Dynamics of Linting

摘要

Linting is a major problem in offset printing, but it is often difficult to solve. Both the printing press and the paper may contribute to excessive linting. Until now, no method has existed for assessing the effect of the press separately from the effect of the paper. The aim of the present study was to measure these two effects independently. A video camera combined with image analysis was used to measure lint build-up on a blanket during printing. A mathematical model was fitted to the data. The model accurately described the dynamics using two parameters. The first parameter is the number of lint particles shed by one unit area of paper. The second parameter is the probability of a particle loosening from the rubber blanket during one revolution. A knowledge of these two parameters will simplify troubleshooting in the paper mill and provide tools for optimising printing presses regarding linting.