Tinting unit for offset printing press

Claim 1

In combination with a printing press having a web of paper stock associated therewith, means for advancing the web through the press and at least one printing station, an in-line paper web tinting unit comprising: a pair of opposed, spaced-apart supports mounted on the press on opposite sides of the path of travel of said web adjacent said printing station; a pair of applicator rolls each having a continuous, web-tinting periphery; means mounting said rolls on said supports for free rotation thereon about their longitudinal axes in spanning relationship to the supports and for lateral movement toward and away from contacting disposition to locations in spaced relationship; means adjustably squeezing said rolls together along their lengths and their peripheries pressing against opposite faces of said web for driving of the applicator rolls solely by movement of the web therebetween; means for continuOusly supplying a sufficient quantity of tinting fluid to said rolls to completely and evenly tint both faces of the paper simultaneously with said fluid as the web is pulled by said advancing means to thereby effect said web drive of the rolls in unison; said fluid supply means for each applicator roll respectively including an open top fluid reservoir and a rotatable pickup roll adapted for partial submersion in tinting fluid contained in a corresponding reservoir; separate elongated wiper means adjacent opposed ends of each of the pickup rolls and extending inwardly from the outermost ends thereof a substantial distance toward the central area of a respective pickup roll; and means mounting the wiper means for independent movement relative to a corresponding pickup roll and allowing selective adjustment of the spacing thereof longitudinally of the same toward and away from the proximal surface of a corresponding pickup roll to permit selective control of the amount and location of fluid picked up by each of said pickup rolls.