IP Library Granted Patent US 7,703,394
Granted Patent B2
US 7,703,394 · App. 11/438,870 · Granted Apr 27, 2010

Apparatus and method for the application of a liquid and printing unit and machine having the apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,703,394
App. No.
11/438,870
Granted
Apr 27, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus and a method for the non-contact, metered application of a liquid, for example a printing ink, to the surface of a cylinder, include an application device which has at least one exit opening for the liquid. An extraction device has at least one entry opening for excess liquid. The excess liquid preferably passes substantially directly from the exit opening to the entry opening. A printing unit and a machine having the apparatus are also provided.

Claims (44)

1. An apparatus for the non-contact, metered application of a liquid, the apparatus comprising:

an application device having at least one exit opening for the liquid; and

an extraction device having at least one entry opening for excess liquid, said extraction device taking in a gas, and the excess liquid being carried away together with the gas; and

a control device controlling a supply of the liquid through said exit opening and an extraction of the gas through said entry opening and causing the excess liquid to pass substantially directly from said exit opening to said entry opening and causing a liquid column with a substantially stable free interface with the gas to form upstream of said exit opening.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the gas is ambient air.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said control device causes a liquid column with a substantially stable free interface with the gas to form upstream of said exit opening.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said application device and said extraction device are mutually adjacently disposed.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said application device and said extraction device are mutually immediately adjacently disposed.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said application device and said extraction device have at least one common dividing wall.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said application device is integrated into said extraction device.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said application device and said extraction device are mutually adjacently disposed, and said application device and said extraction device have at least one common dividing wall.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said application device and said extraction device are mutually immediately adjacently disposed.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said application device and said extraction device are mutually adjacently disposed, and said application device is integrated into said extraction device.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said application device and said extraction device are mutually immediately adjacently disposed.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said application device and said extraction device have at least one common dividing wall, and said application device is integrated into said extraction device.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said application device and said extraction device are mutually adjacently disposed, said application device and said extraction device have at least one common dividing wall, and said application device is integrated into said extraction device.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said application device and said extraction device are mutually immediately adjacently disposed.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said exit opening and said entry opening are each formed as a respective slot nozzle.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein each slot nozzle is a segmented slot nozzle.

17. A printing unit, comprising:

a cylinder having a surface; and

an apparatus according to claim 1 disposed at a distance from said cylinder for application of a printing liquid to said surface of said cylinder.

18. The printing unit according to claim 17 , wherein said apparatus is substantially equal in length to said cylinder.

19. The printing unit according to claim 17 , wherein the printing liquid applied by said apparatus is selected from the group consisting of ink, varnish and dampening solution.

20. The printing unit according to claim 17 , wherein said surface of said cylinder has depressions formed therein.

21. The printing unit according to claim 20 , wherein said depressions are engraved cells.

22. The printing unit according to claim 17 , wherein the printing unit is a planographic printing unit.

23. The printing unit according to claim 17 , wherein the printing unit is a gravure printing unit.

24. A machine for processing printing material, comprising at least one printing unit according to claim 17 .

25. The machine according to claim 24 , wherein the machine is a printing press.

26. The machine according to claim 24 , wherein the machine is a planographic printing press.

27. The machine according to claim 24 , wherein the machine is a gravure printing press.

28. A machine for processing printing material, comprising at least one apparatus according to claim 1 .

29. The machine according to claim 28 , wherein the machine is a printing press.

30. The machine according to claim 28 , wherein the machine is a planographic printing press.

31. The machine according to claim 28 , wherein the machine is a gravure printing press.

32. An apparatus for the non-contact, metered application of a liquid, the apparatus comprising:

an application device having at least one exit opening for the liquid; and

an extraction device having at least one entry opening for excess liquid, said extraction device taking in a gas, and the excess liquid being carried away together with the gas; and

a control device controlling a supply of the liquid through said exit opening and an extraction of the gas through said entry opening and causing a liquid column with a substantially stable free interface with the gas to form upstream of said exit opening.

33. A method for the non-contact, metered application of a liquid, the method comprising the following steps:

supplying the liquid from at least one exit opening of an application device;

carrying excess liquid away through at least one entry opening of an extraction device by the extraction device taking in a gas and carrying the excess liquid away together with the gas;

controlling, via a control device, a supply of the liquid through the exit opening and an extraction of the gas through the entry opening and causing the excess liquid to pass substantially directly from the exit opening to the entry opening and causing a liquid column with a substantially stable free interface with the gas to form upstream of said exit opening.

Assignments (7)
PATENT RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT Recorded Apr 21, 2017
From: GUGGENHEIM CORPORATE FUNDING, LLC
To: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 042312/0285 →
PATENT RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT Recorded Apr 21, 2017
From: ANTARES CAPITAL LP (SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION)
To: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 042310/0462 →
ASSIGNMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENTS Recorded Aug 25, 2015
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP
Reel/Frame 036463/0407 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Feb 12, 2013
From: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
To: GUGGENHEIM CORPORATE FUNDING, LLC
Reel/Frame 029795/0405 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Feb 12, 2013
From: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029795/0222 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 16, 2012
From: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG
To: DR. DIETMAR NEUHAUS
Reel/Frame 028556/0096 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2006
From: NEUHAUS, DIETMAR
To: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG
Reel/Frame 017723/0989 →