Other

Frank H Palecek

William A Sullivan

An automatic dampening system for a lithographic printing press applies a fountain solution to the printing plate on a plate cylinder through the inking rollers. The dampening system has a first roller partially immersed in the fountain solution and a second roller contacting the first roller. The outer surface of the second roller is rotatively coupled to the outer surface of one of the inking rollers such that the rotation of the inking roller will rotate the second roller and the first roller. A bridge roller may be used to bridge any gap between the second roller and the inking roller to maintain the rotative coupling between the rollers. The first and second rollers have outer layers made of elastomeric materials which have a hardness such that a pressure indent is formed in at least one of the outer layers of the rollers at the nip between the first and second rollers and such that the second roller can be rotatably driven by the inking roller. The pressure between the first and second rollers is adjustable to both regulate the size of the pressure indent at the nip between the first and second rollers and to regulate the differential speed between the second roller and the inking roller. By adjusting the pressure between the first and second rollers, the amount of fountain solution that is mixed in with the ink can be controlled.

Growing community of inventors

Irving, TX, United States of America

Frank H Palecek