An ink fountain device having a base; a plate; an advancing and retracting mechanism for advancing and retracting the plate along an advancing and retracting direction; and a thin sheet arranged on the base which has plural holes accommodating balls and is thinner in thickness than a diameter of the balls. The plate is arranged over the thin sheet and supported by the balls.

A printing press makes an ink reservoir between an ink fountain and an ink fountain roller and supplies ink to the plate cylinder via a ductor roller advancing and retracting towards and from the ink fountain roller. The printing press is provided with the ink fountain, a base supporting the ink fountain, a slide mechanism sliding the ink fountain along the base in order to control the clearance between the tip of the ink fountain and the ink fountain roller, a cleaner removing the ink from the ink fountain roller, an advancement and retraction mechanism for advancing and retracting the cleaner between a contact position to the ink fountain roller and a non-contact position, and a controller. The controller controls the slide mechanism and the advancement and retraction mechanism, enlarges the clearance in order to pass the dirt with the ink through the clearance, and makes the cleaner in contact with the ink fountain roller to remove the dirt with the ink.

A printing press makes an ink reservoir between an ink fountain and an ink fountain roller and supplies ink to the plate cylinder via a ductor roller advancing and retracting towards and from the ink fountain roller. The printing press is provided with the ink fountain, a base supporting the ink fountain, a slide mechanism sliding the ink fountain along the base in order to control the clearance between the tip of the ink fountain and the ink fountain roller, a cleaner removing the ink from the ink fountain roller, an advancement and retraction mechanism for advancing and retracting the cleaner between a contact position to the ink fountain roller and a non-contact position, and a controller. The controller controls the slide mechanism and the advancement and retraction mechanism, enlarges the clearance in order to pass the dirt with the ink through the clearance, and makes the cleaner in contact with the ink fountain roller to remove the dirt with the ink.

An apparatus and methods of decorating a metallic container are provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods used to provide a decoration on a predetermined portion of a metallic container body. The decorator includes a sensor that senses decorations on metallic containers. A control system receives information related to the sensed decorations from the sensor and then determines if the decorations at least meet predetermined color, density, thickness, orientation, and consistency targets. The control system can automatically adjust elements of the decorator to correct a deficient decoration. In one embodiment, the control system can automatically adjust ink blades associated with a plurality of inking assemblies of the decorator to adjust the color, density, orientation, positioning, and consistency of decorations transferred to the metallic containers. In another embodiment, the control system can adjust a position of an inking assembly, an ink roller, a plate cylinder, a printing plate, a blanket cylinder, and a transfer blanket of the decorator.

An ink feed device includes an ink blade, a mounting device for the precise mounting of an ink blade and a system for feeding and dosing printing ink. The system includes an ink feed device and a mounting device. A method is provided for renewing a dosing edge of an ink blade, which edge is used to dose the ink. A method for operating an ink feed device, and including an ink blade, is also provided.

An ink feed device includes an ink blade, a mounting device for the precise mounting of an ink blade and a system for feeding and dosing printing ink. The system includes an ink feed device and a mounting device. A method is provided for renewing a dosing edge of an ink blade, which edge is used to dose the ink. A method for operating an ink feed device, and including an ink blade, is also provided.