Patent ID: 7370578

Claim:
An applicator unit for one of inking and dampening in a rotary press having a form cylinder, the applicator unit comprising: a distributor cylinder having an axis of rotation; an applicator roll having two ends, said two ends being mounted in respective levers such that said applicator roll is pivotable about the axis of rotation of said distributor cylinder by said levers; a motor operatively arranged for pivoting said applicator roll such that applicator roll is pivotable to a thrown-on position against the form cylinder of the rotary press with a controlled throwing-on force by said motor, wherein said applicator roll contacts the form cylinder in an imprint area when said applicator roll is in the thrown-on position, the imprint area having a length along a length of said applicator roll and an imprint width along a circumferential direction of said applicator roll, said throwing-on force is adjustable to set a desired imprint width, said motor comprising one of a spring, an electric attraction magnet, or a rotary motor acting on said levers; and a lock mechanism for locking said applicator roll in the thrown-on position.