Simplified lithography using ink and water admixtures

Claim 1

In a system for the continuous and automatic supply of printing fluid comprised substantially of lithographic ink with lithographic dampening water admixed therein, to a lithographic printing plate mounted on the plate cylinder of a printing press the combination comprising: (a) printing fluid fountain means; (b) a fluid metering roller having an oleophilic and hydrophobic surface mounted coextensively with said fluid fountain means to receive printing fluid therefrom; (c) separate sources of ink and water; (d) mixing means separate from said printing fluid fountain means to receive ink and water from said separate sources of ink and water and blend them into a substantially uniform dispersion; (e) ink removal means mounted in cooperative contact with the surface of said fluid metering roller to remove excess printing fluid therefrom; (f) reservoir means positioned beneath said printing fluid fountain means and beneath said ink removal means to receive those printing fluids from said fluid fountain means and said ink removal means that are not transferred to the plate cylinder; (g) circulating means including pump means interconnecting said reservoir means, said mixing means and said fountain means so that printing fluid from said reservoir means can be reconstituted to a preselected ink to water ratio and circulated to said fountain means; (h) printing fluid sampling and signaling means operably connected to said circulating means at a location downstream from said mixing means to produce a signal determinative of the ink to water ratio of the printing fluid; and (i) means responsive to the signal from said printing fluid sampling and signaling means to cause those quantities of ink and water to be introduced into said mixing means with the printing fluid from said reservoir that are required to achieve the ink to water ratio desired for printing operations.