Dampening system for printing machines

Abstract

A fluid dampening system for a printing machine has a frame and a printing roll on the frame for holding a circular printing plate. A fluid reservoir is on the frame and a fountain roll is on the frame and is partially immersed in the fluid reservoir. A second roll is on the frame and is normally in surface contact with the fountain roll. A third roll is on the frame and is normally in surface contact with the fountain roll. A plurality of additional rolls are on the frame sequentially in surface contact with each other and with the third roll and the printing roll so that when all of the aforesaid rolls are rotated and in surface contact with each other, fluid will be transferred from the surface of the fountain roll to the surface of the third roll and sequentially on the surface of the additional rolls to the surface of the printing roll. A drive system on the frame connects the second roll and the third roll whereby the third roll drives the second roll which in turn which in turn drives the fountain roll. A linkage system is provided for breaking the fountain roll away from surface contact with the third roll while all the rolls are rotating to separate the fountain roll from surface contact with the third roll to prevent fluid from moving from a surface of the fountain roll to the third roll and to the rolls downstream from the third roll, while still permitting all the rolls to be simultaneously rotated.