| CPC B41F 31/027 (2013.01) [B05C 1/0813 (2013.01); B41F 5/24 (2013.01); B41F 31/04 (2013.01); B41F 31/20 (2013.01); B05C 1/0817 (2013.01); B05C 1/083 (2013.01); B05C 1/0834 (2013.01); B41P 2231/20 (2013.01)] | 26 Claims |
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1. A method of operating a machine comprising a transfer roller and a fluid distribution device for applying a fluid onto the transfer roller, the fluid distribution device comprising an elongated chamber extending in an axial direction, at least one inlet for letting a fluid into the chamber, a longitudinal opening extending in the axial direction and adapted to face the transfer roller when the device is in use so as to allow fluid to exit the chamber and contact the transfer roller, and a wiper blade extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal opening, in the axial direction, the chamber having two axial ends; wherein the chamber includes, at each of the two axial ends of the chamber, a wall separating the chamber from a cavity, wherein the wall has a wall surface arranged to face the transfer roller when the device is in use, the wall being dimensioned so that the wall surface will be distanced from the transfer roller when the device is in use, so as to allow fluid to exit the chamber via a gap between the wall surface and the transfer roller, wherein no friction seal elements arranged to contact the transfer roller are provided to close the chamber at the axial ends thereof, and the device comprises only one wiper blade, the wiper blade being arranged at a lower edge of the longitudinal opening, the transfer roller being arranged to rotate in a direction such that a surface of the transfer roller facing the longitudinal opening moves downwards during rotation of the transfer roller and the wiper blade is configured to remove excess fluid received by the transfer roller via the opening during rotation of the transfer roller, wherein the cavity is configured to receive the fluid that exits the chamber through the gap and is configured to lead the fluid towards a drain outlet, and whereby the drain outlet is connected to and extends from the cavity, the drain outlet being configured to receive the fluid entering the cavity from the chamber, such that the fluid is drained through the drain outlet and recirculated, the method including the following steps:
placing the device in relation to the transfer roller so that the longitudinal opening faces the transfer roller; and
circulating a fluid by pumping the fluid into the chamber and causing part of the fluid to enter the gaps between the wall surfaces and the transfer roller, so that the walls act as partial axial end closures of the chamber, and so that fluid exits the chamber through the gaps,
rotating the transfer roller in a direction such that a surface of the transfer roller facing the longitudinal opening moves downwards during rotation of the transfer roller and the wiper blade removes excess fluid received by the transfer roller via the opening while rotating the transfer roller,
receiving the fluid that exits the chamber through each gap in the respective cavity, and each respective cavity leads the fluid towards a drain outlet that is connected to and extends from the cavity, and
draining the fluid through the drain outlet and recirculating the fluid.
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