INK MILL

A devise that “grinds” ink into a uniformly smooth body and texture. Because paste inks are a combination of liquids and solids, this grinding process is performed to insure complete dispersion of the solids into the liquid (vehicle). Three roll mills “sheer” the ink under high pressure between cooled steel rolls, while a doctor blade removes the finished ink at the end. Shot mills pump the ink into a cooled chamber filled with grinding media (steel or ceramic beads), while special discs rotate within the chamber. The ink is forced through the moving grinding media, and through a filter screen at the end which contains the media but allows the ink to pass.