US2182367A - Inking mechanism for rotary intaglio printing machines - Google Patents

Description

' 5, 1939. A. M. ZUCKERMAN mxme MECHANISM FOR ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING umcn mas Original FiIed May 25, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 5, 1 939. A. M. ZUCKERMAN 2,132,367

7 INKING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING MACHINES Original Filed May 25, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 1939. A. M. ZUCKERMAN 2,182,367

INKING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING MACHINES Original Filed May 25, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q. INVENTOR.

Dec. 5, 1939.

A. M. ZUCKERMAN INKING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING MACHINES Original Filed May 25, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Patented 519cc. 5, i939 UNEEEE SAYS ENKING F/IECHSM FOR RUTARY IINTAGMQ PRINTING MAHNES Adolph M. Zuclkerman, New York, N. Y, assignor,

by mesne assi 2mm w R, lBloe 85 00-, End,

New York, N. 212, a coration of New York Application May 25, 1934, Serial No. 727,556 Renewed May 5, 1939 33 Claims.

This invention relates to printing machines and more particularly to inking mechanisms for rotary intaglio printing machines adapted to 0perjalte at high speed with quick drying or volatile in s.

Heretofore, ink fountains have been provided, in the form of receptacles for the reception of printing ink, and the usual intaglio printing cylinder is revolved in the fountain thereby causing ink to be deposited on the periphery of the cylinder and in the intaglio cavities of the design. The surplus ink is then scraped from the smooth peripheral portion of the intaglio printing cylinder, thus leaving the image-producing ink in the image depression of the cylinder, which ink is transferred to the web or sheet to be printed as it passes between the peripheral surfaces of the intaglio printing cylinder and the cooperating impression cylinder.

There is a progressively increasing demand for higher operatin speeds together with improved printing in modern commercial rotary intaglio printing machines, and an object of this invention is to provide an intaglio ink fountain and mechanism for maintaining a constant ink level or head in the fountain to insure uniform cov erage of the peripheral portion of the intaglio cylinder under all operating conditions to thus prevent unprinted spots or portions of the web, and to initially deposit and subsequently spread a uniform film of ink on the printing portion of the cylinder before it reaches the doctor blade to reduce the operating stresses usually imparted to the doctor blade to thereby permit higher operating speeds and to prolong the operative life of the blade and enhance its efficiency.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ink fountain having suitably secured and removable components arranged to enclose the major portion of the intaglio printing cylinder,-

and certain of the components being constructed and arranged to support instrumentalities for removing excess ink from the periphery of the intaglio printing cylinder and then spreading the remaining ink in a thin uniform film thereon, and finally wiping the surplus ink from the smooth peripheral portion of the cylinder and returning it to the ink fountain.

A further object of this invention is to provide an ink fountain for intaglio printing machines having hingedly mounted and removable components for enclosing the major portion of the printing cylinder and movable to open position to permit the removal of the cylinder from the fountain.

(Gil. 101-157) an intaglio printing cylinder, communicating the fountain with an ink reservoir, providing means of given capacity for feeding controlled quantities of ink from the reservoir to the fountain, communicating the fountain with the reservoir through a return conduit, interposing mechanism of greater capacity than the feeding means for returning ink from the fountain back to the reservoir, maintaining a uniform level of ink in the bottom of the fountain, initially depositing a uniform film of ink on the peripheral portion of the rotating intaglio cylinder, removing the excess ink therefrom, spreading the remaining ink in a thinner uniform film before the ink reaches the doctor blade, scraping or wiping the surplus ink from the smooth peripheral portion of the intaglio printing cylinder by means of the doctor blade, and returning this surplus ink" through the fountain and to the reservoir.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a fountain for intaglio printing machines of tions, which will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and the novel features pointed out in the claims hereunto appended. v

. For a complete disclosure of the-invention, a detailed description of a preferred form of a fountain for intaglio printing cylinder will now i be given in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, parts appearing in elevation, taken through the improved fountain for intaglio printing machines;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section taken approximately on the line 22 of Fig. 1, parts appearing in elevation;

Figure 3 is a fragmental plan view of the fountain, a portion of the machine frame being shown in section and components of the fountain broken away;

vinder.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view disclosing the circulating system to be employed in connection with my ink fountain;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan-view of the fountain, components being broken away;

Figure 6 is a. fragmental elevational view of the return pump and strainer, the view being taken in the direction of arrows 6 of Figure 4,

and 1 Figure 7 a fragmental horizontal sectional view taken on line of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings in which similar,

. copper shell, or, if preferred, a metallic plate may be stretched or otherwise secured around the periphery of the cylinder; the cylinder, however, apart from its operable association with the fountain, forms no part of my present invention.

An improved ink fountain or chamber is procided, and includes a housing I! having a bottom portion I8 which is offset to provide an arcuate ink well l9 arranged concentrically with re-, lation to the printing cylinder l5, and this arcuate ink well I9 is spaced a slight distance from the periphery of the cylinder IS in order to provide a restricted arcuate ink receiving and depositing space or area 2|! between the arcuate ink well l9 and the peripheral surface of the cyl- A portion of the fountain body is cut away, as indicated at 2| in Figure 1, to provide an abutting edge to cooperate with a similar abutting edge 22 formed on a fountain component 23 or closure, which is hingedly secured to the body-of the fountain by means of hinge sleeves 24, suitably secured to the fountain body.

and similar sleeves 26 secured to the fountain component 23. A hinge rod 25 extends through the sleeves 24 and 26 to operably receive suitable helical tortion springs 21, and each spring has one terminal engaging the fountain housing and the other engaging the sidewall 29 ,of the fountain component 23, thereby normally urging the fountain component to closed position, as indicated in Figure 1. The side wall 29 of the fountain component 23 extends the en tire length of the fountain body 11, and is provided with end walls 3| which abut the end walls 32 of the fountain along the diagonal surfaces 2| and 22, as heretofore explained. A top plate or cover member 34 is secured to the fountain component 23 by screws or other suitable securing devices 35, and the inner longitudinal edge of the cover member is shaped to conform to the periphery of the printing cylinder, as indicated at 36, and is positioned immediately adjacent but does notlengage the peripheral portion of the cylinder. I

At the opposite .sides of the fountain there is provided another hinged fountain component or closure, indicated generally at '38, and which is provided with ears or lugs 39 which are hingedly secured to lugs or bosses 48, extending from the side wall of the fountain, by means of screws or other securing devices 42. The hinged component 38 is hopper shaped and comprises an outer wall 44 which extends longitudinally beyond the end of the fountain and is provided with perpendicularly disposed end members or walls 46, which have arcuate inner edges 41, shaped to conform to the periphery of the printing cylinder. -l5. A bottom wall or partition 49 extends longitudinally of the fountain and projects beyond the terminals thereof and joins the end walls or members 46. Spaced apertures 58.

are formed in the partition 49, and the inner wall of I each aperture coincides with a baflie member- 52 carried by the hinged component 38 and which extends downwardly into-the fountain past the joint defined by the upper edge of the fountain and the lower edge of the hinged fountain component 38. A terminal flange or plate 53 is secured to the baflie 52 and forms a continuation thereof for reasons to be hereinafterdisclosed. The joint between the upper edge of the fountain and the lower edge of the hinged component 38 is sealed by a gasket or plate 54, preferably formed of soft metal, and having 'an inclined batlle portion 55 which extends downwardly into the fountain and terminates in an apron 56,

which engages the side wall of the fountain and is arranged parallel thereto. A flange or ear 48 extends from each fountain component 84, hereinafter described, and engages the arcuate surface of the end wall 46 to close this portion of the hinged fountain component.

, The wall 44 of the hinged fountain component 38 is cut away, as indicated at 58, for the reception' of a doctor blade holder, which comprises an angular member 68, having a flange 6| received in slots 62 formed in arms 63 supported by a longitudinally extending shaft 65, and the shaft 65, in turn, is supported by bearing mem bers 66 formed at the upper terminal of bracket members 61. Securing members 69, in the form of screws, having manipulating heads 1|, engage the flange 6| of the doctor bladeholder, thereby securely locking it to the arms 63. Clamp members 13 are secured to the upper face of the flange 14 of the doctor blade holder by means of screws or other securing devices 15, and the doctor blade I6 is clamped between the clampwith. A guide or bafile member 18 is secured to the lower face of the flange 14 of the doctor blade holder, the function of which will be hereinafter disclosed. The bracket 61, ,in conformity with the usual practice, is rec'iprocated or vibrated longitudinally along guideways 88 carried by the machine frame In, as shown in Figure 1; and it is mounted for transverse adjustment on transverse greater In order to complete the housing around the supporting shaft or trunnions it of the intaglio cylinder l5, there are provided end members or removable fountain components 8-41, having an arcuate flange formed at the lower portion thereof for arcuate engagement with the upper portion of the cylinder shaft or trunnions it, thereby closing the fountain around the cylinder shaft. The side edges 85 of the removable fountain components 84 accurately engage and in terfit with the edges of an opening 81 formed in the end wall 32 of the fountain. Lugs 88 extend longitudinally from the wall of the member 8%, and the upper terminals of these lugs are engaged by the adjusting nut of the clamp screws 89 which are swivelled to lugs 90, as indicated at 9|, carried by the end wall 32 of the fountain. thereby securely locking the removable fountain component M in position on the end wall 32 of the fountain to complete the fountain housing around the shaft. A suitable gasket 92 is interposed between the removable/ fountain component B l and the end of the cylinder l5, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Although the fountain components 23 and 38 have been depicted and described as being hingedly'secured to the fountain, it is to be understood that these components may be secured to the fountain in any convenient or preferred manner. The hinged form illustrated is merely a preferred arrangement and other suitable removable or detachable components may be employed if desired.

I In order to secure the fountain in position for operable association with the fountain roller i5, lugs or supporting feet 93 extend from the lower portion of the fountain and they are secured to suitable brackets til, which, in turn, carry nuts or bushings 95 in which threaded lifting members or screw rods 96 are received. The rotation of the screw rods 98 within the nuts or bushings 95 raises and lowers the fountain, and inasmuch as devices of this type are Well known to those skilled in the art, the mechanism for operably supporting and rotating the screw rods 95 is not illustrated in this application, but a similar arrangement is disclosed in the United States Patent No. 1,451,726 to Adolph M. Zuckerman.

The circulating system for the fountain includes an ink tank or reservoir 9'3, having a pipe or conduit 98 which leads from the lower terminal of the reservoir to a pump member G9 which is driven by a suitable motor i813. A conduit iill, having a control valve Hi2, extends from the pump lit to a manifold i833, and the multiple terminals I05. of the manifold 363 communicate with the lower portion of the ink fountain ll. These terminal pipes I65 convey the ink into the fountain at one side thereof, and a plate or baiile member i0? is positioned above these pipe inlets in order to laterally direct or guide the feeding ink. A by-pass I iii extends around the pump 99, and this by-pass includes a spring relief valve H2. The pumping capacity or pressure of this arrangement may be determined and adjusted by manipulating the valve 562. When this valve is closed or partially closed, a commensurate pressure is built-up or produced in the conduit between the valve and the pump, and this pressure forces the spring relief valve 5 62 open, thereby permitting ink to flow through the by-pass i it and valve H2 from the pressure or feed side of the pump back to the intake side. This arrangement insures a controlled or regulated quantity of ink being pumped from the reservoir 9! into the fountain or chamber M.

A return conduit 9 Hi extends from the opposite side of the fountain ii and leads to a strainer member or receptacle H5 having a drain valve 9 i6, and a conduit i It communicates the strainer with a suitable motor-driven ink pump 529, which, in turn, is communicated with the tank or reservoir 9? through a valve controlled conduit 822. In order to insure a predetermined ink level within the fountain, the fountain terminal we of the ink discharge conduit 'I It extends a predetermined distance above the bottom of the fountain, as indicated in Figure 1.

In operation, the pump 99 feeds a predetermined quantity of ink from the tank or reservoir 97 into the fountain or chamber, and the incoming ink after being forced through the conduits m5 impinges the baffle member or plate it'l and is directed laterally towards the printing cylinder into the arcuate area 20. Here the ink is picked up by the peripheral portion of the cylinder and the intaglio design cavities and is conveyed to the upper portion of the fountain in the direction indicated by'the arrow l3ll.- The ink carried upwardly by the periphery of the cylinder eng2 gas the baflie members 52 and 53, and the baffie members scrape off or remove the surplus ink and spread or work the remaining ink in a thin uniform film on the periphery of the cyl- 52 has an arcuate inner'face which cooperates with the periphery of the cylinder to spread the ink in a thin filmand also tends to break up air pockets or air bubbles to thereby insure a uniform ink film. The film of ink is next engaged by the doctor blade which scrapes the surplus ink from the periphery of the cylinder, leaving the design producing ink in the intaglio cavities of the printing cylinder, and the surplus ink is directed through the apertures, 5&3 past the joint at the upper edge of the fountain and into the fountain. The pump member lid is of slightly greater capacity than pump 99, thereby pumping all surplus and feeding ink from the fountain into the strainer and back into the reservoir. Inasmuch as the return conduit H 3 extends into the fountain a distance above the bottom thereof, a predetermined level of ink is maintained in the bottom portion of the fountain. By this arrangement, a relatively uniformink film is initially deposited on the periphery of the intaglio printing cylinder, and this is subsequently subjected to a surplus ink removing operation and a spreading or smoothing action by the bafiie members 52 and 53 before it reaches the doctor blade, and the doctor blade it, in conformity with the usual practice, removes albsurplus ink from the periphery of the cylinder. The removable and hingedly secured fountain components, together with the doctor blade, closes the upper portion of the fountain, consequently, the ink maintained in the fountain is protected against excessive evaporation and the entrance of extraneous matter, thereby insuring perfect printing under all normal intaglio printing conditions.

The web W, or sheet'to be printed, is, in con formity with the usual practice, led around an impression roller iii) in engagement with the intaglio printing cylinder it, thus the design is conveyed to the web W and the printing opercuring screws 89 are released and the removable tary intaglio printing machines in which a constant ink level or head is maintained to insure uniform coverage of the peripheral portion of the intaglio cylinder under all operating conditions thereby obviating unprinted spots or areas on the web or surfaces being printed. A uniform film of ink is initially deposited on the periphery of the intaglio cylinder and then the surplus ink is removed, thereby leaving a thin ink film. This film is then worked" or spread into a thinner uniform film and finally conveyed to the doctor blade. Inasmuch as only a thin uniform film of ink reaches the wiping edge of the doctor blade; the wiping stress or pressure usually exerted by the blade may be reduced, and, consequently, the efficiency of the blade is increased and its operative life prolonged.

This improved fountain is also particularly adapted for high speed operation, because, as disclosed, no component of the device engages the periphery or printing surface of the intaglio printing cylinder except the wiping edge of the doctor blade, and, as explained, the wiping stress exerted on the wiping edge of the blade is reduced. By this arrangement, wear and abrasion or scoring of the'cylinder is avoided, and there is no tendency to build up or produce pressure in the fountain. Atmospheric pressure is maintained in the fountain, and the high peripheral speed of the intaglio printing cylinder permitted by this structure and arrangement is such that even when highly volatile printing inks are employed no appreciable evaporation occurs on the exposed portion of the cylinder.

Components of the disclosed circulating system may be rearranged to conform to specific commercial requirements and locations. In some installations it may be desirable or' preferable to position the ink tank or reservoir I'I below the press fioor level, and, in this case, a pump is employed to feed ink to the fountain, but the surplus or overflow ink is returned to the tank I! by gravity, thereby eliminating the necessity of employing'a pump in the return line.

Other changTs in arrangement, form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. Having thus described my invention, what. I claimas new and useful in the art, is: r

1. The method of inking an intaglio printing cylinder, which consists in rotatably mounting the cylinder in a chamber, communicating the chamber with an ink reservoir, pumping ink from the reservoir to the chamber, controlling the quantity of ink suppliedto the chamber inde-. pendently of the quantity of pumped ink, maintaining a, predetermined quantity of ink in the chamber, rotating the cylinder in the ink to deposit a film of ink thereon, and scraping the surplus ink from the surface of the cylinder.

2-. The method of inking an intaglio printing cylinder, which consists in rotatably mounting,

the cylinder in a chamber, communicating the chamber with an ink reservoir, pumping ink from the reservoir to the chamber, controlling the quantity of ink supplied to the chamber independently of the quantity of pumped ink, maintaining a predetermined level of ink in the chamber, rotating the cylinder in the ink to deposit a film of ink thereon, scraping the surplus ink from the surface of the cylinder, and returning the surplus ink to the reservoir.

3. The method of inking an intaglio printing cylinder, which consists in rotatably mounting the cylinder in a chamber, communicating the chamber with an ink reservoir, feeding ink from the reservoir to the chamber, maintaining a predetermined level of ink in the chamber, rotating the cylinder in the ink to deposit ink on the peripheral portion thereof, spreading the ink to provide a uniform film on the peripheral portion of the cylinder and returning the excess ink to the ink in the chamber through a path of travel, and scraping the film of ink from the peripheral portion of the cylinder and returning it to the ink in the chamber through another path of travel.

4. The method of inking an intaglio printing cylinder which consists in rotating the cylinder in a chamber at printing speeds, communicating the chamber with anink reservoir, feeding ink fromthe reservoir to the chamber through a device of variable capacity relative to the speed of rotation of the cylinder, maintaining a predetermined quantity of ink in the chamber, depositing ink on the peripheral portion of the cylinder by the rotation thereof, scraping the surplus ink from the surface of the cylinder, and returning the surplus ink to the reservoir through a device of greater capacity than the greatest capacity of the said variable ink feeding device.

5. The method of inking an intaglio printing cylinder which consists in operably mounting the cylinder in a chamber, communicating the chamber with an ink reservoir, pumping ink from the reservoir to the chamber through a device of given capacity, above a predetermined level in the chamber to the reservoir through a device of greater capacity than the said first mentioned device to thereby maintain a predetermined ink level in the chamber, rotating the cylinder in the ink to deposit ink on the peripheral portion thereof, and scraping the surplus ink from the periphery of the cylinder.

6. The method of inking an intaglio printing 5 cylinder which consists in operably rotating the cylinder ina chamber at printing speeds, communicating the chamber with an ink reservoir, pumping supply ink from the reservoir to the chamber through a device of variable capacity relative to the rotating speed of the cylinder,

pumping ink from I pumping ink from above a predetermined level 1 in the chamber to the reservoir through a pump of greater capacity than the greatest capacity of the ink supply device to thereby maintain a predetermined ink level in the chamber.

7. The method of inking an intaglio printing cylinder which consists in operably mounting the cylinder in a chamber, communicating the chamber with an ink reservoir, pumping supply ink from the reservoir to the chamber through a pump of given capacity, bypassing the pump to vary the quantity of ink supplied to the chamber, pumping ink from above a predetermined level in the chamber to the reservoir through a arsen c? pump' of greater capacity than the greatest ca= pacity of the said supply pump and by-pass to.

thereby maintain a predetermined ink level in the chamber, rotating the cylinder in the ink to deposit ink on the peripheral portion thereof, scraping the surplus ink from the periphery of the cylinder, and returning the surplus ink through the chamber to the reservoir.

8. The method of inking an intaglio printing cylinder which consists in operably mounting the cylinder in a chamber, pumping supply ink from a reservoir to the chamber through a device of variable capacity, returning ink from above a predetermined level in the chamber to the reservoir through a pump of greater capacity than the greatest capacity of the supply device thereby maintaining a predetermined ink level in the chamber, rotating the cylinder in the inkto deposit ink on the peripheral portion thereof, reducing the ink deposited on the peripheral portion of the cylinder to a uniform film, scraping the surplus ink from the peripheral surface of the cylinder, and returning the surplus ink to the reservoir through the said return pump.

9. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, a rotatable intaglio printing cylinder operable in the fountain, the fountain housing the major portion of the cylinder, independent means external of the fountain for rotatably supporting the printing cylinder, movable means for supporting the fountain for movement towards and away from the cylinder, and fountain components removable to open the fountain to permit the movement of the fountain away from the cylinder. I

10. In a printing machine, a frame, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder independently supported by the frame and rotatable within the fountain, the fountain housing the major portion of the cylinder, movable means for supporting the fountain for movement towards and away from the cylinder, and fountain components removable to open the fountain to permit the movement of the fountain away from the cylinder.

11. In a printing machine, a frame, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatably supported by the frame and rotatable in the fountain, fountain components movably secured to the fountain and constructed and arranged to substantially close the fountain around the greater portion of the cylinder, movable means for supporting the fountain for movement towards and away from the cylinder, the said movable fountain components being movable to open positioniso permit the movement of the fountain away from the'cylinder.

12. In a printing machine, a frame, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatably supported by the frame and rotatable in the fountain, fountain components hingedly secured to the fountain and constructed and arranged to substantially close the fountain about the greater portion of the cylinder, movable means for supporting the fountain for movement towards and away from the cylinder, the said fountain components being movable to open position to permit the movement of the fountain away from the cylinder.

13. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, a rotatable intaglio printing cylinder operable in the fountain, a shaft secured to the cylinder, means external of the fountain for rotatably supporting the printing cylinder shaft, movable means for supporting the fountain for movement relative to the cylinder, and fountain components removably secured to the fountain and constructed and arranged to engage the shaft to seal the fountain around the shaft and removable to permit movement of the fountain away from the cylinder.

14. In a printing machine, a frame, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder operable within the fountain, trunnions secured to and extending axially from the cylinder and journalled in the frame to operably support the cylinder, means for holding the fountain against rotation and for moving the fountain towards and away from the cylinder, and fountain components removably secured to the fountain and constructed and arranged to engage the shaft to seal the fountain around the shaft and removable to permit the movement of the fountain away from the cylinder.

15. In a printing machine, an ink fountain having removable portions, a rotatable intaglio printing cylinder operable in the fountain, the fountain housing the major portion of the cylinder, independent means external of the fountain for rotatably supporting the printing cylinder, and movable means for supporting the fountain for movement to and from the cylinder, the removal of the removable portions of the fountain permitting the fountain to be moved away from the cylinder.

16. In a printing machine, a fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder, a shaft secured to the cylinder, means external of the fountain for rotatably supporting the shaft to thereby rotatably support the cylinder in the fountain, means for supporting the fountain, fountain components removably secured to the fountain and constructed and arranged to engagethe shaft to seal the fountain around the shaft, and fountain components hingedly secured to the fountain and constructed and arranged to substantially close the fountain around the greater part of the cylinder, the said removable and hinged fountain components being movable to permit the removal of the cylinder from the fountain.

1'2. In a printing machine, a frame, a fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder, a shaft secured to the cylinder and journalled in the frame to rotatably supportthe cylinder in the fountain, means for supporting the fountain, fountain components removably secured to the founta n and constructed and arranged to engage the shaft to iii seal the fountain around the shaft, and fountain components hingedly secured to the fountain and cylinder and extending beyond the ends of said cylinder and over the ends of said fountain, a

hinged side cover comprising a rigid baffle in spaced relation to but positioned immediately adjacent the periphery of the cylinder and near the doctor blade and spaced therefrom to spread the ink carried by the periphery of the rotating printing cylinder in a unifom film on the cylinder periphery before it reaches the 'doctor blade, said cover comprising also end portions extending beyond and below the ends of said doctor blade for goo receiving ink discharged by said doctor blade and directing it-into said fountain.

19. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatable in the fountain and ink, a doctor blade having an edge in wiping engagement with the periphery of the cylinder and extending beyond the ends. of said cylinder and over the ends of said fountain, a

hinged side cover comprising a battle positioned near the doctor blade and having an arcuate portion spaced from but positioned adjacent the periphery of the cylinder to cooperate therewith to spread the ink carried by the periphery of the cylinder in a uniform film thereon before it reaches the doctor blade, said cover comprising also end portions extending beyond and below the ends of said doctor blade for receiving ink discharged by said doctor blade and directing it into' said fountain, and a second side cover located over" the space between the periphery of said cylinde'rand the terminal of the fountain opposite said doctor and having its edge adjacent said cylinder periphery spaced therefrom.

20. In a printing machine, an ink fountain. means for maintaining a predetermined ink level in the fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatable in the fountain and ink, a doctor blade having an edge in wiping engagement with the periphery of the cylinder, a baflie member positioned immediately adjacent the periphery of the .21. In a printing machine, an ink fountain,

means for maintaining a predetermined ink level in the fountain, an intaglio'printing cylinder rotatable in the fountain and ink, a doctor blade having an edge in wiping engagement with the periphery of the cylinder, a baiile member near the doctor blade and' having an arcuate portion positioned immediately adjacent the periphery of the cylinder to define a narrow space of decreasing width between the baflle member and the periphery of the cylinder to thereby spread the ink carried by the periphery of the rotating cylinder in a uniform film thereon before the ink reaches the doctor blade. 1

22. In a printing machine, an ink fountain,

an intaglio printing cylinder rotatable in the fountain and ink, a movable cover member for the fountain cooperating with the terminal of the fountain to thereby define a joint between it and the-terminal of the fountain when moved to closed position, a doctor blade having an edge in wiping engagement with the periphery of the cylinder, a baflle member carried by the movable cover member and extending into the fountain adjacent the periphery of the cylinder to convey the ink carried by the periphery of rotating cylinder past the said joint and to spread the ink in a uniform film on the periphery of the cylinder before it reaches the doctor blade. I

23. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatable in the fountain and ink, a movable cover member for the fountain defining a joint between it and the upper terminal of the fountain when moved to closed position on the fountain, a doctor blade having an edge in wiping engagement with the periphery of the cylinder, a baffle member carried by the cover member and extending into the fountain adjacent the periphery of the cylinder to spread the'ink in a uniform film on the periphery of the cylinder before the ink reaches the doctor blade, and another baflle member for conveying thesurplus ink scraped off the periphery of the cylinder by the doctor blade past the joint and back into the fountain.

24. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatable in the fountain and ink, a cover member hinged to the fountain and forming ajoint between it and the upper terminal of the fountain when moved to closed position on the fountain, a doctor blade having an edge in wiping engagement with the periphery of the cylinder, a pivotally mounted carrier for the doctor blade, a baflie member'carried by the hinged cover member and extending into the doctor blade, and other baiile members spaced from the cylinder periphery and carried by the doctor blade and the hinged cover member to convey the surplus ink scraped off the periphery of the'cylinder by the doctor blade past the joint and back into the fountain.

25. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, an

intaglio printing cylinder rotatable in the fountain, an ink reservoir, a feed conduit leading from the reservoir to the fountain, a return conduit leading from the'fountain back to the reservoir, the fountain terminal of the return conduit terminating above the bottom of the fountain, a pump for forcing ink from the reservoir into the fountain, a by-pass around the pump for varying the quantity of ink supplied to the fountain, means for forcing ink from the fountain back into the reservoir, and a doctor blade having an edge in wiping engagement with the periphery of the cylinder.

26. In aprinting machine, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatable in the fountain, an ink reservoir, a feed conduit leading from the reservoir to the fountain, a pump of given capacity operably interposed in the feed conduit between the reservoir and the fountain, the pump and conduit being constructed and arranged to supply a variable and controlled quantity of ink to the fountain, a return conduit leading from the fountain back to the .reservoir, the fountain terminal of'the return conduit terminating in the fountain above the bottom thereof,a pump of greater capacity than the said feed pump operably interposed in the return conduit to pump the ink above the fountain terminal of the return conduit from the fountain back into the reservoir thereby maintaining a fixed level of ink in the fountain, a doctor blade having an edge in wiping engagement with the periphery of the cylinder, vmeans for spreading the ink carried by the periphery of the rotating cylinder in a uniform iilm thereon before it reaches the doctor blade, and means for conveying the surplus ink scraped off the periphery of the cylinder by the doctor blade back into the fountain.

'27. The method of inking an intaglio printing cylinder, which consists in rotating the cylinder at operable printing speeds in a body of ink, feeding ink from a source of ink supply to the ink body in quantities variablerelative to the operating speed of the printing cylinder, maintaining a predetermined quantity of ink in the ink body,

' and returning excess ink from the ink body to 31. An ink fountain for intaglio printing macylinder at operable printing speeds in a body of ink, feeding ink from a source of ink supply to the ink body through a feed medium of capacity variable relative to the operating speed of the printing cylinder, maintaining the ink body at a predetermined level, and returning the excess ink'from the ink body to the'source of ink supply through a positive return medium of greater capacity than the said feed medium.

29. The method of inking an intaglio printing cylinder, which consists in rotating the printing cylinder at operable printing speeds in a body of ink, feeding quantities of ink in excess of printing requirements from a source of ink supply to the ink body through a feed medium of capacity variable relative'to the operating speed of the printing cylinder, maintaining the ink body at a predetermined level, and returning the ink in excess of printing requirements from the ink\ body to the source of ink supply through a positive return medium of greater capacity than the greatest capacity of the said feed medium.

30. An ink fountain for intaglio printing machines, including spaced side and end walls and a bottom, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatable in the fountain, an arcuate ink well positioned adjacent the lower peripheral surface of the cylinder to define a restricted arcuate ink depositing space between the lower portion. of the ink cylinder and the upper surface of the arcuate ink well to deposit ink on the cylinder periphery, the radial distance between the arcuate ink well and the peripheral surface of the cylinder being generally less than the radial distance between the said peripheral surface of the cylinder and the side walls and bottom.

chines, including spaced side and end walls and a bottom, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatable in the fountain, an arcuate ink well provided by offsetting the bottom, the ink well being arranged concentric to the cylinder periphery and positioned adjacent thereto to define a restricted arcuate ink depositing space between the cylinder define a restricted arcuate ink depositing space.

between the cylinder periphery and adjacent surface of the arcuate ink well.

33. An ink fountain for intaglio printing machines, having closure components including cover members, side and end walls and a bottom, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatable. in the fountain, a doctor blade supported adjacent one of said closure components andpositioned in scraping engagement with the cylinder'periphery, the said fountain closure components enclosing the major portion of the cylinder, certain of the closure components being positioned immediately adjacent the cylinder periphery and all the said components being spaced away from the cylinder periphery.

\ ADOLPH M. ZUCKERMAN.

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