Abstract: Doctor blade systems for rotary press ink stations, which include a print cylinder and an ink supplier on a side of the print cylinder to deliver ink to the surface of the print cylinder, have an elongated blade holder extending parallel to the cylinder on one side of the cylinder. The holder mounts a doctor blade, which may be conventional, and a pre-doctor or prewipe blade between the doctor blade and the pan on the one side of the cylinder. The holder includes a first clamp to releasably hold the generally flat, elongated doctor blade in axial line contact with an axial length of the outer circumferential surface of the print cylinder and a second clamp below the first clamp to releasably hold a generally flat, elongated prewipe blade against the outer circumferential surface of the print cylinder below the line contact of the doctor blade so as to remove some ink from the length of the surface before that surface reaches the doctor blade.

Abstract: A flexographic printer ink unit has an elongated body with an elongated ink chamber recessed into one side of the body. The chamber is defined in part by a pair of elongated walls. An elongated blade, doctor or containment, is positioned on each of the opposite elongated walls. An elongated clamping bar is coupled with a separate one of the wall to rotate about a pivot axis defined by a set of T bars mounted along each wall. One longitudinal edge of each clamping bar holds the blade against a proximal edge of the proximal elongated wall to form an edge of the ink chamber. One or more plungers are movably coupled with the ink unit body and pressed against the clamping bar on a side of the bar pivot axis opposite the one longitudinal edge of the bar so as to pivot the one longitudinal edge of the bar against the proximal edge of the wall to secure the blade there between. The plunger is carried in a conventional toggle clamp.

Abstract: A relatively thick-bodied doctor blade made of a low friction plastic material includes a seal relief bevel of between approximately 5 and 10 degrees. The blade then tapers to a tip support shape and tip of between approximately 0.001 and 0.005 inch. When used in conjunction with a chamber type inking system, the doctor blade cooperates with the chamber end seals to form a more positive and controlled seal therebetween.