Multiple point ink control apparatus for printing presses

Claim 1

Ink control means for a printing press having at least one unit which includes an ink roll and an ink control assembly having a doctor blade for metering the supply of ink fed to the roll, a plurality of keys mounted for movement toward and away from the doctor blade to adjust the ink supply and means for operating said keys comprising reversible electric motors for moving each of said keys toward and away from said blade means including a variable impedance mechanically coupled to each of said motors, remotely located control and indicating means electrically connected with said motors and said variable impedance means to control movement of said keys and indicating the positions of said keys relative to said ink roll, said control and indicating means having a power supply and including a first circuit with means for producing a low voltage of a given polarity and a second circuit with means for producing at least a normal operating voltage of a reversed polarity relative to said low voltage and of a higher voltage relative to said low voltage, means including a first switch connected to said low voltage circuit for energizing all said motors by said low voltage circuit so As to move all said keys against the said doctor blade with uniform force to initially align all said keys, each of said motors stalling after said keys have exerted a given force upon said doctor blade because of the said low voltage applied to each said motor, means including a second switch connected to said normal operating voltage circuit for energizing all of said motors by said normal operating voltage circuit for applying at least a said normal voltage to all said motors for a predetermined period so as to retract all said keys to an initial operating position, each of said motors including individual speed reducing means coupled to each motor, and rotatable means coupled to each key for movement thereof toward and away from said doctor blade, each of said speed reducing means having an output shaft coupled to one of said rotatable means for operation of the associated key.