Daniel L Hansen

US Patent:

56767544, Oct 14, 1997

Filed:

May 30, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/658887

Inventors:

Randall D. Helms - New Franken WI
Daniel J. Hansen - Green Bay WI

Assignee:

Advance Systems, Inc. - Green Bay WI

International Classification:

B05C 1702

US Classification:

118101

Abstract:

An offset printing apparatus has a fluid-cooled nip roll which, in use, presses a hot, rapidly moving, endless printed and dried web into intimate contact with the first downstream chill roll while avoiding damage to the web, nip roll, or chill roll, and while avoiding ink picking by the web surface contacted by the nip roll. Employing the nip roll in the system also permits the use of a substantially shorter dryer and fewer chill rolls as compared to a conventional system operating at the same web speed. A coolant circuit for the nip roll preferably includes a warmup loop which temporarily circulates warm fluid through the nip roll when the system is first taken off-line, thereby preventing condensate formation or frost formation on the nip roll.

US Patent:

55715648, Nov 5, 1996

Filed:

Sep 27, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/534287

Inventors:

Randall D. Helms - New Franken WI
Daniel J. Hansen - Green Bay WI

Assignee:

Advance Systems, Inc. - Green Bay WI

International Classification:

B05D 312
B05D 500
B41F 2304

US Classification:

427288

Abstract:

An offset printing apparatus has a fluid-cooled nip roll which, in use, is placed in intimate contact with a hot, rapidly moving, endless printed and dried paper web so as to improve the cooling efficiency of the first downstream chill roll, permit the use of fewer chill rolls, and avoid condensate streaking. The apparatus takes the form of a nip roll specially designed to press the web into intimate contact with the first downstream chill roll while avoiding damage to the web, nip roll, or chill roll, and while avoiding ink picking by the web surface contacted by the nip roll. Employing the nip roll in the system also permits the use of a substantially shorter dryer and fewer chill rolls as compared to a conventional system operating at the same web speed. The coolant circuit for the nip roll includes a warmup loop which temporarily circulates warm fluid through the nip roll when the system is first taken off-line, thereby preventing condensate formation or frost formation on the nip roll. The warmup loop preferably includes a heat changer that uses waste heat from the coolant circuit to heat the warmup fluid.

US Patent:

55715630, Nov 5, 1996

Filed:

Mar 20, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/406572

Inventors:

Randall D. Helms - New Franken WI
Daniel J. Hansen - Green Bay WI

Assignee:

Advance Systems, Inc. - Green Bay WI

International Classification:

B05D 312
B41F 2304

US Classification:

427288

Abstract:

A nip roll presses a hot, rapidly moving, endless printed and dried paper web into intimate contact with the exterior surface of a first downstream chill roll so as to improve the cooling efficiency of the first downstream chill roll, permit the use of fewer chill rolls, and prevent condensate streaking. The nip roll is specially designed to press the web into intimate contact with the first downstream chill roll while avoiding damage to the web, nip roll, or chill roll, and while avoiding ink picking on the web surface contacted by the nip roll. The nip roll has an elastomeric outer peripheral surface and is internally cooled so as to maintain the outer peripheral surface at an equilibrium temperature below that at which ink softening and resultant picking could occur. By eliminating concerns of condensate streaking, the nip roll also permits dryer operation at relatively low temperatures, thereby substantially reducing operating costs.