Device for adjustment of the ink flow on printing press inking units

Abstract

An ink metering system for a printing press for metering ink to individual column positions on a printing plate in which the fountain blade is formed in individual sections having power actuators to establish film-forming gaps at corresponding positions. Linear follow-up potentiometers are provided having their slides respectively coupled to the blade sections so that when the potentiometers are connected to a source of reference voltage, and the sections initially adjusted, the slider voltage provides a direct indication of the width of the gap. To change the setting over the entire width of the blade, a variable voltage supply is provided with a control for shifting the voltage from reference level to a calibrated level of offset voltage, on one side or the other of the reference, to bring about a percentage change in voltage at each of the adjustable blade sections. To create a voltage differential for follow-up purposes, each actuator has a voltage storage, or 'memory', device together with a voltage 'comparator' to produce an output dependent upon the algebraic sum of the 'new' and 'old' voltages. Such output energizes the actuator to move each blade section and potentiometer slider to a new position in which all of the gaps are changed in the same direction and as a fixed percentage of their initial settings.