Leaking chambers is a misconceived idea. As soon as ink is splattered to the impression, plate roll or the web, or dripping occurs, it is assumed the chamber is leaking.
A high percentage of time, this problem is actually due to trail doctoring. The containment blade on the chamber is typically too stiff and wipes the ink off of the anilox, The ink then follows the trailing blade like a stream to the end of the chamber. As the ink hits the seal area, it pools and then is slung onto the press or substrate, or runs into the pan.
A thinner, or more flexible trailing blade can remedy a large percentage of trail doctoring. ACS can help you determine the best blade for your application.
Stay tuned for more useful tips and operating solutions.
