Lithographic printing press having an ink duct with a divided chamber

An ink duct for containing ink under pressure and for applying the ink to the surface of a roller mounted for rotation about its cylindrical axis and having a cylindrical surface, said duct comprising a chamber having:

• (i) an open side with dimensions which may be substantially closed by the roller surface, said open side being bounded by
• (a) an axially extending blade having ends and an edge protruding toward the open side for contacting the roller surface to exert a doctoring action thereon,
• (b) an axially extending sealing member having ends and an edge protruding toward the open side, said sealing member edge being located at no more than a slight space away from the roller surface, and
• (c) end seals linking the blade and the sealing member at their ends and having edges protruding toward the open side for sealing engagement with the roller surface,
• (ii) an axially extending projection located between the blade and the sealing member and having an edge protruding toward the open side in order to divide the chamber into first and second zones while enabling ink to flow past the edge from the first zone to the second zone,
• (iii) a first axially extending slot in the first zone for the introduction of ink into the first zone,
• (iv) an axially extending first reservoir communicating with the first axially extending slot along their respective axial lengths,
• (v) a second axially extending slot in the second zone for egress of ink from the second zone, and
• (vi) an axially extending second reservoir communicating with the second slot along their respective lengths.