Apparatus for exchanging a doctor blade in a rotary printing press

A chamber-type doctor blade apparatus for use in a printing press with an applicator roller having a longitudinal axis, the chamber-type doctor blade apparatus comprising, in combination:

• an elongated housing including side walls defining a chamber, the chamber having an open face disposed adjacent and parallel to the applicator roller of the printing press for transferring fluids thereto, the housing defining an elongated opening communicating with the chamber and disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the applicator roller;
• a sealing doctor blade mounted in the housing adjacent the opening and disposed for engagement with the applicator roller to prevent fluid flow between the chamber and the opening, the sealing doctor blade being normally biased toward engagement with the applicator roller;
• a receiver removably disposed within the elongated opening of the housing and including a replaceable doctor blade adjustably mounted for operative engagement with the applicator roller,
• and means on the receiver for engaging the sealing doctor blade when the receiver is disposed in the opening to pivot the sealing doctor blade against the normal bias and out of engagement with the applicator roller, the sealing doctor blade being operative under the normal bias for pivoting into engagement with the applicator roller thereby preventing fluid flow out of the chamber when the receiver is removed from the opening in the chamber housing.