Shaft seal for distributor rollers in inking units of printing presses

Means for journaling and sealing a reciprocated roller in a printing press comprising, in combination, a reciprocated roller having a shaft, a press frame having an opening through which the shaft extends, an anti-friction bearing adjacent the roller and having an inner race and outer race, means for holding the inner race axially captive on the shaft so that the bearing reciprocates with the shaft, the shaft having a portion projecting outboard beyond the bearing, a supporting sleeve secured to the outer race of the bearing interposed between the bearing and the wall of the opening in the frame and telescoped over the projecting portion of the shaft to form an annular recess, means for keying the sleeve to the frame to prevent relative rotation of the sleeve in the frame while permitting reciprocation of the sleeve with the shaft, a sealing ring recessed in the telescoping portion of the sleeve, the sealing ring having a collar with an annular lip of impervious resilient material mounted thereon cantilever-fashion, the annular lip being shaped to form a narrow ring of contact with the projecting portion of the shaft and having a garter spring in encircling relation so that sealing force is applied radially inwardly about the entire ring of contact, the collar of the sealing ring being fixed to the sleeve so that the ring of contact remains axially stationary with respect to the shaft as the shaft undergoes reciprocating movement.