Graymills Corporation

Timothy E Owens

Kenneth R Luedtke

Gregg Eugene Johnson

Richard M Soble

Robert E Schmalz, Jr

In order to facilitate the removal of ink and other material commonly used in flexography and rotogravure processes, an automated apparatus and method for cleaning a printing cylinder in a tank is disclosed. The tank is adapted to receive a printing cylinder that is to be cleaned of a dried ink on a surface thereof and a cleaning solution in an amount sufficient to substantially immerse the printing cylinder. It also includes a sprayer within the tank for spraying the surface of the printing cylinder with the cleaning solution and wheels within the tank for rotating the printing cylinder as the sprayer is spraying the surface thereof. The method includes the steps of providing a tank for receiving a printing cylinder that is to be cleaned and substantially immersing the printing cylinder in a cleaning solution within the tank. It also includes spraying a surface of the printing cylinder with the cleaning solution in the tank and rotating the printing cylinder as the surface of the printing cylinder is being sprayed. In addition to the foregoing, the automated cleaning may be facilitated by heating the cleaning solution, filtering the cleaning solution as it is cycled from a reservoir to the tank, and rinsing residue from the printing cylinder.

Automated cleaning of printing cylinders

A parts washer device including a liquid container, a tank and a pump where the liquid container is adapted to carry a liquid solvent therein and has an open end defined by a rim and a closed end remote therefrom. The tank is adapted to be removably positioned on the liquid container such that parts can be washed therein and includes a parts washing portion adapted to be supported above the open end of the liquid container and a skirt portion extending below the parts washing portion and adapted to fit within the open end of said liquid container. The pump includes a pump discharge tube for carrying the liquid solvent from the liquid container to the parts washing portion of the tank and is mounted on the tank so as to extend through and substantially below the skirt portion into the liquid solvent when the tank is supported on the liquid container. In addition, the parts washer device is constructed such that the pump and pump dishcharge tube can be retracted into and retained within the skirt portion of the tank during removal of the tank from the liquid container.

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Downers Grove, IL, United States of America

Timothy E Owens