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Controls Group Inc.
Q-Rail
The Q-Rail was designed specifically for use on High
Speed pump and rail ink train systems. Simply stated, the Q-Rail assembly
replaces the existing High Speed rail segments found on modern pump-and-rail
ink trains.
We use the term “High Speed” rail system in the
context that a curved rail segment, typically constructed of machined
cast iron, is placed in close proximity to an oscillating roller whose
surface speed equals that of the printed web. The ink is moved through
these segments and is transferred onto the oscillating drum. As one can
imagine, this High Speed transfer of ink is complex and inefficient due
to the acceleration of the ink to web speed.
Typical to the existing High Speed transfer is the loss
of ink onto the surrounding surfaces adjacent to the rail segments.
The Q-Rail has been designed to completely replace this High Speed rail
segment system. The Q-Rail construction places a separately driven, slow
moving ink drum in close proximity to the existing High Speed oscillator
drum. Onto this slow moving drum (15 RPM fixed), the ink is transferred from
a distribution head. The ink transfer zone is moving slowly and therefore
the ink clings to the drum resulting in no loss or slinging of ink onto the
surrounding structures or web.
The Q-Rail’s slow moving ink drum is adjusted to be in close proximity to
the existing oscillator high-speed drum. This close proximity and closing
nip point between the Q-Rail drum and the oscillator drum causes a smooth
transfer of the ink into the ink train.
The Q-Rail assembly has been designed to replace, without modification, the
original cast iron rail and swing frame assembly. The installer simply
removes the existing rail assembly and installs the Q-Rail in its place. No
modifications to the existing press unit are required as the system has been
designed to reuse the original mounting points and fits in the envelope of
the original system.
The Q-Rail may be configured for use on a reversing unit or a non-reversing
unit. The difference between the two is that the reversing transfer head
design allows the slow moving ink drum to operate in clock-wise or
counter-clock wise operation depending on unit operation.
The Q-Rail has been designed for use on all types of OEM high-speed ink
train systems and is compatible with all types of injection page packs. It
is important to note that with the installation of a Q-Rail, not only is the
loss of ink from the ink transfer point eliminated but this transfer method
also aids in the milling of the ink by adding another “cut” to the ink
roller train.
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