A dampening system used in many offset lithographic presses that utilizes a ductor roller to alternately contact the fountain pan roller attached to the water fountain and an oscillator, a roller in contact with the form rollers. Intermittent-flow systems, as their name implies, do not provide a continuous flow of fountain solution to the plate, which can cause problems in dampening system performance, as well as the lack of an instantaneous effect of changes to the quantity of fountain solution sent forth from the water fountain. Since intermittent-flow systems have been traditionally the most common dampening systems used in offset presses, they are also known as conventional dampening systems. (See also Continuous-Flow Dampening System.) See Dampening System.
|