Inker unit for high-speed rotary printing press

An inker unit for a high-speed printing press having a drive, said inker unit comprising an ink fountain roll continuously rotatable in a predetermined direction;

• an ink transfer roll;
• and endless ink transfer band arranged between said ink fountain and ink transfer rolls for transfering ink from said ink fountain roll to said ink transfer roll, said ink transfer band revolving in the predetermined direction of rotation of said ink fountain roll and having a first run spaced from an outer surface of said ink fountain roll, and a second run constantly engaging an outer surface of said ink transfer roll, said ink transfer band being driven by said ink transfer roll;
• an ductor roll for moving said first run of said ink transfer band periodically into engagement with said ink fountain roll;
• two spaced guide rollers supporting said ink transfer band for revolving movement thereof;
• means for supporting said two guide rollers for joint translational reciprocating movement;
• and means for translationally reciprocating said two guide rollers synchronously with a ductor roll cycle, whereby said ink transfer band is tangentially linearly displaceable relative to said outer surface of said ink fountain roll in synchronism with the ductor roll cycle, said ink transfer band being linearly displaceable, when engaging said ink fountain roll, in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said ink fountain roll, speeds of revolving and linear movements of said ink transfer band and a rotational speed of said ink fountain roll being chosen so that, at engagement of said ink transfer band with said ink fountain roll, a resulting speed vector of a contact surface area of said ink transfer band and speed vector of a respective surface area of said outer surface of said ink transfer roll have the same magnitude and direction.