Abstract: An apparatus for closing an ink fountain on a printing press, the press having a fountain roll rotatable relative to a supply of ink and a flexible fountain blade adjacent thereto and spaced apart from the roll by a small gap. The size of the gap is controlled by a series of ink keys which move blade sections toward or away from the roll. When the press is to be shut down, the gap is closed by moving the blade against the roll in order to prevent ink leakage from the fountain. To do this, a bladder located adjacent the blade is inflated, forcing the entire length of the blade against the roll and thus closing the gap. The inflatable bladder operates independently of the ink keys, so that the keys need not be closed or adjusted when the press is shut down. When the press is restarted, the bladder deflates, allowing the blade to move away from the roll and to be controllable by the ink keys again.