Inking system for flat-bed mail processing system

摘要

An ink tray includes a housing having a first, second and third chamber. The first chamber has an overflow baffle extending laterally within said chamber to divide the first chamber into an inlet side and an outlet side. An inlet port extends into the first chamber for receiving replenishing ink in the inlet side of the chamber and an outlet port is provided for removal of excess ink from said ink tray. A plurality of portals extending between the first and second chambers for directing replenishing ink to the second chamber from the inlet side of the first chamber and excess replenishing ink from the second chamber to the outlet side of the first chamber. An elongated inking roller is rotatively mounted in the third chamber. The third chamber is configured to expose a longitudinal portion of said inking roller. Absorption material is mounted in the second chamber to contact the replenishing ink. The absorption material has a portion which extends from the second chamber into the third chamber to contact the inking roller to allow the transfer of replenishing ink to the inking roller. The overflow baffle divides the first chamber such that the inlet side is greater by volume than the outlet side. The bottom surface of the second chamber has support members for maintaining the absorption material in spaced relationship to the bottom surface of the second chamber and channel members for directing the flow of replenishing ink along the bottom surface of the second chamber in a predetermined manner.