Method for controlling viscous ink application in a printing press

Claim 2

An ultrasonic ink metering system for use in a printing press, comprising: an ink supply containing ink; a roller for receiving the ink; at least one ink input channel having an internal passageway, said internal passageway having an input connected to said ink supply and an output, said channel also having a nozzle connected to said output of said internal passageway, said nozzle emitting ink onto the roller for dispensing a thin uniform ink film across the width of the roller under press operating conditions; means for pressurizing said ink in at least said internal passageway; at least one piezoelectric transducer attached to said nozzle; and variable means for operating said at least one piezoelectric transducer in a variable power range; wherein at least the applied power of operation of said at least one piezoelectric transducer determines the quantity of ink applied to the roller.

Claim 3

The ultrasonic ink metering system according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic ink metering system comprises a plurality of ultrasonically isolated ink channels, each having a piezoelelectric transducer, arranged to apply ink to a plurality of different portions of a width of the roller, and wherein said variable means for operating said piezoelectric transducers of said ink channels has means for individually adjusting the power input of operation of said piezoelectric transducers, thereby providing individual adjustment of the quantity of ink applied to each portion of the width of the roller.

Claim 4

The ultrasonic ink metering system according to claim 1, wherein said nozzle has a plurality of piezoelectric transducers attached thereto in a side-by-side arrangement.

Claim 5

The ultrasonic ink metering system according to claim 3, wherein said variable means for operating has means for individually adjusting the power input of each of said piezoelectric transducers.

Claim 6

The ultrasonic ink metering system according to claim 4, wherein said ultrasonic ink metering system comprises a plurality of ink channels arranged to apply ink to a plurality of portions of a width of the roller.

Claim 7

The ultrasonic ink metering system according to claim 1, wherein said nozzle is a slit apparatus.

Claim 8

The ultrasonic ink injector system according to claim 1, wherein said means for pressurizing said ink has means for providing pressure to a level only less than required to cause ink flow in the absence of applied power to the at least one piezoelectric transducer.

Claim 9

An ultrasonic ink metering system for use in a printing press, comprising: a roller for receiving ink; at least one means for applying ink to the roller and having a nozzle for emitting ink onto the roller for dispensing a thin uniform ink film across the width of the roller under press operating conditions; means for supplying ink to said at least one means for applying ink; said at least one means for applying ink having at least one means for imparting ultrasonic vibrations to the ink in said means for applying ink such that the rate of ink output of said at least one means for applying ink is at least a function of power input to said means for imparting ultrasonic vibrations, said at least one means for imparting ultrasonic vibrations being attached to said nozzle; variable means for operating said at least one means for imparting ultrasonic vibrations in a power input range; wherein at least the power input of operation of said at least one means for imparting ultrasonic vibrations determines the quantity of ink applied to the roller.

Claim 10

An ultrasonic ink metering system for use in a printing press, comprising: a roller for receiving ink; at least one means for applying ink to the roller and having a nozzle for emitting ink onto the roller for dispensing a thin uniform ink film across the width of the roller under press operating conditions; means for supplying ink to said at least one means for applying ink; said at least one means for applying ink having at least one means for imparting ultrasonic vibrations to the ink in said means for applying ink such that the rate of ink output of said at least one means for applying ink is at least a function of power input to said means for imparting ultrasonic vibrations, said at least one means for imparting ultrasonic vibrations being attached to said nozzle; variable means for operating said at least one means for imparting ultrasonic vibrations in a power input range; wherein at least the power input of operation of said at least one means for imparting ultrasonic vibrations determines the quantity of ink applied to the roller.

Claim 11

The ultrasonic ink metering system according to claim 8, wherein said ultrasonic ink metering system comprises a plurality of means for applying ink, each means for applying ink having a means for imparting ultrasonic vibrations, arranged to apply ink to a plurality of portions of a width of the roller, and wherein said variable means for operating said means for imparting ultrasonic vibrations of said means for applying ink has means for individually adjusting the power input of operation of said means for imparting ultrasonic vibrations thereby providing individual adjustment of the quantity of ink applied to each portion of the width of the roller.

Claim 12

The ultrasonic ink metering system according to claim 8, wherein said nozzle has a plurality of means for imparting ultrasonic vibrations attached thereto in a side-by-side arrangement.

Claim 13

The ultrasonic ink metering system according to claim 10, wherein said variable means for operating has means for individually adjusting the power input to each of said means for imparting ultrasonic vibrations.

Claim 14

The ultrasonic ink metering system according to claim 11, wherein said ultrasonic ink metering system comprising a plurality of means for applying ink arranged to apply ink to a plurality of portions of a width of the roller.

Claim 15

The ultrasonic ink metering system according to claim 8, wherein said nozzle has a slit aperture for outputting the ink.

Claim 16

The ultrasonic ink metering system according to claim 8, wherein said ultrasonic ink metering system further comprises means for pressurizing said ink in said at least one means for applying ink, and wherein said means for pressurizing said ink has means for providing only a pressure level less than required to cause ink flow in the absence of applied power to the at least one piezoelectric transducer.

Claim 19

The method according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: pressurizing said ink at least in said at least one means for applying ink; and providing only a pressure level less than required to cause ink flow in the absence of the power input for the ultrasonic vibrations.