Abstract:
A printing unit of a rotary printing press includes a forme cylinder. An inking unit interacts with the forme cylinder and has a plurality of inking rolls. A dampening unit also interacts with the forme cylinder and has a plurality of dampening rolls. A washing device interacts with at least one of the inking rolls and dampening rolls for washing the inking unit and/or the dampening unit. The inking unit includes a plurality of ink applicator rolls which can be placed directly onto the forme cylinder during printing operation. The dampening unit has at least one dampening rotation applicator roll that can also be placed directly onto the forme cylinder during printing operations. In a washing position, one of the plurality of ink application rolls and the dampening rotation applicator roll are brought directly into contact with each other.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is the U.S. national phase, under 35 U.S.C. 371, of PCT/EP2007/061545, filed Oct. 26, 2007; published as WO 2008/095551 A1 on Aug. 14, 2008 and claiming priority to DE 10 2007 006 063.9, filed Feb. 7, 2007 and to DE 10 2007 000 926.9 filed Aug. 31, 2007, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed to a printing couple of a rotary printing press and to a method for washing a dampening unit of a printing couple. The printing couple includes a forme cylinder which is contacted by ink forme rollers of an inking unit and by at least one dampening forme roller during print operation. In a washing position, at least one of the ink forme rollers and the dampening forme roller are engaged directly against one another. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    DE 29 32 105 A1 describes an inking unit for an offset rotary printing press having two roller trains, three forme rollers, and a roller stand. The roller stand is displaceably disposed such that a distribution roller is either engaged against a third forme roller or is separated from the third forme roller during operation of the printing press. 
         [0004]    In modern offset printing presses, inking units of printing couples are ordinarily equipped with washing devices that are operable to allow the inking unit to be cleaned as needed. To allow dampening units to also be washed in such printing presses, both the ink forme rollers and the dampening forme roller must be engaged against the plate cylinder. This will allow washing solution to be transferred from the inking unit onto the dampening unit. It is also necessary for the plate cylinder to be fully loaded with plates during such a washing procedure. During a production run involving a partially loaded plate cylinder, the missing plates must therefore be mounted onto the plate cylinder solely for the purpose of washing the dampening unit. This requirement and procedure is both inconvenient and time-consuming. 
         [0005]    WO 2004/054804 A1 and WO 2005/007409 A2 both describe inking and dampening units with displaceable stripper rollers. 
         [0006]    DE 10 2005 056 812 A1, DE 19 32 642 U and DE 40 12 283 A1 all disclose intermediate rollers that can be moved for washing. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,316 A and U.S. Pat. No. 4,036,131 A each disclose an inking unit and a dampening unit. A dampening forme roller can be engaged against an ink forme roller for the purpose of washing. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The object of the present invention is to provide a printing couple for a rotary printing press and to also provide a method for washing a dampening unit. 
         [0009]    The object is attained in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a printing couple including a forme cylinder. The forme cylinder is directly engaged by a plurality of ink forme rollers during a printing operation. At least one dampening fluid roller is also engaged directly against the forme cylinder during the printing operation. A washing unit is used to wash one of an inking unit that includes the ink forme rollers and dampening unit that includes the at least one dampening fluid roller. During a washing operation, at least one of the ink forme rollers or the dampening forme roller can be displaced so that they are in direct engagement and act to form a shared roller train with the washing unit. 
         [0010]    The benefits to be achieved with the present invention consist especially in that when the plate cylinder is only partially loaded, it is no longer necessary to mount the missing packings, such as, for example, printing plates, onto the plate cylinder in order to wash the dampening unit. This saves time and money. 
         [0011]    A structurally simple and cost-effective configuration is produced by eliminating a supplementary stripper roller. Instead, configuring one of the already existing rollers of the inking unit or the dampening unit is configured to be displaceable, such as, for example, to be pivotable between an operating position, such as, for example, a printing position, and a washing position. When the displaceable roller is in the washing position, rollers of the inking unit and rollers of the dampening unit are connected to form a shared roller train. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention are represented in the set of drawings and will be described in greater detail in what follows. The drawings show: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  a schematic side elevation view of a printing couple showing two alternative options for a displaceable roller, and showing the rollers of the inking unit and the rollers of the printing couple in the printing position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  a schematic side elevation view corresponding to that of  FIG. 1 , and in which a forme roller of the dampening unit is the displaceable roller and is shown in the displaced washing position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  a schematic side elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, in which a forme roller of the inking unit is the displaceable roller and is shown in the displaced washing position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  a schematic side elevation view of the printing couple in an operating status in which all of forme rollers are in the position of disengagement from the forme cylinder; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  an embodiment of a drive for the distribution cylinder of the inking unit. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , there may be seen a somewhat schematic representation of a printing couple  01  of a rotary printing press. The remainder of the rotary printing press, which is generally conventional, is not shown. The rotary printing press may be, for example, a web-fed rotary printing press, and especially may be a newspaper printing press which prints in the wet offset printing process, and may be for example, embodied as part of a printing tower. The printing couple  01  depicted in  FIG. 1  can be one of four printing couples of a nine-cylinder satellite printing unit, for example. The other printing couples of the nine-cylinder satellite printing unit can be embodied accordingly. The printing couple  01  can be six plates wide, for example, with the axial length of the printing couple cylinders  02 ;  03  and  04  each being equal to the width of six printing plates. The printing couple cylinders  02 ;  03 ;  04  can each have a circumference of two printing plates, for example. 
         [0019]    In the case of the preferred embodiment, the printing couple  01  includes a printing couple cylinder  02 , which can be embodied as a forme cylinder  02 , and especially which can be embodied as a plate cylinder  02 . A printing couple cylinder  03 , which cooperates with the forme cylinder  02 , can be embodied as a transfer cylinder  03 , and especially can be embodied as a blanket cylinder  03 . An additional printing couple cylinder  04 , which cooperates with the transfer cylinder  03 , can be embodied as an impression cylinder  04 , or in other words as a satellite cylinder  04  in the case of a nine-cylinder satellite printing unit. A web of print substrate, and especially a web of paper, which is not specifically shown here, is guided between the transfer cylinder  03  and the impression cylinder  04 . The transfer cylinder  03  generates at least one print image, which it received from printing formes on the forme cylinder  02 , on the web of paper with each rotation of the cylinders. 
         [0020]    An inking unit  06  and a dampening unit  07  are both assigned to the forme cylinder  02 . The inking unit  06  and the dampening unit  07  are situated close to one another. When the printing couple  01  is in the operating status, as is shown in  FIG. 1 , both the inking unit  06  and the dampening unit  07  are engaged against the forme cylinder  02  for a print operation of the printing couple  01 . 
         [0021]    The inking unit  06  has a plurality of rollers  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  13 ;  14 ;  16 ;  17 ;  18  or of inking unit rollers  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  13 ;  14 ;  16 ;  17 ;  18 . Specifically, the inking unit  06  comprises three ink forme rollers  08 ;  09 ;  11 , which are engaged against the forme cylinder  02  when the rotary printing press is executing a production process. Between an ink forme roller  13 , such as an ink fountain roller  13 , which picks up ink from an ink reservoir  12 , and the ink forme rollers  08 ;  09 ;  11  which apply the ink to the forme cylinder  02 , there are arranged a plurality of rollers  14 ;  16 ;  17 ;  18 . The roller  14  that follows immediately after the ink fountain roller  13 , in the direction of ink transport from the ink fountain roller to the forme cylinder  02  is embodied as an ink film roller  14 . Downstream of the ink film roller  14 , again in the direction of ink transport, a roller  16 , which is embodied as an ink flow dividing roller  16  is provided. This ink flow dividing roller  16  divides an ink flow coming from the ink fountain roller  13  into a primary ink flow which leads over a roller  17 , and a secondary flow which leads over a roller  18 . 
         [0022]    Roller  17  and roller  18  are embodied as ink flow distribution rollers  17 ;  18  which both transfer ink from the ink flow dividing roller  16 , in a primary ink flow and in a secondary flow, respectively, each to at least one of the ink forme rollers  08 ;  09 ;  11 . Each of the two ink flow distribution rollers  17 ;  18  executes an oscillating motion extending in its respective axial direction. The oscillating motion of the one ink flow distribution roller  17  can be coupled with the oscillating motion of the other ink flow distribution roller  18 , for example via a lever assembly. In an alternative embodiment, the oscillating motion of the respective ink flow distribution rollers  17 ;  18  are generated using independent drives. In each of the two drive variations, the two axially oscillating motions can be directed opposite one another. The axial oscillating motion of each respective ink flow distribution roller  17 ;  18  can also be generated, for example, from its rotational motion through the provision of a suitable transmission. 
         [0023]    In both the primary ink flow and the secondary ink flow, ink, which has been picked up from the ink reservoir  12 , is applied to the forme cylinder  02  via a roller train that is comprised of five rollers  13 ;  14 ;  16 ;  17 ;  08  or  13 ;  14 ;  16 ;  18  and  09  or  11 , arranged in a row. Each ink roller train, which is leading to the forme cylinder  02 , is made up of the components which include the ink fountain roller  13 , the ink film roller  14 , the ink flow dividing roller  16 , one of the ink flow distribution rollers  17 ;  18  and one of the ink forme rollers  08 ;  09 ;  11 . Accordingly, only a single roller  14  is situated in the roller train between the ink fountain roller  13  and the ink flow dividing roller  16 , with this single roller  14  being embodied as an ink film roller  14 . 
         [0024]    The ink reservoir  12 , from which the ink fountain roller  13  picks up the ink to be transported to the forme cylinder  02 , is embodied as an ink fountain  12  or as an ink trough  12 . A plurality of ink blades, which are not specifically shown, such as, for example, thirty to sixty, such ink blades are provided in a row on the ink fountain  12  or the ink trough  12  in the axial direction of the ink fountain roller  13 . Each such ink blade is adjustable, in terms of its respective engagement against the ink fountain roller  13 , and is actually engaged against the ink fountain roller. Each such ink blade is adjustable, preferably remotely, via an adjustment mechanism, which is not specifically shown, thereby enabling a zonal metering of the ink which is being picked up by the ink fountain roller  13 . The metering of the quantity of ink that may be produced by adjusting each respective ink blade, is manifested in an ink film thickness which is proportional to this adjustment of each ink blade in the relevant zone on the circumferential surface of the ink fountain roller  13 . Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the inking unit  06  is structured as a zonal inking unit. 
         [0025]    The lengths of the rollers  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  13 ;  14 ;  16 ;  17 ;  18  of the inking unit  06 , in their respective axial directions, ranges from 500 mm to 2,600 mm, for example, and especially ranges from 1,400 to 2,400 mm. Their external diameters range from 50 mm to 300 mm, for example, and preferably range from 80 mm to 250 mm. The circumferential surface of the ink flow dividing roller  16  is preferably made of a flexible material, such as, for example, a rubber material. 
         [0026]    The dampening unit  07  has a plurality of rollers  21 ;  22 ;  23  or dampening unit rollers  21 ;  22 ;  23 . It is preferably embodied as a dampening unit  07  which applies a dampening agent in a contactless manner, for example as a spray dampening unit  07 . The dampening unit thus has a spray bar  19 , in which a plurality of spray nozzles, which are arranged in the spray bar  19 , preferably spray a dampening agent onto a roller  21  of the dampening unit  07 , which roller  21  is embodied as a dampening distribution roller  21 , for example. The dampening agent, that is sprayed onto the dampening distribution roller  21 , is transferred by another roller  22  of the dampening unit  07 , which is embodied as a dampening smoothing roller  22 , for example, onto its roller  23 , that is, in turn, embodied as a dampening forme roller  23 , and from there to the forme cylinder  02 . The dampening smoothing roller  22  is capable of executing an oscillating motion in its axial direction. 
         [0027]    At least the printing couple cylinders  02 ;  03  are each mounted in linear bearings, which are not specifically shown here, and thus are understood as being able to be linearly movable in relation to the side frame of the printing press, which also is not shown here, in an approximately horizontal direction in the depiction of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0028]    At least the ink forme rollers  08 ;  09 ;  11  of the inking unit  06  and the dampening forme roller  23  of the dampening unit  07 , and preferably also the ink film roller  14  and the ink flow dividing roller  16  of the inking unit  06 , and the dampening distribution roller  21  of the dampening unit  07  are each arranged so as to be capable of radial movement. The radial movement of these rollers  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  14 ;  16 ;  21 ;  23  refers to the eccentric displacement of the respective axes of these rollers  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  14 ;  16 ;  21 ;  23 , or at least the eccentric displacement of one of the ends of these rollers  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  14 ;  16 ;  21 ;  23 , in relation to a bearing point belonging to the respective roller  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  14 ;  16 ;  21 ;  23 , and which is optionally fixed to the frame or, in the case of ink forme roller  08  or dampening forme roller  23 , is displaceable in relation to the frame, for example pivotable, as will be discussed below. The eccentric displacement of each of the rollers  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  14 ;  16 ;  21 ;  23  is accomplished with the help of preferably a plurality of actuators  24 , preferably at least two such actuators  24 , and for example by the provision of four such actuators  24 , which are arranged symmetrically and concentrically around the respective axes of these rollers  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  14 ;  16 ;  21 ;  23 . The several actuators  24  that belong to the same roller  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  14 ;  16 ;  21 ;  23  can be actuated individually and independently of one another by a control unit, and can be adjusted to a specific adjustment path. Each actuated actuator  24  exerts a radial force with respect to the roller  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  14 ;  16 ;  21 ;  23  to which it is assigned. This radial force displaces, or at least attempts to displace, the axis of the respective roller  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  14 ;  16 ;  21 ;  23  radially. When a plurality of actuators  24 , which are all arranged at the same end of one of the rollers  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  14 ;  16 ;  21 ;  23 , are actuated simultaneously, the resulting radial movement, which is executed by the axis of the respective roller  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  14 ;  16 ;  21 ;  23 , is the vector sum of the respective radial forces of the plurality of actuated actuators  24 . 
         [0029]    The actuators  24  are individually pressurized by a pressure medium, for example. They are preferably each pneumatically actuated. Each of the actuators  24  is preferably situated in a roller socket within a structural unit, with each such roller socket accommodating one end of its one of the respective rollers  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  14 ;  16 ;  21 ;  23 . The radial movement that can be executed by the axis of the respective roller  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  14 ;  16 ;  21 ;  23  preferably lies within the range of a few millimeters, such as, for example, up to 10 mm. This radial movement is sufficient to disengage the respective roller  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  14 ;  16 ;  21 ;  23  from at least one adjacent cylindrical rotational body, such as, for example, from the forme cylinder  02 . The respective actuators  24  each also adjust a level of contact pressure which is exerted by the respective roller  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  14 ;  16 ;  21 ;  23  against its at least one adjacent rotational body. The degree of such an adjusted contact pressure influences the quality of the printed product produced in connection with this inking unit  06  and/or dampening unit  07  by influencing the transport of ink or of dampening agent that is controlled with this adjustment. The contact pressure builds up when there is direct contact between the respective roller  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  14 ;  16 ;  21 ;  23  and its adjacent rotational body. However, by actuating one or more of the plurality of actuators  24 , the at least one active radial force can be increased. With the continued or renewed actuation of one or more of these actuators  24 , the amount of existing contact pressure can be adjusted, and, for example, can even be decreased. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  shows a drive arrangement for the printing couple  01 , which drive arrangement can be implemented in all of the configurations of  FIGS. 1 to 3 , and which drive arrangement comprises drive motors  32 ;  33 ;  34 ;  36  and  37 . It is apparent, from the depiction shown in  FIG. 4 , that the transfer cylinder  03  or the blanket cylinder  03  has its own motor  32 . The forme cylinder  02  or plate cylinder  02  has its own motor  33 . The ink fountain roller  13  has its own motor  34 . At least the dampening smoothing roller  22  of the dampening unit  07  has its own motor  36 . At least the ink flow distribution roller  17  of the inking unit  06  has its own motor  37 . This standard configuration of the drive arrangement for the printing couple  01  is indicated in  FIG. 4  by dashed lines extending outward from the respective drive motors  32 ;  33 ;  34 ;  36  and  37 . An optional embodiment of the drive arrangement for printing couple  01 , which is also indicated in  FIG. 4  by a dotted line, provides for a single, shared motor  36  for dampening unit rollers  21  and  22  of the dampening unit  07 , or, in other words, provides especially for a single shared motor for the dampening distribution roller  21  and the smoothing roller  22 , and for a single, shared motor  37  for the two ink flow distribution rollers  17 ;  18  of the inking unit  06 . In the case of the shared motor  37  for the two ink flow distribution rollers  17 ;  18 , the secondary ink flow distribution roller  18  is driven together with the primary ink flow distribution roller  17  only in the rotational direction indicated in  FIG. 4  by a dotted directional arrow. For driving in the opposite rotational direction, the secondary ink flow distribution roller  18  is uncoupled from the motor  37  that drives at least the primary ink flow distribution roller  17 . The dotted directional arrow in  FIG. 4  indicates the direction of rotation of the secondary ink flow distribution roller  18  in which a washing process, which will be described further below, will be performed in the inking unit  06  and/or in the dampening unit  07 . The direction of rotation of the secondary ink flow distribution roller  18 , that is opposite to the directional arrow shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 4 , is the direction of rotation of the secondary ink flow distribution roller  18  when the printing couple  01  is executing a production process, in which production process, ink is transported in the inking unit  06  from the ink reservoir  12  to the forme cylinder  02 . 
         [0031]    The axial movement of the two ink flow distribution rollers  17 ;  18  and/or at least the rotation of one or of both of the ink flow distribution rollers  17 ;  18  can be actuated via a coupled transmission, such as, for example, via a transmission as is shown in  FIG. 5  and as will be described in greater detail in the discussion that follows.  FIG. 5  shows an advantageous embodiment of the drive for the ink flow distribution rollers  17 ;  18 . Only the secondary ink flow distribution roller  18  is positively rotationally driven. Both of the ink flow distribution rollers  17 ;  18  are positively axially driven via a shared oscillating drive  42 . 
         [0032]    The drive motor  37 , which is depicted schematically in  FIG. 4 , drives a drive sprocket  46  via a coupling  43  and a shaft  44 . The drive sprocket  46 , in turn, cooperates with a spur gear  47  which is non-rotatably connected to the secondary ink flow distribution roller  18 . This connection can be made with a journal  49  of the distribution roller  18 , for example via an axle segment  48  that supports the spur gear  47 . A corresponding axle segment  48  of the distribution roller  17  has no such spur gear  47  and no drive connection with the drive motor  37 . The drive connection between drive sprocket  46  and spur gear  47  of the secondary ink flow distribution roller  18  is preferably evenly toothed and is embodied with a sufficiently high contact ratio, with respect to tooth engagement, for every position of the oscillating movement. 
         [0033]    The two ink flow distribution rollers  17 ;  18  are each mounted in a side frame  51  in bearings  52 , such as, for example, in radial bearings  52 , which also enable axial movement. No rotational drive connection exists between the drive motor  37  and the primary ink flow distribution roller  17  in this case. The drive sprocket  46  and the spur gear  47 , which are situated on the axle segment  48 , together form a transmission, and especially form a reduction gearset, for the rotational drive, which can be a separate closed and/or preassembled component with its own housing  50 . This component can be coupled at the output side with the journal  49  of the secondary ink distribution roller  18 . 
         [0034]    The oscillating drive  42  is also driven by the drive motor  37 , such as, for example, by the use of a worm gear system  53 ;  54 . In this case, actuation is accomplished by a worm  53 , or by a segment of the shaft  44  being embodied as a worm  53 , on a worm gear  54 , which worm gear  54  is non-rotatably connected to a shaft  56 , which extends perpendicular to the rotational axis of the ink flow distribution rollers  17 ;  18 . A driver  57  is arranged at each end surface of the shaft  56 , and eccentrically to the rotational axis of shaft  56 . Each such driver  57  is connected, rigid to compression and to tension in the axial direction of the ink flow distribution rollers  17 ;  18 , to the journal  49  of the respective one of the ink flow distribution rollers  17 ;  18 , for example via a crank mechanism, such as, for example, via a lever  58 , which is rotatably mounted on the driver  57 , and a joint  59 . Rotating the shaft  56  causes the driver  57  to rotate, which in turn elicits axial movement of the ink flow distribution rollers  17 ;  18  via the crank mechanism. 
         [0035]    The oscillating drive  42  or the oscillating transmission  42  is embodied as a complete structural unit with its own housing  61 , which housing  61  can also be encapsulated in configuration. The oscillating transmission  42  can be lubricated, inside the encapsulated chamber, with oil or, preferably, with grease. The oscillating transmission  42 , in the embodiment represented in  FIG. 5 , is supported by a support  62  that is connected to the side frame  51 . The drive motor  37 , in this embodiment, is separably connected to the housing  61  of the oscillating transmission  42 . Also, as may be seen in  FIG. 5 , a drive control system  63  for the drive motor  37  is depicted. 
         [0036]    Reference will now be made again to  FIGS. 1 to 4 . The inking unit  06  further has a washing device  26 , which can comprise, for example, automatic washing solution supply lines, which are not specifically depicted, a washing blade  27 , which can be engaged against a roller in the inking unit, and especially against the secondary ink flow distribution roller  18  of the inking unit  06 , and a drip pan  28 . This washing device  26  is mounted so as to engageable against the secondary ink flow distribution roller  18 , for example by pivoting, for the purpose of cleaning the inking unit  06 . Alternatively, or additionally, a second washing device  38 , which applies a washing solution to the ink flow dividing roller  16 , can be provided. This second washing device  38  preferably sprays its washing solution onto the circumferential surface of the rotating ink flow dividing roller  16 . This alternative or supplementary washing device  38  cooperates in the washing process with at least the washing blade  27  that can be engaged against the secondary ink flow distribution roller  18  of the inking unit  06 . 
         [0037]    To make it possible for only one of the washing devices  26 ;  38 , or for both washing devices  26 ;  38  together, to be used to simultaneously clean the dampening unit  07 , in addition to cleaning the inking unit  06 , it is provided that at least one of the rollers  08 ;  09 ;  11 ;  14 ;  16 ;  17 ;  18 ;  21 ;  22 ;  23  of the inking unit  06  and/or of the dampening unit  07  can be displaced. The result is that the inking unit  06  and/or the dampening unit  07 , at least, have one shared roller train, allowing them to also transport the washing solution to the dampening unit  07 , or from the dampening unit  07  back to the inking unit  06 . 
         [0038]    Ink forme roller  08  of the inking unit  06  and dampening forme roller  23  of the dampening unit  07 , which are each already arranged very close to the respective adjacent dampening unit  07  or inking unit  06 , are particularly well suited for use as displaceable rollers. The displaceable in forme roller  08  or the displaceable dampening forme  23  can be arranged so as to shift, for example, for its displacement. However, it is preferably pivotably arranged, especially so as to pivot around the axis of the respective adjacent primary ink flow distribution roller  17  or dampening smoothing roller  22  with which it cooperates directly in print operation and with which it is also drive connected. 
         [0039]    In  FIG. 1 , dashed lines indicate that either the ink forme roller  08  can be arranged so as to pivot around the axis of the primary ink flow distribution roller  17  on a pivoting lever mechanism  29 , or that the dampening forme roller  23  can be arranged so as to pivot around the rotational axis of the dampening smoothing roller  22  on a pivoting lever mechanism  31 . In a further alternative embodiment of the present invention, both rollers  08 ;  23  could be displaceable, if this double displacement is necessary to bridge a greater distance, for example. In  FIG. 1 , the two displaceable rollers  08  and  23  are shown in their respective operating positions during print operation. 
         [0040]      FIG. 2  depicts the embodiment of the present invention in which the dampening forme roller  23  of the dampening unit  07  is pivotably, or is displaceably, mounted.  FIG. 2  shows the displaceable dampening forme roller  23  in its displaced position, or in other words, in its washing position. In this position, the dampening forme roller  23  is pivoted away from the forme cylinder  02  and is out of its operating position close to the printing couple cylinder. It is now engaged in a position against the ink forme roller  08  of the inking unit  06 , and is more distant from the printing couple cylinder, thereby forming a shared roller train of the inking unit  06  and the dampening unit  07 , for example with rollers  08 ;  17 ;  16 ;  18 ;  23 ;  22 ;  21 . The inking unit  06  and dampening unit  07  can now be washed together using the same washing device  26  or  38  or using both washing devices  26  and  38 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  depicts an alternative embodiment of the present invention, in which the ink forme roller  08  of the inking unit  06  is pivotably, or is displaceably, mounted.  FIG. 3  shows the displaceable ink forme roller  08  in its displaced position, or in other words, in its washing position. In this position, the ink forme roller  08  is pivoted away from the forme cylinder  02  and is out of its operating position close to the printing couple cylinder. It is now engaged in a position against the dampening forme roller  23  of the dampening unit  07 , and is more distant from the printing couple cylinder, thereby again forming a shared roller train of the inking unit  06  and the dampening unit  07 , again with rollers  08 ;  17 ;  16 ;  18 ;  23 ;  22 ;  21 , for example. Inking unit  06  and dampening unit  07  can be washed together using the same washing device  26  or  38  or using both washing devices  26  and  38 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 4  shows an operating status of the printing couple  01 , in which all dampening forme roller  23 ; and inking forme rollers  08 ;  09 ;  11  are all in the “print off” position. In other words, they are all spaced somewhat from the forme cylinder  02 . The two forme rollers  08 ;  23  are moved into their bridge position in which inking unit  06  and dampening unit  07  are connected to one another, thus allowing the dampening unit  07  to be washed by using the washing device  26  or  38  that is arranged on the inking unit  06 , or by using both washing devices  26 ;  38 , via the bridge that is formed in this manner. 
         [0043]    As was described above, the displaceable ink forme roller  08  and dampening forme roller  23  are each structured such that these rollers  08 ;  23  are adjusted to, or can be moved to the print-on setting and to the print-off setting via their respective bearings, which bearings are capable of radial travel and which can be actuated via the actuators  24 . These rollers  08 ;  23  can be pivoted in order to switch from an operating position, their position during print operation, to a washing position, their position during washing operation, and vice versa. 
         [0044]    While preferred embodiments of a printing couple of a rotary printing press and a method for washing a dampening unit of a printing couple in accordance with the present invention have been set forth fully and completely hereinabove, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that various changes in, for example, the specific structures of the forme cylinder and the transfer cylinder, the operation of the printing presses, the types of ink used, and the like could be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention which is accordingly to be limited only by the appended claims.