Method and apparatus for variable density inking

Claim 1

A variable density inking apparatus for a printing apparatus employing a celled ink metering roll such as a letter press or lithographic press comprising ink fountain means, an anilox roll mounted in ink receiving position relative to said fountain means, said anilox roll including a multiplicity of outwardly open cells on the periphery thereof, metering means wipingly engaging the surface of said anilox roll for removing therefrom ink film externally of said cells, a printing roll rotatable relative to said anilox roll, at least one resilient form roll interposed between said printing roll and said anilox roll, said form roll being in peripheral contact with said printing roll and being pressed against said anilox roll to indent into said cells of said anilox roll, said anilox, form, and printing rolls being rotatable about parallel axes, the contacting portions of said rolls rotating in the same direction, the combination including means for varying the relative peripheral speed of said form and anilox rolls in the range of from about 1:3 to 3:1.

Claim 8

The method of varying the ink deposit density of a printing apparatus of the type which includes an ink fountain, an anilox roll having outwardly open cells in the periphery thereof, said anilox roll being disposed in ink receiving relation to said fountain, a doctor blade in wiping engagement to the surface of said anilox roll, thereby to remove ink from said anilox roll in areas external of said cells, at least one resilient form roll coaxially aligned with said anilox roll and in engagement therewith, and a printing roll in ink receiving relation to said form roll, comprising the steps of urging said form roll against said anilox roll, thus to indent the resilient material of said form roll into said cells while simultaneously causing the peripheral portions of said form and anilox rolls to move in the same direction and including a variation in peripheral speeds of said form and anilox rolls from a 1:1 ratio corresponding to a maximum printing density to a ratio of from about 1:3 to 3:1, thereby to reduce the printing density from said maximum.

Claim 9

The method of varying the ink deposit density of a printing apparatus of the type which includes an ink fountain, an anilox roll having outwardly open cells in the periphery thereof, said anilox roll being disposed in ink receiving relation to said fountain, a doctor blade in wiping engagement to the surface of said anilox roll, thereby to remove ink from said anilox roll in areas external of said cells, at least one resilient form roll coaxially aligned with said anilox roll and in engagement therewith, and a printing roll in ink receiving relation to said form roll, comprising the steps of urging said form roll against said anilox roll, thus to indent the resilient material of said form roll into said cells while simultaneously causing the peripheral portions of said form and anilox rolls to move in the same direction and including a variation in peripheral speeds of said form and anilox rolls from a 1:1 ratio corresponding to a maximum printing density to a ratio of from about 1:3 to 3:1, thereby to reduce the printing density from said maximum.