Claims
- 1. In a metering system for metering the rate of ink flow to a printing plate on a column-by-column basis, the combination comprising an ink fountain including a fountain roller, a fountain blade made up of adjacent blade sections individually movable toward and away from the fountain roller to form a gap to adjust the ink film thickness, a miniature reversible electric motor having a step down drive connection drivingly coupled to each blade section, manual switches for initially energizing the motors to establish a respective clearance gap for each blade section to determine the initial ink feed rate to each column position, a linear follow-up potentiometer for each motor and having its slider mechanically coupled thereto, an adjustable voltage supply capable of establishing a reference voltage connection to all of the potentiometers and so that the resulting slider voltage of each potentiometer is a direct measure of the width of the associated initial gap, a voltage memory device for each potentiometer for responding to and storing the value of initial slider voltage, manual means for adjusting the voltage supply so that the voltage supplied to all of the follow-up potentiometers is changed in the same direction and amount to bring about change in the voltages on the various sliders to a new voltage related percentagewise to the initially existing voltage thereon, comparator means responsive to the difference between each initially existing voltage and the new voltage to produce a set of differential voltages, means for applying the differential voltages to the respective electric motors to move the associated sliders to new positions in which each differential voltage is reduced to zero by follow-up action so that all of the blade gaps simultaneously undergo a change to new gap widths related to the respective initial gap widths by the same fixed percentage and means for automatically restoring the voltage supply to the reference level.
- 2. In an ink metering system for metering ink to a printing plate on a column-by-column basis, the combination comprising an ink fountain including adjustable blade sections individually movable toward and away from the fountain roller to adjust the film thickness gap at respective column positions, a blade section setting assembly for each section comprising, in combination an actuator coupled to the blade section and having means for establishing a clearance gap providing an appropriate initial value of ink feed rate for the blade section, a linear follow-up potentiometer having its slider coupled to the blade section, an adjustable voltage supply for normally supplying to the potentiometer a reference voltage such that the slider voltage is a first voltage constituting a direct measure of the existing width of the gap, means for temporarily changing the voltage of the supply to a voltage which is equal to the reference voltage divided by a decimal multiplier corresponding to a desired percentage change in the width of gap resulting in a second slider voltage, comparator means responsive to the difference between the first and second slider voltages for energizing the actuator in a direction to cause the actuator to change the gap accompanied by a change in slider voltage until the second voltage is equal to the first voltage thereby to bring about the desired percentage change in the width of the gap at which time the actuator is deenergized, and means for thereafter restoring reference voltage to the potentiometer to place the same in condition for any subsequent percentage change.
- 3. In an ink metering system for metering ink to a printing plate in a printing press on a zonal column-by-column basis, the combination comprising flow control means including manually adjustable sections for providing an appropriate initial value of ink feed rate at the respective column positions, actuators coupled to the respective sections, a set of follow-up potentiometers having their sliders coupled to the respective sections, an adjustable voltage supply for normally supplying to the potentiometers a reference voltage such that each slider voltage is an initial voltage constituting a direct measure of the initial feed rates in the respective sections, means for temporarily changing the voltage of the supply to a non-reference voltage which is equal to the reference voltage divided by a decimal multiplier corresponding to a desired percentage change in the rates of flow resulting in a new slider voltage, means responsive to the difference between the initial and new slider voltages for energizing the respective actuators in a direction to cause the actuators to correctively adjust the sections accompanied by a change in slider position and voltage until difference is reduced to zero thereby to bring about the desired percentage change in the rates of flow at each section at which time the actuator is deenergized, and means for thereafter restoring reference voltage to the potentiometer to place the same in condition for any subsequent percentage change.
- 4. In a metering system for metering the rate of ink flow to a printing plate on a column-by-column basis, the combination comprising an ink fountain including a fountain roller, a fountain blade made up of adjacent blade sections individually movable toward and away from the fountain roller to form a gap to adjust the ink film thickness at respective column positions, a miniature power actuator connected to each blade section, individual adjusting means for initially energizing the actuators to establish a respective clearance gap for each blade section to determine the initial ink feed rate to each column position, a linear follow-up potentiometer for each actuator and having its slider mechanically coupled thereto, an adjustable voltage supply capable of establishing a reference voltage which is supplied to all of the potentiometers so that the resulting slider voltage of each potentiometer is a direct measure of the existing width of the respective initial gap, respective voltage comparators having first and second input terminals and an output terminal connected to each actuator for energizing the actuator, a voltage memory device interposed between the slider of the associated follow-up potentiometer and the first input terminal of the comparator, each memory device having an isolating switch effectively at the input thereof, the isolating switch being normally closed so that the memory device is exposed to a voltage corresponding to the initially existing gap, the second input terminal from the comparator being connected directly to the slider of the associated follow-up potentiometer, means for opening all of the isolating switches so that a persistant voltage corresponding to each existing gap is applied to the first input terminal of respective comparator, manual means for changing the voltage supply from its reference level so that the voltage supplied to all of the follow-up potentiometers is changed to bring about respective percentage changes in the voltages on the sliders and which are applied to the respective second input terminals, thereby to cause corresponding differential voltages to obtain at the outputs of the comparators causing the connected actuators and sliders to move to new equilibrium positions in which the differential voltages are each reduced to zero by follow-up action so that all of the blade gaps simultaneously undergo a change to new gaps related to the initial gaps by the same fixed percentage, means for reclosing the isolating switches to preclude further movement and for resetting the voltage memory devices, and means for automatically restoring the voltage supply to the reference level to place the follow-up potentiometers in condition for any subsequent percentage change.
- 5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 in which a timer is provided having a manually triggered input circuit for opening of the isolating switches and having an output circuit for reclosing the isolating switches after a predetermined time delay.
- 6. The combination as claimed in claim 4 in which interlock means are provided for insuring sequential (a) opening of the isolation switches and the changing of the voltage supply from reference level to bring about changes in the slider positions in the follow-up potentiometers and (b) the restoring of the voltage supply to reference level.
- 7. The combination as claimed in claim 4 in which the voltage supply has means including an interlock switch for maintaining the supply voltage at a reference level and in which means are provided for actuating the switch and thus disabling the positioning coincidentally with the actuation of the isolating switches.
- 8. In an ink metering system for metering ink to a printing plate on a column-by-column basis, the combination comprising an ink fountain including a fountain roller, a fountain blade made up of adjacent blade sections individually movable toward and away from the fountain roller to form a gap to adjust the film thickness, an adjustable voltage supply for normally producing a reference voltage, a blade setting assembly for each blade section comprising, in combination, an actuator mechanically connected to each blade section, initial adjusting means for individually energizing the actuators to establish a respective clearance gap for each blade section to determine an appropriate initial ink feed rate to each column position, a linear follow-up potentiometer having its slider connected to the associated blade section so that when reference voltage is applied the slider voltage is a direct measure of the existing width of gap, means for temporarily reducing the voltage of the supply thereby to change the slider voltage to a second, lower voltage, means responsive to the difference between the first and second slider voltages for energizing the actuator in a direction to increase the gap accompanied by an increase in slider voltage until the second voltage is equal to the first voltage thereby deenergizing the actuator, and means in the supply for restoring reference voltage to the follow-up potentiometer, the degree of temporary reduction in supply voltage being of such magnitude as to bring about a predetermined precentage increase in the width of gap.
- 9. In an ink metering system for metering the rate of ink flow to a printing plate on a column-by-column basis, the combination comprising an ink fountain including a fountain roller, a fountain blade made up of adjacent blade sections individually movable toward and away from a fountain roller to adjust the film clearance gap at respective column positions, a blade section setting assembly for each blade section which comprises, in combination, an actuator coupled to the blade section and having means for establishing a clearance gap providing an appropriate initial value of ink feed rate for the blade section, a linear follow-up potentiometer having its slider coupled to the blade section, an adjustable voltage supply for the potentiometer for normally applying to the potentiometer a reference voltage such that the slider position voltage is a direct measure of the existing width of the gap, means for temporarily increasing the voltage of the supply thereby to change the slider voltage to a second voltage which is higher than reference voltage, comparator means responsive to the difference between the first and second voltages for energizing the actuator in a direction to cause the actuator to decrease the gap accompanied by a decrease in slider position voltage until the second voltage equals the first voltage thereby to bring about a predetermined percentage decrease in the position of the slider and the gap of its blade section at which time the actuator is deenergized, and means for causing the supply thereafter to restore reference voltage to the potentiometer to place the latter in condition for any subsequent percentage change.
- 10. In an ink metering system for metering ink to a printing plate on a column-by-column basis, the combination comprising an ink fountain including a fountain roller, a fountain blade made up of adjacent blade sections individually movable toward and away from the fountain roller to adjust the film thickness fed at respective column positions, a blade section setting assembly for each blade section comprising, in combination, a power actuator coupled to the respective blade section, initial adjusting means for individually energizing the actuators to establish a respective clearance gap for each blade section to determine the ink feed to each column position, a follow-up potentiometer for each actuator and blade section and having its slider coupled to the blade section, voltage comparators each having first and second input terminals and an output terminal, a voltage memory device for each comparator including a normally closed isolation switch at its input, the first input terminal of each comparator being connected to the slider via a memory device, the second input terminal being connected directly to the slider, the output terminal of each comparator being coupled to the respective actuators, a voltage supply including a supply potentiometer for normally applying reference voltage to all of the follow-up potentiometers so that the voltages at the respective sliders are directly representative of the existing gaps at the associated blade sections and with the existing slider voltage being registered is the memory units via the normally closed switches for application to the first terminals of the comparators, means for opening the isolating switches, manual means operative when the isolating switches are opened for varying the supply potentiometer so that a second voltage is applied to the second input terminals of the comparators thereby producing an output voltage at the comparators which, applied to the actuators, causes each actuator to move the associated slider and blade section to a new gap position changed percentagewise from the original gap position, and means for thereafter automatically restoring the supply potentiometer to its reference voltage condition thereby restoring reference voltage to each of the follow-up potentiometers in readiness for any subsequent percentage change.
- 11. The combination as claimed in claim 10 together with means including a timer for maintaining the isolating switches open for a predetermined time interval adequate for the sliders to reach their new positions.
- 12. The combination as claimed in claim 11 in which a single timer is provided for simultaneous re-closing of all of the isolating switches.
- 13. The combination as claimed in claim 11 in which a switch is provided for automatically resetting the supply potentiometer to its reference condition, such switch being coupled for operation in unison with the isolating switches.
- 14. The combination as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 4 or claim 8 or claim 9 in which the voltage supply includes a potentiometer for normally producing a reference voltage.
- 15. The combination as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 4 or claim 8 or claim 9 in which the voltage supply includes a potentiometer and means including a motor connected to the slider for restoring the voltage to reference level.
- 16. The combination as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 4 or claim 8 or claim 9 in which the restoring means includes a source of master reference voltage plus means including a motor responsive jointly to the source of master reference voltage and the output voltage of the supply for adjusting the supply to reference condition.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2714577 |
Apr 1977 |
DEX |
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Parent Case Info
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 890,934, now abandoned, filed Mar. 28, 1978.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
890934 |
Mar 1978 |
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