Abstract: The squeeze of two opposed paper-receiving rolls of an offset printing press may be infinitely adjusted within a relatively small range by virtue of the fact that each end plate supporting the rolls has a slit therein between the axes of rotation of the rolls which will permit slight deformation of the plate in a direction transversely of the slit upon manipulation of an adjusting mechanism to shift the rolls toward and away from each other. Adjustment mechanism is provided on each plate and includes a cam that, when rotated by the longitudinal displacement of an operating link, has the effect of opening or closing a corresponding slit to thereby effect minute adjustment of the spatial relationship of the roll axes. The operating link has a specially threaded section from which the longitudinal displacement of the link is derived, the arrangement being such that the ratio of link rotation to link displacement is relatively high so that very fine adjustment of the critical roll relationship can be achieved.

Abstract: In an offset printing press the inker is normally clamped down against the printing section so as to transfer ink from the form roll of the inker to the plate cylinder of the printing section, but upon actuation of an air cylinder to extend the rod thereof, a clamping jaw on the outer end of the rod releases its grip on a latch lever and pushes against the frame of the printing section, thereby incrementally raising the inker and effecting slight separation of the form roll and plate cylinder. Such slight separation is not, however, sufficient to disengage drive mechanism associated with the form roll and plate cylinder so that the form roll may continue to rotate notwithstanding the slight separation.