阅读说明：本技术 墨供应系统 (Ink supply system ) 是由 M·卡拉卡特萨尼斯 于 2020-03-24 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种墨供应系统(10)包括墨腔室(12)；具有文氏管喷嘴(16)的墨管线(14),其中所述墨腔室(12)具有入口(18)和出口(24),所述入口连接至位于所述文氏管喷嘴(16)的上游的所述墨管线(14),所述出口连接至所述文氏管喷嘴(16)的抽吸侧；储墨器(30),墨通过泵(28)从所述储墨器传送到所述入口(18)并到所述墨管线(32)中；以及墨返回管线(32),其把所述文氏管喷嘴(16)的下游端与所述储墨器(30)连接。(An ink supply system (10) includes an ink chamber (12); an ink line (14) having a venturi nozzle (16), wherein the ink chamber (12) has an inlet (18) connected to the ink line (14) upstream of the venturi nozzle (16) and an outlet (24) connected to a suction side of the venturi nozzle (16); a reservoir (30) from which ink is delivered by a pump (28) to the inlet (18) and into the ink line (32); and an ink return line (32) connecting a downstream end of the venturi nozzle (16) with the ink reservoir (30).)

1. An ink supply system (10), comprising:

-an ink chamber (12);

-an ink line (14) with a venturi nozzle (16), wherein the ink chamber (12) has an inlet (18) connected to the ink line (14) upstream of the venturi nozzle (16) and an outlet (24) connected-to a suction side of the venturi nozzle (16);

-a reservoir (30) from which ink is conveyed by a pump (28) to the inlet (18) and into the ink line (32); and

-an ink return line (32) connecting the downstream end of the venturi nozzle (16) with the reservoir (30).

2. The ink supply system according to claim 1, wherein the inlet (18) comprises a neck (22).

3. The ink supply system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outlet (24) of the ink line (14) comprises an ink overflow (36).

4. The ink supply system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ink overflow (36) comprises a purge valve (42).

5. Ink supply system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the inlet (18) and the outlet (24) are arranged on opposite sides of the ink chamber (12).

6. Ink supply system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ink chamber (12) comprises a level sensor (34).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an ink supply system that includes an ink chamber, an ink line, an ink reservoir, and an ink return line.

Background

In the case of an ink form roller (e.g., anilox roller) of a rotary or flexographic printing press, an ink chamber or duct is used to supply the ink form roller with ink. The ink chamber contains a certain amount of ink, a small portion of which is drawn by the ink form roller and then transferred to the print medium.

To ensure that there is a sufficient amount of ink in the ink chamber, an ink supply system is used that draws ink from the reservoir to the ink chamber. To ensure stable ink quality, ink is constantly circulated within the ink supply system. To this end, there is a first pump that draws ink from the reservoir to the ink chamber and a second pump that draws ink from the ink chamber back to the reservoir.

However, the pumping flow rates of the two pumps must be carefully calibrated to ensure that the flow rates into and out of the ink chambers are constant. Erroneous calibration can result in uncontrolled ejection of ink, which increases the risk of ink leakage from the ink chamber or within the ink supply system.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a simple and stable ink supply system.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ink supply system including an ink chamber; an ink line having a venturi nozzle, the ink chamber having an inlet connected to the ink line upstream of the venturi nozzle and an outlet connected to a suction side of the venturi nozzle; an ink reservoir from which ink is delivered by a pump to the inlet and into the ink line; and an ink return line connecting a downstream end of the venturi nozzle with the ink reservoir.

The ink supply system of the present invention uses only a single pump to deliver ink from the reservoir to the inlet of the ink chamber and into the ink line. Since the venturi nozzle provides a pressurized suction at the outlet of the ink chamber, an additional pump for removing ink from the ink chamber is not required. This reduces the cost for equipment and maintenance of the pump.

The flow rate within the ink supply system may be maintained constant by the pump. Since the venturi nozzle provides a stable pressurized suction based on this constant flow rate, the inlet flow rate into the ink chamber and the outlet flow rate out of the ink chamber are also constant.

An additional advantage is that higher flow rates can be used without the use of a second pump because the venturi nozzle provides a steady flow rate through the ink chamber to provide a wide range of flow rates within the ink supply system.

Furthermore, the venturi nozzle suppresses the fluctuation of the flow rate to some extent, for example, based on the fluctuation of the viscosity change or the temperature change of the ink in the ink supply system, making the ink supply system more stable without operating an additional active element such as a pump.

The circulation system may be established by providing an ink return line connecting the downstream end of the venturi nozzle with the ink reservoir, minimizing the amount of ink lost.

The ink reservoir may be a replaceable ink cartridge so that the type of ink circulating within the ink supply system can be quickly and easily switched.

The ink line has a junction upstream of the venturi nozzle, so that a branch line can be connected to the inlet of the ink chamber. The diameter of one of the branch lines, where a large amount of ink flows, narrows at the venturi nozzle. The other branch line is a branch line connecting the ink line with the inlet of the ink chamber, in which a smaller amount of ink flows.

The outlet of the ink chamber is connected to the suction side of the venturi nozzle. Therefore, the venturi nozzle provides a pressurized suction from the ink chamber. Downstream of the venturi nozzle, the flow of ink from the ink line is recombined with the flow of ink from the outlet of the ink chamber.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the inlet comprises a neck. The neck may be used to enhance control of inlet flow into the ink chamber. Since the flow through the ink chamber is constant due to the venturi nozzle, controlling the inlet flow also allows the outlet flow to be controlled.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the outlet of the ink line comprises an ink overflow. The ink overflow prevents ink in the ink chamber from exceeding a maximum level within the ink chamber, and at the same time ensures that the ink cannot be removed from the ink chamber when the level of ink is too low. This ensures that the rollers of the printing system are always in contact with the same component of ink.

The ink overflow can include a purge valve to provide a means for removing ink from the ink chamber (e.g., during servicing).

To provide ink circulation through the ink chamber, the inlet and the outlet may be arranged on opposite sides of the ink chamber.

Further, the ink chamber may include a liquid level sensor. Information on the current amount of ink in the ink chamber can be obtained by the sensor. The ink sensor may be coupled to a pump of the ink supply system such that when the ink level in the ink chamber is too low or too high, the flow rate may be increased or decreased, respectively.

Drawings

The invention will now be described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. In the drawings, there is shown in the drawings,

figure 1 is an ink supply system according to the invention; and

figure 2 is a view of the overflow and its connection to the venturi nozzle.

Detailed Description

FIG. 1 shows an ink supply system 10 that includes an ink chamber 12 and an ink line 14 having a venturi nozzle 16. The ink chamber 12 has an inlet 18, the inlet 18 being connected to the ink line 14 upstream of the venturi nozzle 16 at a first junction 20.

At the first junction 20, the ink flow is split into two, with a relatively high component of ink, about 90% of the total volume, continuing through the ink line 14 to the venturi nozzle 16. A relatively small amount of ink, about 10% of the total volume, flows into the inlet 18 and through the neck 22 into the ink chamber 12.

The ink chamber 12 also has an outlet 24, the outlet 24 being connected to the suction of the venturi nozzle 16 at a second junction 26. The pressure of the suction portion of the venturi nozzle 16 may be controlled using the diameter of the constrictor of the venturi nozzle 16.

The amount of ink passing through the ink chamber 12 may be controlled using the flow rate within the ink supply system 10. The flow is controlled by a pump 28, and the pump 28 connects an ink reservoir 30 to the ink line 14.

From the downstream end of the venturi nozzle 16, an ink return line 32 extends toward the reservoir 32. Thus, the ink supply system 10 can be operated as a circulation system.

The ink chamber 12 also includes a level sensor 34 for monitoring the amount of ink within the ink chamber 12. The level sensor 34 may also be connected to a monitoring system 36, and the monitoring system 36 may be capable of controlling the pump 28 to establish a feedback loop.

Fig. 2 provides an enlarged view of the outlet 24 of the ink chamber 12.

As can be seen, the outlet 24 also includes an ink overflow 38. The ink overflow 38 has a boundary 40 beyond which ink must flow to return to the suction of the venturi nozzle 16. In this way, the ink level in the ink chamber 12 can be kept constant.

The ink overflow 38 also includes a purge valve 42, such as for maintenance purposes, where the purge valve 42 may be used to remove ink from the ink chamber 12.