FLEXOGRAPHIC PRINTING SYSTEM WITH SOLVENT REPLENISHMENT

摘要

A flexographic printing system uses a flexographic printing plate to produce printed patterns on a substrate. An ink recirculation system is used to reduce variability in system performance resulting from ink viscosity changes. A recirculation pump moves ink through an ink recirculation line connected to an ink reservoir. A metering pump adds a controlled flow rate of solvent from a solvent replenishment chamber into the ink recirculation line, thereby providing replenished ink. The replenished ink is returned to the ink reservoir through a distribution tube that includes a plurality of supply ports at a plurality of spaced apart locations across a width of the ink reservoir. A control system is used to control the flow rate of solvent provided by the metering pump.

主权项

1. A flexographic printing system including a print module comprising:
a plate cylinder on which is mounted a flexographic printing plate having raised features defining a pattern to be printed on a substrate; an impression cylinder that is configured to force the substrate into contact with the flexographic printing plate; an ink reservoir containing an ink and including one or more ink recirculation ports; an anilox roller having a patterned surface for transferring a controlled amount of the ink from the ink reservoir to the flexographic printing plate; an ink recirculation system including:
an ink recirculation line that is connected to the ink recirculation ports of the ink reservoir;a recirculation pump for moving ink through the ink recirculation line;a solvent replenishment chamber containing solvent;a metering pump for pumping a controlled flow rate of solvent from the solvent replenishment chamber into the ink recirculation line;a mixing device for mixing the solvent and the ink thereby providing replenished ink;a distribution tube for supplying the replenished ink to the ink reservoir, wherein the distribution tube includes a plurality of supply ports for supplying the replenished ink to the ink reservoir at a plurality of spaced apart locations across a width of the ink reservoir; anda control system for controlling the flow rate of solvent provided by metering pump.