INKHOLDER OF PRINTER

An ink fountain for a printing press has a temperature-responsive element for compensating the adjustment of the spacing between the blade and the fountain roller to keep the thickness of the ink film fed by the blade substantially constant even under extreme temperature variations. The sub-frame of the ink fountain is pivotally mounted to the main frame of the printing press about a pivot axis generally parallel to the axis of the fountain roller, and the pivot angle is a function of the thermal expansion of the temperature-responsive element. In one preferred embodiment, the temperature-responsive element is elongated, received in a guide fixed to the sub-frame, and has a free end bearing against the bearing bushing of the fountain roller. In another embodiment, the temperature-responsive element is a side wall of the ink trough or is a plate parallel to the side wall of the ink trough, and rollers are journaled to the temperature-responsive element and bear against the surface of the fountain roller. In either embodiment, the temperature-responsive element is pre-stressed by a pull rod tending to pivot the sub-frame so that the temperature-responsive element bears against the sub-frame and the main frame.