Method for coating a web with wet ink thereon

摘要

A convertible coating apparatus provides one or two side coating of a web having wet ink thereon to permit both printing and coating to be carried out prior to any drying operation. The apparatus includes a coating applicator roller in contact with a relatively hard back-up roller. The coating applicator roller is supplied with coating in both the one and two side operations while the back-up roller is supplied with coating only in the two side operation. Water is supplied to the back-up roller in the one side operation and the back-up roller has a hydrophilic surface which, when supplied with water, repels the wet ink on the web passing through the couple and prevents smudging and offset of the ink to the back-up roller. A method of carrying out the one and two side coating is also disclosed. A turning roller is also provided which guides the freshly inked web between inking operations without smudging the ink on the web.