Ink mist suppression roller assembly for a rotary printing press

Claim 1

An improved ink roller assembly for a rotary printing press ink mist suppression system comprising; a stationary, elongated shaft, a cylindrical, electrically conductive sleeve disposed coaxially about an intermediate portion of said shaft, bearing means supporting said sleeve for independent rotation about the axis of said shaft, a resilient covering wrapped about the outer surface of the sleeve and having electrical resistivity characteristics such that a high voltage potential applied to the sleeve will create an electric field outwardly circumjacent the covering, circuit means for applying a high voltage potential through the roller assembly to the sleeve including current conductor connection means projecting outwardly from an end of the shaft at a point outwardly beyond the sleeve, and contacting means for maintaining a circuit from the connection means to the sleeve when said sleeve is rotating, and dielectric shroud means substantially encapsulating the entire roller assembly, except for the resilient covering, including shaft end-cap insulator elements which remain stationary with said shaft, and annular collar-like insulator elements disposed about the opposite ends of the sleeve and rotatable therewith, said end-cap insulator elements having stepped, annular, eXternal surfaces formed at one end thereof to interfit with corresponding stepped annular, interval surfaces on said collar-like insulator elements, and said collar-like insulator elements having at least one axially projecting annular flange portion adapted to interfit with an annular recess provided in the end-cap insulator element adjacent thereto.