Patent ID: 6336403
Filing Date: 2002-01-08
Classification: B41F

Abstract:
A fluid dampening system for a printing machine, comprising,a frame, a printing roll on the frame for holding a circular printing plate, a fluid reservoir on the frame, a fountain roll on the frame at least partially immersed in the fluid reservoir, a second roll on the frame in surface contact with the fountain roll, a third roll on the frame in surface contact with the fountain roll, a plurality of additional rolls on the frame sequentially in surface contact with each other, and directly or indirectly in operational surface contact with the third roll and the printing roll so that when all 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 then sequentially on the surfaces of the additional rolls to the surface of the printing roll, means for rotating the rolls including a drive system connecting the second roll and the third roll whereby the third roll drives the second roll which in turn drives the fountain roll, and means 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 rolls to be simultaneously rotated.