Ribbon re-inker including helically grooved applicator roll

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING INK TO ADVANCEABLE RIBBON OF A PRINTING MACHINE COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF AN INK RESERVOIR, A GENERALLY VERTICALLY MOUNTED INK TRANSFER IDLER ROLLER IN LINE CONTACT WITH AND ROTATABLE BY THE RIBBON WITH THE ADVANCEMENT THEREOF, AND A CAPILLARY ACTIONED INK FEED APPLICATOR CONTINUOUSLY SUPPLYING INK FROM THE INK RESERVOIR TO AN UPPER PORTION OF THE ROLLER FOR TRANSFER TO THE RIBBON, THE PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF THE ROLLER BELOW THE POINT OF APPLICATION OF THE INK THERETO FROM THE APPLICATOR HAVING AT LEAST ONE OPEN CHANNEL THEREIN OF UNIFORM INK ATTACTING AND SPREADING SURFACE QUALITY EXTENDING AT LEAST ONE FULL TURN ABOUT THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE ROLLER TO CONTACT THE RIBBON AND OF A DEPTH TO DIRECT INK SPREADING DOWNWARDLY ALONG THE SURFACE OF THE ROLLER AND INTERCEPTED BY THE CHANNEL AROUND THE ROLLER FOR TRANSFER TO THE RIBBON AT AT LEAST ONE POINT AXIALLY DISPLACED FROM AND BELOW THE POINT OF APPLICATION OF THE INK TO THE ROLLER IRRESPECTIVE OF THE ROTATION OF SAID ROLLER.