Composite fountain blade construction for remote ink control system

Claim 2

A blade assembly for a fountain in a printing press which comprises a rigid backing member providing a flat mounting surface, a plurality of blade sections of identical rectangular shape having shank portions arranged closely edge to edge along the mounting surface and having cantilevered portions which extend beyond the mounting surface presenting tips generally alined with one another to produce a continuous film-forming edge, one lateral edge of each cantilevered portion being relieved to a constant depth of at least 0.0003 inch to form slots between the sections so that the sections may undergo free independent movement for adjustment of the ink film, the relief having a maximum depth of 0.0007 inch and the lateral edges of each blade section being precisely parallel to one another so as to prevent leakage between adjacent blade sections in all conditions of relative adjustment of the sections, the shank portion of each blade section being non-symmetrically marked for each visual identification of the relieved edge thereby to facilitate assembly on the backing member with consistent orientation to insure that no more than a single relief exists between any two adjacent blade edges.

Claim 3

The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the depth of the relief on each of the blades is substantially 0.0005 inch.

Claim 4

The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the marking is permanent and in the form of a chamfer on identical ones of the corners of the shank portion of each blade section.

Claim 5

The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the mounting surface on the backing member is extended beyond a line connecting the roots of the slots for partial support of the cantilevered portions.

Claim 6

The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the blade sections are face-bonded to the mounting surface and in which the bonding agent extends beyond a line connecting the roots of the slots.

Claim 7

An ink fountain for a printing press comprising, in combination, a frame including side plates presenting opposed parallel surfaces, a fountain roller having a surface extending from one side plate to the other, a rigid backing member providing a flat mounting surface spaced from the roller and angled downwardly with respect to it, a plurality of blade sections of identical rectangular shape having shank portions secured closely edge to edge along the mounting surface and having cantilevered portions which extend beyond the mounting surface in the direction of the roller presenting tips generally alined with another to produce a continuous film-forming edge, means including adjustment screws for positioning said cantilevered blade sections, one lateral edge of each cantilevered portion being relieved to a constant depth so that when the blade sections are similarly oriented slots of equal width are defined between them, the lateral edges of each blade section being precisely parallel to one another and the depth of the relief on each of the sections permitting free independent movement of the blade sections upon adjustment of the screws and precluding leakage of ink between adjacent blade sections in all conditions of relative adjustment of the sections, the blade assembly being dimensioned for snug fit between the end plates for containment of a body of ink above the blade assembly.

Claim 8

An ink fountain for a printing press comprising, in combination, a frame including side plates presenting opposed parallel surfaces, a fountain roller having a surface extending from one side plate to the other, a rigid backing member providing a flat mounting surface spaced from the roller and angled downwardly with respect to it, a plurality of blade sections of identical rectangular shape having shank portions secured closely edge to edge along the mounting surface and having cantilevered portions which extend beyond the mounting surface in the direction of the roller presenting tips generally alined with another to produce a continuous film-forming edge, means including adjustment screws for positioning said cantilevered blade sections, one lateral edge of each cantilevered portion being relieved to a constant depth so that when the blade sections are similarly oriented slots of equal width are defined between them, the lateral edges of each blade section being precisely parallel to one another and the depth of the relief on each of the sections permitting free independent movement of the blade sections upon adjustment of the screws and precluding leakage of ink between adjacent blade sections in all conditions of relative adjustment of the sections, the blade assembly being dimensioned for snug fit between the end plates for containment of a body of ink above the blade assembly.

Claim 9

The combination as claimed in claim 6 in which the backing member is longitudinally foreshortened so that the presented lateral edges of the blade sections at the respective ends of the blade assembly project beyond the backing member and into close ink sealing engagement with the end plates, and threaded clamping means at each of the end plates for drawing the end plates into intimate engagement with the presenTed edges.