JPH06213794A - Ink viscosity measuring apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To measure ink viscosity accurately and automatically. [Structure] An upper opening type ink cup 20 and a measuring cup 22 provided above the ink cup 20 so as to be vertically movable. The measuring cup 22 has a driving mechanism 24.
Thus, the ink in the ink cup 20 is pulled up from a lower position where it is immersed in ink to a predetermined upper position. During this time, the ink flows out from the measuring cup, and the ink sensor is detected by the optical sensors 21 and 21. In the arithmetic and control unit 25, the ink viscosity is obtained based on the timing of liquid shortage detected by the optical sensors 21 and 21.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink viscosity measuring device capable of automatically measuring the viscosity of ink supplied to a gravure printing machine or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an inking device for supplying ink to a gravure printing machine is provided separately from an ink pan for directly storing ink to be supplied to a cylinder of the gravure printing machine, and is provided with an ink and a diluting solvent. It is equipped with an ink tank. Further, the ink in the ink tank is transferred into the ink pan via the supply pump.

Further, since the viscosity of an ink for a gravure printing machine changes due to vaporization of a diluting solvent, the viscosity is measured in a Zahn cup in an ink tank. Then, the diluted solvent is replenished according to the result of the viscosity measurement.

[0004]

Viscosity measurement using the Zahn cup is carried out by immersing the Zahn cup in an ink tank, then pulling it up, and measuring the drop time of the ink flowing out from the outlet (orifice) at the lower end of the Zahn cup. Has been. All of these operations are performed manually, and the measurement of the fall time is performed by the operator using a stopwatch.

However, the measurement of the fall time using a stopwatch, for example, involves a problem that not only concentration but a great labor load and measurement error is likely to occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide an ink viscosity automatic measuring device capable of automatically measuring the ink viscosity accurately and automatically.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises an upper opening type ink cup for storing a fixed amount of ink transferred from an ink tank, an upper position above the ink cup and a lower position where the ink is immersed in the ink cup. Between the measuring cups, which are open vertically and have an outlet at the lower end, a drive mechanism that drives the measuring cups, and the ink running out from the measuring cups in the upper position is detected. And an arithmetic and control unit for obtaining an ink viscosity with reference to the timing of ink depletion input from the optical sensor.

[0008]

The driving mechanism lowers the measuring cup to the lower position inside the ink cup, so that the measuring cup is completely immersed in the ink in the ink cup. Then, the drive mechanism raises the measuring cup and brings it to the upper position. During this time, the ink flows out from the outlet of the measuring cup, and the optical sensor detects the ink shortage. The ink depletion is input to the arithmetic and control unit from the optical sensor, and the arithmetic and control unit determines the ink viscosity with reference to the timing of the liquid depletion.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4 are views showing an embodiment of an ink viscosity measuring device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a lower portion of a gravure cylinder 13 of a gravure printing machine is dipped in the ink 10 in an ink pan 11. Ink pan 1
Below 1 is an ink tank 12 into which ink and a diluting solvent are charged. The ink tank 12 and the ink pan 11 are connected via a supply pump 14 and a supply pipe 15, and the ink 10 in the ink pan 11 is connected.
Is returned to the inside of the ink tank 12 via the return pipe 16. Further, one end of a bypass pipe 17 is connected to the supply pipe 15 on the outlet side of the supply pump 14, and the other end of the bypass pipe 17 is connected to the lower end of an ink cup 20 having an upper opening.

The ink cup 20 constitutes a part of the ink viscosity measuring device according to the present invention, and stores a fixed amount of ink inside. A return pipe 18 for returning the ink into the ink tank 12 is connected to the lower end of the ink cup 20.

A Zahn cup (measuring cup) 22 having an outlet (orifice) 22a at the lower end is disposed above the ink cup 20 (see FIG. 2). The measurement cup 22 is open at the upper side and is vertically movable between a predetermined upper position above the ink cup and a lower position where the ink is immersed in the ink cup. Figure 1
As shown in, the measuring cup 22 is driven by a driving mechanism 24 attached to a frame 23 of the gravure printing machine.

Further, optical sensors 21, 21 for detecting liquid shortage of the ink 10 flowing out from the measuring cup 20 located at the upper position at the lateral position of the moving space of the measuring cup 22.
Is provided. The optical sensors 21 and 21 are connected to the arithmetic and control unit 25, and the arithmetic and control unit 25 calculates the ink viscosity from the timing when the ink runs out. The arithmetic and control unit 25 displays the obtained ink viscosity and controls the drive mechanism 24 for driving the measuring cup 22.

A solvent tank 27 for supplying a diluted solvent is connected to the ink tank 12, and the solvent tank 2
The solvent in the ink tank 12 is supplied to the ink tank 12 by the solvent pump 28.
It is supposed to be transferred inside. Also the solvent pump 28
Is connected to the arithmetic and control unit 25, and the solvent pump 28 is operated by a signal from the arithmetic and control unit 25.

Next, regarding the configuration of each part, FIG. 2 and FIG.
Will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the measurement cup 20 is open at the upper side, and an overflow pipe 42 is provided inside. The lower end of the overflow pipe 42 is fitted into the return pipe 18, and the side wall of the overflow pipe 42 has an opening 42a. Then, the ink 10 transferred from the bypass pipe 17 into the measuring cup 20 passes through the opening 42a, the inside of the overflow pipe 42 and the return pipe 18, and the liquid level of the ink 10 in the measuring cup 20 is adjusted to the opening 42a. Keeps in position.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the measuring cup 22 is open at the upper side, and the outlet 22a is provided at the lower end.
And is supported by a pair of support rods 36, 36. The upper ends of the pair of support rods 36, 36 are connected to a support 41, and the support base 41 is held by a three-jaw chuck 37 operated by an air clamper 38.

The frame 23 also includes an upper bracket 3
1 and the lower bracket 32 are fixed, and a guide 40 is provided between the upper bracket 32 and the lower bracket 32.
Is installed. Further, the actuator 39 is configured to move along the guide 40, and the actuator 39 holds the air clamper 38 via the holding bracket 44. Further, the drive mechanism 24 is configured by the actuator 39 that moves along the guide 40.

Further, the ink 1 flowing out from the measuring cup 22
The optical sensors 21 and 21 for detecting the liquid out of 0 are held by the sensor bracket 34, and the sensor bracket 34 is supported by an air cylinder 35 fixed to the lower bracket 32 so as to be able to move forward and backward in the horizontal direction.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having such a configuration will be described.

First, the ink 10 in the ink tank 12
Is supplied by the supply pump 14 into the ink pan 11 via the supply pipe 15 and is also transferred into the ink cup 20 via the bypass pipe 17. Ink cup 2
The ink 10 transferred to the inside of
As a result, a fixed amount is stored in the ink cup 20.

Next, the actuator 39 is used as the arithmetic and control unit 2.
5 is driven and controlled, moves along the guide 40,
The measuring cup 22 is moved downward via the holding bracket 44, the air clamper 38, the three-jaw chuck 37, the support 41, and the pair of support bars 36, 36. Then, bring the measuring cup 22 to the lower position in the ink cup 20 (the position indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3), and measure the measuring cup 22.
Completely soak in the ink.

Next, the ink viscosity is measured along the operation cycle shown in FIG.

First, the measuring cup 22 is connected to the actuator 39.
Is pulled upward by a constant rising speed θ and reaches a predetermined upper position above the ink cup 20 (the solid line position in FIGS. 2 and 3). During this period, the measurement cup 22 passes the viscosity measurement start point P, and the timing signal when passing the viscosity measurement start point P is output from the actuator 39 to the arithmetic and control unit 2.
Input to 5. Then, the time count (not shown) in the arithmetic and control unit 25 starts (becomes ON) from the time when the measuring cup 22 passes the viscosity measurement starting point P.

While the measuring cup 22 is in the upper position, the ink 10 in the measuring cup 22 flows out from the outlet 22a and drops into the ink cup 20. Next, the sensor bracket 34 extends in the moving space direction of the measuring cup 22 by the air cylinder 35, and the optical sensors 21, 21 held by the sensor bracket 34 reach the position directly below the measuring cup.

Next, the optical sensors 21 and 21 are activated, and the optical sensors 21 and 21 detect the ink 10 flowing out from the measuring cup 22. Next, the optical sensors 21 and 21 detect liquid shortage of the ink 10 flowing out from the measuring cup 22, and the timing signal at the time of liquid shortage is sent from the optical sensors 21 and 21 to the arithmetic and control unit 25.

After the optical sensors 21 and 21 detect that the ink 10 has run out of liquid, the sensor bracket 34 is pulled in by the air cylinder 35, and the optical sensors 21 and 21 are accompanied by this.
Is also pulled outward from the measuring cup 22. At the same time, the time counter in the arithmetic and control unit 25 is stopped (OFF) by the timing signal when the liquid runs out, and the time counter is turned ON.
Ink viscosity (sec) based on the time from OFF to OFF
Is required.

After that, the actuator 39 again descends along the guide 40, and the measuring cup 22 is moved to the ink cup 2.
Pull it to the lower position within 0. The arithmetic and control unit 25
Is supplied to the solvent pump 28 according to the calculated ink viscosity.
Output N signal. In this case, the diluted solvent in the solvent tank 27 is supplied to the ink tank 12,
The viscosity of the ink 10 in 2 is maintained constant.

Such operation is performed during an arbitrary cycle time.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
The ink viscosity can be automatically and accurately measured by the arithmetic and control unit, and the ink viscosity can be kept constant in the ink tank by operating the solvent pump based on the measurement result of the ink viscosity. .

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Ink viscosity can be measured automatically and accurately. Therefore, the labor of the operator can be reduced as compared with the conventional ink viscosity measuring method.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of an ink viscosity measuring device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing an ink cup, a measuring cup, and a driving mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation cycle of the ink viscosity measuring device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Ink 11 Ink Tank 12 Ink Tank 14 Supply Pump 20 Ink Cup 21 Optical Sensor 22 Measuring Cup 22a Outlet 24 Drive Mechanism 25 Arithmetic Control Device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An upper opening type ink cup for storing a fixed amount of ink transferred from an ink tank, and an upper position above the ink cup and a lower position where the ink is dipped in the ink cup, which are movable in the vertical direction. The measuring cup having an opening at the upper side and an outlet at the lower end, a drive mechanism for driving the measuring cup, an optical sensor for detecting ink shortage flowing out from the measuring cup at the upper position, and an optical sensor. An arithmetic and control unit that obtains the ink viscosity based on the timing of the input ink runout,
An ink viscosity measuring device comprising: