Electrorheological inker

Abstract

A method and device for controlling a transfer of an ink having electrorheological properties between rolls in a printing press. The method includes electrically connecting a first electrode to a first roll, electrically connecting a second electrode to a second roll, and circumscribing each of the first and second rolls with an electrically conductive layer. The method also includes establishing a rotational movement between the first and second rolls so as to enable a transfer of the ink from the first roll to the second roll across a first nip, and applying a voltage across the first and second electrodes so as to create a first electric field at the first nip. In addition, a printing unit including a first roll and a second roll configured to enable a transfer of an ink having rheological properties from the first roll to the second roll across a nip, the first and second rolls each having an electrically conductive layer circumscribed around them. A first voltage source is electrically connected to a first electrode that is electrically connected to the first roll and a second electrode is electrically connected to a second electrode that is electrically connected to the second roll for applying an electrical field at the nip.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.