Patent ID: 6802255
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: B41F

Abstract:
An ink fountain mechanism for adjustably metering the thickness of a layer of ink in a plurality of zones axially across an ink receiving fountain roller, comprising:(a) a main beam that extends the length of the fountain roller; (b) a plurality of metering blocks, horizontally aligned and axially adjacent to one another and each having an upper surface adjustably spaced from the ink receiving fountain roller; (c) a plurality of adjustment bolts having heads, each separately and threadably engaged with each of the plurality of metering blocks, each metering block independently rotatable on the bolt threads such that the support surfaces independently align parallel to the fountain roller, the adjustment bolts slideably supported in the main beam that extends the length of the fountain roller; (d) a plurality of cams pivotably attached to the main beam and positioned adjacent to the heads of each of the adjustment bolts, the cams engaged with the heads of the adjustment bolts and manually actuatable between a minimum position, providing a minimum ink metered thickness, and a maximum position, providing maximum metered ink thickness; and (e) a plurality of levers attached to the cams for manually actuating the cams, the levers progressively movable between the minimum and the maximum positions to provide substantially continuous metering of the thickness of ink in a range between the minimum and the maximum ink thickness.