Patent · US Expired

System for cleaning printing press roller assemblies

US5636571A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
8References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 25, 1995
Grant dateJun 10, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 25, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41P2235/14
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A system particularly adapted for cleaning ink residue from cells forming part of an outer surface of a ceramic inking roll of a printing press roller assembly includes an ultrasonic tank unit. Seated on an top open end of the tank unit is a drive mechanism comprising a set of spaced apart wheels operatively connected to a motor by a belt. As fitted over the wheels, the belt engages one end of a shaft of the ink roller assembly. An opposite end of the shaft then is held by a set of wheels of an idle mechanism also seated on the tank unit top end. For use the tank unit is filled with a cleaning solution so that about a bottom one-third of the roll outer surface submerges in the solution, and the shaft and any included bearings or gears on the shaft remain free from contact with the solution. As the motor drives the belt to slowly turn the roll through the cleaning solution, sonic energy from a generator in the tank unit forces solution into the roll cells to incrementally scrub out the imbedded ink residue. As residue is removed, the surface of the roll changes from a shinny-dark to a uniform dull-light appearance indicating that cleaning is complete.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.