  26  may prevent lid  24  from accidentally closing and causing injury and may allow a user to access the inside of container  12  without having to hold lid  24  open. Hinge lock  64  may be any device capable of holding lid  24  in an open position. In one embodiment, hinge lock  64  may be a groove  66  or plurality of grooves  66  adapted for receiving a bar  68  mounted on the top of lid  24 . In this embodiment, hinge  26  may include a slotted hole  70  that allows bar  68  to rotate into grooves  66 . Once bar  68  is positioned in grooves  66 , lid  24  will be locked into or held in an open position. 
     A lid compression device  28  may be included in square ink filter vessel  10 . See  FIGS. 2-8 ,  10 - 12 . Lid compression device  28  may be for compressing lid  24  onto the open top  14  of container  12 . Lid compression device  28  may allow lid  24  to be sealed or pressurized to the open top  14  of container  12 . Lid compression device  28  may be any device capable of compressing lid  24  onto the open top  14  of container  12 . Square ink filter vessel  12  may include any amount of lid compression devices  28 , including, but not limited to, one lid compression device  28  opposite of hinge  26 , two lid compression devices  28  as depicted in the Figures, three lid compression devices  28  with one on each side except for the side with hinge  26 , and/or multiple lid compression devices  28  on one or all sides of vessel  10 . In one embodiment, lid compression device  28  may include a side bracket  30 , a connecting arm  32 , and a lever arm  34 . The side bracket  30  may be connected to the side of container  12  and may be adapted to receive the bottom of connecting arm  32 . Connecting arm  32  may be a generally U-shaped bar that may be connected to lever arm  34 . Lever arm  34  may be mounted to the top of lid  24  and may be utilized to lift connecting arm  32 . In operation, when lid  24  is closed on container  24  and lever arm  34  may be rotated vertically, connecting arm  32  may be positioned below side bracket  30 . Lever arm  34  may then be rotated down on to lid  24  which raises connecting arm  34  and, as a result, compresses lid  24  onto the open top  14  of container  12 . This operation of sealing and pressurizing lid  24  to the open top  14  of container  12  with lid compression device  28  does not require any nuts or screws to be turned, and is thus, relatively simple and fast to operate. 
     A seal  36  may also be included in square ink filter vessel  10 . See  FIGS. 10-12 . Seal  36  may be for aiding lid  24  to seal to the open top  14  of container  12 . Seal  36  may be any type of seal capable of aiding lid  24  to seal to the open top  14  of container  12 . In one embodiment, seal  36  may be a rubber seal positioned completely around the open top  14  of container  12 . 
     A containment basket  38  may also be included with square ink filter vessel  10 . See  FIGS. 10-12 . Containment basket  38  may be for holding or containing the filter bag  58  within container  12  while allowing ink to flow through filter bag  58 . Containment basket  38  may be a substantially rectangular shaped basket adapted to fit inside container  12 . In one embodiment, containment basket  38  may have a plurality of holes  40  on all sides and a lip  42  adapted to rest on internal ledge  22  of container  12 . Plurality of holes  40  may allow ink to flow freely into and out of filter bag  58 . 
     A filter bag  58  may also be included with square ink filter vessel  10 . See  FIG. 13 . Filter bag  58  may be for filtering the ink flowing through square ink filter vessel  10 . Filter bag  58  may be any device for filtering the ink flowing through square ink filter vessel  10 . Filter bag  58  may be adapted to fit inside containment basket  38  and may have a substantially rectangular cross-section. Filter bag  58  may also have a collar  60 . Collar  60  may be positioned at the at the top of filter bag  58 . Collar  60  may be for holding filter bag  58  in the correct position in containment basket  38 . Collar  60  may be adapted to rest on the top of containment basket  38 . Filter bag  58  may be made out of any known material for filtering ink. 
     A mounting bracket  50  may also be included with square ink filter vessel  10 . See  FIGS. 2-6 ,  8 - 12 . Mounting bracket  50  may be for mounting square ink filter vessel  10  to an object. This feature may allow square ink filter vessel  10  to be positioned off of the ground. Mounting bracket  50  may be any device capable of mounting square ink filter vessel  10  to another object. Mounting bracket  50  may be integrally built onto container  12  or may be added to container  12 . Mounting bracket  50  may be positioned anywhere on container  12 , including, but not limited to, connected to the back side of container  12 . Mounting bracket  50  may include a plurality of holes for attaching mounting bracket  50  to another object. Mounting bracket  50  may also house a pressure gage  46 . 
     Pressure gage  46  may be included with square ink filter vessel  10 . See  FIGS. 3-6 , and  8 . Pressure gage  46  may be for monitoring and displaying the amount of pressure of the ink inside container  12 . Pressure gage  46  may be any pressure gage capable of monitoring and displaying the amount of pressure of the ink inside container  12 . Pressure gage  46  may be attached anywhere on container  12 , including, but not limited to, near the top of container  12 . Pressure gage  46  may be connected to container  12  directly, or may be connected to container  12  through a pressure line  48 . Pressure line  48  may allow pressure gage  46  to be mounted on different locations on square ink filter vessel  10  or even separate from square ink filter vessel  10 . In one embodiment, pressure line  48  may allow pressure gage  46  to be positioned on mounting bracket  50  on the back side of square ink filter vessel  10 . 
     A magnet  62  may be included with square ink filter vessel  10 . See  FIG. 12 . Magnet  62  may be for removing metallic debris from the ink in container  12 . Magnet  62  may be any magnet for removing metallic debris from the ink in container  12 . In one embodiment, magnet  62  may be an encapsulated rare earth magnet. Magnet  62  may be positioned anywhere within container  12 . In one embodiment, magnet  62  may be positioned on the underside of lid  24  approximate to the inlet  20 . This embodiment may allow the magnet to be exposed to the ink as soon as it enters square ink filter vessel  10 , thereby, removing the metallic debris from the ink before the ink goes through filter bag  58 . 
     The instant invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and the essential attributes thereof, and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicated in the scope of the invention.