Edward F Whelan

US Patent:

6367380, Apr 9, 2002

Filed:

Jun 8, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/327831

Inventors:

Edward J. Whelan - Lakewood NJ

Assignee:

Sequa Can Machinery, Inc. - East Rutherford NJ

International Classification:

B41F 3100

US Classification:

1013504, 101DIG 33

Abstract:

To minimize the presence of roll-to-roll nips in an inking system for a printing plate cylinder, an ink transfer belt transfers ink from an ink transfer roller, which receives ink from a supply, to the ink receiving elements on a printing plate cylinder. A plurality of guide rolls inside the loop of the ink transfer belt contact the drivable surface of that belt. A drive is connected with one of the guide rollers for driving it to rotate at a first velocity, which is the velocity of the ink transfer roll and of the printing plate cylinder. An ink distribution roller is disposed outside the loop of the belt in contact with the opposite, ink transfer surface of the belt and between the ink transfer roller and the printing plate cylinder. The ink distribution roller is driven to rotate at a different speed than the ink transfer belt and is also driven to vibrate or to oscillate axially for ink distribution on the ink transfer surface of the belt. Various embodiments include different numbers of guide rollers in the loop of the belt, more than one ink distribution roller in engagement with the ink transfer surface of the belt and more than one belt in engagement with the periphery of the ink distribution roller.