Separated ink fountain for a flexographic printing machine

In a flexographic printing machine, an ink fountain (11) including an arrangement to separate the fountain into different axial zones (10a, 10b . . . ) to apply ink on an anilox roller (10) in different axial zones thereof and to permit use of inks of respectively different characteristics, for example of different colors, in the various zones

• comprising
• a separator (2) having a surface facing the anilox roller (10) which extends over a portion of the circumference thereof;
• said separator including
• a separating strip element (3) having a curved surface of low friction material fitting against and matching the surface of the anilox roller;
• a back-up means (5) of compressible material secured to said separator element, and retaining said separating strip element (3) in position, extending over a portion of the circumferential dimension of said separator element (2);
• a pad element (21, 31) of a fluid pervious, porous substance retained on said separator element (2) adjacent the end portions of the separating strip element (3) and extending away from the end portions of the separating strip element;
• fluid supply means (14a, 15a;
• 14b, 15b;
• 18) connecting a source of separating fluid to said pad element to apply a separating fluid thereto, and, in turn, form a film of separating fluid on the surface of the anilox roller (10) and between the surface of the anilox roller (10) and the separating strip element (3);
• and means (12, 41, 42;
• 50, 51, 52) for engaging the separator element (2) towards the surface of the anilox roller (10).

A method of sealing flexographic printing inks or different colors from each other and separating said inks in axial zones of an anilox roller (10) comprising the steps of:

• providing a separating strip element (3) having a low-friction surface which is curved, matches the surface of the anilox roller (10), and extends over a portion of the circumference thereof;
• forming a circumferential ring of a film of separating liquid between said zones by applying a porous wick-like pad against the surface of the anilox roller and saturation said pad with said liquid;
• resiliently engaging said separating strip element against said ring of the film of separating liquid;
• floating said separating element on said film;
• and
• said step of forming the circumferential ring of the film of separating liquid comprises
• introducing just enough liquid upstream, in the direction of rotation of the anilox roller, to provide for effectively planing of the separating strip over the film of liquid.