Patent ID: 7178461

Claim:
An ink fountain mechanism for adjustably metering the thickness of the 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, 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 are engaged with the heads of the adjustment bolts and are manually actuatable between a minimum position, providing a minimum ink metered thickness, and a maximum position, providing maximum metered ink thickness; (e) a plurality of levers attached to the cams for manually actuating the cams, the levers continuously movable between the minimum and maximum positions to provide substantially continuous metering of the thickness of ink in a range between the minimum and the maximum ink thickness; and (f) an interface cap constructed of a material selected to provide non-binding frictional sliding contact between the cam and the interface cap, wherein the interface cap further comprises a channel sized for receiving the cam and having parallel sides with a beveled edge exposed toward the cam for guiding the cam into the channel during assembly and wherein the size, shape and materials of the cap at the interface between the interface cap and the cam are selected and constructed so that the cam lever can be manually moved through the range of ink thickness metering positions, yet will remain in any desired metering position by the frictional contact between the cam and the interface cap and wherein the interface cap includes a socket for receiving the bolt head for rotation therein and includes at least one friction button projecting inwardly from a side of the socket so that the interface cap is held in place on the bolt head and the bolt head can rotate in the socket so that the bolt head effectively the interfaces against the cam through the interface cap, the interface cap having an orifice through it, and wherein the bolt head comprises a cap screw head that interfaces with the cam through the interface cap and an adjustment tool comprising an elongate wrench sized for accessing the cap head of the bolt through the cam, through the mounting shaft and through the interface cap.