Ink supply system for flexographic printing machine

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of printing industry, in particular to ink supply sys- tems for flexographic printing machines, gravure printing machines, laminating and varnishing machines, and can be used in automatic cleaning systems for ink supply systems, as well as in automatic viscosity control systems inks. The objective of the invention is to improve print quality, provided in an ink supply system for a flexographic printing machine, by creating a reservoir for an ink supply system of such a design that the ink inside the reservoir does not interact with the surrounding air. An Ink supply system for a flexographic printing machine comprising at least one open type reservoir, and at least two pipelines configured to provide ink circulation in at least one reservoir, wherein at least one pipeline is equipped with at least one pump, while, according to the invention, at least one reservoir is equipped with a floating lid, the floating lid is configured to move inside the cavity of the reservoir, along its vertical internal walls, at least one pipeline is equipped with a deaeration device. As a result of the use of a floating lid in an open-type reservoir ink supply system for a flexographic printing press, the ink is isolated from the surrounding air and does not interact with it, which provides improved print quality.

Description

[0001] INK SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR FLEXOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE.

[0002] Description.

[0003] Technical field.

[0004] The invention relates to the field of printing industry, in particular to ink supply systems for flexographic printing machines, gravure printing machines, laminating and varnishing machines, and can be used in automatic cleaning systems for ink supply systems, as well as in automatic viscosity control systems inks.

[0005] Known device: System for applying a printing liquid or printing adjuvant to a gravure roller (patent US20150128820A1 from 14.05.2015, cl. B41F3I / 005). This device includes at least one reservoir, at least one pipeline, and at least one pump.

[0006] This device has several significant disadvantages:

[0007] The main disadvantage is that the ink supply system has an open-type reservoir, under atmospheric pressure, in which the ink interacts with the surrounding air, while the ink in the reservoir has a large surface area interacting with the surrounding air, and also, has intensive circulation of ink in the ink supply system and the ink apparatus, which causes intensive mixing of ink with the surrounding air in the reservoir of the ink supply system, leading to:

[0008] - intense aeration, intense saturation of ink with air, which negatively affects the quality of printing;

[0009] - the formation of many bubbles in the ink and foaming of the ink on its surface, which negatively affects the quality of the print;

[0010] - condensation of water contained in the surrounding air, in the form of steam, in the ink, which leads to a change in the chemical composition of the ink, which negatively affects the quality of printing;

[0011] - settling of dust and debris contained in the surrounding air in the ink, which negatively affects the quality of printing; - to intense evaporation of solvents from the ink into the surrounding air, leading to an increase in the viscosity of the ink, which negatively affects the quality of printing, as well as to an increased concentration of solvent vapors in the ambient air, and, accordingly, an increased fire hazard in the rooms in which printing is carried out, in particular, to a possible fire on a flexographic printing press.

[0012] Also known device: Squeegee element (patent EP0491413A1 from 24.06.92 cl., B41F 15 / 40) which includes at least one reservoir as part of an ink supply system.

[0013] The design of this device includes a lid, however, in terms of its functionality, it actually performs the function of a piston / plunger and is not floating lid. This issue is discussed in detail below.

[0014] This device has several significant disadvantages:

[0015] - The main disadvantage of this technical solution is that, according to the inventive concept, the air in the reservoir between the ink and the plunger is not removed and is present throughout the entire printing process. Thus, the plunger does not touch the surface of the ink, and therefore cannot float on the surface of the ink and, in its essence, is not a floating lid. This leads to the fact that the air is in direct contact with the ink surface, which, in turn, leads to the saturation of the ink with air, which negatively affects the quality of the print, and also leads to the saturation of the air above the ink surface with ink solvent vapors, causing a layer of dried ink to form on the ink surface.

[0016] This design is also characterized by other disadvantages, in particular:

[0017] - According to the inventive concept, circulation of ink is not provided and is not allowed;

[0018] - the design is designed for the use of viscous, consistent ink;

[0019] - According to an ingenious design, the pipeline connecting the floating lid and the doctor blade mixer does not have a pump; - according to the inventive concept, the floating lid is a plunger or piston, the movement of which is carried out by a mechanical force applied from above the plunger, as a result of which increased pressure is formed in the cavity of the reservoir for the flow of ink into the supply pipeline. Also, according to the inventive concept, the air located in the cavity of the reservoir between the plunger and the ink is not removed from the reservoir, but serves as a kind of air buffer. As a result of increasing pressure in the cavity of the reservoir, the intensity of air dissolution in the ink will increase, which negatively affects the quality of printing;

[0020] - according to the inventive concept, a reservoir with a plunger and ink is placed in a closed reservoir, inside of which the air pressure is higher than atmospheric pressure. The author pointed out that the air in the cavity of the ink reservoir under the plunger freely communicates with air under pressure above atmospheric pressure in the cavity of the closed reservoir, which makes the use of a ink reservoir and plunger pointless, since the air pressure under the plunger and above the plunger will be the same, and ink from the cavity of the ink reservoir will flow into the pipeline and socket under pressure created under the plunger, which corresponds to the air pressure in the cavity of the closed reservoir, and also, the decrease in the volume of ink in the reservoir cavity will be compensated by air coming from the cavity of the closed reservoir. This way the plunger will not move along the vertical walls of the ink reservoir and will not have any effect on the ink in the ink reservoir cavity.

[0021] The device that is closest to the claimed technical solution in terms of technical essence and achieved technical result is: Apparatus for monitoring printing inks (patent DE202015003380U1 from 27.05.2015, cl. B41F 33 / 10), comprising at least one open type reservoir, and at least two pipelines configured to provide ink circulation in at least one reservoir, wherein at least one pipeline is equipped with at least one pump. This device has several significant disadvantages:

[0022] The main disadvantage is that the ink supply system has an open-type reservoir, under atmospheric pressure, in which the ink interacts with the surrounding air, while the ink in the reservoir has a large surface area interacting with the surrounding air, and also has intensive circulation ink in the open reservoir of the ink supply system, which causes intense mixing of ink and surrounding air in the reservoir of the ink system, and, in turn, leads to:

[0023] - intensive aeration, intensive dissolution, and saturation of ink with air, which negatively affects the quality of printing;

[0024] - the formation of many bubbles in the ink and foaming of the ink on the surface of the ink, which also negatively affects the print quality;

[0025] - condensation of water, present in the surrounding air in the form of steam, in the ink, which leads to a change in the chemical composition of the ink and negatively affects the quality of printing.

[0026] - settling of dust and debris contained in the surrounding air into the ink, which also negatively affects the quality of printing;

[0027] - to intensive evaporation of solvents from the ink into the surrounding air, leading to an increase in the viscosity of the ink, which negatively affects the quality of printing, as well as to an increased concentration of solvent vapors in the ambient air, and, accordingly, an increased fire hazard in the premises in which printing is carried out, in particular, to a possible fire on a flexographic printing press.

[0028] Task. The basis of the present invention is the task of improving print quality by isolating ink from the ambient air inside the ink supply system of a flexographic printing machine, namely, creating such a reservoir for the ink supply system in which the ink does not interact with the surrounding air.

[0029] It is proposed that an, Ink supply system of a flexographic printing machine comprising at least one open type reservoir, and at least two pipelines configured to provide ink circulation in at least one reservoir, wherein at least one pipeline is equipped with at least one pump, in which, according to the invention, at least one reservoir is equipped with a floating lid, the floating lid is configured to move inside the cavity of the reservoir, along its vertical in-ternal walls, at least one pipeline is equipped with a deaeration device.

[0030] The set of features of the claimed technical solution makes it possible to achieve a set of technical results:

[0031] - reduce or eliminate interaction of ink with ambient air in the ink supply system of a flexographic printing press;

[0032] - reduce or eliminate the possibility of dissolution of ambient air in the ink;

[0033] - reduce or eliminate the possibility of many bubbles forming in the ink and foaming of the ink on the ink surface.;

[0034] - reduce or eliminate the possibility of condensation of water in the ink, which is present as vapor in the surrounding air;

[0035] - reduce or eliminate the possibility of dust and debris from getting into the ink from the surrounding air;

[0036] - reduce or eliminate the possibility of evaporation of ink solvents from the ink supply system reservoir into the surrounding air.

[0037] The structure of the ink supply system of a flexographic printing machine is illustrated by drawings, which schematically depict:

[0038] Fig. 1 Schematic diagram of the ink supply system of a flexographic printing machine before starting work.

[0039] Fig. 2 Schematic diagram of the ink supply system of a flexographic printing machine during operation.

[0040] Fig. 3 Local section, top view in axonometry of a reservoir with a floating lid equipped with a lip seal, local reference "A" is indicated.

[0041] Fig. 4 Local callout "A" in a local section (Fig.3). Fig. 5 Cross-section in axonometry of a reservoir with a floating lid and a flexible, elastic hose in the cavity of the reservoir, indicated by the local callout "B".

[0042] Fig. 6 Local callout "B" in cross section (Fig. 5).

[0043] Fig. 7 Local section in axonometry top view of a reservoir with a floating lid and a float valve attached to the floating lid.

[0044] Fig. 8 Cross-sectional view from the front of a reservoir with a floating lid, showing the radius "R" of the domed floating lid.

[0045] Fig. 9 Cross section, top axonometric view of a reservoir with a floating lid, with an integrated centrifugal pump in the floating lid.

[0046] Fig. 10 Cross section, bottom axonometric view of a reservoir with a floating lid, with an integrated centrifugal pump in the floating lid.

[0047] Fig. 11 Local section, bottom axonometric view of a reservoir with a floating lid, with an integrated mixer in the floating lid, marked with a local callout "C".

[0048] Fig. 12 Local callout "C" in a local section (Fig. 11).

[0049] Fig. 13 Local section, top axonometric view of a reservoir with a floating lid and a mixer integrated into the reservoir, marked with a local callout "D".

[0050] Fig. 14 Local callout "D" in a local section (Fig. 13).

[0051] Fig. 15 Cross-section, front view of a reservoir with a floating lid, the floating lid has a gap between the end of the floating lid and the internal vertical walls of the reservoir and has the ability to rotate around its axis and is a mixer, marked with a local callout "E".

[0052] Fig. 16 Local leader "E" in cross section (Fig. 15).

[0053] Fig. 17 Local section, top axonometric view of a reservoir with a floating lid, the floating lid has a gap between the end of the floating lid and the internal vertical walls of the reservoir and has the ability to rotate around its axis and is a mixer, marked with a local callout "F".

[0054] Fig. 18 Local callout "F" in a local section (Fig. 17). Fig. 19 Cross section, front view, reservoir with floating lid, local callouts "G" and "H".

[0055] Fig. 20 Local leader "G" in cross section (Fig. 19).

[0056] Fig. 21 Local leader "H" in cross section (Fig. 19).

[0057] The essence of the invention.

[0058] Printing presses typically include at least one printing unit, which in turn consists of a printing unit, an inking unit, and an ink supply system. Due to increased demands on speed and print quality, almost all modern printing machines include an ink supply system.

[0059] Here and further in the text, the term ink refers to all types of liquid, flowing inks, varnishes and adhesives used for application by flexographic printing machines to the printed material: alcohol-soluble, ultraviolet-curing, water-based and other liquids used in printing.

[0060] The invention is illustrated by the example below of its implementation.

[0061] In fig. 1, 2 shows the circulation ink supply system for the flexographic printing section (1). The printing section (1) consists of an inking unit and a printing unit. The inking apparatus consists of a chamber doctor blade apparatus (2) and an anilox roller (3). The printing apparatus consists of a plate cylinder (4) and a counterpressure cylinder (5).

[0062] The printing section (1) (Fig. 1, 2) has an ink supply system of a flexographic printing machine containing at least one reservoir (6), at least two pipelines, a "supply" pipeline (7) and a "return" pipeline (8), providing circulation of ink in at least one reservoir (6), while at least one pipeline (7) has at least one pump (9) and, according to the inventive concept, at least one reservoir (6) equipped with a floating lid (10). The floating lid (10) is designed to move inside the cavity of the reservoir (6), along its vertical inner walls. At least one pipeline (8) is equipped with a deaeration device (11). The reservoir (6) (Fig. 1, 2) is intended for operational stock of ink (12) used in the printing process. The reservoir (6) can have any geometric shape. Preferably, the reservoir (6) is made in the form of an open type reservoir, under atmospheric pressure, cylindrical in shape with a vertical axis of rotation. The reservoir (6) can be made of any material that has sufficient strength for the selected design and does not interact chemically with the ink (12) or its components, for example, metals: aluminum, stainless steel, etc., polymers materials: Teflon, caprolone, etc., or from composite materials. Also, the inner walls of at least one reservoir (6) are coated with Teflon to reduce friction and reduce ink adhesion to the internal surfaces of the reservoir (6). The ink supply system of a flexographic printing machine contains at least two pipelines configured to provide ink circulation (12) in at least one reservoir (6). At least one reservoir (6) has at least two pipelines, a "supply" pipeline (7) and a "return" pipeline (8). In this example, the pipeline (7) is intended for supplying ink (12) into a sealed cavity (13) (Fig. 1, 2) formed by a chamber doctor blade apparatus (2) and an anilox roller (3) of the inking unit of the printing section (1). The pipeline (8) is intended to return the ink (12) to the reservoir (6). Thus, the "supply" pipeline (7) and the "return" pipeline (8) create circulation of ink (12) in the reservoir (6) and the inking unit. Pipelines can be made of various materials, for example: metals, polymeric materials, or composite materials that meet the technical requirements of the selected pipeline design, and do not interact chemically with pink or its components, for example: copper, stainless steel, caprolone, reinforced rubber, etc... The geometry of the cross-section of pipelines can have any geometric shape, and they themselves can be made of pipes and / or hoses, etc...

[0063] At least one pipeline (7) (Fig. 1, 2) is equipped with at least one pump (9). The pump (9) serves to supply ink (12) from the reservoir (6) through the "supply" pipeline (7) into the cavity (13) of the inking unit, and also, together with pipelines (7) and (8), serves to create and maintaining constant circulation of ink (12) in the ink supply system and the inking unit of the printing section (1). This is necessary due to the fact that a large amount of heat is generated in the inking unit, the printing section (1) during the printing process. This occurs as a result of friction of the parts of the chamber doctor blade apparatus (2) on the anilox shaft (3), which leads to heating of the ink (12) in the cavity (13) (Fig. 2), and, in turn, causes a change in the physical and chemical parameters of the ink (12) such as fluidity, viscosity, density, ink adhesion, concentration, etc. which negatively affects print quality. In this case, the ink (12) acts as a coolant and, as a result of its circulation, the heat generated in the ink apparatus is transferred to the reservoir (6), where the ink (12) slows down the flow rate and moves with a large volume of cooling ink (12) thus cooling down. Also, as a result of circulation, the ink (12) removes abrasive particles from the ink apparatus, which were formed as a result of wear of the doctor blades of the chamber doctor blade apparatus (2) and wear of the ceramic coating of the anilox roll (3).

[0064] The pump (9) of the ink circulation system can be any type of pump that meets the requirements of the selected design of the ink circulation system, piston, membrane, centrifugal, peristaltic, etc...

[0065] And also at least one pipeline and / or pump and / or floating lid can be equipped with at least one check valve, which serves to determine the direction of ink circulation (12) in the ink supply system.

[0066] At least one reservoir (6) is equipped with a floating lid (10), the floating lid (10) is configured to move in the internal cavity of the reservoir (6), along its vertical inner walls. The floating lid (10) (Fig. 1, 2) is designed to isolate the ink (12) located in the reservoir (6) from interaction with the surrounding air. Let us give some examples of floating lid designs (10). At least one floating lid (10) is configured to interact with the walls of the internal cavity of the reservoir (6), while the floating lid (10) and the reservoir (6) together form a sealed movable connection. A sealed movable connection between the floating lid (10) and the reservoir (6) can be made using a lip seal (14) (Fig. 3, 4) made of an elastic material, for example, a polymer or composite material that provides a sealed movable connection of the floating lid (10) with vertical inner walls of the reservoir (6).

[0067] Also, the design of the floating lid (10) (Fig. 13, 14) can provide a sealed movable connection using at least one sealing ring (15) (Fig. 14), which can have any geometric cross-sectional shape, rectangular cross-section, circular cross-section profile (15) (Fig. 14), etc., and be made of any elastic materials that provide a hermetically sealed movable connection. Also, a sealed movable connection can be ensured by the design of a floating lid (10) (Fig. 5, 6) where the sealing lip (16) is part of the floating lid (10). The floating lid (10) can be made of various materials: wood, metal, polymer materials, polymer foam materials, or composite materials that meet the technical requirements of the selected design of the floating lid (10), and do not interact chemically with the ink (12) or its components, for example: oak, stainless steel, caprolone, reinforced rubber, polyurethane foam, polyethylene foam, polystyrene foam, etc. or from composite materials combining several materials, etc... One variant of the floating lid (10) is shown in Fig. 15, 16. At least one reservoir (6) has a floating lid (10), which is made to form a slot gap "a" (Fig. 16), between the end of the floating lid (10) and the vertical inner walls of the reservoir (6), which can be from several millimeters to several fractions of a millimeter, and ensures free movement of the floating lid (10) with a gap along the vertical inner walls of the reservoir (6), and also has the ability to rotate around its axis relative to the reservoir (6).

[0068] Also, depending on the chosen design and ink supply system, the floating lid (10) can have either positive or negative buoyancy. Positive buoyancy of the floating lid (10) can be ensured by the design of the floating lid (10) (Fig. 7, 17, 18), in which the floating lid (10) is made hollow, and / or by the properties of the selected material of the floating lid (10). Also, depending on the chosen design of the ink supply system, the floating lid (10) can have both positive and negative buoyancy. Also, to stabilize the floating lid (10) on the surface of the ink (12) in the reservoir (6), the floating lid (10) can be convex in the form of a cone, parabola or pyramid, etc. the top of which faces down.

[0069] Also, the floating lid (10) can be equipped with at least one handle (17) (Fig. 3, 5, 7) for installing the floating lid (10) into the reservoir (6) manually. Also, at least one floating lid (10) can be equipped with at least one valve and / or manually operated valve (18) (Fig. 1, 2) with which air is removed or admitted under the floating lid (10) when installing or removing the floating lid (10) manually from the reservoir (6). Also, at least one pump (9) is installed above the floating lid (10) (Fig. 1, 2), or under the floating lid (10) (not shown in the drawing), removably or non-removably connected to the floating lid (10) (on not indicated in the drawing), or integrated into the floating lid (10) (Fig. 9, 10). In fig. 9 and 10 show a centrifugal pump (9), where the pump body is a floating lid (10), and the blades (19) of the pump (9) have projections (20) that perform the function of a mixer.

[0070] Also, the floating lid (10) and / or reservoir (6) and / or pipelines can be additionally equipped with filtering devices, magnetic traps, etc. At least one pipeline of the ink supply system of a flexographic printing machine is equipped with an ink deaeration device (11) (Fig. 1, 2). The deaeration device (11) is designed to automatically remove air from the ink supply system when the system is started and during operation. As a deaeration device (11), deaerators of any design can be used that satisfy the requirements of the selected design of the ink supply system. For example, automatic deaerator of heating systems with liquid coolant. The ink supply system can be equipped with one deaeration device (11) (Fig. 1, 2) or several deaeration devices located on different pipelines and / or several installed in series (not shown in the drawings). To effectively remove air from the ink supply system and the ink itself (12), at least one pipeline of the ink supply system can be equipped with at least one float valve (21) (Fig. 1, 2, 7). The float valve serves to close the pipeline (8) when there is no ink (12) in the pipeline (8), and does not allow air to circulate in the ink supply system, thereby ensuring effective removal of air through the deaeration device (11) into the surrounding atmosphere. The float valve can be made integral with the deaeration device.

[0071] At least one deaeration device (11) is configured to perform the function of a float valve (21) and / or the float valve (21) is configured to perform the function of a deaeration device (11).

[0072] As an alternative to the float valve, at least one pipeline of the ink supply system can be equipped with at least one controllable valve and / or controllable flap, which is indicated by dotted lines (22) (Fig. 1, 2), and can be controlled by a timer, a liquid flow meter or other devices that control the position of ink (12) in the ink supply system. In the example shown in Figs. 1 and 2, at least one pipeline is equipped with a means for detecting the presence of ink flow, for example, a liquid flow switch is indicated by a dotted line (23) (Figs. 1, 2). Also, the liquid flow relay can be used as an emergency device (23.1) (Fig. 1, 2) if for some reason for a certain time the liquid flow relay does not detect the liquid flow, then the control device to avoid If the system fails, the pump (9) will stop and an alarm will sound. Also, controlled valves and controlled valves and fluid flow switches can be installed in additional devices that can be equipped with an ink supply system. At least one reservoir (6) and / or floating lid (10) (Figs. 1-3, 7-11, 13, 15, 17) has at least one connection with at least one pipeline. Various options can be implemented for connecting the "supply" pipeline (7) and the "return" pipeline (8). For example, connection (24) of the "supply" pipeline (7) is made to the floating lid (10) and connection (24.1) of the "return" pipeline (8) is made to the reservoir (6) (Fig. 3, 11, 13). Or the connection (24) of the "supply" pipeline (7) and the connection (24.1) of the "return" pipeline (8) are made to the floating lid (10) (Fig. 1, 2, 5, 7-9). Or connection (24) of the "supply" pipeline (7) and connection (24.1) of the "return" pipeline (8) are made to the reservoir (6) (Fig. 15, 17). Also, in the internal cavity of at least one reservoir, at least one flexible, elastic hose (25) (Fig. 5) can be installed, communicating with one of the pipelines, and the hose has one or multiple outlet holes and / or nozzles (26). The hose serves to evenly distribute the incoming ink (12) in the reservoir (6) and acts as a static mixer. The hose can be made reinforced from any polymer or composite materials, for example rubber, polyurethane, caoutchouc, etc... At least one reservoir (6) and / or a floating lid (10) may be equipped with a mixer. As an example, the drawings (Figs. 11 and 12) show a mixer integrated into a floating lid (10), the impeller (27) is located under the floating lid (10) in the cavity of the reservoir (6) and is fixed to the motor axis (28), which in turn is fixed to the floating lid (10). A pneumatic motor can be used as a motor. The second possible option for installing the mixer is shown in (Fig. 13). Where the mixer blades (27) have a magnetic coupling (29) that interacts with the motor (28).

[0073] The third possible version of the mixer is shown in Fig. 15 - 18. In this example, the floating lid (10) is designed to form a slot gap "a" between the end of the floating lid (10) and the vertical inner walls of the reservoir (6) (Fig. 16) and also with the possibility of rotation around its axis of symmetry. Also, the floating lid (10) has blades (30) (Fig. 15, 17, 18) that are part of it. The mixer motor (28) is mounted on a fixed cover (31) covering the neck of the reservoir (6) (Fig. 15, 17). The floating lid (10) is driven by a shaft (32) having a tenon-groove movable connection with a floating lid (10) (Fig. 17, 18) as well as a movable connection with the bottom of the reservoir (6) (Fig. 15, 17). Also, the shaft (32) of the motor (28) may have an additional impeller (33) (Fig. 15, 17) located at the bottom of the reservoir (6).

[0074] Also, the ink supply system of a flexographic printing machine may have additional devices that can improve print quality or increase the productivity of the machine, such as an automatic ink temperature control system that allows you to maintain a constantly set ink temperature or an automatic cleaning system for the ink supply system and inking apparatus, as well as other devices that improve print quality or machine productivity, not shown in the drawings.

[0075] As an example, (Fig. 1 and 2) shows a system for automatic adjustment of ink viscosity (12), integrated into the ink supply system. The system for automatic adjustment of ink viscosity can consist of an automatic viscometer (34) (Fig. 1, 2), two additional reservoirs (6.1) and (6.2) containing ink (12.1) with a higher viscosity than ink (12) and solvent (12.2) accordingly. Also, each reservoir (6.1) and (6.2) has at least one supply pipeline (7.1) and (7.2), respectively. In this case, each pipeline can have an individual pump, of any type, or one common pump (35) (Fig. 1, 2), for example, an injection type, allowing ink (12.1) and / or solvent (12.2) to be pumped using a flow ink (12) in the ink supply system. The supply of ink (12.1) or solvent (12.2) is controlled using controlled valves or controlled valves (22.1) and (22.2), respectively, and is controlled using a flow meter or fluid flow relay (23.2) (Fig. 1, 2). It is also possible to introduce the necessary liquid ink components manually through the pipeline (7.3) using a manual valve (18.1) and any container, for example, as indicated using a syringe (36) (Fig. 1, 2).

[0076] Another option for connecting the "supply" pipeline (7) and the "return" pipeline (8) is shown in Fig. 19-21. Where the "supply" pipeline (7) and the "return" pipeline (8) are connected to a vertical column (37) which is a continuation of the "supply" pipeline (7) and has an intake hole (38) (Fig. 19,21). Also, inside the column (37) there is a hermetically installed pipe (39), which communicates with the "return" pipeline (8) and has an outlet (40) (Fig. 19, 21). And also, the floating lid (10) has at least one through hole (41), inside of which there is a column (37). Also, the columns (37) and the floating lid (10) form a sealed movable connection, using a lip seal (14) (Fig. 19, 20) installed around the column (37).

[0077] Example of implementation of the invention. The ink supply system for a flexographic printing machine works as follows.

[0078] At the first stage of preparation for printing, all reservoirs are filled with working fluids. The reservoir (6) (Fig. 1) is filled with ink (12). Then install the floating lid (10) into the reservoir (6) in such a way that the amount of air (42) (Fig. 1) between the ink (12) and the floating reservoir (10) is minimal. Then the pump (9) is turned on, which begins to pump out air (42) from the reservoir (6). At this moment, there is no ink (12) in the pipeline (7) and (8) and, therefore, the float valve (21) is closed, which does not allow air to circulate in the ink supply system, resulting in the cavity of the reservoir (6) between the ink (12) and the floating lid (10) reduces the air pressure (42). Under the influence of atmospheric air pressure and low air pressure under the floating lid (10), the floating lid (10) moves down, thereby displacing air (42) into the pipeline (7) and equalizing the air pressure under the floating lid (10) with external atmospheric pressure. Then the air (42) through the chamber doctor blade apparatus (2) through the pipeline (8) enters deaerator device (11). Since there is no ink (12) in the pipeline (7) and (8) at this stage, the float valve is closed, and the deaerator device (11) is open, and air (42) from the pipeline (8) is removed into the atmosphere (Fig. 2). After all remaining air (42) (Fig. 2) has been removed from the cavity of the reservoir (6) under the floating lid (10), the floating lid rests on the surface of the ink (12), and the pump (9) pumps ink into the ink supply system, thereby displacing the remaining air from the pipelines (7) and (8), the chamber doctor blade apparatus (2) fills the entire internal space of the system with ink (12). When ink enters the deaeration device (11), the device closes and the float valve (21) opens, thereby ensuring continuous circulation of ink (12) along a closed circuit isolated from air. As ink (12) is consumed as a result of printing, the volume of ink (12) in the reservoir (6) decreases, which leads to a decrease in the pressure in the ink in the reservoir (6) below atmospheric air pressure, while the floating lid (10) is in direct contact with the ink surface (12), and outside air cannot penetrate under the floating lid (10). Thus, under the influence of atmospheric pressure of the surrounding air, the floating lid (10) will move in place with the surface of the ink (12), and the pressure of the ink (12) in the reservoir (6) will always be equal to the atmospheric pressure of the air. Thus, since the ink (12) is isolated from the surrounding air and does not interact with it, the stated object of the invention is achieved.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 23 August 2024 (23.08.2024)

1. An ink supply system for a flexographic printing machine comprising at least one open-type reservoir, and at least two pipelines configured to circulate ink in at least one reservoir, wherein at least one pipeline is provided with at least one pump, characterized in that at least one reservoir is equipped with a floating lid having at least one connection with at least one pipeline, the floating lid is made with the ability to move inside the reservoir cavity, along its vertical inner walls, and to interact with the vertical walls of the inner cavity of the reservoir, wherein the floating lid and the reservoir jointly form a hermetically sealed movable connection, the at least one pipeline is equipped with a deaeration device.

2. The ink supply system according to claim 1 , characterized in that at least one pipeline is equipped with at least one float valve.

3. The ink supply system according to claim 1 or claim. 2, characterized in that at least one deaeration device is configured to perform the function of a float valve and / or the float valve is configured to perform the function of a deaeration device.

4. The ink supply system according to claim 1 , characterized in that at least one pipeline is equipped with at least one controllable valve.

5. The ink supply system according to claim 1 or claim 4, characterized in that at least one pipeline is equipped with a means for detecting the presence of ink flow, for example, a liquid flow sensor.[0001]STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19 (1 )[0002]It is absolutely clear to any person skilled in the art that, flexographic printing and inkjet printing refer to two different types of printing which are based on different physical and chemical processes. So flexographic printing machine applies the image, along the entire length of the contact between the printing plate and the printed material, analog method and has a very high productivity, tens of thousands of impressions per hour. Inkjet printer is a digital printing machine where the image is formed and applied on the printable material point by point, thus the productivity of inkjet printer is not high as compared to flexographic printing machine. Also, the way the ink is fixed on the material to be printed varies and is determined by the way the ink is applied and hence its chemical composition. In one embodiment (description, page 7, flows 10-14) of the claimed invention, the alcohol-based solvent ink used in most rotary flexographic printing presses for printing on polymer films has a very high fire hazard due to evaporation of alcohol from the ink and mixing with ambient air in the volume. Also, printing on roll-to-roll polymer film materials causes high static electricity on the surfaces of the printing equipment, which, combined with the mixture of alcohol vapors and air, not infrequently leads to industrial fires. Thus, the use of closed-type reservoirs, pressurized or under-pressurized tanks or closed-type reservoirs with a hole that allows atmospheric air to penetrate into the tank pose a fire hazard. Also, having a gap between the inner walls of the reservoir and the floating lid will allow ambient air to penetrate the ink and the solvent to evaporate into the atmosphere. Also, having a gap will allow a layer of dried ink that has lost solvent to form on the ink surface and on the inside walls of the reservoir. Also, the ink is drawn from the reservoir from the bottom, allowing gas bubbles to accumulate under the floating lid, which will prevent the concentration of dissolved gas in the ink from decreasing. Thus, in order to particularize the distinctive features of the invention, a distinctive feature from dependent claim 8 “and to interact with the vertical walls of the inner cavity of the reservoir, wherein the floating lid and the reservoir jointly form a hermetically sealed movable connection” has been transferred to independent claim 1. This difference will create a hermetic cavity formed by the floating lid and reservoir, which will avoid the evaporation of solvent into the atmosphere and the formation of a layer of dried ink. Also, the distinguishing feature from dependent claim 6 “ floating lid having at least one connection with at least one pipeline” has been transferred to independent claim 1. This distinction will prevent gases from accumulating under the floating lid when the supply pipe is connected (description, page 7, line 22-23). Dependent claims 7 and 9 are deleted as conflicting with the new distinctive features in independent claim 1.

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