Types of Dampening Systems

Dampening systems are classified by whether the water flow is intermittent or continuous and whether cloth form rollers are employed to transfer fountain solution to the plate. Of the possible combinations, 3 are in use.

1. Separate (from inking system) dampening system rollers with cloth covered form rollers and ductor rollers in both ink and water fountains. Usually called Conventional dampening systems.

The Heidelberg Kord as shown below is an example of a conventional dampening system.

The Hamada 600 CD duplicators also have conventional dampening systems.

2. Combined (ink and dampening) - consists of rollers which carry fountain solution to the plate on ink covered rollers. Ductor rollers are included in both fountains. Since there is no distinction between ink and dampening form rollers, no cloth can be used on the form rollers. These are called integrated dampening systems or indirect dampening systems.

The AB Dick and Ryoobi duplicators are examples of presses which employ integrated dampening systems.

3. Continuous flow dampening systems do not employ ductor rollers to deliver dampening solution. There are two types, inker-feed and plate-feed. Both use metering rollers instead of ductors. The inker-feed systems operate similar to integrated dampening systems in that only one set of form rollers are employed. The plate-feed have separate ink and water trains like conventional dampening systems and may employ cloth wrapped form rollers.